The art of the remake: Why I’m hopeful for Bloober’s next Silent Hill

Bloober Team has made a name for itself in the horror community, catching the attention of fans initially with Observer and the Layers of Fear franchise, then cementing a legacy with the spectacular Silent Hill 2 remake.

Remaking a classic is no easy feat, and Bloober is set to take on another challenge with the Silent Hill franchise soon, with a remake of the original. Some fans aren’t convinced, but here’s why I think the Silent Hill remake will be one of the best Bloober Team games yet.

Bloober Team is clearly made up of Silent Hill fans

Something immediately apparent when playing through the Silent Hill 2 remake was that the game had been made with love.

It’s an odd thing to say about a game with grotesque monsters and physical manifestations of trauma, but it’s undeniable. There weren’t any examples of the game feeling rushed or as if the run time had been padded – it was a meticulously crafted title with the perfect blend of psychological horror and action.

The level of care and attention to detail in Bloober Team’s initial foray into the Silent Hill franchise was unmistakable, from the wet leaves stuck to the top of cars to the rain trickling through the skylight in the Wood Side Apartments. The game was clearly made by a team that loved the original title and wanted to capture its essence.

Some remakes feel as if a team was simply chucked the title and assets and told to make do. These games can be fun, but they don’t come across as authentic nods to the original or even respectful in their delivery in some cases.

Bloober Team avoided these pitfalls and managed to strike the perfect balance between honoring the original title and adding their own flair.

As a result, I have faith in Bloober Team to knock it out of the park with the remake of the original Silent Hill. If it were another studio lined up to work on the remake, I might be grumbling on Reddit, but Bloober Team clearly knows what makes the best Silent Hill games a joy to explore.

The Silent Hill 2 remake nailed the most important aspect

What makes Silent Hill such a legendary survival horror series? It’s not the creepy monster design, tragic stories, or everyday protagonists; although these are certainly important aspects, Silent Hill’s most important trait is its atmosphere.

If you’ve played the original Silent Hill 2, you’ll know that the game manages to summon up overbearing feelings of dread. There are some heart-pounding moments and jump scares, but the game is a masterclass in building slow terror and letting the town’s fog envelop the player, creating a feeling of constant unease.

Bloober Team encapsulated this with its Silent Hill 2 remake, making it feel as if the player was constantly being watched and as if a creature could lurch out of the fog at any moment. Safe areas never felt truly safe; there was always the chance that there might be a monster just out of sight, waiting to give James a heart attack.

The original Silent Hill is similar in this regard. While there are plenty of genuinely terrifying moments, I’d argue that the game focuses much more heavily on slow-burning horror and dread throughout its runtime.

Bloober Team has proven it can match the subtle terror that Silent Hill exudes with its first remake, so I’m confident that the studio can do it again with the next remake.

While there aren’t many details available about the upcoming Silent Hill remake release from Bloober Team, the horror community is already amped to get lost in the fog once again. The comment section of the official teaser trailer is packed to the brim with excited fans, and the hype will only build once a Silent Hill remake release date has been announced.

References

1. SILENT HILL – in development (YouTube)