Silent Hill 2 Remake Review

Silent Hill 2 Remake Review

The OMG Review
Our review format is not your usual fare and we’ve broken it down into 3 very simple ratings!

“Buy it!” means that the game deserves a place in your collection. Be it day 1 or a slightly delayed purchase, it’s hard to go wrong with this title. In numbers, this is around an 8/10 and above.

“Wait for it…” means that while the game is good, it probably isn’t worth it at its day 1 price point. We suggest you wait for a sale before jumping in. In numbers, this is around a 5 – 7/10.

“Ignore it!” means that the game is not something we’d recommend playing, whether it be now or in the near future. Maybe ever. Let’s not even go to the numbers for this one.

Sneak Peek
  • Release Date: October 8, 2024
  • Platforms: PS5, PC
  • Genre: Survival Horror
  • Similar Games: Resident Evil
  • Price: starts at $69.99

Remaking classic titles carries so much weight and pressure that not many developers can confidently say they are up to the task. While some remakes, like Resident Evil 2 and 4, have succeeded with flying colors, others, like Resident Evil 3, failed to live up to lofty expectations. Striking the balance between innovation and paying homage is a challenging task that many fail too often.

The Silent Hill 2 Remake is one such example, and after it was initially revealed, the conversations surrounding the game did not instill confidence. From its trailers, the game looked janky, uninspired, and really lost the tone of the original, but what looked like a soulless effort turned out to be a pleasant surprise when previews of the game were published, stating how the remake captured the essence of the original while modernizing it with care. A complete 180, leaving fans ecstatic.

After spending time with the game, it’s clear that Bloober Team did the original justice by bringing it back to life with modern visuals and mechanics while also capturing the haunting essence of the town that instilled fear in us many years ago. Silent Hill fans, we are so back!

Welcome Back

One thing the Silent Hill 2 Remake gets right is the tone and atmosphere of the original. From the opening scene where James stares at the mirror, the surroundings look mysterious and full of intrigue, while the fog is menacingly oppressive as players struggle to see past a few feet from the character while also catching just a faint glimpse of what lies ahead. The visual overhaul is stunning, emanating eerie and immersive at the same time thanks to the gorgeous lighting and use of shadows that elevate each scene and performance.

This is arguably one of the most important aspects of the original to nail in this remake, and Bloober Team has done an amazing job at recreating the town to look familiar yet new with a visual uplift and remain terrifying. The environment features detailed textures and great views, dilapidated structures and stained walls, something that the original game didn’t get to flaunt too much because of the technological limits at the time and its fixed camera angles.

In fact, this might be something that’s overlooked, but the shift to a fully free camera meant that Bloober Team had to consider other aspects of the game, such as level design and enemy AI. Back in the original, these threats were able to stay off-screen in such a way that you can only see or interact with them upon reaching a certain point, but being able to move the camera around can now offer new perspectives that give both players and enemies more room and a fresher experience to work with.

As such, the fog plays a critical role in how the Silent Hill 2 Remake keeps its scares intact and how it maintains a sense of dread throughout the game. This feeling is elevated by how good the game looks, and while the character models from the Resident Evil remakes still look better, the Silent Hill 2 Remake doesn’t disappoint despite some slightly stiffer sequences and animations.

silent hill 2 remake screenshot 3

Augmenting the eerieness of Silent Hill 2 Remake is Akira Yamaoka’s soundtrack, featuring arranged tracks that bring everything together. Audio design is such an important aspect of the game that makes the use of headphones almost a must when playing because you get to hear even the tiniest details, like sounds from the distance or even the simple creaking of doors and wooden panels. Even empty rooms will keep you guessing, and the feeling of uneasiness pervades throughout the game.

Foggy Memories

It’s been over 20 years since the release of the original game, so our memory of it is as hazy as the fog that envelops the town, but Silent Hill 2 Remake does such a good job, especially with gameplay, that it becomes easy to pick up by newcomers to the series while providing veterans something that’s familiar yet still fresh.

