Introduction

13 years ago, which makes me feel super old saying that, Konami released a sequel horror game that would become legendary in the gaming world, Silent Hill 2. Silent Hill 2 would be re-released with various versions and on a multitude of platforms, only now in 2024, we’ve got a true remake thanks to Bloober Team (Layers of Fear, _observer, Blair Witch).

Aimed to be a fusion of a remaster and remake, Silent Hill 2 takes players back into the nightmare that is Silent Hill as the protagonist, James Sunderland. Those who loved the original are no doubt going to be the harshest critics but equally, in an era with amazing horror games, can Silent Hill 2 stand above the rest?

I for one am a huge Silent Hill nerd, which I say proudly, and I went into Silent Hill 2 with an open mind but equally analyzing every detail to see if this remake/remaster honored the original.

Let us find out in my review of Silent Hill 2 for the PS5.

Watch the Official Trailer

Gameplay

I sometimes forget that old games play like…old games. I popped Silent Hill 2 into my PS2 not too long ago believe it or not (my PS2 is still hooked up to my TV even today) and while I was giddy to jump back into the hellish landscape of Silent Hill and all the locales found in 2, I quickly remembered how badly it played compared to modern titles.

Tank-like controls, odd camera angles, and obscure items hidden in sometimes annoying locations make Silent Hill 2 OG a bit hard to recommend to gamers of this era. Bloober Team clearly felt the same and re-made Silent Hill 2’s controls from the ground up.

First, let’s talk about exploration. James is now way easier to maneuver as he is controlled in a more modern over-the-shoulder camera that feels tight but not constricting.
Even when the camera gets too close, it adds to the tension of wondering where an enemy might be lurking, waiting to pounce, or if that door just closed behind you, or if your imagination is getting the best of you.

Likewise, finding puzzle items—more on puzzles in a minute—isn’t as difficult as they tend to be visible and have a small indicator when you get close to them. Exploring the Otherworld—Silent Hill 2’s hellish landscape—or the already evil streets feels great and never made me want to question if my controller was working or if I somehow got drunk while playing.

Bloober Team’s next big re-haul of the OG Silent Hill 2 is the combat which is like an entirely different experience. James can now actually aim his gun, swing his weapons with precision, and even dodge like he’s been put into the world of Black Myth: Wukong!

What I also loved is the game reminds you kindly that James isn’t a battle-hardened soldier like protagonist Alex Shepherd from Silent Hill: Homecoming or the tough brawler Travis Grady (Silent Hill Origins).

James can’t swing a hundred times in a row and his aim is always slightly off, especially when aiming with a pistol or rifle. Even dodging has to be done with some thought as enemies will laugh at a player’s goofy attempt at dodging randomly as they course-correct their attack and lunge for an easy hit.

Silent Hill 2 now has solid combat that isn’t perfect but great for a horror title.

Let me now discuss the puzzles which make up 65% of Silent Hill 2. As you trek through Silent Hill you’ll find many and I mean many, locked doors and odd items that need the player to use their brains a bit to open.

You will come across traditional puzzles like finding a key in a hidden hole or using a clock hand to unlock a door but often these puzzles are simple enough to figure out and rarely left me running around cursing at my above-average intelligence. You can amp the difficulty up on puzzles making them harder (usually just alters the amount of items needed or puzzle locations) but for me standard was fine and pushed my brain just enough.

If Silent Hill 2 had any weaknesses it would be from the overall repetitive feel it can start having relatively quickly. Even when thrown into an abandoned apartment complex or abandoned hospital, see the theme there, you’ll always be doing the same thing. Run around scared out of your mind, kill a dozen enemies, find keys, solve a puzzle or two, run around screaming at the fact you ran the wrong way, and repeat that for another 15-20 hours.

Combat is always the same and while enemies can be sometimes surprisingly smart, I’ve seen nurses literally wait for me to miss and then unleash combos like this is a fighting game, they always can be taken down in a simple way. Shoot a few times, hit with melee till they fall and slam your melee weapon till the radio static is off.

