For a while, Silent Hill was my favorite survival-horror series before Fatal Frame landed in that coveted spot. Silent Hill 4: The Room still holds my top spot for the series despite its different approach to gameplay. However, there is no denying that the original Silent Hill 2 was where the series really hit its stride. This is where Team Silent and Konami delivered both jump scares and psychological scares with the new technology available on PlayStation 2/Xbox. Now, Silent Hill 2 has been remade by Bloober Team. And man, this team understood the assignment to the letter. This is as close to a perfect remake of a classic as one can get. New to the series? Play this. Claimed a ten star run in the original Silent Hill 2 and think you’ve seen it all? Play this.
Newcomers don’t need any familiarity with the first Silent Hill that centered on Harry Mason’s journey; feel free to hop in sight unseen. In Silent Hill 2, players take control of James Sunderland. He recently received a letter from his wife asking him to return to a place that used to house happy memories: Silent Hill. However, his wife, Mary, has been dead for three years. Lost and bewildered, James heads back to Silent Hill. Unfortunately, the town has changed. Something(s) and/or someone seems to be toying with James, his memories, and his fate in the now abandoned town. Along the way, James will meet other individuals inexplicably drawn to Silent Hill. James and the characters he meets are a diverse and sad group of people. They’ve been recrafted with an updated script in the best ways possible for this remake. Similar to James, the people he meets in Silent Hill are as troubled as the town.
Which, I think is important to talk about. Silent Hill is as much of a character as James and the rest of the cast. This is a case of “seeing is believing.” James and the other characters look excellent. There’s a contemporary, realistic look to everyone and there’s a believable way they react to all of the gruesome situations they come across. However, the real star of the show is Silent Hill itself. At times, it’s reminiscent of the seediest parts of cities that are in a perpetual state of grayness. Think Seattle, but lost to time due to people abandoning everything. The sun never shines. Buildings are dilapidated. Rust covers the cars. The sidewalks are crumbling. It’s the perfect horror setting. Personally, my favorite location in the game is the Silent Hill Historical Society. It’s a small museum with an an eerie quiet that displays the twisted history of the town. You’re only in there for a few minutes but the impact is real.
That’s just the beginning, too. Silent Hill has its hauntings. In an instant, you can go from a depressing motif to a room filled with blood, vomit, other bodily fluids and endless decay. That’s not even taking the monsters James faces into account. Initially, these are terrifying. Sometimes, they can be a nuisance. It’s hard to appreciate the atmosphere of the town when you’re running for your life or attempting to headshot a foe with your limited ammo. Enemy variety is lacking, but I look at this as a good thing since each monster James comes across is more than just a being to end his journey early. There’s a lot of symbolism behind each foe. For those wondering, the iconic Pyramid Head is still terrifying. The sound deserves praise, too. Sometimes there’s silence. Sometimes there are the classic sirens blaring. Sometimes there is music playing that is eerie, spooky, and terrifying. The shrieks and shrills that come out of the monsters’ vocal chord equivalents are gut-wrenching. No matter the situation, the sound adds to the atmosphere and ambiance.
But, let’s get back to exploring. This is what makes Silent Hill 2 so special. The town has been revamped to feel more lifelike and grand, but the original source material is still there. New things have been added to keep things fresh, too. James will wander around town and various buildings; slowly but surely getting closer to the truth behind Mary’s letter. Along the way, there are memos, letters, newspaper clippings, photos and tons more mementos to collect. Some provide hints to puzzles. Others are there to just add to the history of the town. There’s also ammunition for various firearms and recovery items. Every area of the town is filled with things to explore. Oftentimes, advancing means solving a puzzle. These are real brain teasers. Despite finishing the game multiple times, I’m still not sure why the solutions were what they were for a couple of them.
Other times, advancing means combating gruesome monsters. While still an average guy, James handles much better in this remake. There’s a visceral, tactile feel to combat. An amazingly handy dodge button coupled with his extra stamina and combat prowess make him a more competent fighter. Still, it doesn’t take much for his journey to get cut short. Some polluted spray from a Lying Figure and some stabs from a Bubble Head really take their toll. Ammo is always in short supply. Healing items are a bit more abundant, but things can get a bit too hectic. Figuring out efficient ways to destroy enemies or avoid them is just as rewarding as solving a puzzle.
The first time I finished this remake, it took me 14 hours. I got lost. A lot. Even with a map at the ready, I found myself getting turned around often. Granted, that has to do with my poor sense of direction. That’s on me. Most people will be able to finish the game in about 10 hours. With multiple endings and some neat things to unlock on a new playthrough, it was easy for me to hop right back into another journey. And again. And again. When all was said and done, I discovered all the endings (including the new ones for the remake), gathered all there was to gather, and ultimately, unlocked all the trophies. I didn’t just play this remake. I inhaled it. Silent Hill 2’s remake is another masterclass in how to go about making remakes of classics. It manages to capture and enhance the terrifying beauty of Silent Hill for a modern era.
Overall, 9/10: Restless dreams and terrifying nightmares for a new age. Silent Hill 2 has been remade almost perfectly.