The Silent Hill 2 Remake does away with the tank controls prevalent in titles of the past and modernizes it to a more responsive control scheme that brings back the quick turn and dodge buttons, resulting in an intuitive playthrough that rids the player of the burden of heavy controls. It feels way better this time around, and the added mobility is heavily appreciated.

silent hill 2 remake screenshot 2

Because of this, combat feels better, and James isn’t such a sitting duck during encounters simply because he can move freely this time around. Dodging feels good and satisfying, making encounters something you may look forward to instead of simply running away because of how you can competently defend yourself.

With James being a more capable protagonist, enemies and enemy AI have also been improved, reinforcing the aforementioned point of more space to work with. Some of these fiends will hide and use the environment wisely, and while the enemy AI isn’t too smart (it’s decent), the feeling brought about by the atmosphere is always present, adding some nerves to the equation.

Of course, there’s always an argument to be made about how James feeling helpless was part of the overall charm of the original, but the combat in Silent Hill 2 Remake doesn’t suddenly turn James into a trained soldier. He’s still the same James, just a bit more mobile, which is just enough to make it a more modern and accessible experience while retaining that fear.

Iconic enemies like Pyramid Head and the Nurses make a return, sporting terrifying makeovers that are sure to give you nightmares. Not only a visual uplift, but even some boss encounters like Flesh Lip bring about brand-new mechanics that make the battle much more tense and something veterans can look forward to.

These are but a few examples of how Bloober Team has toed the line between changing too much and not changing enough to still merit a remake, and they have indeed succeeded in this department by striking that fine balance of retaining the essence of the original with modernizing the overall package.

silent hill 2 remake screenshot 1

If anything, Silent Hill 2 Remake is a more psychological game compared to the likes of Resident Evil, dealing with heavy themes of guilt and loss as James makes his way through the fog-stricken town. The narrative is enhanced greatly thanks to the further character development of the characters and the voice performances of the cast, and while the facial animations see a huge improvement from before, they still leave a bit to be desired.

Modern Flourishes

The Silent Hill 2 Remake employs an interesting amount of accessibility options that cater to both newcomers and veterans. Should players wish to play the game with some hardcore settings, they can choose to turn off interaction and interface prompts, while newcomers may want to leave them on to make the game more approachable. A 90s graphics filter is also available for players who want to go full retro, which is a nice touch.

Silent Hill 2 Remake will take you about 15-16 hours to finish, and it’s quite the rush because the majority of the game is really heart-pounding due to its oppressive atmosphere, which is captured by the remake perfectly. Repeat playthroughs are absolutely encouraged to see all endings.

silent hill 2 remake screenshot 6

Has Bloober Team played it too safe? It’s arguable, but playing the Silent Hill 2 Remake felt like it modernized enough to attract a new audience that the series can be introduced to, placing it in line with similar titles that have launched recently. At the same time, the overall feel felt like it remained faithful to the original, translating the most important parts like tone and atmosphere and bringing it over for longtime series fans to enjoy.

Comparisons to Resident Evil are inevitable for certain aspects like visual upgrades and other features, but it is important to note that they are completely different titles in the same genre. What they both successfully do, though, is bring these beloved classics back with the care and respect required to make the original vision of the game fully realized thanks to the technological advancements we have today.


Verdict: Buy it!

One-More-Game-Buy-1

It wasn’t easy, and after facing a lot of uncertainty and criticism months before its release, Bloober Team has delivered a fantastic remake of a definite horror classic in Silent Hill 2 Remake. The pressure to overcome the odds must have been crippling, but the team has successfully captured the soul of the original and has modernized it with care, resulting in a must-play entry for the series that has been long dormant.

From the stunning visuals to the haunting atmosphere and even the immersive audio design, the Silent Hill 2 Remake is a definite addition to gaming libraries everywhere, as its psychological spin on the genre is a testament to the legacy it left behind.


*Silent Hill 2 Remake was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.

Silent Hill 2 Remake Review

9 Score

Bloober Team has delivered a fantastic remake of a definite horror classic in Silent Hill 2 Remake, marking the great return of an all-timer.

PROS

  • Tone and Atmosphere Perfectly Captured
  • Visual Uplift Looks Stunning
  • Controls are Responsive
  • Amazing Audio Design

CONS

  • Camera and Combat in Tight Spaces are Sometimes a Pain
  • Some Animations Feel a bit Stiff

Review Breakdown

  • Rating 0

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