The clever changes to combat and puzzles, has made the game a success with returning fans and new players.
With the release of the remake, however, it remains to be seen what is next for Silent Hill, Bloober, and Konami. While Silent Hill 3 might be an obvious choice for an updated remake, there is a more obvious contender for the developer's next project. The original Silent Hill is the game that started it all, placing the path for the next installments with its world building, music, and narrative, to set parameters for future horror games. Though the PS1 era graphics are iconic among fans, the game has become largely outdated and inaccessible for future and modern players. With the success of the Silent Hill 2 remake, there is no better direction to take than a Silent Hill 1 remake.
The Original Silent Hill Deserves A Remake
Modernizing A Classic Horror Game
Silent Hill is a huge title within the horror game genre, with terrifying monsters to fight, interesting puzzles to solve, and a spine-chilling atmosphere. Following the protagonist, Harry Mason, the player has to search for their daughter, who has mysteriously disappeared after a car crash. Discovering the secrets surrounding the town's cult, and battling against a series of supernatural monsters, the player is met with excellent storytelling and gripping gameplay. As the first game in the franchise, Silent Hill sets the narrative that is carried on in Silent Hill 3, with the story surrounding the cult continuing.
However, Silent Hill 1, despite being nostalgically ed by fans, has become outdated by modern gaming standards. With its debatably easy combat, limited camera angles and outdated graphics, the game has a barrier that stops it being playable for modern audiences. The game has undoubtedly got the hallmarks of a brilliant horror game, and should be brought into the modern gaming community.
One of the standout features of the original Silent Hill is its ability to create tension and fear, which would be brilliant with the added benefit of modern game development that Bloober can offer. A remake of this game would perfectly create the opportunity for further Silent Hill remakes as well as boost the game into something more than just a nostalgia trip.
SH2 Remake Excelled With Puzzles & Redesign
A Perfect Balance Of Familiarity And The Brand New
Bloober's Silent Hill 2 remake is an impressive blend of staying true to the original game's charm and updating the graphics and mechanics. This makes for a game that feels familiar to fans that played the original games as well as one that excites players that are new to the franchise. The redesign of levels like Blue Creek Apartments and Brookhaven Hospital are particularly effective, evoking the same eerie atmosphere of the original while extending the areas for a longer runtime.
Boss fights have also been redesigned to keep players on their toes. Original stationary fights are now moving ones, attack moves are far less clunky, and areas are more extensive. James' fighting has been made more challenging for the player, making for a more tense and enjoyable experience.
Puzzles are synonymous with the Silent Hill franchise, giving players a different side to horror than hordes of enemies and jump scares. For the Silent Hill 2 remake, the puzzles have been updated to uphold the original's tense nature as well as keep things fresh. Players can't look back to previous puzzles to find the solutions, as the fresh puzzles have different answers that the player has to find while under horror-driven pressure.
Silent Hill 2 Remake's Pizza Box Pyramid Head Looks Even Better In Real Life With Hilarious Cosplay
Silent Hill 2 Pizza Box Pyramid Head Cosplay is an absolutely hilarious display that perfectly captures the design, sparking accolades from fans.
Bloober allows players to pick the difficulty of puzzles and combat separately, enriching and tailoring gameplay to the player's preference. This was an important update for puzzles, which could easily be implemented into a Silent Hill 1 remake. The game had infamous puzzles and level design that deserve to be remade, which could turn Silent Hill 1 encounters into more dynamic and memorable moments that fans loved from the classic.
Konami Should Stick With Silent Hill
The Potential For Future Remakes Is Strong
Bloober Team and Konami's relationship should be stronger than ever after the success of Silent Hill 2 remake, boosting the speculation for further updates and remakes in the Silent Hill franchise. Opening the door to future remakes, Bloober Team's work on the remake has held a high bar for its next project. Revisiting other games in the franchise would be an exciting prospect for horror game fans, with Silent Hill 3 and even The Room deserving a modern overhaul.
By starting with a Silent Hill 1 remake, Bloober and Konami could maintain narrative consistency for new fans while also building more hype and anticipation for a Silent Hill 3 remake. Even the less popular Silent Hill: Origins from 2007 would be a welcome remake for modern horror game fans. The revisiting of these classic games could give Konami a chance to solidify the legacy of the Silent Hill franchise, honoring its roots the same way that the Silent Hill 2 remake did.
Silent Hill 2
-
- Top Critic Avg: 87/100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- October 8, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bloober Team
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
The Silent Hill 2 Remake is an Survival Horror release from Bloober Team, the same creative squad behind Layers of Fear and Observer. Developers are reimagining James Sunderland's adventure through Silent Hill, with updated graphics and gameplay.
- Franchise
- Silent Hill
- Platform(s)
- PC
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
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