Hey guys, glad you're doing SH2 now! Btw, I would stick to playing the PS2 version. The HD remaster is a whole lot worse. If anything, try doing the enhanced edition on PC.
while this was indeed a high point for Konami, even back then they were really weirdly evil. SH1 was developed under short and hostile conditions, really only coming together because the team was so passionate. Konami was infamous for taking work away from creators in order to not pay them, so Tsuboyama slept at his desk for like two weeks while rendering the CG cutscenes for SH1. This may sound crazy, but multiple Team Silent members have recalled this. He pried a promise from the company to let him direct SH2
Konami from this period reminds me of all those stories of rock bands with difficult, hostile relationships that somehow channel that into creating great music
The story was that someone from the team stayed at night to render the scenes because they were using the same computer that was used during the day for other purposes, and they didn't have other resources (so they were basically taking turns)
Guy who did the CG is Takayoshi Sato. And it wasn't 2 weeks, it was 2 years. He had to do it by himself or he wouldn't get the credit. His supervisor would. Admired the guy's resolve. Last I heard, he works at Nintendo of all places.
Yeah I recognized the bit where james is like on a trolley looking up, same shot as in the movie. There was I beleive in SH1 references to "in the mouth of madness"
Excuse my language but FUCK YEAH! Glad you guys are on to this masterpiece now. One of the best games ever made. What a roller coaster of a ride that first playthrough was.
Holy shit, the quick mention at the beginning makes me think how cool it would be for a podcast of you guys covering one of Remedy Games. Max Payne, Alan Wake, Quantum Break or even Control and how unique they are at crafting storytelling environments throughout their games.
It's worth noting that I recall the SH HD Collection was one of the prime examples of "HD Remaster" gone wrong during an time where publishers were throwing out HD Collections left & right. Lack of complete source code and technical issues were to blame. Apparently there was a PS3 patch later, which I assume fixed the fog, but not sure if it's sufficient overall. Also, make sure to play with original voice acting if you HAVE to play the HD Collection.
True enough but you were only there for 1 out of 4 games anyway so not really a big loss. Whether it's fear of tarnishing the "sacredness" of part 2 or the high pedestal of public opinion surrounding it, the problem with revering one title so much is that you are robbing yourself of any comparable experiences that you may enjoy more than you expect. Watching videos/reviews of other SH games is one thing, playing them is another altogether. Just some food for thought.
You know, seeing that this week’s episode begins the Silent Hill 2 analysis, it prompts me to type up something that’s been bugging me. Nothing to do with this podcast or what’s said in it - great work as always guys - and in the bigger picture there’s more existential matters the species is facing. So, while it’s not all that important really, and I don’t blame anyone for skipping this lengthy comment, it’s something I gotta get off my chest. Other than my chins that is. And it’s to do with whether videogames are art to me anymore. Now, obviously a large part of me thinks so otherwise I wouldn’t be a frequent watcher of this podcast. But it’s to do with the recent announcement of the Silent Hill 2 Remake, and game Remake’s in general. We all know why the Remake is coming, a combination of trends and the fact that Konami’s mistreatment of their IP’s, but what troubled me most about the SH2 Remake announcement was how little people seemed to be bothered about it. In general, I am open to Remasters of old games to make them more palatable to modern audiences. Quality of life improvements and so on. Nier Replicant is a good example of that, still preserving that original experience while making tweaks that make it more fun to play. Shadow of the Colossus on PS4 is good. And the stuff that the studio Night Dive did with a game called Powerslave: Exhumed is exemplary. There’s even some ground up remakes I like, especially the Yakuza Kiwami games, because I never got around to playing the original versions and don’t have the means to. I’m talking about brand new games being made with the names of old games, and those old versions being cast aside. You mention the recent Resident Evil Remakes which is a perfect example of what I meant. No shade on the Resi 2 one; great game, polished game. However, it ISN’T the same experience as the original Playstation release. I mean, it can’t be. Never mind on a technical level, the art direction is different, the cast is different, the music is different, the structure and how you play is different. And what is concerning is that, for the moment, Capcom are treating the Remake as though it is the ONLY Resident Evil 2. And it's a little troubling is how some fans seem to be embracing this too. It comes across as so shallow to me. Like suddenly, this thing you’ve embraced for so long, is now unplayable? I don’t get it. We lose are minds when movies are remade or tinkered with. At least with films, in general, you get a choice of which version you experience. No other medium is this quick and willing to dismiss its past from a corporate and cultural viewpoint. This ain’t about a dude who is troubled that the totems of his youth are vanishing. I know it may come across that way, but this is about the disregard of the preservation of art. Making sure an original version of something like Silent Hill 2 is not just about code or graphics, it’s about a moment in history in which that art came into being. A time and place, a vibe, that gets to live on through those who experience it years later. It’s an intangible quality that can’t be replicated by just “staying true” to the original source material. And I find it so sad that isn’t celebrated in videogames as it should be. In my opinion. My very long drawn out opinion. Apologies for that. Oh and Mike, you want some good psychological horror movies? Check out Angel Heart and Kill List.
