Summary
InSilent Hill 2,the locations are characters in their own right. Each one contains vital information and insinuations to unravel the story of James Sunderland, while also containing their own individual stories made up through the various memos found within and their design. Alongsideexploring the town itself, the investigation of these areas stands out in the mind when recalling the journey through the 2001 classic.
In the remake, these locales are reproduced withgreat fidelityto the atmosphere and aesthetic of the original game.Silent Hill 2 Remakiexpands the locations in ways which positively enhance the experience, though sometimes there are negative effects too. While a few sticking points keep certain areas from measuring up to the original, it is undoubtable that much of this journey will be embedded in the players' minds long after leaving town. Many may find themselves called to return and visit Silent Hill again.
5Toluca Prison
Life Behind Bars Gets A Bit Boring
Of the areas in the game, the prison has been expanded upon most compared to its original counterpart. Sometimes this is to its benefit, but as a whole, it somewhat detracts from its impact. Some of the best references to the originalSilent Hill 2can be found in the prison. One of these is the “Hanged Man” puzzle, which feels much more fitting in the prison yard than in the Labyrinth. There’s also the moment with the invisible “Ritual” monster. Getting locked in a cell and the aftermath of a certain visitor to the prison are all excellent touches.
Aptly enough, James' prison visit overstays its welcome. Perhaps because the first major area is the one that does not undergo an Otherworld transformation, the game developers felt the need to lengthen the prison excursion. However, the relative brevity of the time spent there in the original is what makes it so memorable. Furthermore, while the orignal game’s location had the appearance of a prison, the layout and exploration of the area retained the sensibility that this was not a real, tangible prison that the player was exploring. The remake’s version feels like avery real place, which ends up drawing away from the feeling of delving deeper into a nightmare.
4Woodside and Blue Creek Apartments
Impressive First Impressions
The first major location of the story has the responsibility of showing both newcomers and veterans ofSilent Hillthat Bloober Team were the right choice to be responsible for remaking this adored classic. Thankfully, it delivers. The Woodside and Blue Creek Apartments are a fantastic mixture of the familiar and the unexpected, expertly showing how to make the dismal beautiful. Stepping into the first Otherworld experience is also a terrifying treat, introducing players to the slightly different ethos in Bloober Teams' Otherworld sections. In these sections, an obscure,macabre visual delightof a puzzle will take center stage, and players must solve it to escape back to (relative) reality.
The main thing that holds the apartments back is that, aside from some great scenes, the area itself doesn’t feel quite so connected to the characters. This is the same in the original game and likely a purposeful choice to ease players into the story. Unfortunately, it does keep the apartments from being quite as memorable as later areas.
3Brookhaven Hospital
This Hospital Seems Sick
The Fog World version of the hospital is well realized. Its layout and details give it the appearance of a believably functioning place, dotted with moments that achieve more of the Lynchian dream-like qualities of exploring inSilent Hill.One key example is the opulent Director’s Office, with red velvet curtains concealing a bizarre puzzle box.
This is all mirrored in the most grotesque manner in the ‘Otherworld’ version, which features mold growing in abundance, piles of mysterious flesh, and baths overflowing with sickly bubbling liquids. Medical apparatuses are set out like devices of torture and, in particular, players must solve one lengthy remade puzzle to open a small box, locked and chained in place like an artifact fromHellraiser. If there is one complaint to be made about Brookhaven Hospital, it is that players spend a little too much time in this area, likely close to four hours in total. This ends up breeding familiarity between the player and their surroundings, reducing the fear factor.
2Labyrinth
Outstanding Reimagining Of A Short Excursion
More than any other area, the Labyrinth is a visually astounding expansion on what is presented in the original game. The area captures the scale of emptiness and the terror of exploring hallways and rooms that exist only within a dark void. It also offersan innspired takeon the rotating room puzzle, as well as an outstanding reference to theSilent Hillshort filmFukuro.It is an area that stands out for the brilliance of its redesign.
For the most part, the Labyrinth is a daunting and oppressive remake of one of the best areas in the game, and it demonstrates the nightmare logic ofSilent Hill.However, one drawback to this otherwise fantastic area back is the inclusion of combat rooms, where James is locked in a room with enemies and a timer ticking down. While thecombat is significantly improved, the reliance on it to pad out the remake’s runtime is an unfortunate caveat. These combat rooms are the worst example of it.
1Lakeview Hotel
Bringing Back Haunting Memories
Lakeview Hotel is the “special place” James has been searching for, and the last area of the game. As such, the remake’s version of this area bears the heavy burden ofsending off this special story. Fortunately, it nails the sense of atmosphere present in the original and delivers on the promise of being that “special place” for both James and the player.
Walking into the lobby feels like a Shirley Jackson story coming to life, where the very foundations yearn to impart their story to the player. The recreation of this location is masterful, transforming from haunting and quiet to damp and despairing, then finally ending in tragic desolation. It’s a scary, sad, and deeply heartfelt sendoff to an unforgettable adventure.
