Silent Hill 2is easily among the best horror games ever made. When it was released in 2001, the title was met with instant critical acclaim, withSilent Hill 2’s heavy themes of trauma, guilt, and mental illness being viewed as a turning point in the medium. A modern remake ofSilent Hill 2was announced in October 2022, to the delight of longtime fans. However, one aspect of the game needs a major update. When it was released,Silent Hill 2featured a clunky combat system, even for the time. TheSilent Hill 2 Remakewill require a brand-new combat system and should lean towards last year’sThe Callisto Protocolover the much more popular, and weapon-heavy,Resident Evil.
Silent Hill 2 Remakewas announced at a dedicatedSilent Hillevent in 2022. During the event, developers Konami and Bloober Team provided insight into their developmental approach. TheSilent Hill 2 Remakewill closely adhere to the original source material while updating its presentation and employing an over-the-shoulder third-person camera.
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Silent Hill 2 Remake’s Combat Could Learn From Callisto Protocol’s Simplicity
Bloober Team has confirmed that theSilent Hill 2 Remakewill play it safewith the original’s distinct vision while improving its environments and gameplay systems. Nowhere is this needed more than in the original game’s combat, which was severely outdated.Silent Hill 2differed from its contemporaries, such asResident Evil, as it encouraged a fight-or-flight approach, with limited access to firearms. If combat was unavoidable, players were required to utilize a clunky melee system by entering Fighting Stance, then hitting either the “Investigate” button to attack or the “Run” button to block. Once an enemy fell, players had to walk over and hit “Investigate” once more to kick it.
Silent Hill 2 Remakewould benefit from leaning towardsThe Callisto Protocol’s modern system of melee-heavy combat.The Callisto Protocol’s combat is one of its most immersive features, as players are required to face many of its horrors head-on in hand-to-hand combat. Being approached by an enemy engages a combat system during which players must predict incoming attacks and dodge or block accordingly, following up with melee attacks of their own. Dodging and blocking are controlled with the left stick, or W/S/D on PC, while all attacks are mapped to a single button. Firearms can be used to face crowds of enemies, but likeSilent Hill 2, melee combat is prioritized.
Silent Hill 2 Remake Needs to Better Balance Atmosphere and Combat
The Callisto Protocol’s simplicityallows for rapid, fluid, and truly terrifying combat encounters that elevate the intensity of its survival horror elements, a characteristic thatSilent Hill 2 Remake could greatly benefit from. The original title’s combat slowed the experience to a crawl. Were theSilent Hill 2 Remaketo utilize a system reminiscent ofThe Callisto Protocol, its combat could not only avoid this pitfall but provide its most terrifying new feature.Silent Hill’s enemies are among the most frightening in gaming history, and forcing players to get up close and personal with their modern iterations could provide even the most seasoned fan with a truly horrifying experience.
When the title is released,Silent Hill 2 Remakeneeds to tread carefully. Much of the original’s abstract charm was born from the era in which it was released. Bloober Team will need to carefully balance the original’s unique aesthetic with its own modernized depiction, as updated visuals may detract from the dark and mysterious atmosphere. By ensuring this aesthetic remains, and updating the original’s combat,Silent Hill 2 Remakecan provide a faithful and modern reimagining of a true horror masterpiece.
Silent Hill 2is currently in development for PC and PS5.
