If you were to tell me about 4 to 5 years ago that SILENT HILL would not only be making a comeback, but a remake of SILENT HILL 2 by Bloober Team (creators of OBSERVER, THE MEDIUM and LAYERS OF FEAR) on top to boot, I would have called you insane for even suggesting the idea. The very concept of remaking what is considered by many to be one of the best survival horror games ever made would have been akin to painting a beard on the Mona Lisa. Doomed to failure, as mentioned by many sceptics and naysayers.

Yet, by hook or by crook, they managed to pull it off.

SILENT HILL 2 follows the story of a widower by the name of James Sunderland, who received a letter from his late wife, Mary, who passed away from an illness 3 years ago. He travels to the town in search of her, encountering others who seemed to have been called by the town and a whole host of monsters, including the titular Pyramid Head. As the game progresses, things aren't all what they seem, and James is put to the test in order to decipher of what is real and what isn't.

Taking inspiration from Capcom's RESIDENT EVIL (2002, 2015) remake, many locations and puzzles have been redone from the ground up and expanded upon, requiring new solutions that challenge experienced and veteran players of the original. Moreover, there's plenty of new puzzles that challenge your problem-solving skills and new areas to visit in your time in the titular town, like a music shop, different cafes, a movie theatre and so-forth.

The combat has also been overhauled, now using the standard over-the-shoulder 3rd person camera instead of the original's wide angle/fixed camera angle. This allows the combat to be more heavily involved, making this experience the most combat heavy of the franchise. Enemies also hit for much harder as well, so you will need to manage resources and take advantage of the dodge mechanic introduced to minimise the danger as much as you can. This can be a bit of a pain point for longtime fans, but it works in favour of the experience as James is still a bit awkward to control when trying to land hits compared to his RESIDENT EVIL counterparts.

It truly isn't a SILENT HILL experience without a great soundtrack, and longtime series composer Akira Yamaoka rebuilds all his original compositions as well as adding a myriad of new tracks as well, leaning in more into themes and leitmotifs compared to the original. There's also at least a few tracks in the game that reference the first game's soundtrack, which was a pleasant surprise as well. Also, much of the sound design is very top notch and adds into the fear of town's fog world and its Otherworld variant.

Speaking of the Otherworld, the game is visually appealing and can seem tranquil at times, especially when traversing the town both in the day and at night in later sections. The amount of small details truly gives a lot of life to the town and the locations you visit, and when the Otherworld transitions over, it is rightfully dark, bloody and disturbing, in a beautiful way. There's also a few hidden references to the first 4 games of the series that will bring a smile to long time fans as well.


In conclusion and with little to no spoilers, this remake of SILENT HILL 2 is a masterclass of horror gaming, and nothing short of a success story. Even with the backlash and scepticism initially, this is a game that is finally now available to a wider audience, and with a story that begs for various interpretations from all those who get the chance to play it. As a long time fan of the series myself, it truly is what I have wanted to experience after all the years of fairly average sequels (2009's SHATTERED MEMORIES is a hidden gem) and the long dormancy since the cancellation of SILENT HILLS back in 2015. With this game's success, I truly hope that the SILENT HILL series can see this level of praise in the future with the other planned titles and possible remakes as well.

You made me happy.

10/10