Summary
After a long hiatus,Silent Hillis finally coming back. At the time of writing, there arethreeSilent Hillgames in development:Silent Hill: Townfall,Silent Hill F, and theSilent Hill 2remake, which is without a doubt the most highly anticipated of the bunch. Konami is ostensibly counting on the remake torepriseSilent Hill’s cultural relevance, but this could be a risky move.
The remake train is still chugging along, with major companies like Capcom and Square Enix enjoying astounding success with recent, ground-up remakes of some of their best-selling classic games. Konami has no doubt been inspired by the critical and commercial success of its contemporaries, asSilent Hill 2’s remake has been the only upcomingSilent Hillgame to receive more than a brief, vague teaser. WithSilent Hill 2being commonly cited as the best of the franchise, Konami is likely hoping to cash in on nostalgia and good will with the remake, and while this isn’t inherently a bad thing, the company should also be prepared for things to take a different direction.
Silent Hill’s return to mainstream gaminghas gotten off to a bumpy start, withSilent Hill: AscensionandSilent Hill: The Short Messageearning less than desirable receptions.
Silent Hill Shouldn’t Put All Its Eggs In One Basket
Silent Hill 2’s Remake Might Not Be an Easy Victory
Silent Hillfans can only hope that theSilent Hill 2remake honors the spirit of the original while ushering the franchise into the modern era, but such a positive outcome is far from guaranteed, unfortunately. While theSilent Hill 2fan base is massive, it’s also discerning and passionate: these fans won’t accept anything less than great, so if the remake is seen as somehow not doing justice to the original, it could attract loads of negative publicity and be left dead in the water. At the same time, series newcomers have loads of other great survival horror games to choose from, with recent releases like theexcellentResident Evil 4remakeand smaller titles likeSignalisserving as stiff competition forSilent Hill 2; the game can’t just coast on nostalgia.
Speaking ofResident Evil, Capcom’s success with its remake initiative shouldn’t be used as a blueprint for Konami. While it’s true that theResident Evil 2remake was a resounding hit, it followed the well-receivedResident Evil 7. Capcom wasn’t counting on the remake to reinvigorate interest in theResident EvilIP. Rather, the developer put its strongest, most innovative foot forward, then followed it up with a great, nostalgia-fulfilling remake. It’s also worth mentioning that theSilent Hill 2remake will probably be compared toResident Evil’s critically acclaimed remakes, so the pressure is on for Konami to deliver something truly special.
Silent Hill Needs to Look Toward the Future
While theSilent Hill 2remake shouldn’t be written off before it even releases, it shouldn’t be considered an easy lay-up, either, and Konami certainly shouldn’t count on it to bear the weight of contemporarySilent Hillon its own. Rather, both developers and audiences should put more stock in new, more ambitiousSilent Hillprojects. Something likeSilent Hill Fhas far more potentialto revive the franchise, as it can bring new ideas to the table.
Capcom wasn’t counting on the [Resident Evil 2] remake to reinvigorate interest in theResident EvilIP.
Silent Hillis a legendary franchise for a number of reasons, not the least of which being its commitment to innovation and boundary-pushing. Remakes can be great, but innovation usually isn’t where they shine, so ifSilent Hill 2’s remake lands with a thudor, even worse, is panned, then Konami should be ready to go full-tilt with more experimental and bold releases, rather than killing the series before it has a chance to be reborn.
Silent Hill 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Investigating a letter from his late wife, James returns to where they made so many memories - Silent Hill. What he finds is a ghost town, prowled by disturbing monsters and cloaked in deep fog. Confront the monsters, solve puzzles, and search for traces of your wife in this remake of SILENT HILL 2.High-end Graphics and SoundWith ray tracing and other cutting-edge technical enhancements, the world of SILENT HILL and its unsettling ambiance is even realer than before.And with the inclusion of new, immersive soundscapes, you’ll feel like you’re standing in the thick of it.Larger EnvironmentsExplore locations and buildings that were once inaccessible, or are newly added in the remake. Enjoy the same acclaimed story, even while you experience the town of Silent Hill with fresh eyes across an expanded map.Over-the-shoulder CameraThe remake moves from the original’s fixed-camera viewpoints to an over-the-shoulder perspective, putting you closer to what James sees, for a more thrilling, more immersive experience as you explore the town and come face-to-face with monsters.Evolved Combat GameplayFamiliar weapons like the steel pipe and handgun make their return, but now with an updated combat system. Avoid attacks with carefully timed dodges, aim down sights, and more, making monster encounters more engaging and nerve-wracking than ever.
