Silent Hill 2 review: Lost in translation

This remake of the 2001 PlayStation 2 cult classic follows the same slow-paced storylines, updated dialogue and locations as it tells the psychological horror of a widower searching for his late wife Mary. It was certainly a courageous project 23 years ago, tackling themes of mental trauma, abuse and grief.

A cynic might say that the pervasive fog and gloomy interior acted as a useful shield from the PlayStation’s graphical limitations. Now remade in 4K resolution by horror specialists Bloober (The Medium, Layers of Fear), the game’s eerie feel seems diminished in part thanks to the muted color palette and lack of detail in the character models.

Silent Hill 2 asks you to enter the mind of James Sunderland as he – foolishly and inexplicably – becomes convinced that a letter inviting him to town is from Mary, who died three years earlier . But Sunderland as a character offers little insight into his grief and motivations, and comes across as less convincing than even the handful of psychologically damaged survivors he encounters.

Sunderland wanders the lonely streets and dilapidated buildings in the vague hope of clues to Mary’s existence. Bloober has raised the bar on combat compared to the original, so you’re never far from a faceless enemy – all limbs and no head – tackling with a 2×4 or shooting with a rifle. Yet you are rarely surprised as their proximity is telegraphed by static from a radio you have decided to take with you.

Silent Hill 2 would rather have you focus equally on the unsettling atmosphere, the disturbing flashbacks, and the sheer emotional weight of the characters’ stories. Presumably that’s why Bloober leads you through endless corridors. Your reward for escaping one apartment complex is immediately put into a second with identical objectives. Navigate maze-like rickety rooms filled with grime and hints of blood, find the keys to locked doors and dodge or bash the few creepy but lethargic enemy types.

Like its close cousin Resident Evil, Silent Hill 2 loves to solve oddball puzzles – like those that involve collecting pieces of a broken record and a button from a jukebox to release an elaborate key.

Unlike Resident Evil, Silent Hill 2 is sparse with scenes of pure horror, save for the rare encounters with the indestructible nemesis Pyramid Head. He’ll come at you every now and then with a giant knife, his metal mask protecting him from your bullets until he decides to leave again for no apparent reason.

Less is more – in terms of visual style and tension building – can be effective, but the long periods where nothing dramatic happens in boring locations border on monotony. And that’s the last thing you want in a scaremongering situation.