In an age when so many video game remakes are seen as flops, Bloober’s remake of the legendary Silent Hill 2 became one of the best recent examples. Critics and gamers praised the game for capturing the original’s spirit while refining its vision for modern devices.
Because of the remake’s success, this would not be the last collaboration between Bloober and their publisher, Konami, as they recently announced a new upcoming game. Here is a breakdown of the possibilities for this new title and whether it will be a remake.
Bloober’s Next Project
According to IGN, the Polish developer Bloober announced it would begin work on a new collaboration with Konami. This announcement comes after the Silent Hill 2 remake sold 2 million copies and was lauded as a solid remake of a classic. However, whether this will be another Silent Hill remake or a new game remains to be seen. In an address, their CEO, Piotr Babieno, said the game was still under wraps but thanked the publishers and fans.
Additionally, this news comes in anticipation of Konami’s upcoming Metal Gear Solid remake. While fairly small, Bloober established itself as a talented horror developer. Using their excellent art direction, they made originals like Layers of Fear and The Medium and an adaptation of the cult horror film The Blair Witch Project. As such, they were the perfect choice to remake this horror icon.
The Silent Hill 2 Remake
To many, 2001’s Silent Hill 2 was one of the most acclaimed horror video games ever and one of the best examples of a psychological horror game. The story follows the troubled James Sutherland as he explores a cursed town after receiving a mysterious invitation from his dead wife. Everything from its atmosphere to its themes was praised, and it introduced the recurring series mascot, Pyramid Head.
Despite the game’s fame, it never saw release beyond the PlayStation 2. While the game saw a remaster on the PS3, this was widely criticized for its needless changes to the art and voices. Furthermore, other remakes, such as Bluepoint’s Demon’s Souls, became controversial for disregarding the original art direction. Fortunately, Bloober’s remake earned widespread acclaim for remaining faithful and understanding the original’s direction and atmosphere.
Konami’s Future
While fans praised the remake, the same could not be said of the most recent sequels. After the dissolution of Team Silent, the original creators of the series, the franchise outsourced the sequels to third-party developers. As such, later games like Origins and Downpour did not receive the same popularity as the original trilogy. It has been well over a decade since the last original title from the once-iconic series.
One of Konami’s most infamous blunders was canceling Silent Hills. The game was set to be developed by Hideo Kojima and visionary director Guillermo del Toro. The playable trailer, released in 2014, became a phenomenon for its terrifying take on the saga. However, due to a falling out between Kojima and the company, the game was ultimately canceled, while the former founded Kojima Productions to create Death Stranding. Therefore, many fans have grown weary of the publisher’s handling of the series.
Conclusion
In an age where so many classic video games had their legacies tarnished by poor remakes, Bloober stepped forward and delivered a surprise success with their faithful Silent Hill 2 adaptation. As such, they’ve more than earned a second chance from their new publisher to keep making iconic horror games. While Konami’s handling of the Silent Hill franchise has been criticized, this remake was a surprise comeback for the IP that reminded newcomers and longtime fans why they loved the series.
