EvilSilentFrame

@DeadSpace Did you get to play more Silent Hill 2? I had to put it down last week because there was a lot going on with the family, but I picked it back up over the weekend—wasn’t trying to rush it. I just finished it today.

Overall, I thought it was good. I think Bloober did a great job. I’m really looking forward to their SH1 remake next. I still prefer the original SH2 by Team Silent—it just had a heavier sense of dread for me and felt scarier overall. But I’m genuinely glad Bloober got to do this one, and now it’s actually making me want to replay the OG SH2 again lol.

Bloober has a ton of potential. They’re a young studio, but you can see how much they’ve grown. Definitely a team to keep an eye on going forward.

@DeadSpace I will look into it. I have it favorited in case I see a sale on it. I had to pause on SH2 with this work week being so busy. I’ll get back to that this weekend and eventually Cronos. Always looking for another good creepy game.

@DeadSpace I just tried your strategy—shooting them in the leg and then rushing in with the pipe—and it works really well. Thank you for that. The radio making you anxious is definitely doing its job. It really helps elevate the tension.

Silent Hill 5 was made by a completely different team. The first four were Team Silent, and 5 was handled by Double Helix Games, an American studio trying their take on the series. It wasn’t a bad game, but it didn’t have the same psychological impact the others did. Bloober did a really nice job with this remake, though. I hope they go on with a lot more successful games.

I’ll favorite Cronos and keep an eye out for a sale. I’m not much of a shooter, and I think that one leans pretty heavily into shooting, right? I can handle stuff like Resident Evil, but games like Doom just aren’t really my thing.

@DeadSpace That’s good to know about shooting them in the knees. I’ve been super stingy with bullets since I like to save them for boss fights. I actually have a lot right now because I’ve been raiding every car I see, but I still get worried I won’t have enough.

The radio definitely makes things less scary this time around. The original’s radio sound was terrifying. I think we’ve just become desensitized over the years.

As for the mannequins, I’m pretty sure they triggered the radio right away in the original, but I don’t remember them hiding like they do in this one. Here they’ll stand behind a bookcase or curl up into that weird ball shape. In the original, they’d just come at you as soon as you got close, and the radio would start blaring immediately.

As soon as I get home from work, I’m hoping to get to play more. See where the game takes me next.

@DeadSpace I was talking about the four legged ones too. They’re tough and creepy!

The spots where it prompts you to look at something but you don’t get anything, I think are all callbacks to the original SH2. With them moving locations of items, puzzles, weapons…. I remember some of these locations being of significance in the original. It is throwing me off a bit at times too, but I think that’s what it is.

The first one I remember coming across was the dumpster in front of the apartment buildings. In the original, that’s where the garbage shoot emptied out to. This time, it’s been moved in that courtyard/alley type of area.

@DeadSpace Yeah, picking up objects can definitely be stressful. Sometimes I have to really move around and angle myself just right before it lets me grab something. I also wish cutscenes didn’t automatically move me from one part of the map to another. I like collecting everything—notes, memos, letters, photos—and I’ll purposely go down streets that aren’t the main path. But then I hit a cutscene that jumps me ahead, and suddenly I’m in a new area with no chance to go back and explore what I wanted to see.

The mannequins are genuinely creepy. I love that they mix in a normal full-body mannequin to trick you into thinking it’s one of the four-legged ones. And yeah, they hit really hard this time around. The fact that they hide and stalk you makes me slow down and check corners constantly.

I just finished the hospital. It was already a creepy section in the original, and they did a great job with it here too. I thought the nurses were going to be a big problem, but hitting them from behind drops them fast, and then I just stomp to make sure they’re actually down. With that strategy they’re not too bad.

After leaving the hospital I actually got stuck—I was fighting a mannequin near a car and got wedged so I couldn’t move at all. So I’ll have to reload my last save and start from the end of the hospital again tomorrow.

But overall I’m really enjoying the game. Sometimes I feel like I’m moving through it too quickly and need to slow down, but it’s fine—I’m definitely going to replay this one. Loving it so far.