I was never truly tired of playing Silent Hill 2 at any point but there were moments I felt déjà vu more than I’d like to admit, though this was a common issue with the original as well.

Graphics

Silent Hill 2 has had a gigantic overhaul in the visuals department that saying something cliché like its night or day wouldn’t be doing this game justice. Bloober Team has a solid track record of making gorgeous-looking horror games and Silent Hill 2 seems like they truly wanted to say to these gamers out there that they haven’t seen anything yet.

From the heavy almost alive-like fog to the creepy town of Silent Hill itself, Silent Hill 2 oozes with quality that immerses you in a way you never expected. Character designs and enemies like the Bubble Head Nurses, Lying Figures, and Pyramid Head (who look truly imposing), have an even more polished look that captures you the moment you see them.

I can say, personally, and as someone who has played the original several times on almost every platform it released on, that I was consistently jumping saying “Oh my god, look how creepy that looks, now,” or “Pyramid Head looks terrifying”.

Let me digress and stop my fanboying for a moment. Silent Hill 2 is an impressive-looking game that doesn’t feel like a simple remake or remaster, and sure as heck nothing close to the horrid HD Collection we got years ago. I praise the Bloober Team, they took a beloved horror title and made it for this generation.

Sound

From the static radio that warns you of encroaching enemies to the odd creaks and noises in a seemingly empty apartment complex, Silent Hill 2 has an even greater sound than in the past. Every movement in Silent Hill 2 has an eerie feel that only the sound enhances.

The voice acting too is significantly better than in the past and while it still has a campy feeling with the dialogue, James sometimes sounds too chill in a place that is flooded with horrors beyond the human mind, it works wonders for the overall story.

As a bonus, most of the radio/monster sounds come from the PS5 controller which is a nice extra touch.

Story

One of the strongest themes of almost every Silent Hill is the story/lore. Silent Hill is a place of existence where despite the randomness of enemies, has a purpose that transcends the normal horror theme.

Silent Hill 2 original, despite its goofy voice acting and iffy writing, still had a dark story that examined the human mind and what haunts us at a deeper level.

James is looking for his dead wife in a place that clearly is filled to the brim with death and yet is there despite knowing how crazy and unhinged he sounds saying it out loud. Add to that, most of the “residents” of Silent Hill seem to know more than they let off.

Now I know the endings of the past versions of Silent Hill 2 and have read probably too many online entries on the more obscure elements of James and his mentality but this new Silent Hill 2 does a pretty terrific job bringing you in even if you aren’t someone whose played this before.

From the various notes you can find explaining Silent Hill’s lore to the subtitle (and not so subtitle) spoken lines from characters, Silent Hill 2 does a great job of keeping you invested in the world of James and his battle through the madness.

Every ending, even the jokey ones, are worth getting/seeing, and make Silent Hill 2 a game you’ll boot right back up and re-enter just to discover what bit of lore you missed and see how certain events make even more sense on a second run.

Overall Impressions

Silent Hill 2 is one of the prime examples of where a developer can adhere to both newcomers and fans of a franchise. Revamped visuals, redone gameplay and yet filled with themes from the original, Silent Hill 2 does an incredible job of being not only a truly perfected remake but a solid survival horror that blows many others out of the water.

I’ve already begun my second playthrough and that is rare for many games nowadays. Whether you’re a returning fan whose played Silent Hill 2 original fifty times or a horror game enthusiast, Silent Hill 2 is nearly perfect and worth every hour you invest into it.

Conclusion

Silent Hill 2 I think could be contender for game of the year despite the stiff competition from this year’s amazing gaming titles. I haven’t played a horror game that has kept me so invested from start to finish in quite a while and even more so, one that I played so many times on so many different consoles over the last decade.

I was almost tempted to give Silent Hill 2 a coveted 10 score but even I know it just has a few quirks that keep it from that perfect value. Still, this is a title I’ll be playing for years to come to see more endings, learn more lore and just enter into a world that is truly intriguing and spooky.

Play Silent Hill 2, it is worth the price tag and worth the time to see all the endings and collect every little bit of lore you can.

ーAaron