Why Capcom Needs to Outshine Konami with the Silent Hill 2 Remake: A Gamer's Dream Come True

Highlights

Silent Hill 2 is taking notes from recent Resident Evil remakes, and Capcom should use a similar strategy for future Resident Evil releases.

The psychological and surreal elements of Silent Hill distinguish it from the action-driven and campy nature of the Resident Evil series.

Resident Evil can benefit from adopting Silent Hill's nuanced and intellectual approach, by incorporating elements such as metaphorical environments and storytelling to heighten its horror experience.

Silent Hill 2 and Resident Evil are often compared, despite their numerous differences. These comparisons are likely to persist as both franchises are remaking their classic releases from scratch. It appears that the upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake will draw inspiration from the recent Resident Evil remakes. Considering this, it would be wise for Capcom to reciprocate this influence for future Resident Evil releases.

Both Resident Evil and Silent Hill have been acclaimed for revolutionizing horror in video games. The original Silent Hill, released in 1999, was Konami's attempt to replicate the success of Resident Evil, which had established itself as the benchmark for atmospheric survival horror games at the time. Although the two may seem similar at first glance, Silent Hill took a decidedly darker and more psychological approach, with a melancholic tone. Over time, the differences between the two series grew, with Resident Evil leaning more towards action and camp, while Silent Hill became increasingly introspective and surreal, particularly in its second and third installments. Interestingly, history seems to be repeating itself, as Konami is now following Capcom's footsteps by releasing a modern, visually impressive version of Silent Hill 2, similar to what Capcom has been doing with the Resident Evil games.

New Resident Evil Games Should Follow Silent Hill's Approach to Psychological Horror

Resident Evil's campy and over-the-top elements possess a certain charm, but many fans argue that the series truly shines when it focuses on subtlety and horror. Resident Evil 5 and Resident Evil 6 received criticism for prioritizing action over the nuanced horror seen in earlier games, leading to a soft reboot of the franchise after Resident Evil 6. This reboot placed a strong emphasis on psychological horror.

However, while Resident Evil explores psychological horror to some extent, it does not delve as deeply into this aspect as the earlier Silent Hill games. Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3, in particular, revolve around characters haunted by grief and anxiety, with many of their terrifying experiences originating from their subconscious. While Resident Evil is known for its memorable moments, such as the iconic opening village in Resident Evil 4, Silent Hill stands out for its shocking plot twists and disturbing enemies infused with psycho-sexual imagery.

Resident Evil should maintain its unique identity while also drawing inspiration from Silent Hill's somber and intellectual approach to horror. By adopting elements from the Silent Hill series, such as the symbolic and subjective nature of the game's environments and characters, future Resident Evil games can become more captivating and impactful as horror experiences. Considering that Resident Evil excels in its slower and contemplative moments, incorporating Silent Hill's emphasis on atmosphere and storytelling would enhance the franchise's strengths.

It remains to be seen how much the upcoming Silent Hill 2 will draw from modern releases of Resident Evil, but it is likely that the remake will share certain similarities with Capcom's games, particularly in terms of gameplay. If this leads to a greater emphasis on action or moment-to-moment gameplay rather than the slow-paced storytelling, it could make the game more immersive and enjoyable to play in certain aspects. Similarly, if new Resident Evil games can embrace Silent Hill's psychological horror elements, they have the potential to become even more intriguing and innovative.