Fog, Fear, and the Slow Burn of Psychological Horror
I want to preface this review by stating the following: I did indeed turn off all the lights before playing, and consequently, yes I did scream like a little girl, leaving me nothing to do except apologise to any disturbed neighbours, and leaving any would-be commenters no ground to stand on regarding me “not experiencing the title correctly”.
That said, allow me to creep, crawl, and any other horror based adjectives you can imagine, into the SILENT HILL 2 remake.
SILENT HILL 2 is a classic of 2000s horror, taking the blueprint set by earlier titles, such as Resident Evil or Alone in the Dark, and completely flipping the script enough to inspire later entries to these aforementioned franchises. Fast forward twenty-four years after its initial release, and any developer would have to be either out of their mind, or extremely talented to undertake a remake of the title. Does the remake honour the slow burning horror of the original? Or does it fall victim to many of the shortcomings of modern gaming?
A Story That Rewards Exploration
The first thing to note is present from your first steps into SILENT HILL 2, the narrative is strong… extremely strong. In fact, the story that unravels is so effective, it often overshadows the main gameplay, providing incentive to progress. It begins as a mystery, taking the mantle of ordinary James whilst he searches for a loved one, venturing into an unfamiliar, rural village titled – you guessed it – Silent Hill; this enigma continues, before transforming into a heartfelt, well written narrative upon completion. I of course don’t want to spoil much, however SILENT HILL 2 Remake does a brilliant job at rewarding exploration, whatever you put into reading and uncovering the world, will be paid back tenfold by the end.
Slow-Burn Shock
For those, such as myself, who’s horror journey in gaming extended towards the Resident Evil series, Dead Space, and a few others here and there, SILENT HILL 2 will not mirror those titles. Tell a lie, in aesthetic, and arguably progression, it most certainly does, however the core bulk of gameplay follows less of building up an almost nuclear arsenal of weapons and upgrades, yet rather relying on simple items for combat whilst heavily focusing on exploration.
I call this Silent Hill’s slow-burn shock, categorised through exploration and overall mood being the priority; you’ll search for clues, items and solves puzzles, all the whilst simply trying to survive in this town of Lovecraftian horrors lacking any arms, or squirming along the floor like worms. Truly terrifying. Much akin to the original Resident Evil, combat is not the focus whatsoever, not to say you won’t attack plenty of lying figures and nurses along the way – in fact I’m sure you’ll stamp on them so many times you’d need at least ten hands to count – but piecing the map together is the real challenge.
Circles, Clues, and Quality of Life
Objects you encounter throughout the town, such as a jukebox or broken vinyl, will be added to your inventory, only to discover that you must collect an assortment of pieces to reconstruct said jukebox for entertaining, albeit horrifying, set pieces. Sounds like a handful, having to memorise every location of every object just to progress a small fraction, and you’d be correct… if the map system in SILENT HILL 2 wasn’t as superb as it functions. Circles appear over locations that harbour useful tools or objects, dead-ends and secret passages are marked onto your map after encountering them, and so much more quality of life elements are found on this tiny sheet of paper.
Remember it’s still not an easy game, stalking foes lurk in the fog, beyond or behind, ready to pounce when you least expect it, and most definitely whilst you’re focused on the map or aforementioned objects.
This brings back to the weapons. I stated earlier, it’s unlike the almost nuclear arsenal you assemble in similar titles which may perhaps put certain players off, however I’m here to say, that’s exactly the point. Compared to say Resident Evil 4 where you can often feel extremely overpowered and the horror loses its resonance, being left completely defenceless, vulnerable, and exposed, creates a peak of horror in SILENT HILL 2 to the point I had to keep my door open. Knowing that a simple headshot won’t dispose of these foes leaves you dreading each and every encounter (I’m looking at you nurses making me backtrack to my long forgotten save upon death).
The Predictability Problem
Whilst everything previously stated remains true, there is a catch. You see, the core gameplay remains truly horrifying for a large section of your initial playthrough; each bump in the night makes you jump with fright so to speak. Fast forward a few hours, and this effect is either mostly, or completely worn off. “Why is this?” you’re most likely wondering, and it’s a simple, yet sad truth that left my experience feeling this way… the gameplay simply becomes predictable.
Each initial gap to slide or crawl through, wall to slowly (and I mean very slowly) stick your hand in, or frightening foe to encounter, is then matched hours in by that exact same circumstance, again, again… and again. Focus remains on the overall atmosphere, horror, and foggy future ahead, yet more often than not, core entertainment is forfeit for terror. Along the same lines, yet drastically more forgivable, is the repetitive combat; it never seems to truly escape the hit-and-dodge combo you’ll most likely implement, but that’s not what this remake of SILENT HILL 2 is going for.
A Masterclass in Horror Design
The final saving grace found here, and one that was inevitably present in the very foundations of the title even after twenty-four years, is the superb map design. Much like predecessors Resident Evil and Alone in the Dark, you journey through a confined area, often smaller than it may feel, left to backtrack and memorise environments. Each area you’re thrown into, despite being filled with fog, leaves it clear what is asked of you, planting clues, hints, and many hidden notes to guide you along its purposefully designed path. Juggling this, combat, and scaring the player leaves SILENT HILL 2 as a masterclass in horror gameplay.
Combat is not a focus in SILENT HILL 2… but that’s okay. For each beat of action, or flying zombie head lacking, there lies purposeful level design, an array of chilling foes to scream your lungs at, and an atmosphere so truly terrifying, you might just have to sleep with lights on and eyes open.
That is if you sleep at all…
Important Links
SILENT HILL 2 Surprise Launches on Xbox Series X|S and Play Anywhere – https://www.thexboxhub.com/silent-hill-2-surprise-launches-on-xbox-series-xs-and-play-anywhere/
Download from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/silent-hill-2/9PNVDQKPJRQV/0010
There’s a Deluxe Edition if you want it – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/silent-hill-2-deluxe-edition/9P9JDV1PV21H/0010
Grab a Bundle with SILENT HILL f – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/silent-hill-2-silent-hill-f-standard-dual-pack/9MZQ9BGNL7VK/0010