I totally feel you on this. This whole remake thing upsets me because, independently of it being a good game or not, there seems to be no concern over at konami to preserve the og games and have them available to play on modern systems alongside whatever remakes they wish to do. I think the remake trailer wouldn't have left this much of a sour taste in my mouth if at least you could easily get your hands on the original. It concerns me that the original SH2 is becoming more and more difficult to find and play and it says to me that they don't really see these old games as art since they'd rather just remake them than help preserve them for future generations it seems. It's like you said: "it’s about a moment in history in which that art came into being", it was the right people, at the right time, coming together and creating a piece of art, a lightning in the bottle scenario. I don't want to lose og SH2, and have instead SH2 but with new and different ultra HD graphics and different voice cast, the same way I don't want to watch an old classic film but the only available version has different actors. It's not the same, it can't ever be, it's its own different thing no matter how "true and close" to the original they try to be. A shout-out to the fans and dedicated people at the SH2 Enhanced Edition for trying to keep it alive on the pc though. A shout-out also to the Medievil Remake that unlocks the original PS1 game after you complete some challenges.
I completely see where you're coming from, and I wouldn't want say...Zelda Ocarina/Majora 3D to be the default-available versions of the games for all eternity and erase the N64 versions. I think what motivates publishers, besides money, is the reception that comes with "glorious reinvention" as opposed to just simple porting/remastering in HD. Remakes that go the extra mile (RE2) to deliver something new are universally praised as long as the final product is actually good. Conservative ports and remakes are often criticized by existing fans & critics who have obviously already played the game - "why would I buy this full price?" That's why Resident Evil 4 remake is gonna go wild on the changes and subversion, it's great for newcomers and old-timers alike. The problem lies outside of the game itself, where much fewer young people are going to happen upon and/or play the original vision as a result of the remake's existence. Luckily, RE4 has been ported to the moon & back for 17 years so it ain't disappearing completely, but other old games aren't so fortunate especially if they're from publishers like Nintendo, etc.
About 12 minutes into it, I don't know if you talk further about the Silent Hill 1 director (Keiichiro Toyama), but he of course move on from Team Silent saying something along the lines that he didn't want to stifle their talent. So he then founded Team Siren and made the Siren games and Gravity Rush.
This cannot be stressed enough: the "remastered" version completely butchers the game, best option is to either emulate the PS2 original or go with the PC port (modded).
Note about The Neverending Story: The movie is actually awful an awful adaptation and goes against what the book is saying thematically. The author, Michael Ende, criticized the movie heavily and tried to get it stopped from being made but lost the lawsuit. He at least got his name removed from the movie because he didn't want to be associated with it. Actually his wife had to be hospitalized after watching the launch of the movie with a friend and died in hospital soon after (she had already been in bad health previously of course but yeah). That adaptation really was a big source of negativity in Ende's life and it goes to show how dear his own story's were to himself. PLEASE read the book of The Neverending Story. It's so deep, goes way further than the movie (which cuts off at like the halfway point of the book) and is considered an absolute classic as part of the German literature canon. It's my favorite book and Ende is an amazing author and person in general.
NO WAY! I'M WATCHING YOUR XENOGEARS PODCAST SERIES RN (on episode 14) AND YOU GUYS ARE NOW MAKING A SERIES ON MY NEXT FAVORITE GAME, SILENT HILL 2, TOO?!?!?! YOU'RE THE BEST!!!!!
@Resonant Arc I don't know exactly what you will make of this, but when I think about Silent Hill 2, my mind isn't taken to a place of fear. For me, just as James and Mary call Silent Hill their "special place", it too is my special place. When I play this game it doesn't often conjure feelings of terror, it comforts me. The calm inside the storm moments in this game have been so impactful on my life as to have been one of the defining images of my psyche. It's part of my mind palace. For many abuse victims or people who have suffered, this game is an escape because it is the one place that makes sense. The way James is seeing Silent Hill is how I viewed the world for most of my childhood. I suspect that me being born with autism played a part in this. When I hear the developers talk about how they focused on making the game tense and scary I am confused, because I don't see how the beauty in this game could be anything but intentional and meticulously thought through - just as much as the horror elements. The calming music, the washed-out environments, everything culminates in a world that means a lot to me. Speaking as more of an Angela than a James. I hope that my little story can mean something to you if you happen to read this, but I felt particularly motivated to share. It is unjust how little the beauty of this game is discussed.
Coming straight off your deep and awesome analysis of Jacobs ladder it was quite funny to have you both saying you haven’t watched it yet in this video. Silent Hill 2 was actually what got me watching Jacobs ladder just like it was the case with you and therefore I was pleased to see you tackled my favorite psychological horrorgame with a series of reviews as well, which I’ll all watch over the next few days!
"Subtlety is a key element of psychological horror" All the more reason why the Remake is not only unnecessary, but also based on what was shown off already along with interviews where they say they changed a ton of dialogue, blooper team has completely missed the point of the original and why its horror works.
This is another of my favorite game series ever. 1-4 are some of the greatest games ever. And in my opinion they are the best horror titles that exist. I love you guys. You are really great and I love the way you two think. I'm so glad you do this podcast like this. I wish I could contribute financially. Hopefully someday I'll be able to help you guys that way too as a way of giving back for all the awesome content and thoughtful discussion you have given us. Thanks guys!
