As Bloober Team wraps up work on the upcomingSilent Hill 2remake ahead of its October 8 release, many fans of the franchise are waiting to see if it lives up to the original game’s legacy. Capturing the macabre magic that madeSilent Hill 2so special could be difficult, but so far the remake looks to be a carefully crafted homage to the game that inspired it. But even as recent trailers have soothed fans’ fears that it would stray too far from its source material, news of theSilent Hill 2remake’s short runtime could serve to keep some players away.
Bloober Team has released plenty of details aboutSilent Hill 2’s gameplaythroughout the lead-up to its October launch, but only recently has the developer divulged how long players can expect to spend with the game. TheSilent Hill 2remake’s reported runtime of roughly 16-20 hours clocks in at nearly twice the length of the original, but this could still come as a disappointment for those hoping for a lengthier experience. And while this short runtime could appeal to players tired of titles that require dozens of hours to complete, it may make others wary to open their wallets.
Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 Remake May Be Too Short for Some
Now over two decades on from its initial release, the originalSilent Hill 2has come to be regarded as a milestone in the survival horror genre. Receiving praise for everything from its foreboding atmosphere to the innovative ways in which it examines themes of trauma and loss, it is seen by many as the high point oftheSilent Hillseries. One thingSilent Hill 2has never been known for, though, is having a long runtime, taking only around 8 hours to complete. This is something the remake hopes to change.
TheSilent Hill 2remake’s 16-20 hour length is sure to be welcomed by gamers eager to spend more time in the titular town, but could still be seen as too short by some. Especially for those used to devoting dozens of hours to completing other AAA titles, the abbreviated runtime of Bloober Team’s remake may make it hard to justify paying full price forSilent Hill 2. But even though its comparatively brief campaign may deter some potential players, theSilent Hill 2remake’s short lengthmay make it more appealing to others.
Its Short Runtime Could Be the Silent Hill 2 Remake’s Biggest Strength
While some players may bemoan the fact that theSilent Hill 2remake can be completed in a little under one full day, this condensed campaign could work in the game’s favor. As shown by the success of recent AAAgames likeMarvel’s Spider-Man 2, which was praised for featuring a campaign that could be completed without a massive time commitment, there’s a market for shorter, more approachable titles. The short length of theSilent Hill 2remake could even convince players unfamiliar with the survival horror franchise to give the game a chance.
A short campaign could also work in the remake’s favor when it comes toSilent Hill 2’s storyline. The tight pacing of the original game remains one of its biggest strengths, so padding out the story with additional content just to fill time could leave the game feeling unfocused. At nearly twice the length of its predecessor theSilent Hill 2remake could still potentially face this problem, but its brisk runtime should hopefully help keep unnecessary exposition to a minimum.
Remaking a title as revered asSilent Hill 2was always going to come with risks, but so far Bloober Team appears determined to do right by gamers. And while its campaign may not be quite as long as some players may have hoped for, the relatively short runtime oftheSilent Hill 2remakecould end up being its biggest strength.
