Silent Hill 2's Remake: Good or Bad? || An *Actually* Nuanced First Impression

[@_colors_8873]

man, you really made me feel some stuff. i'm super invested into old media, games and music aswell. can't express how much i resonate with you. this is a golden channel, glad i stumbled upon here.

[@themidnightsnow]

Thank you for saying so. Sometimes, I worry that people won't care anymore due to it's age and that the new one should replace the old. Glad to know there's folks like me out there that want to preserve the great things that came before!

[@Artesian_mirage]

Awesome video - just one (big) 'little' nit-pick; you said, "...back in the day they accidentally produced meaningful art". Takayoshi Sato: - "...it offered me a chance to prove that a highly artistic project can sell without any particular marketing elements. I am more interested in profound artwork that remains in people’s hearts for a long time than quick money-raking products. I thought that if Silent Hill 2 remained a masterpiece for a long time, its profits would exceed major products eventually." “Most people working for game companies are game freaks, but the Silent Hill team are artists and programmers first -- mainly artists. Silent Hill 2 is not a typical game because most of our staff didn’t grow up playing games. Because of this, we hope to provide the gamer with a different sort of game.”

[@themidnightsnow]

Oh, yes, 100% agree with you! What I was talking about was Konami in the producer role of the project hired artists who made great art when what they actually wanted was consumable serialized entertainment. That’s what was “accidental” from Konami’s perspective. The developers at KCET and Team Silent knew what they were doing, Konami didn’t.

[@Artesian_mirage]

@@themidnightsnow Ahhhh my bad. Complete oversight on my part. Yes 100% you're totally right there. And really, in regards to their name, Konami should just change the 'K' to a 'C'

[@Artesian_mirage]

@@themidnightsnow Also, you got a subscriber outta me. Looking forward to your next video

[@themidnightsnow]

@@Artesian_mirage Nah, I didn’t elaborate properly. I might address the topic better in a later video one day.

[@themidnightsnow]

@@Artesian_mirage Thanks, I appreciate it! Next video in the pipeline is a full deep dive on what actually happened in SH1. I’d like to say it’s close to being done but I haven’t made a 2 1/2 hour video before :o

[@ZakynthosDiamandis]

A Silent Hill remake dev saying "we need to fit in" really is all you need to know.

[@tylercool1400]

While I’m not personally invested in Silent Hill (my closest connections to the series being Glitchy and Yahtzee, both of whose opinions I respect even when I don’t share them), all of this reasoning applies to my concerns with remakes in general; trying to pitch cult classics to a general audience may make the most money, but it never captures the artistry (whether intended or incidental in the original).

[@themidnightsnow]

I did reference the Yahtzee video and almost put it, haha. Yeah, remakes like these tend to be about pitching the game to a wider audience, not reaching unfulfilled visions or honoring the original, despite what the promotional material says.

[@MightySSStrawberry]

I've loved the Original Silent Hill 2 for a long time. Years. I love what it does, what it explores, and the unique ways it uses to tell its tragic, artful story. I'm on the same page as you, Glitchy. This remake looks beautiful, the voice acting (for the most part) sounds so good, but Silent Hill 2 is not conventional horror, and this remake is not looking as faithful as the devs claim. Watching this trailer makes me feel like I'm walking the halls of Raccoon City Police Department wearing a Silent Hill skin. The original canon of Silent Hill games (1-4) is NOT Resident Evil. They are two different kinds of horror games with different styles of gameplay. I especially loved the distinction you made between horror and terror. Laura looks and sounds possessed, and the focus on the "doom" door is way overstated. I don't want to drone on in redundancy, but I'm with you. This looks GOOD, but it does not FEEL like the original. Mood is EVERYTHING in this game. Now that I've seen more, I think I'll play the remake after all and give it a fair shot for what it is. I worry I'll be riding that "BAD" ending with you. Great video!!

[@themidnightsnow]

I do hope that the game itself will feel better than the trailer. Failing that, we may have mods and failing that... we will always have the original.

[@billybobproductions6757]

Great video. I do agree that something felt a bit...off about the cinematics. I haven't played the original in a while, so I forgot that it played out so differently.

[@themidnightsnow]

Thank you. Yeah, there's a lot in just the cutscenes we've seen that change the intentions and emotion of the scene. I want to do breakdowns per scene once SH2re releases and comparing to the original to see which ones work better for their version of the story.

[@aurum4660]

The really big nitpick I can see from the game is something I don't hear a lot about, but just how 90% of the game should really just be a silent exploration with combat that really you can just avoid 99% of the time instead of "look its out the door and you have a 3 second reaction time to fight it". The combat was never meant to be good, and in the remake it should just be more of putting down threats than having a reimagining of what the survival aspects of the overall fighting, hell all you needed to do in the pyramid head fight was just making sure he doesn't hit you, while now you have to sprint around like other modern survival horror bosses and watch him destroy the environment. As long as the atmosphere is made in good direction, and the layout is adjacent instead of just some areas you don't even need to pay close attention to. I'm in good faith.

