Silent Hill 2 Remake review: Halloween is coming – and it’s the perfect time to take a trip back to Silent Hill

As a seasoned connoisseur of gaming experiences, I must say that the Silent Hill 2 Remake is nothing short of a masterstroke. Having ventured into the original hauntingly beautiful town back in 2001, it’s a delight to see its ghostly allure resurrected with such reverence and innovation.

Silent Hill 2 Remake (PlayStation, PC, £59.99) 

Verdict: A new classic

Wow, this remake of Silent Hill 2 is truly chilling! It manages to preserve the spine-tingling horror of the original game from 2001 and adds even more creepiness to it. Essentially, a horror classic has been given a fresh, unsettling twist, making it perfect for Halloween.

If you’ve experienced the original version, you’ll notice many similarities with this new Silent Hill. The narrative revolves around James Sunderland once more, as he embarks on a journey through the hauntingly foggy town that gives the game its name, in pursuit of his supposedly deceased wife, Mary. But is she truly gone? That’s the question that remains unanswered.

You’ll continue to tackle puzzles and intense battles against eerie creatures to advance, while the town’s alarm will still cause a chill down your spine.

To be completely honest, what truly impresses me about this remake is what made Silent Hill 2 stand out originally – an unmatched atmosphere that few, if any, horror games have been able to replicate.

Exploring the haunted town of Silent Hill unfolds as a reflection of James’s tormented conscience, and it’s the tense music by Akira Yamaoka that gives shape to this experience, along with the chilling encounters with the most terrifying creature, Pyramid Head.

However, the updated version boasts several noteworthy enhancements. For instance, the visuals are now on par with contemporary standards, and the control system for moving and combating James has been streamlined – the original version occasionally felt a bit awkward in these areas.

Despite the obvious changes being noticeable, it’s the less apparent alterations, those that some players might never experience, that truly stand out. For instance, there are two fresh possibilities for endings, both consistent with the original’s mysterious conclusions. This remake demonstrates a balance between innovation and reverence to its predecessor.

This approach has proven incredibly effective, making it my go-to method for exploring Silent Hill. Don’t forget to gather necessary items like a toothbrush, extra clothing, and a blanket – you never know when you might need to conceal yourself from the terrors lurking around.

Metaphor: ReFantazio (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £59.99) 

Verdict: Fantasy fantastic

I’m quite fond of the Persona series, with a special affection for the latest major installment, which was released in 2016 – Persona 5.

Primarily, your character is portrayed as a Japanese adolescent, tasked with gathering a group of fellow Japanese teens for daytime camaraderie and nocturnal combat against supernatural entities. These games are filled with excitement, originality, and a wide range of possibilities, and some might even say they’re trendy or in vogue.

In contrast to many other video games, Persona exudes an air of confidence that rubs off on you. It leaves you pondering: might I be part of the trendy crowd in Tokyo, just like the characters in the game?

I bring up these points as Atlus, the developers behind Persona, have shifted their focus from high school settings to high fantasy realms instead.

The result is the weirdly named Metaphor: ReFantazio — and it’s sublime.

If you’ve previously experienced a Persona game, Metaphor won’t present many new elements. As you navigate its narrative reminiscent of Game of Thrones, set in a troubled realm following a king’s assassination, you’ll continue to gather companions for your journey, engage with your inner demons, now referred to as ‘archetypes’, and fight against the ticking clock represented by a daily calendar.

While others might view it as simply a cosmetic change, I personally consider it an enhancement or refinement. The narrative in this game, in my opinion, ranks among Atlus’s finest work – and that’s saying something, given its thought-provoking exploration into the very essence of fantasy literature.

Additionally, it’s enjoyable to observe Atlus’s unique take on a fantasy realm populated by tribes, fairies, and grotesque creatures called… humanity.

They haven’t made fantasy great again, because it’s always been great.

But they may just have made it… hip? It really is — ahem — ReFantastico.

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2024-10-11 00:34