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The upcomingSilent Hill 2remake has fans excited, but there’s also some concern. The remake is twice as long as the original game, as recently shared by the developers. For many, this sounds like a good deal – more game time, more content, and more chances to experience the eerie world of the game.
However, just because a game is longer doesn’t always mean it’s better. In fact, when it comes to horror games, a longer runtime can sometimes be a problem. The originalSilent Hill 2was tightly paced, with a story that kept players on edge from start to finish. Extending the game might drastically risk losing that tension.
Silent Hill 2 Remake Has the Risk of Padded Content
One of the biggest risks of making a game longeris the possibility of padding. It might seem like more content is a good thing to some players, but if that content feels repetitive or unnecessary, it can make the game far less enjoyable.
Silent Hill 2was originally a game that didn’t overstay its welcome, as the main campaign was around eight hours long. Every moment was designed to build tension and keep players engaged. If the remake adds hours of content that doesn’t contribute to the horror or the story, it could end up feeling like filler, and just make the game worse overall.
“One of the most tense feelings of fear is the unknown”: 1 New Feature in Silent Hill 2 Remake is Downright Revolutionary But It Could’ve Easily Destroyed the Game
Longer games can work well in some cases, though. Games likeResident Evil 4 RemakeandAlien Isolationare around 20 hours long, and they manage to keep the tension and addictiveness high throughout. But these games are structured in a way that allows for that length.
They have a variety of locations, enemies, and challenges that keep the gameplay fresh.Silent Hill 2,on the other hand, is more focused on atmosphere and psychological horror. It’s a game that works best when it’s tight and focused. Stretching it out could easily dilute what made the original so special.
Quality Over Quantity in Horror Games
When it comes to these games, quality is far more important than quantity. A well-made, tightly-paced game that lasts 8-10 hours can be far more effective than a longer game that drags on.
Resident Evil 2 Remake, Resident Evil 7,andResident Evil 8are all great recent examples of this. These games aren’t overly long, but they’re carefully crafted to keep players engaged from start to finish, and they have plenty of replay value thanks to their great pacing.
The first twoDead Spacegamesare also good examples. These titles are around 10 hours long, and they’resome of the best horror games ever made. They don’t waste time with unnecessary content, and every moment is designed to keep players on edge.
“The new map is so good looking”: Silent Hill 2 Gives Us a First Look At the Game’s Map, Along With a Cool New Feature That Adds Realism
Last year’s stellarDead Space 1 Remakethankfully had almost the same pacing and length as the original and is probably even better.
Horror works best when it’s surprising, and when it catches you off guard. When a game is too long, it becomes harder to maintain that surprise and tension without resorting to cheaper tactics. The longer a game goes on, the more likely it is to start repeating itself, which can make the horror feel less impactful.
As the remake is set to release on October 8, with high expectations from Bloober Team and Konami, fans are eager to see if it lives up to the original. If the extra content adds to the experience without feeling like filler, then the longer runtime could be a good thing. But if it feels padded or repetitive, this would’ve been a bad idea.
Where do you stand on theSilent Hill 2remake’s runtime debate? Let us know in the comments below!
Suhaib Adeel
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :336
Suhaib is a Gaming Writer at FandomWire. He’s extremely passionate about video games and movies, and loves working in the pop culture space. Some of his favorite games include Fallout: New Vegas, Disco Elysium, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, Red Dead Redemption 2, Persona 5, Final Fantasy XII, Dishonored, The Last of Us Part II, and Bloodborne.
