Summary
TheSilent Hillfranchise is entering a renaissance, and although it’s great to see such a long-running franchise making its way back into the mainstream flow, the series as a whole seems to be having an identity crisis. Originally, theSilent Hillgames felt cohesive in tone, but the current release lineup might arguably be getting too experimental, and Supermassive Games could be the perfect developer to get things back on track.
One of the most recent additions to theSilent Hillroster is this year’sThe Short Message. Although the game is completely free, it failed to hit a lot of the same notes thatSilent Hillis known for in terms of horror. However, one of the biggest points of concern regarding theSilent Hillfranchise is the highly anticipated release oftheSilent Hill 2remakeby Bloober Team. Being responsible for 2019’sBlair Witch, it was exciting to hear that the developer would be in charge ofSilent Hill 2’s remake, but a recent gameplay reveal showcasing a surprising emphasis on combat has made some skeptical.
Supermassive Games Could Bring Silent Hill Back to its Original Form
Silent Hill 2’s Apparent Turn to Action is Worrisome
As one of the most influential horror franchises in gaming,Silent Hill’s emphasis on offering a horror-filled adventure, as opposed to blending action and scares, made the game feel truly special. WhileResident Eviloffers a fun balance of horror and action in one experience,Silent Hillhas mainly focused on just purely. Of course, there are some combat mechanics, butaction is not what putSilent Hillon the map.
Bloober Team has proven that the studio is capable of crafting a heart-pounding atmospheric horror game withBlair Witch, so it’s surprising to see action being thrown into the mix when it’s not necessary. However, the franchise being given to Supermassive Games could really bring the focus back on stories that are steeped in absolute dread and skin-crawling moments. Bloober Team shouldn’t be completely discounted, of course. The developer arguably haswhat it takes to make a greatSilent Hillgame, but Supermassive Games also stepping into the franchise could be a match made in heaven.
Supermassive’s Long History With Building Haunting Atmospheres
Supermassive Games has some great horror titles under its belt. From the likes ofUntil Dawnand its growing list of choice-based horror titles to the haunting world ofLittle Nightmares, the developer has shown over and over that it is highly skilled at building horrifying, yet compelling, worlds. Just likeSilent Hill 2,Little Nightmares 3is highly anticipated. While there is a lot of pressure on the third game to live up to its predecessors, Supermassive Games would have a perfect chance to step into theSilent Hillworld afterLittle Nightmares 3launches.
ASilent Hillgame developed by Supermassive Games could present the studio with the opportunity to find a unique balance between its choice-based games,likeThe QuarryandUntil Dawn, and the environmental storytelling of theLittle Nightmaresfranchise. Also, the titles from Supermassive Games have practically zero focus on combat and still manage to be intense. Supermassive Games, showing what it does best under the skin of aSilent Hillgame, could offer familiarity for longtime fans while also being innovative with the series.
Silent Hill’s Uncertain Future
As of now,Silent Hill’s future is quite mysterious. How theSilent Hill 2remake will perform is a big enough question, but thenthere’s alsoSilent Hill f, which seems incredibly compelling but is also under wraps.Silent Hill 2could prove to be an amazing remake, and this will hopefully be the case, but also giving Supermassive Games a crack at the series could create something incredible. There is currently no official release date for theSilent Hill 2remake, but it will eventually be clear whether Bloober Team nails its execution or not.
