The Silent Hill 2 Remake is finally here and it's got fans talking! This isn't just a simple update but a major overhaul of this beloved Horror Game. One of the biggest highlights for many gamers is the game's impressive soundscape, a true testament to how far the audio side of video games has evolved.
Nailing the Atmosphere
The original Silent Hill 2 set a high bar for scary video game Sound Design. The music is unsettling and minimal. You have these low, droning sounds mixed in with some seriously creepy noises. That eerie ambiance made this such a classic horror game. The Silent Hill 2 remake really managed to pull that same kind of feeling off perfectly with the help of original composer Akira Yamaoka! This alone helped make this game super atmospheric, especially with that chilling sound. Gamers who are going to be tuning into the remake will be super pumped about that great atmosphere!
The Iconic Radio
One thing fans remember in Silent Hill 2, is that eerie radio static. You would always know you were near an enemy. It was like an in-game warning. In the original version this static served a huge purpose for players because they were trying to navigate fixed camera angles! Gamers couldn't really see where enemies might appear. But, the Silent Hill 2 remake isn't stuck using old game mechanics! This version has a modern third person camera so gamers have so much more control. Even so the iconic radio sound came back with a surprise for fans!
The Problem With the Radio
The PlayStation 5 version is getting this impressive addition. The static from the radio now plays directly through the DualSense controller speakers. However, here's the thing - it is seriously, painfully loud! Even at low game volumes, the radio static can drown out all other sounds in the game. This is such a major problem since the environmental sounds and the monsters’ menacing sounds add so much more ambiance. The static itself doesn't use a lot of power, but the DualSense speaker is extremely close to your ears. The issue becomes even worse when it is significantly amplified! To fix the problem, the team needed to address the game audio itself so that it did a better job of managing the overall audio levels and this meant adjusting some crucial game settings that players wouldn't find difficult.
Fixing The Problem
Making things worse is that you can’t change the volume! You can’t make the radio quieter from inside the game’s options menu. While previous versions had options, for some reason, it seems they didn't give a method for the Silent Hill 2 remake’s setting to do this. To try and lower the radio sound, you've got to use the PS5's settings menu and mess around with overall controller volume, which sucks because you'll have to do that again every single time! Gamers just want a fix that is simple but adds to their experience so that the audio works well in Silent Hill 2 remake!
Immersion Vs. Balance
This whole thing was intentional! The developers thought having the static blast from the controller was supposed to boost immersion. Players would feel as though they are truly James, listening to his Radio while staying alert for enemies and having this awareness as if they were right there on the scene! The feature helps provide haptic feedback that connects to sounds. All of these extras were really made to add a deeper level of immersion in the game.
The overall result was just off! The DualSense sound ended up too overwhelming! It was supposed to feel intense and have an effect, not cause major imbalance! This should have been a simple fix by giving players an audio slider option! Having to use headphones is annoying! That seems so counterintuitive considering many Gaming systems let people personalize game volume! Having an option makes a lot of sense, especially when the problem impacts other features, sounds and audio in the game!
A Great Addition With A Problem
Adding to what's good in this game, you can find this really awesome in-game accomplishment called "Radio Silence!" Gamers are looking for extra moments. A fun achievement, where you need to turn off the Radio!
What was so fun about the new remake. They managed to add to a long loved franchise but ultimately there was some minor problems. To the devs credit, the implementation could have just used a bit of polishing. A simple audio volume option would’ve made the sound feel even better while keeping this new element to immerse players deeper within Silent Hill 2! It seems there's no excuse for having to rely on using headphones! For gamers who really value good sound and atmosphere! Hopefully a simple Audio option update to come out as it will improve one of the most appreciated features!
