Silent Hill 2 Review (PS5)

Bloober Team's remake is scary good



By Paul Hunter

Silent Hill 2 is regarded as one of the greatest survival horror games of all time and has influenced numerous other franchises ever since its 2001 release on PlayStation. The remake of this iconic title is being developed by Bloober Team and published by Konami and aims to revitalize the chilling atmosphere of the original with modern graphics, improved controls and numerous quality-of-life updates.

Follow James Sunderland as he arrives in the haunting town of Silent Hill, desperately searching for his missing wife. As you navigate this eerie environment, you'll encounter disturbing creatures and uncover the town's sinister secrets.

Silent Hill 2 is well known for its unique approach to horror, delving into psychological themes rather than relying solely on jump scares. Now, more than 20 years later, the Silent Hill 2 remake offers a fresh perspective on this haunting tale while remaining true to the elements that made the original unforgettable. Let's step back into the fog-laden streets of Silent Hill to see if this remake lives up to, or perhaps even surpasses the iconic original.



The gripping story of Silent Hill 2 revolves around James Sunderland, a troubled man who embarks on a quest to find his missing wife, Mary. After receiving a mysterious letter from her urging him to come to Silent Hill, you guide James through this unsettling landscape, encountering various characters who are each grappling with their own personal struggles. Angela, Eddie, and Laura embody different facets of trauma and guilt—but are they real people or just figments of James' imagination?

James’s harrowing journey, which takes around 15 hours on the first playthrough, is filled with unsettling moments that compel you to confront uncomfortable truths about who he really is. The game delves into themes of grief, loss, and the consequences of his actions. As you uncover the town's dark secrets, you realize that James is not just searching for Mary; he is also confronting his own inner demons. This duality elevates the narrative beyond a simple horror tale.

The remake stays true to the original's storyline while introducing new elements. Not only has all the dialogue been re-recorded at modern standards, but additional dialogue lines have been added to better flesh out each character and their personal stories. There are also new collectible memos that provide deeper context to the characters' backgrounds, and new mysterious photographs to find that enrich the experience. Also new are elements brought back from the original Silent Hill 2 game that when interacted with initiates a feeling of déjà vu, which is a nice touch for longtime fans.



The gameplay in the Silent Hill 2 remake blends classic and modern elements. While the core mechanics remain similar to the original, significant updates enhance the experience, like the new over-the-shoulder camera that lets you freely look up, down and all around to soak in all the exquisite details of the town Silent Hill.

Combat has also been enhanced, introducing a dodge button that allows for quick evasions, making encounters feel more organic and improving your survivability. Item caps have also been lifted, which is great news as you can now stockpile ammo for those inevitable tough boss fights.

One significant change in the remake is how expanded the environments are. There are buildings you can now enter that were blocked off in the original game, and whole new sections to explore, which nearly doubles the playthrough time compared to the PS1 original and even better, none of the new content feels like padding. The puzzles have also been updated, with some offering a modern twist, like matching poems to unlock doors. There are some real brain tickler puzzles in this new version, which is awesome to see.



Visually, the Silent Hill 2 remake shines with a complete overhaul using Unreal Engine 5, giving the game a much more realistic and immersive feel. The foggy streets and eerie environments are now more detailed, enhancing the creepy atmosphere and feeling of immersion.

Legendary Silent Hill 2 composer Akira Yamaoka composes the soundtrack for the remake, with over nine hours of original music that is just as haunting as the original. Unsettling sound effects have also been added, like chilling echoes of footsteps and the unsettling buzz of your pocket radio as enemies approach, keeping you on the edge of your seat.

One final new addition that goes a long way to drawing you further into the experience is the outstanding use of the DualSense controller on PS5. From the subtle rumble of your footsteps to feeling creaking doors opening to the violent shaking when riding an unstable elevator, every on-screen action comes to life through your DualSense.

The Verdict

Bloober Team's Silent Hill 2 remake successfully brings a classic horror experience into the modern era. Whether it's the graphics making the environments feel more realistic, the haunting music and eerie sound effects creating a sense of dread, or the improved gameplay mechanics that give you even greater control, this remake will go down as one of the best ever. If Konami were to decide to hand Bloober Team the keys to the original Silent Hill or Silent Hill 3, I'd be there on day one based on the quality of their Silent Hill 2 remake.

Final Score: 9/10 - Amazing


Silent Hill 2 details

Platform: PS5, PC
Developer: Bloober Team
Publisher: Konami
Genre: Survival Horror
Modes: Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature)


A key was provided by the publisher.