After years of underwhelmingSilent Hillinstallments and disappointing efforts by Konami to revive its flagship franchises, many were understandably skeptical of theSilent Hill 2remake. However, when the game was finally released on PS5 and PC earlier this year, it exceeded most fans' expectations.Silent Hill 2’s remake, which was created byLayers of FearandThe Mediumdeveloper Bloober Team, was met with rave reviews across the board. It garnered a 95% critic approval rating on review aggregator OpenCritic and received an Overwhelmingly Positive score on Steam. Fans lauded the game as a true return to form for theSilent Hillfranchise, with some even likening it to Capcom’s wildly successfulResident Evilremakes.
AlthoughtheSilent Hill 2remake has often been praisedfor being faithful to its source material, it includes a lot of new content that wasn’t present in the game it’s based on. The originalSilent Hill 2, which came out on the PS2 in 2001, was only 8 to 9 hours long. Its remake, on the other hand, is nearly double that length; completing it takes approximately 15 to 17 hours,according to HowLongToBeat. Despite its extended runtime, though, theSH2remake doesn’t include some of the content from its predecessor, like theBorn From a WishDLC. Bloober Team and Konami could follow inPersona 3 Reload’s footsteps by re-releasing this missing DLC in the future.
Silent Hill 2 and Persona 3 Both Received Expanded Re-Releases With New Content
Like 2024’sSilent Hill 2,Persona 3 Reloadis a remake of aseminal game from the PS2 generation: the Atlus-developed JRPGPersona 3. At first glance,P3andSH2don’t seem to have anything in common other than the consoles they initially released on, but there are more similarities between the two than meets the eye. The originalPersona 3was first launched in 2006, but it received two enhanced re-releases after its debut, each with new exclusive content. The first of these “definitive editions” wasPersona 3 FES, which came out on the PS2 in 2007 and included a new, 30-hour epilogue calledThe Answer(a.k.a.Episode Aigisin Japan). Afterward, in 2009, a visual novel-styleP3re-release, dubbedPersona 3 Portable, was launched exclusively on the PSP. It featured the option to play as a female protagonist, among other things.
Silent Hill 2didn’t receive as many “definitive editions” asPersona 3did, but it did have one significant re-release of its own. The Xbox port ofSH2, which came out in December 2001, featured some new story content that wasn’t present in the initial PS2 version of the game. This additional scenario, as some might call it, was the aforementionedBorn From a WishDLC. For those unfamiliar with it,Born From a Wishwas a roughly 1-hour side-story that took place before the events ofSilent Hill 2and featured Maria as a playable character. Although it was originally exclusive to Xbox consoles, it was brought to PS2 and PC in subsequentSH2re-releases.
Bloober Team Should Release Born From a Wish as a DLC for SH2, Like Atlus Did with P3’s Episode Aigis
Despite the fact thatPersona 3 Reloadand 2024’sSilent Hill 2were meant to be definitive remakes, neither of them included the content from the expanded editions of their original counterparts upon their releases. In the case ofPersona 3 Reload, though,a remade version of theEpisode Aigisepiloguewas added to the game several months after its launch as part of a paid $35 expansion pass. The high price tag sparked controversy among fans, but the DLC itself was mostly well-received.
Atlus’s handling ofPersona 3 Reload’sEpisodeAigisexpansioncould serve as a good blueprint for theSilent Hill 2remake. Instead of letting it languish in obscurity, Bloober Team and Konami should release a remake of theBorn From a Wishstory scenario as a paid DLC for 2024’sSH2. That way, fans who missed out on Maria’s side story can finally have the opportunity to play it themselves.
Silent Hill 2
WHERE TO PLAY
Investigating a letter from his late wife, James returns to where they made so many memories - Silent Hill. What he finds is a ghost town, prowled by disturbing monsters and cloaked in deep fog. Confront the monsters, solve puzzles, and search for traces of your wife in this remake of SILENT HILL 2.High-end Graphics and SoundWith ray tracing and other cutting-edge technical enhancements, the world of SILENT HILL and its unsettling ambiance is even realer than before.And with the inclusion of new, immersive soundscapes, you’ll feel like you’re standing in the thick of it.Larger EnvironmentsExplore locations and buildings that were once inaccessible, or are newly added in the remake. Enjoy the same acclaimed story, even while you experience the town of Silent Hill with fresh eyes across an expanded map.Over-the-shoulder CameraThe remake moves from the original’s fixed-camera viewpoints to an over-the-shoulder perspective, putting you closer to what James sees, for a more thrilling, more immersive experience as you explore the town and come face-to-face with monsters.Evolved Combat GameplayFamiliar weapons like the steel pipe and handgun make their return, but now with an updated combat system. Avoid attacks with carefully timed dodges, aim down sights, and more, making monster encounters more engaging and nerve-wracking than ever.
