Bloober Team's remake of Silent Hill 2 landed with a bang, not only proving that the often-maligned Polish studio has a wealth of talent and skill to draw on, but also giving hope to series fans who have spent years being disappointed by Konami's handling of the property. With more Silent Hill games on the horizon, it will be fascinating to see how they turn out, now that a new gold standard has been set for the series.
Silent Hill has been buffeted by a series of lackluster titles and questionable directorial decisions over the years, with most considering the franchise's glory days to have concluded following Silent Hill 3 or Silent Hill 4. There were high hopes for a return to form with Silent Hills, a game meant to be led by both visionary director Guillermo del Toro and eccentric game designer Hideo Kojima, but Konami's axing of that project effectively dragged fan expectations to a subterranean level. After years in limbo, with little more than themed pachinko machines to its name, Silent Hill is back thanks to the Silent Hill 2 remake—whether the series can maintain this momentum moving forward is another question, though.
Silent Hill 2 Remake's James Is Almost Unbelievable in Combat
Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 remake completely overhauls the original's combat, and some changes run counter to its narrative.
Silent Hill 2 Raises the Bar for Modern Silent Hill
The Silent Hill 2 Remake Starts This New Era With a Bang
Though it is certainly the series' most high-profile release in years, Silent Hill 2 isn't alone; there are several other Silent Hill games in development, including:
- Silent Hill: Townfall
- Silent Hill f
Silent Hill 2, aside from being polished and enjoyable to play, exemplifies the tense psychological horror and atmosphere that makes Silent Hill so special. Before its launch, modern audiences may not have associated such strengths with the franchise, as more recent releases, including the underwhelming Silent Hill: The Short Message, aren't exactly the best showcases of these essential characteristics. Expectations are different now, though, and while the likes of Townfall and Silent Hill f may have previously been viewed with, at best, cautious optimism, they could very well enjoy a great deal of hype in the coming months. But, as anyone who follows the games industry already knows, hype can often be a double-edged sword.
Silent Hill's Future Projects May Be Harder To Get Right
Bloober Team has displayed an abundance of passion and artistry with the Silent Hill 2 remake, and that shouldn't be minimized. Having said that, Bloober couldn't have asked for a better starting point to work from, as the original Silent Hill 2 is still renowned as one of the most haunting, mature, and thought-provoking games of all time. Its narrative, atmosphere, creature design, music, and more still hold up today, and with access to Konami's wealth of resources, Bloober Team was well-poised to deliver something special with the remake, especially when considering how much reverence it clearly has for the original game, as evidenced by its previous projects.
More original and risky upcoming games like Silent Hill f present a greater challenge in some ways. These titles are going out on a limb, not able to rely on nostalgia or an already-proven narrative that could be leveraged for success. In this way, they are also far more important for the future of Silent Hill, as no franchise can subsist off remakes alone; sooner or later, fresh ideas need to be brought to the table.
The Silent Hill 2 remake, if nothing else, indicates that Konami is willing to trust studios to be creative and sophisticated with their development approach. It's hard to know exactly what to expect from future Silent Hill games, but if they display at least the same level of passion and vision as the Silent Hill 2 remake, then the franchise very well could be on the verge of a full-blown comeback.
Silent Hill 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- October 8, 2024
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Bloober Team
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
WHERE TO PLAY
Investigating a letter from his late wife, James returns to where they made so many memories - Silent Hill. What he finds is a ghost town, prowled by disturbing monsters and cloaked in deep fog. Confront the monsters, solve puzzles, and search for traces of your wife in this remake of SILENT HILL 2.
High-end Graphics and Sound
With ray tracing and other cutting-edge technical enhancements, the world of SILENT HILL and its unsettling ambiance is even realer than before.And with the inclusion of new, immersive soundscapes, you'll feel like you're standing in the thick of it.
Larger Environments
Explore locations and buildings that were once inaccessible, or are newly added in the remake. Enjoy the same acclaimed story, even while you experience the town of Silent Hill with fresh eyes across an expanded map.
Over-the-shoulder Camera
The remake moves from the original's fixed-camera viewpoints to an over-the-shoulder perspective, putting you closer to what James sees, for a more thrilling, more immersive experience as you explore the town and come face-to-face with monsters.
Evolved Combat Gameplay
Familiar weapons like the steel pipe and handgun make their return, but now with an updated combat system. Avoid attacks with carefully timed dodges, aim down sights, and more, making monster encounters more engaging and nerve-wracking than ever.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 5
- Prequel(s)
- Silent Hill
- Franchise
- Silent Hill
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unsupported
- PC Release Date
- October 8, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- October 8, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PC
- How Long To Beat
- 15 Hours
- How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
- 26.5 hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
