A remake of the beloved horror game Silent Hill 2 surprises returning fans and newcomers alike with its quality after many were left skeptical when it was initially announced. Silent Hill 2 (2024) was developed by Polish company Bloober Team and produced by Konami, the Japanese company that originally published the game 23 years ago. Silent Hill 2 (2024) managed to sell over a million copies just three days after release, making it Konami’s fastest selling game in its 55 year history.
Silent Hill 2 follows the story of James Sunderland, a man drawn into the mysterious and abandoned town Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his late wife claiming that she’s alive and well somewhere there. Silent Hill 2 (2001) was one of the first video games to effectively utilize psychological horror and was often praised for its inclusion of mature themes. Silent Hill 2 (2001) currently holds a score of 89 on Metacritic, ranking it among some of the best games of all time.
It’s safe to say Bloober Team had big shoes to fill as unfortunately, a sizable portion of the fanbase were opposed to a remake. For many players, the retro graphics and subpar voice acting of the original help convey an uncanny and surreal tone. While it may sound odd to those who are not familiar with the series, these elements are a large part of why Silent Hill 2 (2001) remains to have a cult following over two decades later. Many feared that these aspects would not transfer over well into a big-budget, modern-day take on the game.
Concerns also stem from Konima’s history of not putting much effort into the Silent Hill franchise, with the most notable example being the Silent Hill HD Collection from 2012. This collection was heavily criticized for poor resolution, broken textures, and the inclusion of the Comic Sans font, which was even turned into an internet meme.
We spoke to Felipe Santos, a longtime fan of Silent Hill, about his initial thoughts on the remake. “The first time I saw the announcement trailer for Silent Hill 2 (2024), I was excited because I had played the original a long time ago and was interested to see the game in a new modern light,” Santos said. “That being said, I was really worried about Konami’s faithfulness to the source material.”
Fortunately, fans’ fears were put to rest as Bloober Team’s rendition of the classic game has been receiving widespread acclaim. On Metacritic, Silent Hill 2 (2024) currently holds an 87 from critics, as well as a 93 from fans, making it one of the highest-rated games of 2024. In hindsight, Santos commented, “Since its release, I’ve been really happy they stayed true to it. I hope Konami can learn from this and do the same for the upcoming Metal Gear Solid 3 remake.”
Many are now wondering whether or not we will see remakes of the other Silent Hill games in the future. Bloober Team has commented on this, stating that: “If we like the opportunity, we’ll take it.” Ultimately, the decision for the release of new games will be up to Konami. However, with the amazing reviews and financial success, it’s a safe bet that we will see more Silent Hill remakes in the future, whether they are developed by Bloober Team or not.