[@aurum4660]

Loved the video!! one of the first reviews that really broke down the artistic understanding of the remake

[@themidnightsnow]

Oh, gosh… is that really what they’ve done with the Pyramid Head fight?

[@themidnightsnow]

Thank you. I’m actually formally trained in visual storytelling (which really did less good than just studying independently) and was hoping to really start illustrating Silent Hill’s je ne sais quoi that no one seems to agree on exactly why it’s so special.

[@TheZoobZoobs]

You, my man, are my spirit animal. Cautiously optimistic going in, but still nervous given the track record. There is one hope you can still maintain, even if Konami doesn't appreciate the classics; GOG remastered and released the original Resident Evil Trilogy, so perhaps, if SH2R's sales are solid, they might be do the same with the Silent Hill titles.

[@themidnightsnow]

Thank you. I’m desperately trying to bring some rationality to the discourse around Silent Hill. Lord knows we need it. I have hope we’ll get PC ports of SH1-3 but at the same time, I know there’s a lot of copyrighted content in them that would need scrubbing. Plus, RE2-3 already had PC ports (not sure about RE1) making it easier to do. I don’t think Konami is willing to go through the work when they could hype up a remake as our only option instead :/

[@wyldeman7]

I played the OG on release and it blew me away more than anything since. I didn't even understand half of it. It was like twin peaks to me. I'm really looking forward to the remake. Mainly because i have no way to p lay the OG. I'm not as sensitive to the changes but your passion for the smallest of details tells you how great of a game it is. The remake can never replace it, it's just a way to experience it in 2024. Enjoyed the video quite a bit

[@MyNorseArt]

I think you are spot on. This is exactly why I liked the first Silent hill the most. Yes , the graphic isn't quite there, but it has the constant terror. How scary a game (or movie for that matter is), depends on the terror. Once you see what is after you, it isn't really that scary anymore cos you know what is after you. I would like them to make a re make of the first first Silent Hill, and keep the terror or make it even worse. Keep up the good work!

[@themidnightsnow]

It's like the classic lesson they learned when making Jaws. Not showing the shark (until the very end) is what made it so much scarier.

[@MyNorseArt]

@@themidnightsnow Exactly! We all new it was a shark, but not seeing it made it so much worse. It is the , not knowing part that is the part that is scary. Like in the game, not having the option to look behind you is worse cos you don't know how close "it" is. And when we don't know, our minds start to add the most horrible stuff. Like when you read a book,. You ,the reader add all the images yourselves.. And may I add, I was playing the first Silent Hill for the second time between 2002-2003. Nighttime, headset on, all lights out. Someone grabbing my arm, throwing the controller in the ceiling , and luckily seeing my 2 years daughter crying, I probably scared her too😅. But I guess any daughters hearing their dad screaming like a teenaged girl would be terrifying.

[@gojohnnyxo]

The symbology is so deep and gets really resonant to Carl Jung’s works on the collective unconscious. Heck. Jung even talked about walking through fog and receiving his sense of self and all. Talking about how everything begins with symbols. And I noticed in the gameplay demo when James opens the locker paper having a caduceus on it as symbol of integration. I love the subtle clues that the world is trying to force James into understanding his trauma through synchronicity. Heck even the original had in a symbol that basically gives hint that Mary is an anima. I’d definitely love for you to go over this game just so we hear your perspective on its story.

[@themidnightsnow]

If I know the part you're talking about, the caduceus is a common hospital symbol so it would be expected there, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have more to it. Curious what you mean by Mary being an anima, like James' true inner self? I don't usually delve into this area of the game since it gets very deep into speculation and outside material so I don't know much more about than what I've seen on @thegamingmuse 's channel and here and there around the internet.

[@SStayWithMe]

I agree with what you say. Ever since the remake was announced, I've been wondering how they would do it. One of the differences between Silent Hill and Resident Evil was that there were normal people instead of super soldiers and people with superhuman powers. I didn't like seeing James like a specially trained soldier. I'll play the game when it comes out, but I feel like it won't be as scary as it used to be. I think the fact that silent hill games are old makes them better. I wonder what it would be like if we could play this game with a fixed camera? I hope they make a fixed camera mode. Still, I think it would be good to play a new Silent Hill game even if its a remake or reimagined. Btw part2 when??

[@themidnightsnow]

I still don't think they've gone full Chris Redfield with James, but they really should have leaned into him being more insecure and untrained, making dodges feel like stumbling or swings have him lose his balance. That kind of thing. The age of the classic games has really done them more favors than not, yeah. Old SH really worked with showing less and minimized what was shown to make what was shown really pop. That's how silence works, making even the smallest noises stand out. As the remake is now, it'll be too easy to just gun through hallways and relax with the cozy room tones (like the hospital lobby.) And Part 2 is releasing after I get all my tests done to make sure all the games work and, if they don't, if there's work arounds. I wanna make sure it's easy to understand and ACTUALLY works!

