A fan of Silent Hill 2 has posted a screenshot comparing the graphics from the game’s original release to footage from the trailer for Bloober Team’s upcoming remake of the classic title. Some gamers have already shown off their own visions of what to expect from an updated Silent Hill 2 in Unreal Engine 5, but the game’s official trailer has raised the graphical bar even higher than many gamers could have imagined.
Originally released in 2001 by Konami’s Team Silent development group, Silent Hill 2 is the follow-up to the original Silent Hill and builds on that game’s foundation to create one of the most iconic horror titles of all time. Returning to the eponymous town at the center of the franchise’s lore, the game featured a new protagonist exploring the town of Silent Hill after receiving a mysterious letter from his dead wife. As James Sunderland explores the nightmarish town, he encounters some of its mysterious inhabitants and comes face to face with monstrous creatures spawned from his own grief and trauma. Silent Hill 2 was a critical and commercial success upon release, with the game’s menacing enemy Pyramid Head even going on to become a pop culture icon in its own right.
In a thread on r/Gaming, reddit user nesatzuke posted a comparison picture showing off the same scene from the original Silent Hill 2 and the upcoming remake. It’s possible to see the astounding difference in clarity between the two releases right away, with the remake featuring a lush forest reaching off into the distance as compared to only a few low-poly trees in the original release. The drastically improved lighting and reflections visible in the Bloober Team remake help to build a palpable sense of dread in the scene, showcasing one reason many horror developers are using Unreal Engine 5 for their future projects.
Responses to the Reddit post were filled with gamers eager to play the Silent Hill 2 remake and sharing their love for the original title. Although intrigued, some gamers also expressed hesitancy about the remake, pointing to 2012’s Silent Hill HD Collection and the widely reviled changes that update made to the game’s graphics. Other posters noted that they were new to the franchise and excited to experience the game for the first time with Silent Hill 2.
While the fantastic art design in the original Silent Hill 2 means the game still looks good 21 years after its initial release, with the power of Unreal Engine 5 under the hood Bloober Team’s remake is sure to bring the game’s trademark unsettling atmosphere and otherworldly monsters to horrifying new heights. With these terrifying new visuals, gamers may want to leave the lights on when the PC and PS5 exclusive Silent Hill 2 hits store shelves.
Silent Hill 2 is in development for PC and PS5.