“In my restless dream, I see the town…Silent Hill. You promised to take me there one day,” the Bloober team finally did it. Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 will never replace the original game and Survival Horror Zeitgeist with a part of 2001, but the developers have assured us that whether they’re veterans or newcomers, they’ll forget the series of the same name with a beautifully ambitious remake of Silent Hill 2.
The Bloober team and former staff members Motoi Okamato, Akira Yamaoka and Masahiro Ito, previously molded by technical limitations and experiments, had exceptional tasks to replicate the cult classics. This time, the sky is at its limit. This refers to the fact that Yamoka (the composer of Silent Hill 2) requires a lot of trial and error. But this was not in vain, but the end result was so thrilling that even my restless dreams couldn’t cook it.
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This Silent Hill 2 is somewhat similar to the BioHarks remake from Capcom, which James’s journey initially didn’t want because he was afraid it would be too focused on combat. However, the Bloober team managed to achieve the perfect balance. The Silent Hill 2 is modernized with third-person camera angles and HD environments, and the battles are refreshed, but this remake never has a center stage.
Please don’t get me wrong. The battle is very satisfying when you engage in it. Especially close combat. I spent a good part of the game destroying all the windows and vehicles possible when lying people and bubble head nurses weren’t left to beat into the pulp. The only downside to combat, and perhaps not a downside, is that Silent Hill 2 makes you want to crush everything. It just feels so good that sometimes you forget what you’re actually trying to do.
Gunplay is also very pleasant. It’s not too clean or overwhelming. James’s dodging mechanic is so clumsy that he still makes him feel like the main character of everyone he is intended to be. But no matter how remote weapons feel, I have always found myself relying on wooden planks and steel pipes to get the most satisfaction in the battle. That being said, engagement in combat is still annoying, as in the original game, if you want to talk about being loyal.
The enemy is now much more responsive, making its steel pipe more fun, but more dangerous. New variations, actions and improved boss fights will keep even the biggest silent hilf fans on the toes. For example, you can take a spider mannequin and climb a wall to charge at you. You may also be happy to be surprised (or maybe not) to see one formidable enemy showering more time with this remake.
Not only do these enemies look brilliant, but they can dodge and weave James’ attacks while they go for their own brutal attacks, as you expect along with Ito Tajima at the helm of designing them, and sometimes drive them to fight. This is exactly what you want from James’ journey. After all, he’s not Leon Kennedy.
With this journey, you have a more overwhelming soundtrack than ever before. And it’s definitely one of my favorites coming out of this remake. Yamaoka’s otherworldly suspense tracks go a long way to join the experience. At the best times, the industrial tone and organic sounds reverberating in each corridor you roam around, there are many of them, as you would expect from Silent Hill – do you always expect what’s around the next corner (especially if you choose to play with it) None The radio is on). The music is also intimidating. The mix of trucks that accompany James’ journey will overwhelm you and terrorize you, even if the threat you are facing isn’t really that bad.
This is especially true later in the game when James discovers he is in Toruca prison and the maze. These areas have been greatly expanded, and the environment is more grittier than ever before and makes me feel scary. The familiar fresh areas, yamoka soundtracks, various enemy fragments that you can hear but can’t see, and fresh, well-realized puzzles combine to create a fantastic, devilish experience.
It’s been a while since I had to lower the audio of the game just to pass through the area without being scared from my skin (Resident Evil was the last culprit), but the sound design of Silent Hill 2 is very powerful and will definitely have that effect on many players.
Speaking with Bloober previously, Devs spoke passionately about the game’s new voice actors and what they brought to the game. After finally experiencing some of the game’s most important cutscenes, such as his dialogue with Eddie at Toruca Prison (which creature designer Masahiro Ito spoke during the Tokyo Game Show) and getting out with Angela at Labyrinth, it’s easy to see why the Bloober team is so proud of them when they talk about the cast.
These characters feel more realistic than ever, and the cutscenes are far more emotional thanks to their facial expressions and distinctive tones of voice. It’s miserable. I found myself plagued by Angela’s confusion and endless guilt, and was completely blown away by Eddie’s transformation. He’s still Eddie and he still has his funny moments, but as the push came to stick out, he left to the incredibly intimidating expression of James’ dark side, although he was representing.
The character and run-ins of either Laura or Maria are absolute joys to experience, even if they are a little unsettled or upset. If it didn’t make you uncomfortable, it wouldn’t be Silent Hill 2, that’s certainly true, and the Bloober team nailed its ability to evoke such strong emotions.
The ending took a while to crack (and the Silent Hill 2 remake has even more of a thing to do with the original, which was only confirmed after someone finally accessed the game’s code, so the internet sluice is wild. Bloober hints that all six original endings (except those born from Wish Sub-Scenario Ending) exist, and before writing this review, I was able to experience the original three Leave, Wate and Maria.
It is worth noting that what was born out of hope is not yet available and has not been confirmed. However, given how well the Bloober team is saving the game, it would not be surprising if they added it later, given the hints the game itself would take towards it. I’m sure Konami knows well that it’s a terrible shame not to include it!
Additional alternative endings (including the stupid dogs that everyone loves) are all in the new Game Plus, but the items associated with them are moving and can be anywhere, literally, over a 15-20 hour experience. Bloober also advises that there is a new ending for players to discover, but there’s nothing I haven’t found yet in my new game Plus Run…
So, Silent Hill 2 shows off a new puzzle, but the real big puzzle that tests fans and brings together the community is once again understanding the criteria for the ending and uncovering the new secrets in this version of Silent Hill.
Ultimately, those familiar with the original Silent Hill 2 are always surprised by this remake, and those who are not so familiar are prepared for great (heartbreaking, heartbreaking) time. All the pivotal moments remain, but veterans will now find themselves in different orders and brand new rooms. Especially in New Game Plus, there are new dialogues to watch out for, and there are plenty of new notes, notes and Easter eggs to discover. These changes may seem strange to existing fans at first, but overall, they allow the story to flow much more smoothly or add it completely. Remakes consider a continuation of the endless loop of purgatory, or a new rendition, in which many theorized James is trapped.
The Bloober team… you made me happy and after playing Silent Hill 2, I’d like to see what the studio is doing with Konami in the future. Perhaps the remake of Silent Hill 1 and Silent Hill 3 is not a very bad idea…
Silent Hill 2 was reviewed on PC using code provided by the publisher.