[@adriank8792]

They actually addressed that very point in the SH transmission. They specifically said that they didn't want James to be an action hero. I suggest you watch the original transmission

[@themidnightsnow]

I did and referenced the Transmission many times in my video. But simply saying it doesn’t make it so. No, they did not make him an action hero type character. But they did not emphasize this very well while also using words like “tactical” to describe combat.

[@monokuma9937]

Things would be so much easier if they would just put some effort into porting the games on newer hardware but I guess Konami doesn't wanna make money haha but I'll buy the remake nonetheless if it doesn't turn out good I at least hope it'll encourage people to go back to the classics fingers crossed

[@themidnightsnow]

Yeah, I think this would feel a lot better if we just had both instead of this remake feeling like a full replacement while being so different it can’t really serve that role. I do realize that SH1-3 have issues with red crosses and some other copyrighted material that may require Konami to scrub the old games for a remaster which sounds like more work than they’re willing to put in. I’m glad we have the Enhanced Edition team keeping SH2 alive and the other games are playable enough in PC but I know the majority of people can’t or won’t play something that takes a technical install.

[@beoulve9464]

Well they couldn't bring back the original sh2 to new consoles, Konami trashed the coding after the ps2 ans og xbox, that's why the HD collection is how it is because they had to go and fix and add more coding

[@technibabe]

yeppppp i agree 1000000% with everything you've said. i really hope it's good, and i can't wait to play it next week, but i'm also holding my breath and kind of trying to prepare myself to be disappointed with the "updates" and changes. but hey, at least we'll always have the original if we don't like this one as much :)

[@themidnightsnow]

What’s sad is that most people won’t have the original, only those of us who are somewhat tech savvy do (or are willing to put up with the HD Collection on Xbox.) Regular console people only have the remake.

[@Sunaru6914]

Finally a good take on this remake so far. GREAT video trully

[@themidnightsnow]

Thank you. Emotions are running very high lately so I get all the vitriol. Still, I want to be able to give the remake a fair shot while also allowing some criticism. We’ll see how this plays out tomorrow.

[@Sunaru6914]

@@themidnightsnow Hope you at least have fun. I really wanna hear your opinion on it all. Just know that a lot of the story cutscenes got the treatment you discussed with the Laura part and everything.

[@themidnightsnow]

@@Sunaru6914 I’ll make a shorter video on my take after I’ve given it multiple thorough playthroughs. I don’t want to respond until things have cooled and I can approach it more objectively. I’ll save a full video essay style thing for later if it proves to warrant it.

[@Sunaru6914]

@@themidnightsnow I'd love you to just dig into the remake comparing everything it does to the original, cuz I've been able to relate to your take on the remake so far and want to see more of that. Thanks for being goated.

[@themidnightsnow]

@@Sunaru6914 I plan on doing just that :) May take a while for me to get all my notes together though. I’m going to be running it on my stream later tonight when it launches for advanced access if you want to be there when I formulate my opinions live. If it interests you.

[@nobel11]

Remaking a game ain't no big deal. Just put the code to its source and... pow! But seriously. I'm not looking forward to this, or interested in remakes of the old games. But I also understand that I'm a weirdo who still has a PS2 and the old games. Most folks aren't interested in dealing with old games, getting them to play with HDMI, or installing the old PC games on modern computers. So this is more for new players. And new games seem to be made for people who don't get how old games played. It needs to be less subtle, more direct, not as hard, and able to hold their attention. So, I hope people enjoy it. Silent Hill could use a win.

[@themidnightsnow]

I don’t mind remakes. It’s nice to revisit an old game with fresh presentation (I even like demakes for this reason!) or completely remixing it into something new. What I don’t like is one foot in and one foot out, beholden to old ideas but doing something completely different. Video game remakes are starting to become shells to make new games from but with a safe brand and leaving what made the original good or unique behind. Older games had a different ethos. Gameplay was made to serve a core idea and there weren’t any hard and fast rules how to do that. The game design was emergent from the needs of the game concept. Now, it’s usually reversed. It’s the game conventions and market strategies that they try to cram a game concept into and it rarely works better than “alright”. Funny enough, the odd indie game that goes viral use the old principle and develop ideas from the concept first rather than make the game serve a genre.

[@hellothere8270]

Just noticed your silent hill install guide went down, what happened to it :(

[@themidnightsnow]

KZbin thought it was promoting piracy even though this guide works with legitimate copies.

[@lpvgs-817]

man running my 1st play through now just about get to rm.#201 to you know who for the first time and good lord I feel like the majority of my play time is me stopping mud holes in enemies so they dont get up again lol.