Currently sick for the second time in 1 month. Just the perfect surprise to help me get through the day. A timeless game lensed by two of my favourite people. Looking forward to watching.
@@lydiawilder5996 Hey I think it is, I have a kid at nursery age who has it too if that helps. My missus had it too. We are all getting better but it is not very nice.
Something important about the very start of the game. The drawing on the bathroom walls, the stick figure thing, is an actual sigil meant to protect against the demon Lilith.
A lot of people are saying to stay away from the HD collection and they are right. It's very buggy. I recommend the Enhanced Edition if you have the ability to do so.
Stephen King, in his book "on writing," mentions about trying to create things that are frightening to people. His view (which I love and can't forget) is that the human mind is amazing at coping. You can never truly terrify someone, because as soon as their brain recognizes, say, a 50 foot tall spider, it immediately relaxes because "hey, at least it's not a 100 foot tall spider."
I was truly expecting this. ♪♫ Saw your coomentary on Vagrant Story and enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks for taking the time reflecting on masterpieces!
Fair warning: DO NOT play the HD Collection. They thoroughly screw up whatever "remastering" they were attempting, there are many video essays cataloguing how horrible the HD Collection is.
Like others said stay away from the remasters on ps3/xbox360, or you stick to the ps2 version, the director cut that has a new scenario, or play the Pc version which fans made a amazing work enhacing the game, with bug fixes, better lightning, Ai upscales pre-rendered screens among other things
@@silenthillfreak156 I havent try the pc version myself, so I cant say much about it. I only know about the improvements because of their channel on youtube channel Town of Silent Hill
What a nice surprise, love the video description lmao! SH2 is the only SH I've played, but thankfully I was lent the PS2 original and played on a CRT around Halloween years ago. Had to adjust a bit as I got lost in the beginning, but the atmosphere is 2nd-to-none and I'll never forget some of the moments/scenes that got to me
I would like to see you guys try to piece together what's happening in Silent Hill 1. To this day it's still debated because so much is left open to interpretation.
One of my favourite games ever made and probably my favourite horror story in any media! Oh I'm so ready I know you guys will do it more than enough justice.
Just regarding the medium of games, there was a time in the 18th century when novels were thought of as very low-brow entertainment because poetry was viewed as the supreme expressive art form. More than a century or so later, cinema comes out and that is subjected to a similar process of derision and skepticism surrounding its artistic merit, but this time its compared unfavorably with the novel (how many times do you still hear that a movie is "not as good as the book"). Video games are the latest medium and have had to fight for their own 'legitimacy' if you like. There were obviously great stories before this game but I think that Silent Hill 2 is definitely one of those moments where you start to understand how potent video game stories can be.
For newcomers who are confused with all the development history stuff: the first episode of the podcast is usually about that. The next episode onward, we start playing!
People definitely used to make the argument that the controls were jank on purpose because you were a civilian with no weapons training I don’t think it’s true, but it’s something I’ve always heard argued
Digital Foundry made a great video about the different ports of Silent Hill 2. Strangely the more you get away from the original PS2 release, the worse the versions get. The first and best version of the game was the PS2 version. All effects are in tact and look as intended and the overall quality is great. A remarkable detail about this version is the flashlight cone which is calculated entirely on hardware and has no impact on the games performance. The second and also second best version if the Xbox version, which released slightly after. It has one remarkable advantage over the PS2 version, which are the flashlight cones, which are now rendered on the nvidea chip per-pixel instead of per-vertex as on PS2, whilst still keeping the soft shadows which were also on PS2. However this version suffers from the worse Bink video codec instead of the MPEG2 format used on PS2, so the videos look worse, also the sound is worse and most notably, the fog particles are smaller. The third version was the PC release, which has all the drawbacks of the Xbox version but is also lacking a lot of effects like the reflections in character model's eyes for example. Another example are the soft-shadows which are just gone in this version. If you are playing today, you can install fan patches that fix most, but not all of these problems. Then came the HD remasters, which should have finally been the best possible version, but are actually far from it. Konami has sadly lost the release code of the game, so instead the studio which was handling the HD remaster had to build on a beta-state which was a few months older. So they had to fix bugs again, which were already fixed in the PS2 release. And I can't say how much time and help they had from Konami, but what came out is easily the worst version of the game. The fog is even worse than on the Xbox and PC versions and on top of that the flashlight cone shadows make no sense any more. There is this cut-scene with bars casting shadows on the floor, but in the HD remaster, these shadows suddenly stop after a meter, so we have these strange shadow stubs bouncing left and right which looks ridiculous. So the best way to play this game is by either playing the original PS2 game or playing the PC version with lots of patches, which fix most, but not all of the issues, but add the benefit of the Xbox per-pixel shadows as well as HD textures on top of it. If there is a HD texture mod for the PS2 version, playing that on PCSX2 would be the ultimate method of playing. But even without it is head to head with the fan-patched PC version. You can also activate widescreen patches on PCSX2. These widescreen-patches are bundled in all newer versions of PCSX2, so you don't need to do any downloading and patching of further stuff yourself. However, because this version isn't meant to be played in widescreen, you might sometimes see unintentional things outside of the original aspect ratio.
