This remake hasn’t gotten a lot of buzz on the VGC forum, but it was one that I’ve followed since it was announced. Silent Hill 2 (PS2, XBox) is considered one of the greatest survival horror games of all time. It was well-loved upon release in 2001 and I personally played it all the way through just 5 years ago or so and I can say that the game still holds up, warts, tank controls and all.
Bloober Team is not a developer I love. I’ve only played a little of Layers of Fear and it felt “all style, no substance” to me. Having them do a remake of SH2 felt like a poor choice. Like a AAA baseball player called up to fill the shoes of an MLB all-star. But after months of fans worrying and a less than stellar gameplay trailer, I’m happy to say they’ve done the impossible; remade a game that manages to meaningfully improve on the original.
The problem with remakes like this one is even if things are improved technically, it tends to destroy the soul of the original. Of course it’s gonna look better and will have improved controls and camera. But if it doesn’t FEEL like the original, it can end up falling short of the classic. That’s not the case here. The environments are just as dirty, grimy and miserable, the gameplay just as slow-burning and deliberate and the puzzles just as clever. But the over-the-shoulder camera and traditional controls means it’s also going to appeal to newcomers.
I’m nearly 13 hours in, so I’m close to the end. It has been quite the experience. There’s never been a series that just fills me with dread like Silent Hill. And SH2 has always been my favorite. New players are probably going to feel the 23 year old game design and be slightly annoyed, but original fans are going to love that Bloober Team has so much respect for the classic game. Psychological horror has never been this good.
This isn’t meant to be a full review, but I’d put the game at a B. Depending on how they land the ending, it might bump it up to a B+. I just finished Angela’s “section.” The decaying house and “Abstract Daddy” boss as symbols of the domestic abuse of a child are done incredibly well. It’s such a heavy theme and it really makes you experience how it must feel. I’m very impressed the game turned out this well.
Silent Hill 2 remake (PS5)
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Re: Silent Hill 2 remake (PS5)
Also playing it right now and really enjoying it. I tried to play the original within the last couple years and got annoyed at the apartment section. With this one I'm past it and craving more. Love the aesthetic and soundscapes. Might try to play the fan patched version of the original to see if it clicks later..
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Re: Silent Hill 2 remake (PS5)
Finished the game tonight. I got the “In Water” ending (not a spoiler, since I’m not explaining what happens). The games a B+. Just a fantastic game, the definitive Silent Hill 2 experience and perhaps the best pure horror game I’ve ever played. I didn’t think Bloober Team was right for this job. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong!
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Re: Silent Hill 2 remake (PS5)
From what I've played so far, it appears Hell has frozen over and Bloober finally released a good game. It's never going to replace the original, but in my opinion it's a solid reinterpratation that deserves credit.
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Re: Silent Hill 2 remake (PS5)
Quick_Man wrote:From what I've played so far, it appears Hell has frozen over and Bloober finally released a good game. It's never going to replace the original, but in my opinion it's a solid reinterpratation that deserves credit.
I think you’ll continue to be surprised as you go on. It’s a remake that really gets better as you go. And I’m with you; I don’t care for Bloober Team’s games.
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Re: Silent Hill 2 remake (PS5)
Just beat it.
My complaints- combat feels clunky and in my opinion should've been minimized (or inversely added more enemy and weapon variety).
The game is padded out and overstays it's welcome.
Otherwise I was pretty satisfied. It's atmospheric, great looking, great sound design and has a solid storyline (rare for me with games in general). I have no basis of comparison to the original as I've only played a bit of that.
As far as Bloober Team goes, I've only played Observer, which I enjoyed. Seems like it's more of an actual gaming experience compared to the rest of their catalog (barring this remake obviously).
My complaints- combat feels clunky and in my opinion should've been minimized (or inversely added more enemy and weapon variety).
The game is padded out and overstays it's welcome.
Otherwise I was pretty satisfied. It's atmospheric, great looking, great sound design and has a solid storyline (rare for me with games in general). I have no basis of comparison to the original as I've only played a bit of that.
As far as Bloober Team goes, I've only played Observer, which I enjoyed. Seems like it's more of an actual gaming experience compared to the rest of their catalog (barring this remake obviously).