Silent Hill all the time has been and eternally will probably be thought of one of many best horror franchises ever made, however ask anybody below the age of 20 these days what recreation Pyramid Head is from and so they’re maybe extra more likely to title Useless by Daylight than the sequence’ legendary second entry. Just a few dire facet video games (PS3’s Downpour and the PS Vita title E-book of Recollections) together with Konami’s determination to step away from the online game trade have seen the IP fall into obscurity, solely actually talked about when discussing its PS2 heyday. There’s no option to play any of the previous instalments on PS5 or PS4, and because of how dreadful the HD Assortment on PS3 was, the definitive console variations stay the originals.
It’s a tragic state for such an iconic IP, however as Capcom goes from energy to energy with its glorious Resident Evil remakes, Konami lastly appears to need to make amends with new instalments, and at the start, a full remake of what’s broadly thought of the franchise at its peak: Silent Hill 2. Bloober Group of Blair Witch and The Medium fame has been drafted in to assist make the venture a actuality, working in shut collaboration with Konami to faithfully carry again the traditional. Whereas there had been doubts over its potential to take action, the Polish developer has nicely and really put any considerations to mattress: Silent Hill 2 is unimaginable.
The 2 corporations have come collectively to create a PS5 expertise that wholeheartedly honours the PS2 masterpiece whereas increasing it and implementing new concepts, belongings, and areas in all the suitable methods. What as soon as was a roughly 10-hour recreation is now double that, with extra issues to see and do that also stick with the primary story and its themes. It’s a formidable recreation of Silent Hill that manages to really feel each acquainted as you stroll its similar streets 23 years later, but in addition contemporary as unforgettable places like Toluca Jail and the Labyrinth obtain important touch-ups whereas retaining their scare issue.
It’s not an actual, one-to-one recreation; there have been modifications made, but the PS5 replacements nonetheless really feel proper and related. You’ll really feel it most within the puzzles, the place some have been swapped for fully new ones or up to date with totally different options and mechanics. There’s barely much less of an emphasis on fixing out-and-out riddles, exchanged for extra exploration of the broader environments to seek out gadgets. Whereas this trade-off could develop into one of many few topical debates surrounding the discharge, lots of the remake’s different additions and updates make for a a lot better enjoying recreation.
The digicam, for instance, has been introduced a lot nearer to protagonist James Sunderland with a contemporary over-the-shoulder perspective to enhance immersion. This has aided the fight system, which — whereas retaining its weighty and deliberate roots — feels so much higher, particularly with a gun in your palms. After all, the management system has been overhauled to mirror all of this — fashionable button mapping makes interplay a breeze, even within the lovingly archaic-looking stock menu.
And that’s precisely what Silent Hill 2 on PS5 manages to take action nicely: it continues to revel within the extra traditional gameplay types of outdated, like delightfully convoluted puzzle-solving, whereas additionally nonetheless feeling, controlling, and looking out like every other fashionable recreation. From a purely visible perspective, it could not fairly evaluate to Capcom’s personal remaking efforts, however the whole lot else Bloober Group and Konami have achieved greater than stacks up towards a Resident Evil 2.
One of many issues that’s allowed the PS2 authentic to maintain its significance for such a very long time, although, is its narrative. The story of James and the journey to seek out his useless spouse in Silent Hill is heralded for its dealing with of delicate topics and themes, and in itself presenting a gripping plot filled with intrigue. Bloober Group handles this delicate side with respect because it faithfully restores the plot for the trendy period, with little in the best way of edits or cuts. The principle beats all return as you bear in mind them, together with each ending featured within the authentic recreation. A handful of totally new conclusions have additionally been written into the PS5 remake. All in all, with the supply textual content already there for Bloober Group to recreate, Silent Hill 2 nonetheless makes the identical impression greater than twenty years later.
The extraordinary and suspenseful gameplay loop of merchandise looking out and combating monsters holds up too — by the assistance of its fashionable enhancements. With out the necessity for goal markers or quest logs, you’ll really feel a pure urge to probe each room making up any given location — from the Woodside Residences to the ultimate Lakeview Lodge — attempting to find gadgets and assets. The traditional survival horror loop of fixing extravagant puzzles stays extremely satisfying, mixed with tense and closely weighted fight to make any expedition away from a save level a harmful one.
You see, James isn’t a military-trained soldier; he’s only a common man searching for his spouse. He’s not been skilled within the artwork of metal pipe swings, nor does he really feel significantly snug with a shotgun in his palms. The sport displays his inexperience with a really deliberate, heavy fight system that prioritises melee weapons for normal enemies and weapons for boss fights. James swings the 2×4 slowly, whereas reloading and popping off correct photographs takes time. Each motion you are taking throughout an encounter feels intentional and calculated, as a result of should you miss, there’s each likelihood the monster on the opposite finish will chew again with a killing blow.
This goes each methods, although: seeing an enemy drop to the ground so you may beat it to loss of life after a few profitable hits is extra gratifying while you’ve earned it. The one different transfer James has in his repertoire is a really primary dodge, so Bloober Group has efficiently emulated the fight mechanics of outdated whereas giving them a modern-day really feel, like over-the-shoulder aiming. Making you concentrate on while you assault somewhat than going gung ho, it’s a measured mechanic that heightens satisfaction and aid.
One other manner Silent Hill 2 faucets into these senses is thru the PS5 DualSense controller, with among the most spectacular implementations of haptic suggestions in years. Work has been put into simulating lots of the actions or environments portrayed in your TV display so you may really feel them in your palms. At midnight, when the heavens open and there’s rain soaking James to the bone, you’ll really feel every particular person droplet within the pad. As you’re exploring Toluca Jail, there’s a piece the place an alarm is sounded. Its grinding, insufferable pitch interprets into vibrations contained in the PS5 controller that genuinely make it disagreeable to carry. The impact makes you need to shut the alarm off as rapidly as doable, intensifying the sequence as a complete as you start to really feel it in your personal physique. A few of Silent Hill 2’s use instances would make Astro Bot proud — it’s that efficient.
The transformation of the sport’s visuals, from PS2 to PS5, is one other spotlight. It doesn’t fairly evaluate to top-of-the-line AAA titles, however to see how Bloober Group has faithfully recreated all of Silent Hill 2’s iconic places, cutscenes, and moments for the present era is spectacular in itself. With a brand new soundtrack from returning composer Akira Yamaoka, it’s a sensual delight from each a graphical and auditory perspective.
The one correct disappointment is a few slight visible bugs within the thick fog of Silent Hill, the place you may generally see the outlines of buildings poking by. It seems to be slightly unnatural, significantly when it’s troublesome to see anything past 5 ft in entrance of you. There’s additionally a slight fuzziness to character’s faces when analysed up shut and through cutscenes, which seems to be slightly unusual. You get used to it, however it may be distracting on occasion.
Conclusion
Bloober Group has faithfully and respectfully recreated one of many survival horror style’s all-time greats, modernising Silent Hill 2 in all the suitable methods. A lot of what made the Konami traditional a masterpiece in 2001 stays on this PS5 remake 23 years later, with the identical unforgettable story, satisfying exploration, and weighty fight. There have been considerations within the lead-up to launch, however Silent Hill 2 speaks for itself: a spectacular expertise that when once more represents survival horror at its greatest.