[@TerryRed]

The head producer for Silent Hill at Konami said in a new interview that HUD elements and indicators can be turned off (hopefully this includes the red damage frame). I think the otherworld we see is more Angela's OW and mainly the new areas. I agree I don't want the whole game to be like this, but I'm fine with "new" areas that are not specific to James himself having it. I want SH2's OW to be accurate / similar (for correct narrative reasons), but I honestly found it to be the least interesting (visually) compared to all other SH games. Ito was the concept artist for this new game, so I'm sure some of the new looks we see may have come from him as well. As for things like jumpscares, Maria behavior, cutscenes, etc... we are seeing and edited trailer without all the pacing, and events inbetween, etc. So we really can't fairly tell how the entire experience will play out. With the exception of Angela's one close up... I myself LOVE everything about the new characters and their acting. I was never a fan of the over-acting and some dialogue in the original even 22 years ago. Maybe there could be some changes to Maria's looks as the game goes on like in SHSM. Myself, I loved the original 22 years ago. It changed my life and I've been a fan ever since, and yah I got the water ending... but to be honest... I'm damn happy to possibly be getting the new good ending as you say, as the remake is doing many things I actually wanted for 22 years now. I'm ok with this being a different Silent Hill 2. I was blessed to experience the original as it was intended. Whatever the remake turns out to be, I'll still be happy in ways I wasn't with the original. I consider myself very lucky in that way. I'm both happy and excited for the remake... flaws, changes and all. no one will take that away from me.

[@themidnightsnow]

Interesting about the HUD elements. I hope there's a good amount of options there. I'm okay with developing Angela's and Eddie's Otherworlds more and like to see some more stark differences when they overlap too. But neither of them should look like Alessa's or the film/Homecoming's orange lavaland Otherworld™ . As for Ito's contributions, it's always seemed to me that he and Owaku were never really on the same page with the story so I'm interested to see his interpretation of the events be more prevalent here. Yeah, I tried to concede a lot of my misgivings being due to it being a trailer that's aimed at capturing attention for the full 30-ish minutes. That's fine, but it was presented in a way that doesn't feel tonally appropriate for the game it's advertising. I think most of the acting is fine, but doesn't convey the same emotions and, like I said in the video, it's mostly the script that feels confused rather than the acting. I've always loved the original's acting for feeling more real and uncomfortable than what's in most media productions. When good acting is really realistic, it can start feeling like amateur work because it's not keyed up theatrically. That'd be really cool if Maria's appearance changes based on the ending you're leaning towards! I'm actually happy that we're getting a different SH2 also, I just wish it weren't being billed as "faithful" when the goal seems to be to replace the original. I'll happily take a remixed, redone, reconstruction of SH2! But I don't like that the original is being put down as "objectively worse" than the remake in some ways when there's value in both.

[@TerryRed]

Bloober has been pretty good in the past with game options you can enable / disable... in the visuals and the hud / interface. So I'm hopeful we can have a very immersive experience with no indicators except those required. Almost like a "survival" mode like some games like to call it. Its funny as when SH2 first came out (it was my first SH game)... at that time I wanted more action games with lots of hud details etc (like Battlefield)... but when I played SH2... it was the first game to really ditch a HUD completely in this regard, and I noticed it right away. I just needed my gamepad to vibrate for my health / heartbeat, and I needed James head to move to show me the way... and Akira's sound and music cues. Looks like we may have to options to keep as close to that as we can. I'm actually looking forward to see how this new mix up that is trying to steer us away from separate inventory / map screens will turn out. Will we be safe, if we don't have a separate screen? Can we be attacked when looking at a map or doing a puzzle? Will monsters follow us into a room? It may be for the better or worse? Either way... after 1.5 years... I'm happy to say I'm confidently excited for this remake... even if I have some nitpicks and cautions as well.

[@themidnightsnow]

@@TerryRed I'm glad to hear that about game options. I haven't played any of Bloober's games yet since they never really appealed to me. Different games have different needs. I love the Xenoblade games and they're memed to heck with their overdone UI but all the info is pertinent to a fast-paced JRPG. With SH, it's best to minimize that kind of video game-y-ness which is why I'm torn on the new inclusions of the syringes. They both allow real-time healing but also jabbing yourself with drugs feels very video game-y. Real-time map reading looks great though. Transitioning between rooms without loads is definitely a better or worse thing. It makes danger more prevalent if monsters can follow you in, but also having that transition can help set up scares or give your mind a refresh between loads. But as a refreshed, new way to experience the game without thinking of the original? Yeah, I'm excited for it. As a remake to be compared to the original? It still falls short.

[@TerryRed]

@@themidnightsnow Also... am I one of the few that noticed James patches on his jacket are gone? To be honest, I'm glad as they looked goofy to me (and I'm military), and they don't add anything to his character / backstory (unlike Maria).. so I'm honestly glad they are gone.

[@themidnightsnow]

I noticed as well, but it’s not something that bothered me either way. It was interesting to wonder why he had those patches but it was never important.

[@aroccoification]

Anyone else think the pyramid head introduction scene was a serious downgrade? That and we didn't get "how can you sit here and eat pizza"

[@themidnightsnow]

Yeah, I actually almost missed it. They changed the routing and if you’re focused on finding doors like I was, it’s entirely possible to just not see him. Also, they did keep the pizza line, it’s just an Easter egg now.

