Silent Hill 2's aesthetic and tone may have been products of their time, but they're also integral aspects of what made the original so iconic, and the upcoming remake may unintentionally strip that away. As with any horror game, Silent Hill 2 relies on atmosphere and immersion to keep players engaged. While the remake's immersion will undoubtedly benefit from its improved fidelity, much of the original's atmosphere relied on a lack of fidelity. This change may result in a technically "better" game with a worse overall experience.
The teaser trailer for the new Silent Hill 2 is full of callbacks to the original game, with several iconic scenes, locations, and enemies showcased throughout. Given the level of updated and additional details, it also seems like this will be a substantial, thorough remake, which isn't inherently positive. Regarding this degree of remake, a comparison can be drawn between Silent Hill and Resident Evil; outdated decisions are still important, and bringing these classic titles into the modern day shouldn't necessarily entail losing the aspects that made them what they were.
As visually impressive as the Silent Hill 2 remake trailer may be, it's that same level of fidelity that may be worrying to some fans. Much of the original game's charm and identity came from its surreal nature, which was cultivated not only by its visuals, but also by its sound design, writing, and performances. Updating those elements as part of a remake makes perfect sense, but changing their inherent properties isn't necessarily the recipe for a better game. The remake of Resident Evil 2 certainly overhauled many aspects of the original, but it managed to sheer off the parts that had truly aged poorly while maintaining the worthwhile soul of the game. Despite its age, Silent Hill 2 didn't necessarily need a remake, with even its most maligned qualities often adding to its eeriness.
Silent Hill 2's Remake May Have Added Too Much Polish
One of the most iconic moments in Silent Hill 2 is its opening scene, in which its protagonist, James, stares into a bathroom mirror and questions the reality of his situation. Not only does this scene encapsulate much of what defines the original game, but it also demonstrates where the remake may have gone wrong. James' updated model and performance, coupled with the improved graphics and animations, tell a very different story here than they once did. James' facial expressions seem exaggerated, while his movement and speech are more natural than their original counterparts. Some of these changes may be for the better from a technical perspective, but they rob the story of an entire (perhaps unintentional) layer of disturbing tension. Based on everything we know about Silent Hill 2's remake, it's difficult to imagine that it will be able to recapture lightning in a bottle.
That being said, the full scope of the Silent Hill 2 remake remains to be seen, so it's possible that the finished product will be able to more faithfully evoke the original's tone than this trailer might make it seem. When remaking a game, it's surely difficult to strike a balance between modernization and complete redesign, but others have successfully crossed that tightrope in the past. However, it's difficult to get past the overbearing air of over-polish that the teaser trailer exudes. Given how long It's been since the franchise's last full game, this remake of Silent Hill 2 will have to meet more than its fair share of expectations.