1:16:40 Whoa Mike's 1st time leaving the US? Nice! I guess when games/RPGs create such awesome foreign worlds, some of us don't really get the itch to travel internationally if we don't have to. Far be it from me to tell you how to play your game, but I hope with your Steam Deck playthrough you try to stick to dark quiet environments and nighttime sessions. It's a horror game after all, gotta be optimal for best effect
For this Review it would be cool to edit in both real reactions of You guys to the few jump scares that are scattered through the Game hahaha. Very cool dev history video.
regarding the talk about yamaoka's style of music to compliment the scene, the most amazing scene this became aparent was during Silent Hill 1's final CGI scene of Lisa. if the player was given more ways to get to know and empathize with her, people would have bawled a river.
I like 2, it's great and one of my favorites, but I love 1 and I don't understand why everybody thinks 2 is the best one or the most important one. It's great, but 1 is even better. Maybe 2 didn't had a huge impact on me like 1 because it wasn't my first Silent Hill. What 2 did is good, but it was "standing on the shoulder of the giant" that was 1. I hope you guys do 1, 3 and 4 too. (yes, 4 is good, not the best, but not as horrible as some people say. it has very interesting ideas).
The fear of the unknown is also used a lot when it comes to the manipulative ways the media works. A lot of the time when the news is talking about how a person or event incited backlash over an establishment or group, they will list a couple of threats and then end with "etc" or another term that makes the listener fill in the blanks with their own fears.
I have heard the remaster is even more worse then the PS2 one. you guys got me into the metal gear solid franchise which I had never played which I can't stop playing now I will have to revist this!
If you were only aware of the storytelling in the Legacy of Kain series... The dialogue, the plot, the characters...for what it is, it is best in the entertainment media (not just games)
Mike, I will say the silent hill HD collection is not the way to play this game if it can be helped, alot of the game is built from the ground up in a crunched deadline with no source code. Fonts on textures are redone with comic sans, fog effects not working well, textures not loading, models t-posing Ps2, or the original Xbox version is the way to go for an authentic experience, and the fan HD mod for the PC is the way to go if you want a true definitive experience but don't mind playing in a way the game devs didn't make wholely themselves
It's sad how as games have developed technologically, music has fallen on the wayside and deteriorated, almost becoming a predictable extention of the realistic graphics.
There is also a Toluca Lake in California. It's on the Warner Bros' lot. That might not be a coincidence, as most street names in Silent Hill are those of US horror and SFF authors.
Really cool stuff, excited to see your take on this. I've been loving those analysis so far. Some are way too long, not gonna lie, so when you guys set it up to be shorter that's a relief actually. Also where's that certain SH2 uncle? I know you there!
You two MUST watch 'Jacob's ladder' after this review. The narrative weight of the game is directly pulled from that film. Also riddled with themes for guilt, sin, dark reflections, the bridges between man and his tortured nature, the horrors of war, heaven and hell. You can absolutely see similarities between the two.
I want my games like the Barney Stinson's playlist: always going up! That is in reference to the use of silence (and I totally agree with Mike) but sometimes it can more or less be done. And here I'm thinking specially on Metal Gear Rising mostly, where the worst parts are clearly the few silences it has.
Silent Hill 2 is literally my favorite game of all time and I'm super jelly of anybody who's going to be playing this for the first time due to this podcast. It's one of a handful of games that if I could erase my memory of it to play it for the "first time" again, I totally would. I will say, if you have _no other way,_ go ahead with the HD re-release. Konami lost the game's gold code for both SH 2 and 3 and gave the remaster team very little time to get it done. SH 2 fares better than 3 but once you see the "Silent Hill Ranch" sign's font was changed to comic sans, you'll kinda get a feeling for how rushed the HD releases were.
@@TheAlison1456 No but it's downloaded. I _will_ get to it but currently my game Backlog is so big I've started capitalizing It as It has gained sentience. I suspect It is waiting to expand to the point It can absorb the entire universe into Itself. So, yeah, it's on the Docket.
Really excited for this one. My favorite video game after Xenogears. But Mike switching to the dreadful HD Collection?? Yikes. Stick with the ps2 version or play the PC version with HD mods. The HD collection has so many technical flaws that will make you appreciate the game less.
Hey guys, love your content. Like others here, I would highly recommend staying away from the HD Remaster. If you're looking for an updated port with higher quality textures, resolution support, etc, I would suggest getting the PC Port and grabbing the SH2: Enhanced Edition patches for the game as they do a much better job of remastering the game then the official remasters did. Can't wait to see the rest! Enjoy the game!
Arguably the greatest horror game ever made. Resident Evil games were always more 'fun' but from a storytelling perspective, Silent Hill 2 is second to none. The only game I've ever played where i felt a sense of dread upon completing it.
