Siren isn't a game franchise that many people talk about these days, but it was once among the most exciting and subversive properties in the horror genre. With the recent Siren re-release on the PlayStation 5, it might be the perfect time for a more ambitious revival, as Sony could certainly achieve great results with the IP, bringing it back to the forefront as series like Silent Hill crawl their way back to prominence.
After helming the first Silent Hill game, Keiichiro Toyama left Konami and hopped aboard Japan Studios, heading up the development of Siren. Toyama's fingerprints are all over the game, to the point where many consider it to be something of a spiritual Silent Hill spin-off, evoking the same uncanny atmosphere, supernatural storytelling, and survival-horror mechanics. But make no mistake—Siren is far from a Silent Hill clone. The first Siren game is remarkably unique in a number of ways, from the sightjacking mechanic to the disorienting nature of its multi-protagonist structure. These myriad elements come together to make Siren a one-of-a-kind horror experience that deserves a bit more attention in the modern age, especially as its re-release highlights some of its more dated aspects.
Siren's Relaunch on PS5 May Have Timed Its Release Window Perfectly
The acclaimed PS2 horror game Siren may receive a relaunch on PS5 soon, and if rumors are to be believed, it will release in a perfect time frame.
Siren Deserves a Sequel or Remake
Silent Hill 2's Remake Suggests a Siren Remake Could Work
There are certain games that have historically been considered impossible to remake, and before the success of Bloober Team's remake, Silent Hill 2 was one of them. The particular eeriness of the original game, its uncanny and unsettling qualities which were, in many ways, a product of its era and technical constraints, were like lightning in a bottle, unable to be replicated. In some ways, this is still the case—nothing will ever truly live up to the original SH2—but Bloober managed to get a strong grip on the game's soul, powerfully expanding it through a modern lens.
Maybe the same treatment could be given to Siren. Although its PS5 re-release includes a few changes, they are all quite minor, like image upscaling and the addition of features like quick-save, yet they plant the seed for something more ambitious. As new players discover the singularly terrifying world of Siren, demand for the franchise could grow, making an eventual remake an easy sell, especially if it's handled by the right developer. A studio with gusto and proper reverence for the source material could adapt, remix, and modernize certain aspects of the original game, leading to a meaningful evolution that would be available to a wider audience.
Bloober Team proved itself with Silent Hill 2, so maybe it could be up to the task of remaking Siren.
Maybe a Remake Isn't the Only Way Forward for Siren
Remakes, specifically of horror games, are all the rage these days. Maybe this can be chalked up to game companies believing that more realistic visuals will lead to heightened immersion and, by extension, greater scares, but this isn't always the case. Siren is a perfect example of this, as its more rudimentary graphics and bizarre character designs help make it chilling and ephemeral in a way that many modern games simply can't achieve.
So, while a remake of Siren could attempt to emulate the uncanny valley visuals and old-school horror charm of the original, maybe another studio should just be given the keys to the franchise and allowed to make a proper new entry. This way, it could attempt to build on the legacy of the original Siren rather than just try to replicate it, pushing forward with fresh ideas that are still appropriate within the context of the IP. If the recent Siren re-release gets enough attention, perhaps this could be in the cards.
- Released
- April 20, 2004
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Language
- Developer(s)
- Japan Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Computer Entertainment
WHERE TO PLAY
Resist the Call
0:00. Midnight. A siren calls and a sea of red water mysteriously surrounds the mountain village Hanuda. Slowly, a terrible force transforms the inhabitants into shibito, undead husks of their old selves, fueled by evil and hate.
Play as one of ten characters caught in a living nightmare. You have three days to learn how their paths intersect as they try to stay alive. Survival depends on your ability to “sightjack” or the power to see through the eyes of friends and foes. There is no one hero. There is little hope.
Will you resist the call of the Siren?
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Premium
