Why Silent Hill 2 Remake Should Take Notes from Resident Evil 2 Remake

With each passing year, it appears that more classic horror game franchises are receiving remakes. Recently, Dead Space released a polished remake of its first title, following in the footsteps of Resident Evil, which began remaking its mainline entries after the success of its 2002 remake. Now, Silent Hill is joining the trend with a Silent Hill 2 remake currently in development by Bloober Team. While the Silent Hill 2 project owes its existence to the success of Resident Evil's remakes, it remains to be seen if it can live up to the excellence of those titles. Fans have yet to see much of the upcoming game or the other new Silent Hill entries, but the franchise's revival has invigorated the fanbase and cast a wide net. While Silent Hill 2 revisits the town and James Sunderland's journey, it cannot remain the same as the early-PS2 original, leaving many curious about how the gameplay will change.

Silent Hill 2’s Combat Can’t Be Trivialized

The combat system in the original Silent Hill game was a topic of much debate among fans. As a psychological horror franchise, the game focused on the subtler aspects of the genre. However, players were still required to confront supernatural creatures, which added to the tension of the game. The game's limited resources and challenging controls added to the feeling of dread and danger, making it a thrilling experience for fans.

Players developed a strategic approach to combat, employing a cat-and-mouse tactic of attacking, retreating, and then attacking again. Silent Hill 2 introduced multiple endings that took into account the player's health, encouraging players to avoid combat whenever possible.

Unfortunately, the combat system of Silent Hill 2, which relied on tank controls and readying attacks, is no longer popular among gamers. Nowadays, these mechanics have either been completely replaced or heavily refined, making them unfamiliar to players. While the level of convenience in modern games would provide an advantage in classic Silent Hill, nobody wants to go back to the frustrating combat of later entries like Homecoming and Downpour. Therefore, the Silent Hill 2 remake must find a delicate balance between modern standards and the nostalgic feel of the original game's combat system.

Resident Evil 2 Remake Adds Convenience Without Sacrificing Scares

One of the initial concerns from veteran players regarding the Resident Evil 2 remake was the change from the original fixed-camera perspective to an over-the-shoulder view, similar to Resident Evil 4. However, once gameplay was revealed, these worries were put to rest. The game manages to maintain its horror elements without sacrificing accessibility. Zombies no longer have consistent health pools, meaning that what would have killed them quickly in the original RE2 may not be enough now, requiring players to expend more resources to take them down. This keeps gunplay feeling satisfying while also retaining the same level of danger as the original game, if not more.

The developers of Silent Hill 2's remake should take inspiration from Resident Evil 2's combat system and prioritize stunning or disabling monsters over killing them. Melee weapons should be used sparingly and come with limited inventory space or durability. While the inclusion of a pursuing Pyramid Head like Mr. X may not be necessary, the game should aim to recreate the tense combat scenarios found in the RE2 Remake for a satisfying and faithful recreation of the original game. Silent Hill 2's remake is currently in development for PC and PS5.