Why Can’t Anyone Make A Successful New Silent Hill Entry?

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The Silent Hill 2 Remake was nothing short of amazing in every aspect imaginable – I even managed to earn two Platinum trophies from playing it. To put it simply, it’s truly remarkable and packed with subtle details and Easter Eggs that make each play-through even more enjoyable as you discover new aspects.

In 2024, there was no question about it – this horror game stood out as the absolute best, so brilliantly scary that it managed to make fans of Silent Hill forget all about the disappointing start to the year with Silent Hill: The Short Message.

This raises an intriguing point: Why has it been so long since we’ve seen a good Silent Hill game, and now we only get a remake?

As a devoted admirer, I must say this remake is quite impressive, yet it can’t shake off the fact that it’s still a remake. Frankly, in recent years, nothing original within the franchise has managed to surpass the same level of greatness, which is truly disheartening for someone like me who has followed the series for so long.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t help but feel the weight of expectations when it comes to reviving the chilling atmosphere and intricate narrative of the iconic Silent Hill series. Frankly, it appears daunting for any developer to create a worthy successor, which might explain why Bloober Team seems so satisfied with remaking Team Silent’s other masterpieces instead.

It certainly piques our curiosity: Can a fresh Silent Hill game thrive in today’s gaming landscape?

New Silent Hill Games Are Met With Anxiety

Games Like The Short Message Contribute to This

Have you ever observed a common pattern when new horror games are revealed? Fans typically hold their breath in eager expectation. However, instead of excitement, Silent Hill fans often find themselves holding their breath with concern.

It wasn’t just luck; in all seriousness, fans were genuinely apprehensive about new games, and they literally melted with fear when they learned that Silent Hill 2 was going to be remade. However, we were pleasantly relieved when we actually got to play the game.

Indeed, I encourage you to scan through the comments about this game. You’ll find that quite a few individuals, including myself, admitted to feeling apprehensive initially. Yet, consistently, these individuals expressed delight upon discovering they had grown to adore the game rather than leaving dissatisfied.

It seems to me that fans ought to feel excited for upcoming games rather than apprehensive or anxious about them.

It’s understandable that people are feeling quite anxious, given that the recent launches didn’t exactly receive a warm welcome. Regrettably, “Silent Hill: The Brief Communique” seemed to be the last straw that broke the hopeful fans’ expectations.

The “Short Message” is often criticized as a horror game because its quality is questionable, despite the controversy within the fandom over this statement. It’s surprising that many fans acknowledge it’s not good, but still, this perspective seems to be contentious. However, there are positive aspects, like Akira Yamaoka’s excellent soundtrack and Sakura Head’s appealing design.

To be quite honest, while there’s one aspect of this game that I appreciate, everything else feels like a disappointing shadow of what a Silent Hill game should be. It’s almost disrespectful to label it as such.

It’s hard to believe that the free Silent Hill game, which everyone dislikes, was something I couldn’t even imagine two decades ago causing such a reaction. Today, it wouldn’t surprise me at all.

It seems as though any “Silent Hill” game not created by Team Silent is shrouded in a sort of ominous prediction – a spell that can be lifted only by an exceptional new installment.

Will Nothing Replicate Team Silent’s Masterpieces?

Appeal to Fears, Not Audiences

The main reason why The Short Message disintegrated was its unsuccessful attempt to connect with a younger, more modern audience by incorporating topics like bullying, social media, and suicide – themes that I, as a high school teacher, regularly encounter. In my opinion, Silent Hill: The Short Message is an exaggeration of these issues.

Once more, let me repeat what I’ve shared earlier: It seems reminiscent of the overly dramatic anti-suicide campaigns often presented in school assemblies, which unfortunately, my pupils find unrelatable due to their perceived detachment from reality.

As a horror game enthusiast, I’ve come to realize that fear is incredibly subjective and varies greatly from one player to another. Trying to appeal to a broad audience is actually counterproductive when creating a horror game. Instead, it would be more effective to zero in on specific fears rather than attempting to categorize players into demographics. The team behind Silent, when examining their previous works, would seek symbolism that represents the manifestation of these personal fears, as opposed to the straightforward approach seen in The Short Message.

Instead of focusing solely on Gen Z, let’s consider those same topics: bullying, social media, and suicide. It’s important to note that these issues are not exclusive to any particular generation, as they have been thoughtfully addressed in the timeless Team Silent games. When it comes to social media, it’s crucial to think innovatively about how it might impact teenagers’ mental health.

