Silent Hill 2s Remake, TLOU Show How a Little Glass Can Go a Long Way

Silent Hill 2s Remake, TLOU Show How a Little Glass Can Go a Long Way

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that the recent remakes of classic games have been a breath of fresh air in the gaming industry. Take for instance the remake of Silent Hill 2, a game that has now taken a leaf from the book of The Last of Us. The ability to shatter glass and explore hidden areas has made the game feel more immersive than ever before.


Regardless of whether its story was well-liked or not, The Last of Us Part 2 represents a significant leap forward from the original’s simplicity in an unmistakable way. In fact, even if the sequel only added a dedicated jump button, it would still be considered a noteworthy upgrade. However, it does much more by essentially overhauling how players engage with the game world as a whole. For instance, the prone mechanic enhances the stealth system considerably, and shattering glass has become a subtle feature that adds enjoyment to exploration.

The remake of Silent Hill 2 doesn’t deviate from its original form. It revamps the foundation of the initial game into a third-person survival horror experience, providing an opportunity to introduce fresh mechanics. However, many have frequently drawn parallels between its combat and that of The Callisto Protocol, which is a less accurate comparison. Silent Hill: Homecoming would be a more fitting point of reference for The Callisto Protocol. It’s also evident at first glance that the DNA of The Last of Us is deeply ingrained in the remake of Silent Hill 2, as demonstrated by features such as the ability to break glass displays and windows.

Silent Hill 2’s Remake Literally Shatters the Barrier of Exploration

In the revamped version of Silent Hill 2 by Bloober Team, newcomers find themselves with ample room for exploration right from the moment they step into the eerie town. While there’s a predetermined path that players must tread, complete with vital items required to solve Neely’s Bar’s jukebox enigma, they are also free to wander and uncover hidden secrets as soon as they collect the wooden plank and encounter their first deceptive figure.

Similar to the original Silent Hill 2, many storefront doors in town appear to be barricaded or secured. Yet, it’s in these locations where the remake truly excels with its broken glass mechanics. Once players discover they can smash displays and windows using a wooden plank, the remade version of Silent Hill 2 transforms into a vast landscape of shattered glass. This opens up numerous opportunities for exploration, making the gameplay experience significantly more expansive.

An unlocked door no longer guarantees that a room is unreachable; instead, it piques the players’ interest about alternative ways to gain access. In Silent Hill, many structures are entered through windows that players shatter and jump over, which not only offers them a means of entry but also creates distance between James Sunderland and the psychic reflections chasing him. However, not all glass is breakable; it’s usually apparent when it can’t be broken if there’s a wall or environmental barrier directly behind it.

The Silent Hill 2 Remake’s Emphasis on Exploration is a Boon for the Franchise

Additionally, it’s always wise to scan your surroundings thoroughly, but do pay special attention to display cases and car windows as they often conceal something useful like a pack of ammunition or a drink. This is reminiscent of the game The Last of Us Part 2, where you can typically discover items such as bricks, bottles, or snacks.

In essence, “The Last of Us Part 2” shares the same linear structure as the remake of “Silent Hill 2”, but Seattle’s expansive open-world area and detailed map suggest that Naughty Dog’s action-adventure game could have easily served as a model for Bloober’s design.

It’d be intriguing to observe how both franchises might develop by incorporating more regions that stimulate and enhance exploration, which could certainly enhance aspects of Silent Hill: Downpour if it were ever remade. For now, it appears that adopting a Last of Us-style approach, whether purposeful or not, was a smart move on Bloober’s part for the Silent Hill 2 remake.

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2024-10-24 18:33