Probably moreso than any other game, I consider Silent Hill 2 to be a work of art. Every aspect of the game contributes to the overall theme and meaning. I think it's fascinating that they made decisions that from a gameplay standpoint wouldn't be fun or even be frustrating in some cases, and used those choices to reinforce the themes. Few quick notes - Jacob's Ladder is worth watching. You'll definitely notice how Silent Hill took influence from it - I agree that games have taken a step back - Konami is the worst. They ruined / wasted the potential of so many great series: Castlevania, Suikoden, Silent Hill, Metal Gear - Regarding the remaster, my main complaint is the voice acting. I think the original got the characters right while the remaster tried too hard to sound professional
Just want to say i'll vouch for the ps2 version based on what i think has the best visuals. Digital Foundry put out an excellent video a few years back comparing all the versions of SH2 that had come out at that point in time
Hey guys, glad you're doing SH2 now! Btw, I would stick to playing the PS2 version. The HD remaster is a whole lot worse. If anything, try doing the enhanced edition on PC.
its not just worse, it's unplayable. core aspects of the game straight up do not render.
I have the director's cut version for the original xbox. It's pretty good imo.
while this was indeed a high point for Konami, even back then they were really weirdly evil. SH1 was developed under short and hostile conditions, really only coming together because the team was so passionate. Konami was infamous for taking work away from creators in order to not pay them, so Tsuboyama slept at his desk for like two weeks while rendering the CG cutscenes for SH1. This may sound crazy, but multiple Team Silent members have recalled this. He pried a promise from the company to let him direct SH2
Konami from this period reminds me of all those stories of rock bands with difficult, hostile relationships that somehow channel that into creating great music
@@plain_simple_garak difficult, hostile managers
The story was that someone from the team stayed at night to render the scenes because they were using the same computer that was used during the day for other purposes, and they didn't have other resources (so they were basically taking turns)
Guy who did the CG is Takayoshi Sato. And it wasn't 2 weeks, it was 2 years. He had to do it by himself or he wouldn't get the credit. His supervisor would.
Admired the guy's resolve. Last I heard, he works at Nintendo of all places.
You definitely need to watch Jacob's Ladder. There's a ton of references in the game, even character design.And the symbolism is so good.
Would love to see these guys do discussions about movies like Jacobs Ladder and The Thing.
Oh yes! This Would be a total dream come true.
Hard agree on Jacob’s Ladder.
I came here to mention Jacob's Ladder. watched it way too young and received psychic dmg but still a great film.
Yeah I recognized the bit where james is like on a trolley looking up, same shot as in the movie. There was I beleive in SH1 references to "in the mouth of madness"
Excuse my language but FUCK YEAH! Glad you guys are on to this masterpiece now. One of the best games ever made. What a roller coaster of a ride that first playthrough was.
Holy shit, the quick mention at the beginning makes me think how cool it would be for a podcast of you guys covering one of Remedy Games. Max Payne, Alan Wake, Quantum Break or even Control and how unique they are at crafting storytelling environments throughout their games.
Control is mad good I'd love to see that.
Great light work in the studio for SH2.
I would go over the top and added film grain also. ;)
It's worth noting that I recall the SH HD Collection was one of the prime examples of "HD Remaster" gone wrong during an time where publishers were throwing out HD Collections left & right. Lack of complete source code and technical issues were to blame. Apparently there was a PS3 patch later, which I assume fixed the fog, but not sure if it's sufficient overall. Also, make sure to play with original voice acting if you HAVE to play the HD Collection.
True enough but you were only there for 1 out of 4 games anyway so not really a big loss. Whether it's fear of tarnishing the "sacredness" of part 2 or the high pedestal of public opinion surrounding it, the problem with revering one title so much is that you are robbing yourself of any comparable experiences that you may enjoy more than you expect. Watching videos/reviews of other SH games is one thing, playing them is another altogether. Just some food for thought.
@@notsyzagts7967 I have no idea what you are saying or how it relates to what i typed. Perhaps you replied to the wrong person
The ps3 version is fairly acceptable after the patch but definitely the Ps2, xbox og, or pc should be played.
You know, seeing that this week’s episode begins the Silent Hill 2 analysis, it prompts me to type up something that’s been bugging me. Nothing to do with this podcast or what’s said in it - great work as always guys - and in the bigger picture there’s more existential matters the species is facing. So, while it’s not all that important really, and I don’t blame anyone for skipping this lengthy comment, it’s something I gotta get off my chest.
Other than my chins that is.
And it’s to do with whether videogames are art to me anymore.
Now, obviously a large part of me thinks so otherwise I wouldn’t be a frequent watcher of this podcast. But it’s to do with the recent announcement of the Silent Hill 2 Remake, and game Remake’s in general.
We all know why the Remake is coming, a combination of trends and the fact that Konami’s mistreatment of their IP’s, but what troubled me most about the SH2 Remake announcement was how little people seemed to be bothered about it.
In general, I am open to Remasters of old games to make them more palatable to modern audiences. Quality of life improvements and so on.
Nier Replicant is a good example of that, still preserving that original experience while making tweaks that make it more fun to play. Shadow of the Colossus on PS4 is good. And the stuff that the studio Night Dive did with a game called Powerslave: Exhumed is exemplary. There’s even some ground up remakes I like, especially the Yakuza Kiwami games, because I never got around to playing the original versions and don’t have the means to.