Instead of typical action-packed chases, envision an entirely unique experience where fleeing feels like drowning in self-doubt, harsh words, and overwhelming emotions. Unlike usual behavior, humans seek connection and comfort from others, but now those very individuals have become the pursuers we’re trying to evade. The struggle is against suffocation, isolation, societal expectations, and the ever-present sensation of being observed with no semblance of privacy, as cameras are omnipresent.

Isn’t that chilling to the core? Or does it give you goosebumps just thinking about it? You can feel the shivers as that situation would evoke fear in players, rather than a tiresome pursuit. It aligns with the themes, but it delves deeper into them, not just for a superficial connection. The secret lies in the innovative approach to manifest these fears, which seems to be missing in the more recent installments.

The initial “Silent Hill” game delves into fears with a more direct approach, drawing from a literal child’s mind. On the other hand, the subsequent three games by Team Silent are more symbolic. However, once the “Silent Hill” series began to be developed in the west, you’ll notice that the depicted fears lack metaphorical depth and complexity.

The issue with modern games lies in their attempt to replicate the enchantment that Team Silent once crafted, without incorporating the subtleties, intricacies, or overall depth that were present in the originals. Unfortunately, this approach often falls short, but it’s not the only reason behind the shortcomings of these newer games. It’s essential to remember that the main challenge for the franchise… comes from within Konami itself.

Konami Isn’t Innocent of Nonsense

P.T. Remains a Shining Example

For more than ten years, the cancellation of Silent Hills, formerly known as P.T., has left a deep mark on the Silent Hill community. It’s highly unlikely that this decision will be forgotten, regardless of any future remakes planned with Bloober Team.

Aside from the main topic: There’s a lot of buzz among fans about remaking Silent Hill 3, but where’s the enthusiasm for the original Silent Hill game? It seems to be often disregarded in the fandom, as well as by developers, despite being the foundation for the third game and deserving more recognition overall. Diving right into a remake of the third game without giving due respect to the first one would not only be illogical and disrespectful, but it would also be negligent on Konami’s part.

Setting aside any personal feelings, it’s undeniable that Konami has made questionable choices regarding the Silent Hill series, and this trend began with the disbanding of Team Silent. In an attempt to cut costs, Konami delegated game development to other studios, resulting in a variety of outcomes.

After that point, it was western studios who took over the development of the Silent Hill games. These studios seem more focused on catering to audiences and generating revenue than they are on intricate storytelling or details. Consequently, the games turned into money-making ventures, filled with unfinished narratives and excessive fan service. To be honest, it’s puzzling why Pyramid Head would appear in Silent Hill: Homecoming. It seems like a more subtle way to communicate creative exhaustion.

Beyond this point, it’s worth noting that their excessive focus on mobile games and pachinko machines led to a less favorable outcome for their intellectual properties. Even renowned series like “Metal Gear” were not exempt from this trend, leaving fans puzzled as to why such content development seemed more important than devoting resources to creating complete games that they initially made a name for.

Essentially, if you examine it closely, approximately 90% of the negative issues related to the franchise stem from a poor choice made by Konami.

Fans Are Praying Silent Hill f Succeeds

It Will Have Many Questions to Answer

I’m deeply rooting and fervently wishing from the very core of my existence that Silent Hill f turns out to be great. The trailer looks promising, but considering the franchise’s past, many of us are keeping our hopes high that Ryukishi07 doesn’t let us down.

Although no official launch date has been announced yet, the fact that Silent Hill has received a rating in South Korea suggests it’s coming out soon, possibly this year or next. What intrigues me about this game is its focus on Japanese horror, a genre I find to be more chilling than western horror for the most part.

Concerns are rising since there’s been no news about the game apart from its old trailer. No interviews, discussions, or gameplay demonstrations have been made available – not a single thing, which is quite concerning. Games that receive minimal promotion can either become huge successes or major flops. Here’s hoping that the upcoming Silent Hill falls into the former category (or they start promoting it soon).

Because the game isn’t set in the main town of the series, some fans are puzzled about how it connects with the franchise, and they’ve started speculating on how it intertwines with Alessa’s curse. We can only hope that these queries will be addressed logically while also maintaining a compelling narrative to reestablish the series’ prominence.

Without a doubt, the release of Silent Hill f will serve as an unmistakable sign, either pointing towards a revival and prosperity for the series, or signaling its decline and potential demise.

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2025-03-10 17:40