Silent Hill 2 Review

A Haunting Re-Imagined

The gaming industry has received its fair share of criticism in 2024 for a lack of creativity. Remakes and remasters have become a genre in themselves. But last year, we were blessed with the critically acclaimed remakes of Resident Evil 4 (2005) and Dead Space (2008). Add Alan Wake 2 to the 2023 offerings – an original release – and survival horror was back in vogue following multiple gaming award nominations and the craving for enhanced scares through improved graphics and sound. In 2024, the Silent Hill IP was the next to re-emerge with Silent Hill 2 (a remake of the 2001 game). While the number 2 may be confusing, there is no need to have played the original Silent Hill to embark on the journey into the foggy mountain town. With a heavier lean on actual survival horror than becoming an action hero with an arsenal of explosives, Silent Hill 2 sends chills through the body when turning dark corners and hearing the radio crackle in the controller because of vulnerability. James is vulnerable and therefore we are vulnerable. And the story is so engaging that no sexualised beast will stop the player from pushing through the horrors.

The story begins outside the sleepy town of Silent Hill (aptly named) with protagonist James staring into the fog. His dead wife of three years sent him a letter, leading him to the town in hope of discovery. The story develops at a slower pace, but this serves the psychological torment well. While James will meet people along the way, there are very few ‘companions’ which in other titles often reduces the tension. Being alone in an abandoned hospital in near darkness is all the more chilling without a damsel providing commentary. The developers know this, ensuring engagement with others is minimal. Well, not including the enemies which sneak up from all angles as the radio vibrates with static to signal impending doom.

In terms of gameplay, those that have familiarity with Resident Evil’s style (especially remakes) will find comfort in movement and fighting back here. James is no cop or hero, therefore relying on blunt objects to melee and basic guns to shoot. All attacks feel tight and precise, likewise the dodge action. It is simple because it needs to be. Shoot an enemy in the leg (if they have legs) and they will drop for the perfect pole to the head. Stomp to make sure they don’t get up. Enemy variety is not huge – you will see the same enemy type frequently in an area – but their appearance is so grotesque that each encounter is high stakes. A faceless mutant slowly appearing out of fog, an undead nurse limping at you with a knife, a pyramid-headed muscle man dragging bodies through environments. All is built to terrify.

The graphics in general are top notch. Environments are realistic, reflections are everywhere and the level design is enhanced by the detail on every floor and wall. But the true highlight of the game is the sound design. The patter of rain, groan of enemies and creak of floorboards – this may sound run-of-the-mill, but it fills your ears with dread (especially using headphones). I turned around, physically, to check behind me so frequently that my neck started to hurt. There are also random surprises with no clear reason for inclusion, like a man whispering in your ear when walking into a room or a loud scream when nobody is around. The soundtrack is emotive and moving. No game this year – Astro Bot and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth included – is at this musical level. The songs are not written to be catchy or “epic”. They’re included to make you feel pain, loss, sadness and hope. This is achieved.

How scary is Silent Hill 2? Very. A blocker for many interested gamers with survival horror is that the scares can be too much considering the player is an active participant. Watching a movie has detachment. Not here. You make the decisions, walk the corridors and pull the trigger. The game only stops when you stop. Due to the minimal weapon options, no path becomes easy. Sure, grabbing a shotgun mid-game and blasting enemies can increase the speed of encounters. But the enemies become stronger and often the biggest threat is their sneaking and dodging. The mannequins are a fine example of this. In terms of HP, they may be the weakest enemy. But their ability to hide behind furniture, remaining still, means the player often walks past them and receives a kick to the forehead. If the design of enemies doesn’t scare you, the sound will. Or the environments. Or the cannot-be-trusted people you meet along the way. On a scare scale, this hits a 10. Resident Evil 7 may be a good comparison – if you were able to handle that experience, take a trip to Silent Hill and see.

This game is a highlight in 2024. The campaign is lengthy, quality is high in all areas, and multiple endings increase replayability. There are difficulty levels for both action and puzzles to provide options for all players, and the IP is set to see other games released in the near future. Silent Hill 2 deserves a Game of the Year nomination, despite challenging my neck and underpants throughout my 15-hour playthrough. An experience not to be missed.  

 5/5 Creepy Mannequins 

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A Haunting Re-Imagined The gaming industry has received its fair share of criticism in 2024 for a lack of creativity. Remakes and remasters have become a genre in themselves. But last year, we were blessed with the critically acclaimed remakes of Resident Evil 4 (2005)...Silent Hill 2 Review