Silent Hill 4: The Ideal Candidate for Konami's Remake

Highlights

Silent Hill 4 took a risk by deviating from the franchise's formula, but still delivered an exciting psychological horror experience with a unique story.

The game's potential was hindered by its frustrating gameplay mechanics and graphics. A remastered version of Silent Hill 4 has the opportunity to greatly enhance its combat, AI, and visuals, amplifying its eerie atmosphere and addressing the game's weaknesses.

Developers often adhere to a familiar formula that defines the essence of video game franchises, such as the abundance of weapons and comedic dialogue found in Borderlands. Thus, when a developer decides to deviate from this formula, it becomes a risky endeavor that can either be embraced or despised on a large scale. Occasionally, the outcome is successful, as seen in the new God of War games which masterfully explore the father-son dynamic between Kratos and Atreus. On the other hand, there are instances where the departure from the formula results in a spectacular failure, as illustrated by Warcraft 3: Reforged. However, there are rare occasions when a game sharply divides its fan base due to its mechanics, and Silent Hill 4 is a prime example of such a divisive title.

Like many other intellectual properties, the Silent Hill franchise has experienced both outstanding and lackluster releases, with the former generally overshadowing the latter. Silent Hill 4, despite deviating from the series' typical formula, managed to maintain its reputation as an exhilarating psychological horror experience. While the announcement of a remake for Silent Hill 2 has generated excitement, Silent Hill 4 remains the ideal choice for a remake by Konami. With the integration of modern graphics and gameplay changes, the original narrative would evoke even greater terror, making it a compelling candidate for a revitalized version.

Silent Hill 4 Could Benefit from Next-Gen Graphics

Silent Hill 4 departs from the franchise's usual setting and tells the story of Henry Townshend in Ashfield. He navigates through mysterious portals between his apartment and a nightmarish place called Walter's Otherworlds. Caught in Walter Sullivan's plan to reunite with his mother through a ritual, Henry confronts terrifying monsters in Walter's Otherworlds to stop the occult practice. Despite deviating from the typical narrative, Silent Hill 4 delves into psychological horror through Walter's victims and the recurring theme of claustrophobia.

The game's unique storyline sets it apart from other titles developed by Team Silent in the Silent Hill series. However, it is not without its flaws. Silent Hill 4 disappoints in terms of gameplay and graphics, which are crucial elements for any game. It features unnecessarily difficult combat mechanics, unreliable hit detection, and a limited inventory, all of which contribute to its flawed design. Additionally, the hauntings throughout the game become a hassle, as players must frequently backtrack to collect and save holy candles. These challenges prevent the game from reaching its full potential, highlighting the need for a remake by Konami.

A potential Silent Hill 4 remake would need to enhance its eeriness by incorporating more detailed textures and environments, similar to the approach taken by EA Motive in the Dead Space remake. EA Motive not only added atmospheric details through fog and lighting, but also gave extra attention to the environmental and textural elements of the USG Ishimura. Konami could adopt a similar strategy by reworking the game's levels. Another area for improvement could be addressing the frustrations players had with escorting Eileen in the second half and dealing with her AI, as well as addressing the redundancy in the game's level design.

By improving combat mechanics and AI, and updating the visuals to match modern standards, a remake of Silent Hill 4 has the potential to make a significant impact for Konami. Considering that Silent Hill 2's remake is already underway and promises to stay true to the original storyline, there is hope that Silent Hill 4 will also receive the remastering treatment. The two games have a loose connection through a memo mentioning Walter's victims, making it fitting for the fourth installment to receive an upgrade alongside Silent Hill 2.