Silent Hill 2 Remake -PS5- 9.5

February 21, 2025

I just beat the 2024 remake of Silent Hill 2 for PlayStation 5 on the standard difficulty settings for both combat and puzzles, and witnessed the “Leave” ending. I recently played through and reviewed the original SH2 from 2001, and I absolutely adored it as one of the greatest survival horror games ever made. So I was excited to play the new remake to see how it takes advantage of the latest generational hardware, as well as what artistic nuances Bloober Team refined the game with. I am happy to report that this 2024 version of SH2 is an outstanding remake that was made with love and care for the 2001 classic, while gently enriching the original vision for modern players.

The SH2 remake stays very faithful to the original’s narrative, which followed James Sunderland’s trip through the remote town of Silent Hill, after receiving a letter from his wife who passed away three years ago, imploring James to come back to their “special place”. Bloober Team was wise not to alter the brilliant story of the original here in any drastic ways. The 2001 classic was a pioneer in psychological horror, and it weaved a tale that was deep, resonant, and perfect the way it was. This 2024 remake merely adds a few scenes here and there, and slightly rewrites some of the dialogue, softly enhancing some of the character interactions and subtleties of the plot. The writers stay respectful to all the major iconic scenes from the 2001 game, while throwing in some small surprises that heighten the atmosphere and delicately add to the finer points of the storyline. And all the voice actors do impeccable work, depicting the sense that they are all wandering through some alternate reality in the most vivd of dreams.

When I began playing the SH2 remake, I just wanted to walk around and take in the scenery. These are some of the most exquisite graphics of the current console generation. The game immerses you into its depressing state immediately, and you can practically feel the cold weather as you meander through the woods into the dreary town of Silent Hill. The artists bring staggering attention to detail into every one of the set pieces, and there is nothing else like this on the PlayStation 5. The Silent Hill series was always known for its disturbing atmosphere and chilling environments, and this latest entry raises the bar even further. There are also brand new renditions of the original’s haunting soundtrack, each piece capturing the eerie and melancholy mood perfectly.

Combat has been vastly improved, with a decent bit of strategy in timing your dodge and knowing when to aggressively attack. Ammo and healing items are quite limited, and the enemies are not to be taken lightly. This is not like the original, where you could just run past the monsters most of the time. In this remake, the foes are aggressive and difficult to predict. They also hit really hard, depleting your health quickly. I was genuinely scared every time I sensed a walking mannequin or undead nurse around the corner.

The SH2 remake also adds a substantial number of new puzzles and remixes to older ones, doubling the length of the whole campaign. Many of these are real brain teasers that could leave you stumped. But checking your map is vital to seeing what stones you may have left unturned. The plethora of puzzles might feel a bit daunting at times, but solving each one yields a tremendous sense of accomplishment in bringing you closer to the devastating reveals at the end of James’ unforgettable journey.

The intrigue and mystery surrounding the characters and their relationship with this mysterious town pulled me in all over again in this remake, and I loved it just as much as the classic original. You can just feel James traveling deeper and deeper into his own psyche the further you play through the game. Whereas the original felt a bit tighter, this remake feels meatier with all the new content. I consider them to be equally great, as they both represent some of the most powerful storytelling in survival horror gaming. I rate the Silent Hill 2 remake a 9.5 out of ten.