Review | Silent Hill 2 Remake

A short review

Do you remember the PS2 era and games like Silent Hill 2 and others from that time? I sure do, because that era, along with the PS1 era, was the best period in gaming if you ask me. There were so many innovative and simply great games, and the original Silent Hill 2 definitely falls into that category. It's possibly the best title in the entire series.

What's a bit strange is how Konami completely skipped the remake trend for so long, they've even struggled to release basically anything lately. I'm really glad they finally did this one though, and I can tell you—any skepticism can be put to rest. Team Bloober did a fantastic job remaking this classic. It's easily their best work to date.

Now, for some details... Silent Hill 2 was released for PlayStation 5 and Windows on October 8, 2024. I'm sure it'll get ported to other consoles, especially the PS5 Pro once that comes out. You can play the game in either Graphics mode or Performance mode—both feel a bit clunky to me, especially since neither holds the frame rate perfectly. Graphics mode looks much prettier, but the frame rate drops below 30 FPS most of the time, especially when there's fog. Performance mode is more stable overall, but it still doesn’t hold 60 FPS consistently.

The only other issue I’d mention is the HDR brightness and gamma settings—they definitely need tweaking. I’m sure they’ll patch it soon, along with some minor glitches here and there. But overall, the game is nearly perfect.

I don't think I need to spend a lot of words to justify the beauty of this game - It's packed with details and it plays fluent. It's one enjoyable candy!

Story and the characters

James. Who is he? Even he doesn’t know! It would help if you’ve played the first game, but unfortunately, there’s no recap in the main menu. Still, getting a handle on the story isn’t hard—you just need to survive this living hell. And escape. With a bit of luck, maybe James will find Mary and they’ll live happily ever after. Or will they?

This game really messes with your mind. It constantly bombards you with horrific, gory scenes, paired with sounds straight out of hell. Who would want to play such a game? I’d say just about everyone! It’s definitely not for kids, but if you’re looking for something truly terrifying, this is perfect for you. There’s never a moment of peace—you always have to stay on guard, mentally prepared. Even though I still remember the original, I was completely drawn in again. The story itself might not be something we’ll discuss in depth—it’s more about the experience throughout the game that ties everything together into one solid ride. Plus, with 6 different endings, how you play really matters.

On the downside, James is a bit dull and strange. Sometimes he shows almost no emotion or any sign of being mentally affected. Honestly, after 10 minutes in his shoes, I’d be a wreck—probably naked and crying in some corner. But James? He just seems disappointed in himself and the events unfolding around him. The voice acting really fits, though—I loved it. And the endings are all fantastic.

So, you are in hell, you need a key - and the key is in the infested toilet... No problem, let me just get in!

Game design, exploration

You can activate the foggy filter in the graphics options if you want more of that original feel and look. I think this new setting is just about perfect. The music hits hard, and the sound effects are top-notch. You won’t have time to think otherwise—the game just keeps delivering, and you’ll be hooked, enjoying every bit. The  cuscenes are fully animated too, which gives so much to the overal feel (the ones when you reveal something under the rags and such - they animated everything!).

The game is semi-open, meaning you’ll need to run around sections of Silent Hill town, searching for keys or items to progress. The map is fantastic—James marks everything, and it’s super accurate. By the end of the game, I checked the map 738 times. Wow! If you keep your radio on, you’ll hear a buzz when a creature is nearby, but sometimes it’s just bugs! Try putting the audio through your controller—it hits hard! It’s one of the best features in games, for sure (I loved it in Evil Within 2 as well). And yeah, Evil Within is so clearly inspired by Silent Hill, no question about it.

When you reach one of the main story locations, like the hospital, the game becomes mostly linear, but exploring these areas is perfect. Every room, every corner, every bit of scenery is packed with details. It’s awesome. It’d be a sin to rush through without opening all the cabinets to find bullets or stims to heal. I opened everything. This is exploration at its finest. Plus, the difficulty balance is great—Normal mode is perfect for enjoying the game while still having to think about resources (though there’s more than enough).

Good luck with the puzzles—they can be tough. I wouldn’t say they’re the best in the industry, but they are challenging.

While we're here, I want to note down how good the dual sense handles sounds (freaky!) and vibration (for example when it rains).

Enjoy the moments of silence and peace while they last.

Combat

Combat deserves its own section. Not because it’s brilliant, but because it’s perfectly on point! At times, the game makes you feel weak, like survival isn’t guaranteed. It’s a bit clunky, but that just adds to the experience. The melee combat is surprisingly good, and since enemies have random attack patterns, you can’t just button-mash your way through. You’ll need to conserve bullets, so that pipe or wooden plank becomes your best friend! And the stomping? So satisfying.

The guns are great too—though aiming with the controller can be a bit tricky, I still enjoyed them. But it’s more about surviving than killing, so sometimes it’s better to run than to fight everything in your path. You’ll need to save bullets for boss fights, which are, in short, awesome. And Pyramid Head? Best horror villain, hands down!

If I had to nitpick, I’d say the camera can be a bit wobbly in tight spaces, but the dodge button totally saves the day. The controls are super responsive, especially when dodging—it feels fair and rewarding.

P.S - You might want to map your controller buttons differently, it's a bit weird running with L1 and healing with triangle.

Maria is just cheerful, while James looks traumatized. I'm also a bit funky in the brain, this game just messes you up.

Side Content

We can’t really talk about side content in the usual sense, but the 6 different endings, a slightly varied New Game+, and meaningful difficulty settings definitely add to the fun. Depending on some choices, you’ll experience different outcomes and scenes, so it’s worth exploring. Also, adding new optional locations are a welcome addition (I don't want to spoil anything, but exploring this game is the core of what you should do).

I’m definitely going to replay this a few times. There are so many details scattered throughout the game, and I want to fully experience them. I also want to try playing without using the radio—it changes the experience tremendously.

If you enjoy reading lore, you’ll love the notes and memos in the game. They’re a bit bizarre, but they add so much to the overall atmosphere and feel of the game.

I can't even talk, I need some alone time under some lights. I will probably dream about pyramide head.

Conclusion

I’m glad they kept the original almost 100%. It’s one of the best survival horror games ever, and this remake just proves it. Once they fix the brightness in dark areas, some camera clunkiness, and a few prompt issues, this will be a perfect homage to the classic. Don’t sleep on it—you’re in for 15-20 hours of pure madness and horror, with even more if you want to experience everything (especially the extended scenes and extras).

Resident Evil 2 Remake and Silent Hill 2 Remake are my favorite survival horrors of this generation. Funny enough, they’re perfect, faithful remakes of games over 20 years old. So, Konami—what’s your next move?