@DeadSpace I’d agree with all of that. The visuals are some of the best I’ve seen. The animations can be a bit off at times, though. When James turns quickly, something about the hair movement looks a little strange. And the leaves rolling around don’t look quite right either—when they move fast across the ground, I’m seeing a lot of ghosting. Not sure if that’s my settings, but I didn’t change anything, so it really stands out.

Breaking windows is a nice addition. At first I thought it was just a small new idea I wouldn’t bother with, but I keep finding items in the cars, so now I’m smashing pretty much every window lol.

And yeah, it’s really nice revisiting the old town from a new perspective. I’m enjoying seeing how they interpret things and add new details. Some of the buildings that were just generic shapes in the original are now clearly defined—like “oh wow, that’s actually a flower shop,” or “this is a diner.” The original had its distinct landmarks, but a lot of places didn’t feel like real businesses. This remake gives the town more personality.

Overall, I’m very happy with the game so far. I think Bloober Team did a fantastic job recreating this game. It’s not perfect, but I’m so glad to have this game remade. It’s deserved the remake treatment for such a long time and it’s going to bring new fans to the series. Hopefully I’ll get to play more today, but I’m not in any rush. I want to keep exploring the town and its buildings to see what they’ve added. I can already see myself wanting to replay this game to unlock the multiple endings like I did with the original.

Being that I love horror games, I’m playing Silent Hill 2 remake this weekend.

It still blows my mind that it has been that long since the 360 launched. I bought mine because I found out the follow-up to Jet Set Radio would be coming to this system. But out of all the games at launch, I enjoyed Kameo most out of all those games.

@MaccaMUFC @TrollOfWar I agree with TrollOfWar—SH2 is one of the strongest psychological horror stories in gaming, and that’s a big part of why it became such a cult favorite. For many years, it’s been considered one of the scariest games of all time. Bloober Team has even said SH2 was a major inspiration for them, which you can see in games like Layers of Fear and The Medium. They’ve always been good at capturing the Silent Hill “feel,” even if their games didn’t quite hit the same level.

And like TrollOfWar mentioned, SH2 is standalone, while SH1 and SH3 are directly connected. So it makes sense they’d remake the fan favorite first, the game that inspired them all.

@DeadSpace I’m going to try not to give any spoilers since a lot of people still haven’t played the original. So far, I’m really enjoying it. I’m trying not to rush through it like I can with the original SH2.

Graphically, it’s impressive. The gameplay feels solid, and the character controls are a huge upgrade from the old tank controls. Combat is better too—James having a dodge is a nice addition. I also like that they changed up the puzzles. They’re not just copied from the original, and the ones that do return are altered or moved to different locations.

I’m also glad they changed up the layouts. Running through the buildings and seeing different designs from the original is really fun. It’s cool to see their interpretation of SH2 instead of just recreating everything 1:1.

Overall, I’m having a good time with it, but I will say it’s not as scary as the original—at least not so far, and that leaves me wanting to play the original. I just got past Rosewater Park, so there’s still a lot left to go, but I’m enjoying it quite a bit.

How about you? What do you think of it so far?

@Banjo — I played the remasters and honestly, they weren’t that bad.

If this is your first time with Silent Hill 2, and the remake hits the same notes as the original, you’re in for a treat. It’s not as gory as Resident Evil 7 (I know that was a deal-breaker for you), but it is morbid, super unsettling, and just gets under your skin in a totally different way. The story’s great—not as layered as Project Zero/Fatal Frame—but it keeps pulling you forward because you just need to know what happens next.

I just started the remake and so far it’s solid. It’s definitely a slow burn. It doesn’t throw everything at you like Resident Evil does. A lot of enemies you can just run past, and it leans more on exploration and puzzles than combat. At least the original was. Don’t get me wrong, there’s plenty of enemies to battle. The fighting was never the series’ strong point, but the atmosphere and creepiness absolutely make up for it.

@Banjo- if I remember correctly, years ago you had never played SH2. Have you played it since?