[@aroccoification]

@@themidnightsnow I meant him attacking the mannequins. The camera doesn't actually show what's happening because it's obscured by the angle of the shot. It's too bad because that was one part I found especially horrifying as a kid

[@aroccoification]

@@themidnightsnow aww man I guess I missed that Easter egg

[@themidnightsnow]

Yeah, they did that too. Very much minimized that “erotic horror” from the original to where it’s mostly if not totally gone.

[@aroccoification]

@@themidnightsnow it was the whole point of the game. It's so messed up that woke sensibilities and sponsorship is even effecting Japanese products. This is what people do to eachother and it horrifying where tf else does something like that belong but in the horror genre?

[@BigSparky1316]

So man I have always been amassive RE fan, when i was a kid id always choose RE over silent hill. I am very stoked to finally get to play SH2 I really hope its good. I do have to be honest RE2R/3 cut content and it was super noticeable for me, they even have RE1R from 2002 to use as a guideline. Make the same game but newer grapichs and add new locations and expand others, that is my opinion on a perfecr remake.

[@themidnightsnow]

I played RE2R for the first time this year (and only because of the fixed cam mod) and I liked it a lot but even I who isn’t played the original could detect cut content, particularly the segments with Ada and the random crocodile set piece that feels like it was probably more in the original (haven’t played it yet.) I wish remakes would just be straight polishing rather than overhauling everything.

[@BigSparky1316]

@@themidnightsnow 👏👏 You got it right on the nose. Doing a remake should be one of the easiest things to do. They could even use AI or Google to search through forums boards to see what people disliked about the OG games and they could change those pieces but keep the rest the same but updated. In all honesty I'd be super stoked with RE1-3 Deluxe Remasters like the did eith Dead rising and if Konami could do silent hill as well for ps5/PC/Xbox that would be sick.

[@themidnightsnow]

@@BigSparky1316 I do realize that a remake is supposed to be different in some way though. We’re mostly talking about remasters, but at the same time the code tends to be so old and limited it’s hard to add new graphical details or extra features. I’d be happy if we had a straight PC port of the original SH games like we do of RE on GOG, but I’d be wary of remasters changing too much and being the only option. You mentioned the Dead Rising remaster and to me has changed the details to be less appealing to me (especially in Frank’s new model.) But if those elements were optional or we had both versions available (like we have for DR1), it’d be fine.

[@BigSparky1316]

@@themidnightsnow Definitely but changing could be as RE4R and RE1R did. They made big changes but they're all perfect and the stuff changed was bad parts in the OG for the most part. Yeah I would definitely hope that they would definitely keep the old lines, update the models and then give us updated graphics and controls. But I am stuck on the pos PS5 or else I can't lie I would mainly only play the old games. I wish I could play the OG silent hill 2 Enchanced Edition. It looks so damn good, so does the RE1-3 Seamless HD. God man I'd do anything to have a pc.

[@themidnightsnow]

@@BigSparky1316 I'd disagree on RE4R only taking out bad parts, but I know what you mean. For old games, you don't need an especially good PC. Most basic specs laptops can decently run early 00's games. But I know money can be quite the restricting factor regardless.

[@Fink-id6yg]

Spurting blood would make a sound on real life. However, idk why they would even try to remake this. They obviously are out of their depth.

[@themidnightsnow]

Spurting blood, like from chopping off a limb or head, would make noise when it hits a surface, yes. Not as it comes out. But James kills this Lying Figure with a mostly blunt weapon that wouldn’t bleed to that degree, nor would bleeding out on the ground make such a squishing noise unless some kind of weight was pressed upon it. I don’t yet know if Bloober is up to the task, but we’ll see soon enough.

[@zechariahzen.6364]

I really enjoyed allan wake 2. I really hope this isn't another allan wake 2. Ps: finished the video. I can't believe it's gonna be allan wake 2.

[@themidnightsnow]

We’ll see soon (if you haven’t already seen the leaks!)

[@oak6623]

Im still hopefully optimistic for the remake, but truthfully i think Konami hasnt learned anything from their post team silent games. I wish this game the best but it probably isnt gonna be the greatest. Good luck bloober.

[@themidnightsnow]

As a mainstream horror game, I think it’ll do what it’s intending to do. As a remake, I can’t see it being better and when the original is at the top of the ladder, there’s only one way to go.

[@oak6623]

fr and that's really disappointing. Glad to see others hold similar opinions to my own.

[@themidnightsnow]

@@oak6623 Now that I'm 20 hours deep, I've been mostly validated by what I thought. But it does have some really, really good moments (especially with Eddie.)

[@oak6623]

@@themidnightsnow hell yea im honestly really happy with the positivity surrounding the remake tbh, despite my opinions.

[@themidnightsnow]

Same.

[@deepwokenbuilds]

hey can you upload again all the sh installs?

[@themidnightsnow]

I’m currently working on a solution and looking into alternate platforms.