I’m talking about brand new games being made with the names of old games, and those old versions being cast aside. You mention the recent Resident Evil Remakes which is a perfect example of what I meant. No shade on the Resi 2 one; great game, polished game.
However, it ISN’T the same experience as the original Playstation release. I mean, it can’t be. Never mind on a technical level, the art direction is different, the cast is different, the music is different, the structure and how you play is different.
And what is concerning is that, for the moment, Capcom are treating the Remake as though it is the ONLY Resident Evil 2.
And it's a little troubling is how some fans seem to be embracing this too. It comes across as so shallow to me. Like suddenly, this thing you’ve embraced for so long, is now unplayable? I don’t get it. We lose are minds when movies are remade or tinkered with. At least with films, in general, you get a choice of which version you experience. No other medium is this quick and willing to dismiss its past from a corporate and cultural viewpoint.
This ain’t about a dude who is troubled that the totems of his youth are vanishing. I know it may come across that way, but this is about the disregard of the preservation of art. Making sure an original version of something like Silent Hill 2 is not just about code or graphics, it’s about a moment in history in which that art came into being.
A time and place, a vibe, that gets to live on through those who experience it years later. It’s an intangible quality that can’t be replicated by just “staying true” to the original source material. And I find it so sad that isn’t celebrated in videogames as it should be.
In my opinion. My very long drawn out opinion. Apologies for that.
Oh and Mike, you want some good psychological horror movies? Check out Angel Heart and Kill List.
I totally feel you on this.
This whole remake thing upsets me because, independently of it being a good game or not, there seems to be no concern over at konami to preserve the og games and have them available to play on modern systems alongside whatever remakes they wish to do.
I think the remake trailer wouldn't have left this much of a sour taste in my mouth if at least you could easily get your hands on the original. It concerns me that the original SH2 is becoming more and more difficult to find and play and it says to me that they don't really see these old games as art since they'd rather just remake them than help preserve them for future generations it seems.
It's like you said: "it’s about a moment in history in which that art came into being", it was the right people, at the right time, coming together and creating a piece of art, a lightning in the bottle scenario. I don't want to lose og SH2, and have instead SH2 but with new and different ultra HD graphics and different voice cast, the same way I don't want to watch an old classic film but the only available version has different actors. It's not the same, it can't ever be, it's its own different thing no matter how "true and close" to the original they try to be.
A shout-out to the fans and dedicated people at the SH2 Enhanced Edition for trying to keep it alive on the pc though. A shout-out also to the Medievil Remake that unlocks the original PS1 game after you complete some challenges.
Funny how hardware limitations often breeds creativity, it's why remakes in modern consoles rarely recaptures the greatness of the originals
I completely see where you're coming from, and I wouldn't want say...Zelda Ocarina/Majora 3D to be the default-available versions of the games for all eternity and erase the N64 versions. I think what motivates publishers, besides money, is the reception that comes with "glorious reinvention" as opposed to just simple porting/remastering in HD. Remakes that go the extra mile (RE2) to deliver something new are universally praised as long as the final product is actually good. Conservative ports and remakes are often criticized by existing fans & critics who have obviously already played the game - "why would I buy this full price?"
That's why Resident Evil 4 remake is gonna go wild on the changes and subversion, it's great for newcomers and old-timers alike. The problem lies outside of the game itself, where much fewer young people are going to happen upon and/or play the original vision as a result of the remake's existence. Luckily, RE4 has been ported to the moon & back for 17 years so it ain't disappearing completely, but other old games aren't so fortunate especially if they're from publishers like Nintendo, etc.
About 12 minutes into it, I don't know if you talk further about the Silent Hill 1 director (Keiichiro Toyama), but he of course move on from Team Silent saying something along the lines that he didn't want to stifle their talent. So he then founded Team Siren and made the Siren games and Gravity Rush.
Please stick with the PS2 original, and stay far away from the HD collection that came out around 2012.
Or better yet, play the Enhanced Edition mod on PC.
@@ManiacalForeigner yes, very true
The og xbox version can also be played on the 360. It has some extra content so it's a good alternative.
This cannot be stressed enough: the "remastered" version completely butchers the game, best option is to either emulate the PS2 original or go with the PC port (modded).
@@ManiacalForeignerwhere Can I buy silent hill 2 on pc?
Note about The Neverending Story: The movie is actually awful an awful adaptation and goes against what the book is saying thematically. The author, Michael Ende, criticized the movie heavily and tried to get it stopped from being made but lost the lawsuit. He at least got his name removed from the movie because he didn't want to be associated with it. Actually his wife had to be hospitalized after watching the launch of the movie with a friend and died in hospital soon after (she had already been in bad health previously of course but yeah). That adaptation really was a big source of negativity in Ende's life and it goes to show how dear his own story's were to himself.
PLEASE read the book of The Neverending Story. It's so deep, goes way further than the movie (which cuts off at like the halfway point of the book) and is considered an absolute classic as part of the German literature canon. It's my favorite book and Ende is an amazing author and person in general.
Casen mentioned Steel Heart. He's officially awesome!!