@HarmanSmith yes we sure are eating well! Must have done something right in our past lives as the gaming gods are smiling upon us! Hope I don’t wake up and it was all a dream.

@Banjo- my digital deluxe edition is also preordered! Can’t wait to return to Minakami Village, but first, I’ll be making a return to the town of Silent Hill. 😲

Very exciting! So much is coming out around the same time and I thought I was going to have to wait for a sale. Now it’s coming out at a discounted price.

In less than one year, I am getting remakes to two of my favorite games of all time, Silent Hill 2 and Fatal Frame 2 Crimson Butterfly! Feels too good to be true!

Curious what the gameplay will be like. Visually, this is very impressive. Looking forward to seeing more.

So glad to see this getting good reviews. I’m looking forward to playing this one when it drops in price some.

@DeadSpace Maiden of the Black Water is a good game. I think the combat is the strongest in the series, but for me the game is the weakest overall. Just my opinion, but the structure felt a little too choppy—I would have preferred one continuous story instead of so many separate chapters. That said, it’s still a solid entry, and I’ve actually been thinking about revisiting it again soon.

@DeadSpace yes, sometimes waiting a couple months is a better experience overall. Gives more time to find the issues and fix them. I do miss the days when you just put the disc in and you were good to go.

Have you preordered this game yet?

@DeadSpace The RE2 remake really did kick off this wave of horror remakes and breathed new life into so many dormant franchises.

I haven’t preordered this one—money’s been a little tight. I’ll either need a really good week at work or just wait for a sale. I’m fine holding off, though. Until then, I’m steering clear of articles and videos so I can go in as fresh as possible when I finally get to play it.

I’ll be getting this game at some point, but waiting for a sale or price drop. Tough times at the moment.

I’ve been avoiding reading the reviews in detail since I want to go in as blind as possible, but I’ve been keeping an eye on the scores—and it’s awesome to see it doing so well. There was a time when it felt like the franchise might be done for, so seeing it bounce back like this gives me a lot of hope that it’s truly back on track.

@Todd_G when I played the second one and saw the connection, my mind blew. I couldn’t believe it. It was done so well and brilliant. One of the moments I wish I could forget just to relearn it all over again for the first time lol.

It’s been so long since I’ve played the third. I only played it once and I remember liking it, but there’s a LOT I don’t remember to the game. I’ve thought about watching somebody else play through but I get bored of that quickly. I really want to replay it again to familiarize myself more with the story from that game. The first and second game are two of my favorite games of all time. It’s a fantastic franchise and I’m so glad to see they are still working on it, even if it is just remakes (though I’m hoping for a new one after they release everything again.)

@DeadSpace I have not played Cronos. I’m going to have to give that one a shot. I’ve been busy playing Texas Chainsaw Saw Massacre because they had announced it was going peer to peer and I wanted to get in as many games as I could before that happened, but just recently they announced they were pulling back from peer to peer. So now I don’t know what’s going on with the game.

@DeadSpace Digital is definitely cheaper, and I totally get that. On top of all the reasons you listed, there’s the payment to the seller, employees to pay, and the whole process of getting the physical game into stores before it reaches the buyer. I can completely see why companies want to push us toward digital. I’m already there on Xbox, but not quite on Switch yet—mostly because my Switch library is all first-party, and Nintendo actually does a solid job getting the games on the card. For third party, I prefer my Series X. It’s fast, I can get the game from my living room, I can pre download the game so it is ready at launch. I can see both sides of the conversation as I am still on both sides.

@Todd_G That’s a really good point about these games sticking with you long after you’re done. When I first played the original, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I found myself online researching the mansion, the rituals, the character connections—and was blown away by how carefully crafted and intertwined it all was.

Then I played the second game. Even though it’s a new cast and a different location, I was shocked to discover a subtle connection to the first game through a character who only had a minor role in the first (won’t spoil it). That reveal floored me. I immediately replayed the first, then went back to 100% the second—I was completely obsessed.

These games really do linger with you long after the credits roll.

