it is still a ‘special place’

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Nostalgia can be comforting, but it can also be numbing; live in the past and you never have to face the future. James Sunderland returns to the seaside town of Silent Hill, a ‘special place’ for him and his late wife Mary, after an impossible letter promises she will be waiting for him there.

That was the premise of Silent Hill 2, Konami’s 2001 survival horror classic on PS2, and now the basic remake of Bloober Team only on PS5. Silent Hill 2 has always been a story about the longing to return to a time and place that no longer exists. Understandably, news of a remake was met with skepticism, not to mention Bloober’s own questionable track record of making horror that tactfully tackles sensitive subject matter (2021’s The Medium was a miserable experience).

So imagine my surprise if, despite being a remake content to play the hits, Bloober’s cover version turns out to be really additive.

The Otherworld is at the heart of the series, but it’s easy to forget that this twisted reflection wasn’t fully realized until Silent Hill 3. Bloober has taken cues from the later series entry for his rusted realm, leaving our skin alone in the best way. Radio static electricity flows from your DualSense, combined with returning composer Akira Yamaoka’s efforts to make familiar fears fresh again.

With the uncomfortable company of Yamaoka’s more industrial songs, I find myself creeping forward, afraid of what lingers in the darkness. Combined with brand new travel options for you And the enemies (even that red pyramid thing can open doors now), adjustments to enemy behavior increase the tension.

All the crazy faces you remember are here too, although the Mannequins have had the scariest makeover. Instead of waving directly at you, they now run to a hiding place when you enter a room, or crawl along the walls, lurking.

Original interpolations also breathe new life into classic songs – a flute melody during James’ opening monologue sticks in my mind, evoking wistful, even hopeful feelings and making the scene all the more daring for it. Brand new performances will also touch your heart; while James actor Luke Roberts delivers an understated performance that allows his scene partners to shine, while detailed facial animation makes the most of everything Roberts does very loudly is not proverb.

Ultimately, this is a loving retelling that modernizes a 23-year-old game – which we think is still worth playing in its own right, although Bloober now offers a much smoother introduction. And if you’re curious, I got the Maria ending on our first go-around. It’s fitting – I could never leave this city behind.