[@Sunaru6914]

Okay no but... how the hell does Maria's new VA look way much more like Maria than her new ingame model. Like honestly her face is perfect for the role

[@themidnightsnow]

Lighting does a lot to change how someone looks. We’ll have to see how she turns out in the final release. (I haven’t seen the leaks.)

[@Sunaru6914]

@@themidnightsnow I've seen the leaks actually and... I'm gonna stick with the original and I hope many do. You're probably gonna have a lot to talk about when it comes out believe me.

[@themidnightsnow]

@@Sunaru6914 It might be fun just comparing scenes and laying out character intentions like I did with the hospital scene with Laura. What works and what doesn’t and why.

[@verbalkent6877]

Not a faithful remake if they're changing the other world to suit the film universe instead...... 3 out of 10 rent or watch PewDiePie play it

[@themidnightsnow]

Yeah, that’s probably my biggest concern/issue, the Otherworld functioning with the film rules. It’s gonna make the new SH2 require much rewriting or it won’t make sense.

[@s1lent_gr]

I don't want Silent hill 2 to fail also but Silent hill "Fans" are so toxic with this release.

[@themidnightsnow]

It’s what happens after years of starvation and a fan base that doesn’t agree on what makes Silent Hill good. Similar thing happened with the Star Wars sequels. And Konami has shown us that if we don’t like it or, even if they don’t like it, they’ll just pull the plug on Silent Hill entirely. There’s a lot of fear and high emotions going around.

[@Guts-blood]

i don't know laura might not be alive in this game her been innocent she just see an empty place. Also her character has angel symbolism all over her.

[@themidnightsnow]

There’s no reason given in the original SH2 that Laura isn’t alive. In fact, she’s depicted as the anchor of reality for James, presenting facts that don’t jive with his delusion. What do you mean by angel symbolism?

[@Guts-blood]

@@themidnightsnow it is know that Laura knows Mary from the hospital that in fact is for people who are terminally ill. Why is there a little girl all alone in a town.

[@themidnightsnow]

@@Guts-blood Mary was terminally ill. We don’t know what Laura was sick with. It works just as easily to assume she recovered and that, as an orphan, has more independence and less supervision to make her way to Silent Hill by herself. Also, how does she Leave with James if she’s only a spirit? To say she’s dead takes a few more assumptions than I’d be comfortable with.

[@anthonykanzivino5615]

Eveyone has a right to an opinion but for the love of god some people nit pick the most idiotic things. The most idiotic trivial things to the point were you cant help bu roll your eyes.

[@themidnightsnow]

True. Everyone has a reason why they nitpick even if they don’t know what the real reason is themselves. A lot of the time it doesn’t even have to do with the game.

[@Maxwell.Blackwell]

Well, at least it's not HD Collection, and I do hope that the game will be great, but will it have the same tone as the original? Time only tell. P.S. Also Konami you do know that "Collection" have more than two games in it, right?

[@themidnightsnow]

That’s true. I much prefer a remix than a butchery of the old version.

[@GamPro420]

Yeah I'm not going to overthink it. Games not even out yet but I plan on having fun whether it holds a candle to the original or not. I played the original back in the day, it was great, this seems great too in another way. I have a hard time taking the artistic integrity of the original (outside of ito and akira) seriously when they couldn't even be bothered to properly back up their own files and they butchered the HD collection. Everybody seems to put the original up on a pedestal, like it's this flawless work of art, but that's the nostalgia talking. If you take the rose tinted glasses off and really look hard at it, you can see it's less than perfect. Our minds fill in those gaps and smooth out the seams what we are left with is this idealized version of the game that only existed in our minds. That's why we think the terrible acting is lynchian and cool, thats why we think James looks like a stud when in reality his face looks like he is holding in the biggest crap but he doesn't trust the toilet seats. I hope some of you give this remake the honest and fair shot you gave the original otherwise even new installments of this series don't stand a chance.

[@themidnightsnow]

It’s unfortunate that Yamaoka and Ito seem to be given more credit than they’re due when Sato and Owaku were the writers and the narrative is what’s kept this game alive in the minds of people for so long. Yamaoka and Ito deserve their credit but not for the story. But I don’t think it was any of the original members’ fault the HD Collection was botched. It was Konami’s mismanagement and the team they hire who was underprepared, inexperienced, and wasn’t given what they needed to do their job properly anyways. For me, it’s definitely not nostalgia glasses. SH2 is a high art and among the first for its medium. It’s far from perfect, but nothing can be. Being old doesn’t make it bad. We still “remake” books that are hundreds of years old into films or games, but the originals are still read and enjoyed today. I hope I conveyed clear enough in the video that I want both the original and remake to exist, but there’s a growing sentiment that the original has always been bad while Konami refuses to port it. One shouldn’t exist at the expense of the other.