@DeadSpace You’re welcome! It’s definitely as classic as RE and SH, but with its own unique vibe. RE leaned more into action, SH had that morbid, oppressive atmosphere, while FF is more of a slow burn. If you take the time to read the files and notes, you uncover all the rituals and past lives, which really pulls you in and creeps you out at the same time. And having only a camera to defend yourself creates this constant sense of helplessness and dread—but that’s what makes it work so well.

I also remember when they first pushed the idea of ending physical media at the start of a generation. They’re still moving in that direction, just slower than they originally planned. Microsoft already got me to stop collecting physical on Xbox, but I’m still keeping up with my Switch collection.

@Todd_G I’ve always found it strange that companies think we want a code in a box. Who honestly thought that was a good idea? I get that it cuts costs, but there’s a reason many of us still collect physical—yes, the box matters, but what’s inside matters even more.

On Xbox, I’ve pretty much gone all-digital at this point. It’s a shame, but it’s just how things have gone. Even back on Xbox One, most discs barely had anything on them, and I’d be stuck waiting hours for a full download anyway. That really killed the appeal of collecting physical on Xbox for me even though I still love to collect and Xbox is my system of choice lol.

@DeadSpace If you’re a fan of SH and RE, I really think you’d love Fatal Frame. The series has that slower-paced, atmospheric style similar to SH, but with its own twist—deep stories tied to lore and the tragic past lives of the spirits you encounter. Each game works well as a standalone, so you can jump in anywhere.

Of the two currently on XSX, I’d say Mask of the Lunar Eclipse is the stronger one. I enjoyed Maiden of Black Water, but it felt a bit more segmented, while Mask had that classic, fluid progression that reminded me of the older titles. Both are solid, but if you’re ever looking to dive deeper, the absolute best is still the second game, Crimson Butterfly, followed closely by the original.

@Todd_G If this game is fully on the Switch 2 card, I’ll be picking it up twice—once on Xbox (where I play most of my games on Series X), and once physically on Switch 2.

I remember stumbling across some clips of the Wii version a few years ago and being shocked I never knew it existed. It actually looked like a solid version. I’m not great with modding systems, so I’ll probably never get to try it myself, but this new remake is a must-play for me and I can’t wait.

What really surprised me was seeing Team Ninja attached to the project. Fatal Frame/Project Zero was never a big seller, and back then I didn’t know anyone else who played these games. Now, seeing a whole community around it and Team Ninja involved makes me hopeful for the future of the series. It shows they’re serious about this remake and likely have bigger plans beyond just this release.

@Banjo- fingers crossed and let’s hope you’re right! A release of 1 & 3, and then a brand new game to the series!

@Banjo- sounds good to me! I had all the endings in the Xbox version which had more endings than the PS2 version. Maybe this remake will include a couple new endings even the Wii version didn’t have.

Looking forward to new ghosts and areas to explore. This game is a masterpiece on the Xbox. Just hope this one lives up to the hype in my head lol.

I’m starting to wonder if they skipped 3 because of 1 being so close with it in terms of the story. Maybe when they do finally release them, they’ll be released at the same time or even bundled together. After releasing 5, then 4, and now 2, they can’t just stop. It’s a great time to be a fan of the series.

@Banjo- the Xbox version was amazing. One of the few games at that time that made me want to replay it over and over. I beat it on every difficulty. I completed the ghost list 100 percent. I was just obsessed with the game and wanted more. This new version being over the shoulder is going to be a completely new experience. I’ve been checking out all the Nintendo directs hoping for some Fatal Frame/Project Zero news and we finally got the big one. I was expecting the next game they remade/remastered to be part 3, but I’ll take Crimson Butterfly any day!

@Todd_G thank you for confirming that. I was at work when the news broke so I didn’t get to dig in and read up on the details. I never played the Wii version as it didn’t come out here in the states. I played part 2 on Xbox and LOVED it. The game and the story blew me away. I’m more excited about this remake than anything else coming in the next year or two.