LOVE what you've done with the studio lighting for this episode!
I can't wait to hear Casen saying all his analysis from the characters and all the symbolism that floods the game
NO WAY! I'M WATCHING YOUR XENOGEARS PODCAST SERIES RN (on episode 14) AND YOU GUYS ARE NOW MAKING A SERIES ON MY NEXT FAVORITE GAME, SILENT HILL 2, TOO?!?!?! YOU'RE THE BEST!!!!!
You guys def make Wednesday's worth it. Great work!
This channel is just amazing
Resonant Arc podcast upload = Good day
God damn your guys set for this one looks gorgeous. I love the lighting!
I've been dormant on this channel for awhile but as soon as I saw, "Silent Hill 2" instant click for me. Cannot wait for more coverage of this game. ♡
Will be joining you on this -- my first time through!
You guys aged well. The studio is awesome - so much better than the bedroom 😅
These introductory episodes are always favorites of mine. I'm looking forward to Casen's perspective on this game.
@Resonant Arc
I don't know exactly what you will make of this, but when I think about Silent Hill 2, my mind isn't taken to a place of fear. For me, just as James and Mary call Silent Hill their "special place", it too is my special place. When I play this game it doesn't often conjure feelings of terror, it comforts me. The calm inside the storm moments in this game have been so impactful on my life as to have been one of the defining images of my psyche. It's part of my mind palace. For many abuse victims or people who have suffered, this game is an escape because it is the one place that makes sense. The way James is seeing Silent Hill is how I viewed the world for most of my childhood. I suspect that me being born with autism played a part in this.
When I hear the developers talk about how they focused on making the game tense and scary I am confused, because I don't see how the beauty in this game could be anything but intentional and meticulously thought through - just as much as the horror elements. The calming music, the washed-out environments, everything culminates in a world that means a lot to me. Speaking as more of an Angela than a James.
I hope that my little story can mean something to you if you happen to read this, but I felt particularly motivated to share. It is unjust how little the beauty of this game is discussed.
Coming straight off your deep and awesome analysis of Jacobs ladder it was quite funny to have you both saying you haven’t watched it yet in this video. Silent Hill 2 was actually what got me watching Jacobs ladder just like it was the case with you and therefore I was pleased to see you tackled my favorite psychological horrorgame with a series of reviews as well, which I’ll all watch over the next few days!
"Subtlety is a key element of psychological horror"
All the more reason why the Remake is not only unnecessary, but also based on what was shown off already along with interviews where they say they changed a ton of dialogue, blooper team has completely missed the point of the original and why its horror works.
This is another of my favorite game series ever. 1-4 are some of the greatest games ever. And in my opinion they are the best horror titles that exist. I love you guys. You are really great and I love the way you two think. I'm so glad you do this podcast like this. I wish I could contribute financially. Hopefully someday I'll be able to help you guys that way too as a way of giving back for all the awesome content and thoughtful discussion you have given us. Thanks guys!
Thank you for this comment. You speak for all of us. Wishing you much success - some random dude
Currently sick for the second time in 1 month. Just the perfect surprise to help me get through the day. A timeless game lensed by two of my favourite people. Looking forward to watching.
Get well soon!
RSV?
@@lydiawilder5996 Hey I think it is, I have a kid at nursery age who has it too if that helps. My missus had it too. We are all getting better but it is not very nice.
@@Castorcato It sucks. I got it this week and it taxed me so much that I've been in and out of conciousness for days.
@@Castorcato Please keep an eye on your kid. RSV can potentially be life threatening for children, and is a leading cause of infant death.
Something important about the very start of the game. The drawing on the bathroom walls, the stick figure thing, is an actual sigil meant to protect against the demon Lilith.
Fantastic preamble at the beginning there.
Tuning back in since I unfortunately haven't played "Xenosaga" yet. Super hyped for this, can't wait to see your guys' thoughts on this one!
Recently finished my first playthough just 2 weeks ago. Incredible timing, thanks a lot!
Thank you for covering this masterpiece :)
A lot of people are saying to stay away from the HD collection and they are right. It's very buggy. I recommend the Enhanced Edition if you have the ability to do so.
Fantastic light work. You guys are great for putting so much thought into it!
Stephen King, in his book "on writing," mentions about trying to create things that are frightening to people. His view (which I love and can't forget) is that the human mind is amazing at coping. You can never truly terrify someone, because as soon as their brain recognizes, say, a 50 foot tall spider, it immediately relaxes because "hey, at least it's not a 100 foot tall spider."
Dude you guys are seriously the best! I love the way you format your discussions and the insights and topics are so spot on!
I was truly expecting this. ♪♫ Saw your coomentary on Vagrant Story and enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks for taking the time reflecting on masterpieces!
Fair warning: DO NOT play the HD Collection. They thoroughly screw up whatever "remastering" they were attempting, there are many video essays cataloguing how horrible the HD Collection is.
Like others said stay away from the remasters on ps3/xbox360, or you stick to the ps2 version, the director cut that has a new scenario, or play the Pc version which fans made a amazing work enhacing the game, with bug fixes, better lightning, Ai upscales pre-rendered screens among other things
Do you know where I can find the PC version?