[@GamPro420]

@@themidnightsnow I'm not saying the game is bad by any means but there are definitely aspects of it that are overly glorified by some fans, and if we aren't willing to acknowledge any flaws in the original how do we expect to properly judge the remake? The remake was doomed at the start by people with unreasonable expectations of the project. Especially when one takes into account the development and developer of said project. You keep saying "one shouldn't exist at the expense the other" I was wondering if you could you elaborate on what you mean by that? I just don't think I am getting it, because to me it sounds like you are saying the remake shouldn't exist at the cost of the original AND that the original shouldn't exist at the expense of the of the remake. How could the Original exist at the expense of the remake? Also, kzbin.info/www/bejne/a4mcoH-CgaulncU looks like a transmission is otw

[@themidnightsnow]

@@GamPro420 Yes, a lot is over glorified by fans. At the same time, there’s a lot that makes the classic series special that wouldn’t work the same way that the originals do. Changing one element will lead to the other elements needing to adjust which can cause a domino effect of a wholly different experience. What I mean by “one shouldn’t exist as the expense of the other” is, yes, the remake shouldn’t be made or viewed as a replacement that makes the original seem pointless to most people (even if it isn’t.) But at the same time, we shouldn’t be so stuck on the original that we can’t attempt a remake at all. Remaking SH2 is the bridge to keep SH going. It’s the surest essential step to keeping the series alive. Remaking a game is just like any retelling or adaptation. It’s going to be different and it has to be.

[@addinazhan7621]

Just stop complaining and lets just play the game already

[@themidnightsnow]

Almost time.

[@the_repugnant_gamer]

This remake will be absolute trash because Bloober Team hired a DEI consultant company to wokeify the game. I will continue to enjoy the original game and not give my hard earned money to people that don't deserve it.

[@themidnightsnow]

I have yet to see evidence of woke elements in the prerelease material.

[@the_repugnant_gamer]

@@themidnightsnow They've been doing a good job to hide it. The only thing we've seen so far is the change in Angela's appearance. It worries me greatly that they've gone out of their way to NOT show Eddie in any of the released footage. I suspect they've done the most damage to his character or they've cut him out all together. I hope I'm wrong, but it won't surprise me to find out I'm right. On a happier note, I really love your videos!

[@themidnightsnow]

@@the_repugnant_gamer What do you mean? We’ve seen a lot of Eddie in the most recent footage and he has an official render that’s on the official SH2 website. Also Angela looks fine if not for a really bad showing of her in-engine model. I don’t like her as much but it’s not awful and definitely not woke. But thank you, I’m glad you enjoyed the videos.

[@KreepyRecords]

Problem is too many remakes. And other problem is people clinging to that old memory of the game they played back then. Happened to me with RE4 and I still prefer the OG but I appreciate the remake in its own way

[@themidnightsnow]

At least RE4R had a clear goal of what they wanted to change. It felt more like a remix than an overhaul and used an expanded version of the same style of gameplay. SH2’s remake seems to be deviating from everything the original did to make it essentially an entirely different game with roughly the same story.

[@TevyaSmolka]

This remake was fantastic in my opinion

[@sygyzy0933]

I'd love to see you make another video after playing the remake correcting everything you were wrong about here

[@themidnightsnow]

I was wrong about maybe 1/4 of it. Most of my concerns were realized. But will make a video about it when emotions have cooled.

[@livingtoaster1358]

Uhhh I don't think we have any similar experiences I'm only on the 10 minute mark, but I virtually disagree with almost everything you've said from Resident Evil 2 being a faithful remake, and also about the camera angles again used RE2R as an example of the Horror remake RE2R added numerous things, changed inventory, the layout of the PD, and the camera was a fixed camera angles in the og but in the REmake it's in third person. Another thing is the combat in SH2 idk if we saw the same combat trailers but James was swinging like a madman who has never fought which I think we can both agree, just look at the way he swings. The dodge looks fine like a normal person, doesn't look like some boxer or military man dodging I will say the I-frames on Pyramid Head was crazy I hope they fix that. The first encounter all I'll say is that it is clearly more obscured than the original, I've beaten the game twice and I've seen new players play the game and their reaction is almost universal "how does he not see that monster right next to him" and that's literally on the first frame before the camera swings to James

[@themidnightsnow]

I’m not understanding your comment. I did not comment on whether RE2R was a faithful remake or not. I did same REmake was a faithful remake. I also said that SH2re’s style appears to be imitating RE2R. The combat isn’t what I’d like. I’d rather they lean into a more desperate, scrambling type of combat. I like to refer to Shadow of the Colossus that has ‘terrible’ swordplay, but it adds to the character of a kid who stole a sword and doesn’t know how to use it, desperate to slay giant monsters. James would do better doing something in a similar vein, messy to control and never be able to be fully confident in combat. The first Lying Figure scene in the original is staged like that for dramatic irony. We see it before James does. The feeling of, “Uh, James? What are you doing? Look at the monster!” is what makes that helps make that scene more uneasy. If people see him as being an idiot, that’s a viewer perception, not an issue with the presentation. (Also, it was much harder to see with a noise effect in 4:3 though still staged to be seen.)

