Trigger Cut Game Reviews

I have never played the original Silent Hill 2 so I can only critique what I played in this remake of what I’ve heard is a classic.  Having played this remake, I completely understand why the original is so beloved.  Silent Hill 2 Remake has an incredible, emotional, mature, and disturbing narrative that is absolutely one of the best stories ever told in a video game. I don’t cry much because of my sheer amount of toxic masculinity however, the ending of this game got me close.  It is truly a gut punch.  From what I have heard and read about the original is that the narrative was strong but it was held back by the voice performances.  The performances here are incredible.  Luke Roberts as James puts in an incredibly restrained, subtle and deeply empathetic performance that makes you care about him.  Silent Hill 2 is a deeply psychological game about suffering, trauma, guilt, shame and ultimately love.  James receives a letter from his wife that has been dead for several years inviting him to meet her again in a place called Silent Hill. So begins his quest to reunite with his dead wife. The town of Silent Hill theoretically is a manifestation of James trauma, guilt, lust, and shame.  He meets others on his journey that seem to be going on their own traumavendures. Are these characters real, or are they a part of James’ fractured mind? Like everything in Silent Hill, it is up to the player’s interpretation of what is and what is not real. That is what makes this game’s narrative so unique and impactful to this day. Gameplay wise the game is solid with a third person action perspective ripped straight from the Resident Evil Remakes.  The melee combat is meaty and impactful and the shooting is solid if nothing revolutionary.  The enemy variety is limited, with repeated bosses and only 3 main enemy types.  The puzzle solving can be hit and miss with some being simple, getting a thing and then putting it into another thing but others have more creativity and challenge to them.  The puzzles are a good way to break up the pacing but I mostly just wanted to get through them to experience more of the story.  Horror is at its most effective when it elicits a sense of dread and anxiety and this game succeeds at this better than any other horror game or movie I have experienced.  If you have somehow avoided spoilers for this game (I didn’t) then I will not spoil where the story goes. Whether the story has been spoiled for you or not, this is a game that is not to be missed.