@Banjo- yes, I thought the English voice acting in Maiden of the Blackwater was fine too. I was able to play it that way with no problem. This is their big one though. Crimson Butterfly is the highlight of the series. I’m hoping it reviews and sells well. I really want to replay the first and third, but super excited to revisit all gods village again. It’s been so long since I’ve played it, I’m hoping it’s as good as I remember.

@Banjo- I’m curious about the engine as well and other things. I’m curious about the controls. The series always had clunky controls, especially back then. Wondering how much it’s improved. I’m curious about the voice acting. The English voice acting was never as good as the Japanese version. I’m also curious if this will have fixed camera angles or if it will be over the shoulder. Either way, I’m super excited. Gives gamers who never played part 2 back in the day a chance to experience one of the best horror games of all time.

@Banjo- it’s been a long time! Hopefully this sells well and we get 1 and 3. I was hoping they were going to release the original trilogy as one, but I’m happy to get Crimson Butterfly. My favorite in the series.

This is a dream come true. One of my favorite games of all time! Can’t wait to dive right in.

So excited for this one! Halloween is my favorite horror movie of all time. They look to really be capturing the look and feel of the 1978 movie. To have both a single player and multi player, I couldn’t ask for more. Can’t wait!

I’m intrigued. The beginning of the trailer was losing me. My mind was wandering but now I’m super excited. Going back to Raccoon City! Can’t wait!

Looking forward to seeing how this turns out. It also gives me Fatal Frame/Project Zero vibes.

Interesting, they skipped certain games but it does say “more” so maybe those missing games will make it. This might be one I’ll get.

Not happy with this announcement. I really enjoyed this game. Wasn’t perfect, but was a lot of fun to play.

I’m not surprised by this. I had a feeling that Gun was working on another title. The updates were becoming scarce, they stopped responding to the fanbase, and they seemed to have lost interest in TCM.

I’m guessing their next game is another F13 game. I don’t blame them for what happened with F13, but with TCM, there’s a lot more that could have been done with this game.

I believe they are working on a new F13 game for multiple reasons. Right after they announced the end of TCM, Jason Universe revealed a concept of their new Jason. Jason Universe also mentioned movies, TV, gaming, and more. The Jason was created by Greg Nicotero who also created a new Leatherface skin for the TCM game. Wes from Gun has stated that F13 was his baby. It’s probably his favorite franchise. There’s no doubt in my mind that he’d drop TCM to work on F13 again. F13 is a bigger franchise financially and now that the legal issues are over, it’s ready for a new game.

I’m not saying what Gun did with TCM was okay. As a fan of the game, I’m hurt to find out it’s the end. I feel the game still had potential, guess they see things differently.

Never played this game but I feel for those who did and loved it. Makes me think of F13. I’m still heartbroken over that one.

I would hope Xbox wouldn’t follow PlayStation in this hike. I hate seeing all these price hikes but it’s the crazy times we live in. Yes, I think they are unfortunately going to follow.

I love the RE series but haven’t touched their multiplayer modes. It doesn’t bother me they try their hand at multiplayer. I’m sure they sell extras in that and are looking for their own live service type of game they can keep updating. As long as they have great single player which they’ve been on a roll with, I’m happy with what they’ve given us.

He makes some good points in the article. I just don’t see Sony porting over their exclusives, at least not anytime soon. If game costs keep going up like they have been, then eventually I think they will. Either that or they’ll have to learn to lower costs somehow. Time will tell what Sony will do.

Lots of Banjo talk lately. The other day that it could rival Mario numbers. I don’t think it would rival Mario’s numbers but I do think it could do well. Now “instantly hated by fans,” I don’t think it would be hated. There will be a split within the fanbase. You’ll never make everybody happy, but if given to the right developer, it could do well and please a lot of fans. Really depends on who makes it because there’s a lot of variables involved in that.

A new Banjo game would bring so much excitement. We’ve been waiting such a long time. Yes, given to the right developer, it could pull in some high numbers. Xbox has so many great IPs they aren’t doing anything with. They could turn things around bringing some of these back. Hopefully we see something new from Banjo sometime soon.