Silent Hill’s Next Games Being Drastically Different Could End Up Biting It

Silent Hill’s recent revival has resulted in a slew of new projects being in the works, but so far the results of this movement haven’t inspired unanimous hope in fans of the prolific PS2 era survival horror franchise. While the Silent Hill 2 remake on the horizon has genuine potential to bring the IP up to the heights that contemporaries like Resident Evil have reached, it’s also never been a series that thrived on the same kind of mainstream appeal. With multiple, seemingly disparate titles set to fill out a long-term release plan, Silent Hill might be better off just sticking to one cohesive style.

The games released after Team Silent’s time with the series, which came to an end after SH4, have hardly managed to achieve the same level of recognition as their predecessors, and this has also diluted the identity of the franchise over time. The likes of Homecoming and Downpour are seen as contributors to a waning legacy, and the cancellation of Silent Hills after P.T. garnered mass appreciation is still puzzling. Between Konami’s precedent for confusing business decisions and the influence of Kojima’s previous effort on the current state of horror games, the future of Silent Hill remains unclear despite two new projects already having been released.

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Silent Hill’s Renaissance May Need a Major Backup Plan if Things Go South

Silent Hill is ramping up for a major return to the spotlight, but Konami might want to hedge their bets in case things don’t go as planned.

The Short Message and Ascension Haven’t Established a Consistent Feeling for Silent Hill’s New Era

Leaving the Town of Silent Hill Behind Hasn’t Panned Out Yet

In a narrative shift that has been controversial among some fans, the “Silent Hill Phenomenon” is described as the fog of the titular town having appeared in other locations around the world. This has led to the poorly-received web series Silent Hill: Ascension being set in Norway, and free game The Short Message taking place in Germany, but this isn’t the only element that makes them stick out. Ascension’s larger cast and modular storytelling – along with The Short Message’s usage of supplementary notes and live-Action material – have caused both titles to feel like Silent Hill in name only at times, giving fans little to predict when it comes to the likes of f and Townfall.

The SH2 Remake Will Split the Franchise Even Further

Continuing with the trend of unrelated titles making up this franchise’s new era, the Silent Hill 2 remake’s changes seem focused on updating the past with its own isolated vision. The story of James Sunderland is likely the most personal and separate of the entire series, but this game’s influence and popularity have seemingly motivated Konami’s decision to follow in Capcom’s footsteps.

One of Silent Hill’s Upcoming Releases Needs to Succeed

Silent Hill f Has the Most Potential to Define a Direction Moving Forward

The releases that have utilized the concept of the Silent Hill Phenomenon aren’t seen in the most hopeful light, but Silent Hill f’s 1960s rural Japan setting could finally make it a worthwhile addition. Set before any other title in the franchise, f could act as a prequel that recontextualizes existing games and sets the tone for new releases for years to come. Townfall is similarly set to prove itself with what could be a return to Silent Hill proper, but either of these games flopping could be dire for the future of the series.

Konami Needs to Tighten Its Scope

It’s somewhat understandable that the company investing in these games is seemingly experimenting and seeing what sticks, but it’s also important to recognize what put Silent Hill on the map to begin with. The peak of success came when the franchise was focused on one, solid title at a time, and each game was essentially a deep-dive into a character’s mind. If the future of Silent Hill becomes centered around fewer games with a smaller scale emphasis on personal journeys, it could more easily please new and existing fans alike. With the direction that it seems to be headed in, however, at least tying these upcoming releases more closely together in terms of tone and mechanics might help keep the franchise on track.

Silent Hill 2 Remake

Silent Hill 2 is a remake of the classic 2001 survival-horror game, developed by Bloober Team and published by Konami. It features an over-the-shoulder camera and gameplay changes inspired by other horror game remakes.