Konami and Bloober Team’s remake of Silent Hill 2 is imminent, and in the lead up to its release, has seen widespread critical acclaim. Though there was no shortage of skepticism surrounding it for quite some time, reception surrounding the remake has certainly turned around, and included among those excited for it is none other than the director of the original Silent Hill 2.
Masahashi Tsuboyama, who directed 2001’s original Silent Hill 2, recently took to Twitter and expressed his excitement over the remake, stating that not only does it allow the game to get past the technical limitations of the original, but also allows a new audience to experience it for the first time.
“Games and technology are constantly evolving, resulting in significant differences in constraints and levels of expression,” he wrote. “This is a common issue with media arts in general, but it is not easy to maintain and appreciate the environment of the time.
“I think the value of the remake is that a new generation can play it. As a creator, I’m very happy about it. It’s been 23 years! Even if you don’t know the original, you can just enjoy the remake as it is. Whether it’s good or bad doesn’t affect the original.”
Speaking about the remake himself, Tsuboyama was critical of the way the remake is being promoted, stating that many of the differences between it and the original that are being highlighted fail to capture the game’s appeal.
“The differences between the original and the remake, 4K, photorealism, the bonus headgear, etc. are all mediocre,” Tsuboyama wrote. “Who is this promotion going to appeal to? It seems like they’re not doing enough to convey the appeal of the work to the generation that doesn’t know Silent Hill.”
That said, he went on to add that the one key change that he is excited about is the new over-the-shoulder camera, which will significantly change the gameplay experience.
“The thing to note is the change in camera perspective,” he wrote. “The change in playable camera has a significant impact on many aspects, combat, level design, art creation, etc. While the impact on the story may be relatively small, it brings a big change to the play feel of the game.
Interestingly enough, Tsuboyama was also critical of the fixed cameras of the original Silent Hill 2, which he felt were limiting, before adding that the new camera should allow for an even more immersive experience.
“To be honest, I’m not satisfied with the playable camera from 23 years ago,” he wrote. “Depth and angle were limited by the processing load. It was a continuous process of hard work that was not rewarded. But that was the limit.
“The over-the-shoulder view definitely adds to the sense of realism. In other words, it makes me want to try playing the even more immersive remake of Silent Hill 2.”
Silent Hill 2 is currently available on PS5 and PC for those who purchased its Deluxe Edition, with its global release coming on October 8.