The director of the original Silent Hill 2 remake 8/10 in its review.

Apparently, that praise extends to the original development team, too, as detailed in a thread on X (formerly Twitter) by original Silent Hill 2 director Masashi Tsuboyama. Although he struggles to understand the reasons for certain changes, ultimately, Tsuboyama says, "I think the value of the remake is that a new generation can play it. As a creator, I'm very happy about it."

Tsuboyama does go on to criticize certain aspects of the remake, saying that he's not sure who will appreciate the promotional headgear offered as a preorder bonus for Silent Hill 2. But he ends on a positive note, saying that he wants to play the remake, and that its updated camera angles look more immersive than ever.

Silent Hill 2 Remake's New Direction Is A Change For The Series

New Camera Angles Are Revolutionary, But Cosmetics Are Odd

The biggest change Tsuboyama points to is the introduction of third-person, over-the-shoulder perspectives in the Silent Hill 2 remake, replacing the original game's fixed cameras. This has become an oddly common trend for survival horror remakes in recent years, beginning with the Resident Evil remakes. That's in part because fixed cameras have become outdated in recent years, but it's also due to another important factor that appears to be at the forefront of Tsuboyama's mind: immersion.

Much like the fog in the original Silent Hill, Tsuboyama says, Silent Hill 2's fixed cameras weren't a purely aesthetic choice - they were meant to compensate for the PlayStation 2's limited processing power. He its in his Tweet thread that he was never happy with the original camera. Despite tons of hard work by the development team to make shots with greater depth and wider angles work, they were limited by the console's technical specs.

Tsuboyama doesn't say whether he would've used an over-the-shoulder camera in Silent Hill 2 if possible, but he does accurately point out that the remake's updated camera perspective makes the game more immersive. When playing the game through fixed, distant camera angles, players may feel like they're watching a movie. Silent Hill 2's generally cinematic approach to storytelling doesn't help in that regard. And the sometimes clunky tank controls these angles often necessitate may take players out of the action; watching protagonist James Sunderland awkwardly spin in place doesn't exactly inspire the gravitas Silent Hill deserves.

By contrast, a third-person perspective allows players to see almost as if through James' eyes, with a thin layer of separation provided by his constant visibility. This immerses players in the struggle of survival and the morality of James' guilt as if they were experiencing it for themselves.

Silent Hill 2 Remake's Praise Opens The Door For More Silent Hill

Bloober Team & Konami Have Plans For More Collaboration

Despite early criticism, it seems remake developer Bloober team has proven its worth when it comes to Silent Hill. I, for one, think it'd be nice to see a full suite of Silent Hill remakes (at least encoming the first four games), bringing updated, extra-immersive versions of these influential survival horror classics to a new generation. It'd be even better to see a full-scale Silent Hill revival, with brand-new games that build on the franchise in innovative ways.

Something of the sort may be coming, as representatives of Bloober seem to expect further collaborations with Konami. That could mean any number of things, of course, from more Silent Hill remakes, to new Silent Hill installments, to entirely new creative endeavors. With the foundation for the franchise reboot established by the Silent Hill 2 remake, though, a Silent Hill 3 remake might make the most sense for the next Bloober-Konami release.

Either way, it's clear Bloober has earned its laurels, garnering the praise of even original director Masashi Tsuboyama. It may not have been the outcome anyone expected, but it's every bit what the Silent Hill 2 remake deserves.

Source: Masashi Tsuboyama/X