The long-awaited remake of Silent Hill 2 is due for release next week and, according to early reviews, it’s a faithful, expanded take on the horror classic.
Silent Hill 2 was originally released in 2001 and is widely regarded as one of the most iconic horror games of all time. After months of speculation, a remake was officially confirmed in October 2022 but development hasn’t exactly been straight forward.
Early in 2023, developers Bloober Team reassured fans that the Silent Hill 2 remake would only make “safe changes” to the game but after months of silence, the studio then asked fans for “patience”. Earlier this year, a divisive trailer showcased new, Resident Evil-inspired combat while Bloober claimed the video didn’t “reflect the spirit” of the remake and blamed publisher Konami for the advertising.
The back-and-forth has left some fans feeling uncertain about the upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake but according to a number of early reviews, the new game is brilliant.
Based on 49 reviews, the remake currently has a Metacritic score of 89. Eurogamer called it a “bloody triumph” in their five-star review, describing it as a remake that “both expands Silent Hill 2 in just the right places, and gives careful attention to what it preserves.”
In a four-star review, VGC praised Bloober Team for making the game look “more beautifully disgusting than ever”. They also highlighted improvements to combat but said that some of the gloomy environments were repetitive. “[It’s] an authentic tribute to the 2001 version, grotesque humanoid warts and all,” they added.
GamingBible called it a near-perfect remake, but criticised a new stealth section towards the end of the game in their review, while IGN wrote that “Silent Hill 2 is a welcome modernisation of a survival horror masterpiece.”
“I don’t know what’s more shocking – a well reviewed Silent Hill game or a well reviewed Bloober game – so the fact that it’s a well reviewed Bloober Silent Hill game was not on my bingo card this year,” wrote one fan on Reddit. “This has to be one of the largest shifts from ‘wow this looks rough’ to ‘I cannot wait’ I’ve ever experienced,” added another.
The remake of Silent Hill 2 launches October 8 for PS5 and PC.
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