Silent Hill 2, a remake of the iconic 2001 PS2 survival horror game, takes players on a journey as protagonist James Sunderland. Venture into the desolate town of Silent Hill, a place filled with memories of his overdue wife Mary, as he comes to terms with those memories, encountering monsters and a cast of characters. The remake is coming to PS5 on October 8.
I recently got a chance to play the highly anticipated remake. Join me for a spine-chilling recap that spans from the opening scene to the epic boss fight with the Red Pyramid Thing (aka Pyramid Head).
The story begins in a grubby public toilet.
The game begins with James recalling the contents of a letter he received from his deceased wife in a dimly lit public restroom on an observation deck on the outskirts of Silent Hill. In 2001, the level of filth and garbage in this restroom was the pinnacle of realistic, atmospheric visuals in games.
At first glance, I noticed that while the public toilet was almost identical in proportion to the original, it looked more detailed and realistic, with graffiti and scribbles on the walls, grubby floors, and a filthy toilet bowl. This was unsettling, as if it foreshadowed the grueling journey James was about to embark on.
New, engaging over-the-shoulder perspective
The first thing that struck me when I started playing was the fresh over-the-shoulder perspective. While the overhead view in the original made it feel like I was watching a movie, the updated view in the remake brought me closer to James’s point of view, supporting a greater immersion and feeling of being in Silent Hill. The 3D audio also deepens the immersion, making the rustling of leaves and James’ footsteps seem audibly realistic.
A thickening fog envelops James’s state of mind
In the original game, the observation deck in the opening scene was shrouded in fog, while in the remake the view is clear. In the beginning… As James approaches the city, the fog thickens, almost symbolizing his state of mind and creating anxiety in the player.
The first area James visits is the eastern district of Silent Hill. At first, the in-game map didn’t look much different from what I remembered from the original, but I soon found out that I was wrong. The houses, apartments, shops, and other buildings have been greatly improved, with intricate details that weren’t there in the original. Detailed chairs, flower pots, abandoned garbage, and other props faithfully recreate the atmosphere of the fog-shrouded streets of Silent Hill.
The more buildings you can explore, the more fun it is
While exploring the city, I was surprised to find that the remake had more buildings for James to enter than the original. In some cases, he had to smash through window panes to break into the building. Ammo and salvage items were hidden inside, making exploration vital and more rewarding. However, the monsters lurking in these buildings meant I had to stay alert and engaged, which added an extra layer of challenge to the game.
Intense, close combat
Fighting the hideous creatures in Silent Hill feels completely different than in the original. The monsters in the earlier stages of the 2001 original are rather passive and can be beaten to death without much rescue. In the remake, some enemies can now counterattack between the player’s attacks. Successfully avoiding these counterattacks and timing your retaliation adds a fresh, engaging element to the game’s later stages. A fresh over-the-shoulder perspective allows players to get a closer look at the grotesque enemies.
Riddles that will test your wisdom and observation skills
I had the opportunity to play the fresh puzzles where I had to collect a lot of items to combine in order to solve them. Despite this, I came across puzzles with clever references to the original, so I’m sure this will bring joy to fans of the original Silent Hill 2 and give them something fresh to solve. It’s also good to know, for those who aren’t avid puzzle solvers, that the difficulty of the puzzles can be set separately from the level of the game’s action elements, such as the combat level.
Newly renovated apartments
Remember the Wood Side Apartment and Blue Creek Apartment from the beginning of the story? Well, their layouts have changed significantly from the original. While the overall story remains the same, the places where James finds items, puzzles, and encounters enemies are completely different, challenging returning players to come up with fresh approaches to the remake.
Fans of the 2001 original will remember the loading screens as you transition between rooms. In the remake, James can move fluidly through the building. But be careful when rushing into a room. I was so focused on making progress that I was attacked by a monster that made me jump.
fever pyramid head
The Pyramid Head encounter at the end of the apartment has also evolved significantly, with James facing the humanoid monster in a larger, more intense warehouse-like room than the diminutive room of the original. Watching the iconic villain barrel toward you, dragging his massive, sparking blade across the ground, is still a terrifying sight.
Pyramid Head’s movements and attacks are quite sluggish. Staying peaceful is key to avoiding his attacks or keeping a safe and sound distance. However, each blow from Pyramid Head is devastating, as I discovered when he swung his arm and sent James flying.
Since my time at the event was narrow, I’m sure I missed out on some highlights. But for now, I’ll have to wait to explore every nook and cranny of Silent Hill’s streets and buildings until the game launches on PS5 on October 8.