[@tatecheverria1624]

I don't envy bloober team for having to remake a beloved title like this one. They'll never be able to recreate the original and they really shouldn’t be expected to. The original was something rare and amazing and bloober team seems to have done some really cool new things with the remake that I like so I'll judge it from that. It's its own thing in my mind. And I hope it does well.

[@themidnightsnow]

I agree that is should be seen as its own thing. That’s why it bothers me so much that they keep saying that they’re being faithful when clearly they’re making a whole new reinterpretation. As much as Bloober isn’t to be envied for its position, it is one they asked for. I just wish they would have said this is a remix or “reimagining” if they must, and not that they’re sticking closely to the source material. In the end, I do think it’ll be a good game but with a very different story than SH2.

[@bigtruck1838]

This is for the lazy mass market that just wants to shoot at monsters and stream their exaggerated reactions to jump scares.....

[@themidnightsnow]

There’s nothing wrong with that if people enjoy it. But it isn’t what Silent Hill is and never has been. Streaming has definitely changed how games are made, especially horror and SH is still struggling to find an identity.

[@bigtruck1838]

@@themidnightsnow I agree, I have no qualms with ppl enjoying it, my problem always lies with what konami does to the franchise... I mean can't even follow the lore.. like the movies while entertaining they just not silent hill lol

[@themidnightsnow]

@@bigtruck1838 We'll have to see how accurate the lore is in the remake. So far, it looks like it's going to be using the newer interpretations that are self-contradictory, but we'll have to see.

[@bigtruck1838]

@@themidnightsnow sigh... yeah I know... if anything im looking forward to see silent hill with current graphics all nice and beautifully terrifying.... I hope lol

[@themidnightsnow]

@@bigtruck1838 Ideally, I hope someone can at least get a fixed camera mod like RE2R got to make just the raw gameplay and exploration interesting, even if they mess up the story.

[@ResinLair]

Maria new design is sad and angela facial expressions are comedy.

[@themidnightsnow]

They're actually pretty alright imo. If there's issues with SH2re, these are the least of them.

[@henryoak2001]

I’ve never heard such complaints over semantics

[@themidnightsnow]

I’m not sure you know what semantics are.

[@henryoak2001]

@@themidnightsnow not sure you understand how a word can have more than its literal meaning

[@themidnightsnow]

Of course they can. Analogy, metaphor, poetic language, homonyms… What about the video are you referencing?

[@Jcarte4308]

Bravo on producing such a deep and nuanced critique. Surely, it will facilitate an improvement in the quality of future videos from this creator.

[@aroccoification]

Dude... This game is nothing like RE. As a RE fan this is mechanically nothing like RE. It just has a behind the shoulder camera with a slightly higher focus on combat

[@themidnightsnow]

Now that I’ve played it, the SH2 remake has much in common with RE2R. The “slightly” higher focus on combat in the remake consists of multiple phase spider-transforming screaming bosses and mandatory enemy clear rooms.

[@aroccoification]

@@themidnightsnow bro RE doesn't usually have mandatory clear rooms outside of the action games. This is also predominantly melee combat. I don't at all see why you'd think this is like RE other than the camera angle they're very different games

[@CorruptionofDawn]

SH2make shares more than just the camera. The gunplay is practically the same with the default crosshairs being nearly identical. Shooting limbs and dropping the monsters to a knee to follow up with melee is a solid strategy in SH2R as it is in Resident Evil. Plus changing the camera is no small thing. It dictates how the player perceives the world and interacts with it AND how the world interacts with the player. Bosses are an example of this as they’ve now become more dynamic to accommodate the control and perspective. That’s a hefty amount of mechanics straight up lifted from RE. That’s not even a slight as RE is a trend setting series and bares some blame for the inspiration to SH. These games have always been cousins. Also, this was a first impressions video made 4 months before the games released based on showcased footage from the developer. All footage of which looks very RE with an emphasis on melee combat. This is also a FIRST impressions video.

[@aroccoification]

@@CorruptionofDawn you really think so? The only thing I see is the aiming and camera but everything 3rd person has that aiming and camera though it of course started with RE4. Otherwise sh and re have always been very different games mechanically. Re is based on avoiding enemies and inventory management and you don't do either of those in SH

[@AuroMancer]

imo, over the shoulder camera does not fit the atmosphere, perspective, eerie-artistic angles that the fixed/omniscient camera angles provided. I get *why* they did it, but I'm still not a fan of it for this genre and atmosphere.

[@aroccoification]

If you haven't olayed the original youre a filthy casual and you dont get to play this game. Its freeon your phone,tablet and computer go play it right now

[@themidnightsnow]

Huh? What? I’ve been playing the original SH2 regularly since 2003. Been doing weekly lore and 10 Star runs on Twitch. What?

[@aroccoification]

@@themidnightsnow not you buddy I'm just saying in general to the audience

[@lanceelopezz223]

19:20 Absolutely deserved.

[@themidnightsnow]

Which part? About Angela?