Tech Reviews & Gadgets

Silent Hill 2 Remastered is better than the original, but it’s a worse game

It is undeniable that Blumber has outstanding achievements and broad mind Silent Hill 2 Remastered Edition It exceeded expectations, but I still prefer the terrifying, mind-bending creativity of this 2001 classic. Technically speaking, the “Silent Hill 2” remake is more mature than the original “Silent Hill” game. It looks better, plays better, meets today’s expectations, and builds the town of Silent Hill in an ambitious manner. However, despite these possible flaws, the technical limitations of the original and the artistry that held it together make it something special.

To be honest, Silent Hill 2 is a better game because it’s a “worse” game.

First, let’s focus on the obvious. As we all know, Silent Hill 2 was filled with fog to ease the rendering load. But the setting’s most iconic feature isn’t the only hardware limitation you’ll find troubling. The jerky movements of the characters in the scene—from purposefully screeching monsters to figures moving in more familiar ways—are so different from smooth human movement that they create a fundamental sense of weirdness.

There was no motion capture of the core cast’s expressions (and even if there had been, the technology certainly wasn’t up to today’s standards). This means James and Mariah feel in 2001 leave Compared to peers in 2024. The uncanny valley still exists in Silent Hill.

The voice acting is equally incredible. Silent Hill 2’s soundtrack has often been criticized for being harsh and clumsy, but they’re an important part of the game’s atmosphere. The lack of realism in the delivery creates a nightmarish quality to David Woodland’s style. A non sequitur script, filled with lines that no human being could reasonably say, also contributes here.

In Silent Hill 2, the camera looks through the chainmail fence as James faces the monster.

In 2024, everyone looks and acts like a real person. This realism weakens the dreamlike atmosphere and reduces the space for nuance. Take Angela, for example. In the original novel, you can understand her painful past through vague dialogue and the character design of her own monster “Abstract Dad”. In the remake, she explains her dilemma directly.

James was also reluctant to accept explanations. In the original game, he had far less dialogue, and his delivery rarely conveyed the emotion you’d expect. This makes it more difficult to understand his “real” motivations and personality. Like your brain trying to decipher shapes in the dark, you’re left with your own ideas about who James really is. This means that Silent Hill 2’s multiple endings all feel justified because James is both a hero and a villain, depending on how you view him.

The remake provides more information to judge the characters, which means I no longer have the freedom to interpret them differently. I spent more time studying James’ inner world, and more direct and detailed descriptions allowed me to draw more logical conclusions. I found that I had less sympathy for him, and one of the endings was more decidedly “real” to me than the others. After the remake, it’s like looking at a painting in a gallery, but with a big plaque telling you exactly what it is.

In addition to the characters, the landscapes in the original game were less defined, meaning your brain had a harder time interpreting what it was seeing, even in well-lit areas. When the brain doesn’t get perfect information from the eyes, it creates something to fill the gap. This is why when you stare into a mirror in the dark, you start seeing scary faces, and why Silent Hill’s lack of detail adds to its fear.

James and Angela stand in a foggy cemetery in the remake of

In comparison, the remake of “Silent Hill” is more “knowable” than ever. You still can’t see three feet in front of you, but once you get close you can examine every building and street in incredible detail. You can smash windows to get items and get through doors that were once impenetrable walls.

When I played the remastered version, I believe I spent much longer exploring Silent Hill in the original PS2 game. I later went back to the original version and upon repeat playback, I found it was unreal. I just get lost more often. The remake does a better job of conveying where to go next and how to solve problems. However, this feeling of “loss” is as much a part of the atmosphere of Silent Hill 2 as the graphics and performances. Exploring feels safer without it.

Speaking of safety, you’ll feel like you have more control over the situation in Silent Hill 2 Remastered. This is thanks in part to the switch from fixed camera angles to an over-the-shoulder third-person perspective. The original took away some of your agency and made you feel vulnerable. Turning a dark corner is scarier when you can’t see what’s ahead, and you can’t decide when your perspective will change. The constant fog and darkness, combined with these harsh camera angles, give Silent Hill a claustrophobic feel.

2024’s Silent Hill 2 also feels more combat-focused than 2001’s Silent Hill 2. In the remake, you’ll face dozens (possibly hundreds) of enemies, and you’ll be able to fight or shoot them with smoother controls. Again, this will make you feel more in control of the situation. Enemies become overly familiar after repeated exposure, and fighting them becomes a mundane task rather than a truly terrifying moment. The James of 2024 is a monster in melee combat, capable of killing hundreds, while his old self feels more vulnerable and insecure.

In the original Silent Hill 2, James fights several monsters in the pool

Much of this game is conveyed through imagery and metaphor, so let’s talk about it in metaphor for a moment. “Silent Hill 2” should be more like poetry than novel. Consider traditional Japanese haiku.

These must consist of a five-syllable line, a seven-syllable line, and a five-syllable line. The original poetic form also limited imagery and intention, further limiting how you could create art within those edges.

While these strict rules may sound like they make creating more difficult, the opposite is true. You have to become more creative to overcome these obstacles, and the end result is satisfying and beautiful in a way that is difficult to achieve with free-form writing.

The “Silent Hill 2” remake is completely unrestricted by the creator’s talent and technology. However, its lack of constraints makes it less creative and less impressive. The original has more flaws in its telling of the same story, but it also makes more sense.

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