«Respects the original»: Silent Hill 2 remake received 87 points on Metacritic, but the game is not only praised

The remake of the cult survival horror game Silent Hill 2 by the Polish studio Bloober Team has received high marks from critics. As of October 4, the project’s average score on the Metacritic aggregator is 87and on OpenCritic — 86.

The reviewers noted that the developers managed to skillfully recreate the atmosphere of the original Silent Hill 2, while remaining faithful to the original source. At the same time, Bloober Team expanded and supplemented the locations, adding their own ideas. Special praise was given to the sound design, soundtrack, and reimagined bosses, which made the battles much more interesting.

Among the shortcomings, critics mention the sometimes slow pace of the game, which sometimes makes it seem long. Also, some reviewers found the gameplay too simplistic due to the large number of supplies for the protagonist.

However, most reviewers agree that Bloober Team managed to realize the seemingly impossible — to create a worthy remake of Silent Hill 2, which will be a great reason to plunge back into the gloomy atmosphere of the town of Silent Hill or to get acquainted with the series for the first time.

Eurogamer publication notes:

IGN Japan states says that this version of the game «shows great respect for the source material and successfully transfers the classic story of human weaknesses into the modern» era. The critic also praises the return of the classic survival horror with the nervous system of over-the-shoulder combat.

According to GameSpot despite all the difficulties, the Bloober Team did the almost impossible:

Screen Rant emphasizes that the game not only remains faithful to the original, but also gives surprises to players who return to Silent Hill 2. Thus, the «project justifies not only its own existence, but also the possibility of a large-scale revival of the Silent Hill» franchise.

GamesRadar+ notes certain limitations due to the strict adherence to the canons of the original, but calls the «remake an atmospheric and exciting horror game that is on par with Resident Evil» remakes.

In conclusion, Gamereactor UK writes:

• The original Silent Hill 2 was released in 2001 on PlayStation 2 and later ported to Xbox and PC. The game tells the story of James Sunderland, who receives a mysterious letter from his late wife Mary. In it, she asks James to return to the town of their shared past — Silent Hill. Arriving there, the protagonist discovers that the resort town has turned into a gloomy and eerie place full of ugly creatures. Throughout the game, James has to uncover the secrets of Silent Hill and face his own painful past.
• Silent Hill 2 has gained cult status for its psychologically deep and multi-layered story that tackles the themes of guilt, punishment, and redemption. The game is famous for its oppressive atmosphere created by foggy locations, disturbing soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka, and hostile environments.

Release trailer

Silent Hill 2 remake will be released on PlayStation 5 and PC (Steam) on October 8, and two days earlier for owners of the extended versions.