@@silenthillfreak156 I havent try the pc version myself, so I cant say much about it. I only know about the improvements because of their channel on youtube channel Town of Silent Hill
@@rudidellama3718 I've heard the same. I've tried looking, but it didn't seem to be straight forward to me on how to get it. Thanks tho!
Look forward to watching this! I could not play Xenosaga so I've been missing you guys for the last few months :)
I looooooove what you've done with the lighting! SpoOoOooky!😜
What a nice surprise, love the video description lmao! SH2 is the only SH I've played, but thankfully I was lent the PS2 original and played on a CRT around Halloween years ago. Had to adjust a bit as I got lost in the beginning, but the atmosphere is 2nd-to-none and I'll never forget some of the moments/scenes that got to me
Dat horror mood lighting
FUN FACT: DOMBROWSKY, eddie's last name is also the surname of a character in Twin Peaks. The Horne brothers remember a lady with that name.
omg yaaaassss! they're literally covering all my favourite games right now
I would like to see you guys try to piece together what's happening in Silent Hill 1. To this day it's still debated because so much is left open to interpretation.
One of my favourite games ever made and probably my favourite horror story in any media! Oh I'm so ready I know you guys will do it more than enough justice.
Been waiting for you two to cover Silent Hill. Awesome job and can't wait for the other episodes.
Just regarding the medium of games, there was a time in the 18th century when novels were thought of as very low-brow entertainment because poetry was viewed as the supreme expressive art form. More than a century or so later, cinema comes out and that is subjected to a similar process of derision and skepticism surrounding its artistic merit, but this time its compared unfavorably with the novel (how many times do you still hear that a movie is "not as good as the book"). Video games are the latest medium and have had to fight for their own 'legitimacy' if you like.
There were obviously great stories before this game but I think that Silent Hill 2 is definitely one of those moments where you start to understand how potent video game stories can be.
Oooooh what a treat! 🤗 Looking forward to this one!
For newcomers who are confused with all the development history stuff: the first episode of the podcast is usually about that. The next episode onward, we start playing!
People definitely used to make the argument that the controls were jank on purpose because you were a civilian with no weapons training
I don’t think it’s true, but it’s something I’ve always heard argued
I would LOVE to see you guys cover Signalis. that game has got some depth.
You can tell these guys are best frienfs.
Digital Foundry made a great video about the different ports of Silent Hill 2. Strangely the more you get away from the original PS2 release, the worse the versions get.
The first and best version of the game was the PS2 version. All effects are in tact and look as intended and the overall quality is great. A remarkable detail about this version is the flashlight cone which is calculated entirely on hardware and has no impact on the games performance.
The second and also second best version if the Xbox version, which released slightly after. It has one remarkable advantage over the PS2 version, which are the flashlight cones, which are now rendered on the nvidea chip per-pixel instead of per-vertex as on PS2, whilst still keeping the soft shadows which were also on PS2. However this version suffers from the worse Bink video codec instead of the MPEG2 format used on PS2, so the videos look worse, also the sound is worse and most notably, the fog particles are smaller.
The third version was the PC release, which has all the drawbacks of the Xbox version but is also lacking a lot of effects like the reflections in character model's eyes for example. Another example are the soft-shadows which are just gone in this version. If you are playing today, you can install fan patches that fix most, but not all of these problems.
Then came the HD remasters, which should have finally been the best possible version, but are actually far from it. Konami has sadly lost the release code of the game, so instead the studio which was handling the HD remaster had to build on a beta-state which was a few months older. So they had to fix bugs again, which were already fixed in the PS2 release. And I can't say how much time and help they had from Konami, but what came out is easily the worst version of the game. The fog is even worse than on the Xbox and PC versions and on top of that the flashlight cone shadows make no sense any more. There is this cut-scene with bars casting shadows on the floor, but in the HD remaster, these shadows suddenly stop after a meter, so we have these strange shadow stubs bouncing left and right which looks ridiculous.
So the best way to play this game is by either playing the original PS2 game or playing the PC version with lots of patches, which fix most, but not all of the issues, but add the benefit of the Xbox per-pixel shadows as well as HD textures on top of it.
If there is a HD texture mod for the PS2 version, playing that on PCSX2 would be the ultimate method of playing. But even without it is head to head with the fan-patched PC version. You can also activate widescreen patches on PCSX2. These widescreen-patches are bundled in all newer versions of PCSX2, so you don't need to do any downloading and patching of further stuff yourself. However, because this version isn't meant to be played in widescreen, you might sometimes see unintentional things outside of the original aspect ratio.
1:16:40 Whoa Mike's 1st time leaving the US? Nice! I guess when games/RPGs create such awesome foreign worlds, some of us don't really get the itch to travel internationally if we don't have to.
Far be it from me to tell you how to play your game, but I hope with your Steam Deck playthrough you try to stick to dark quiet environments and nighttime sessions. It's a horror game after all, gotta be optimal for best effect
For this Review it would be cool to edit in both real reactions of You guys to the few jump scares that are scattered through the Game hahaha. Very cool dev history video.
So excited for this one !!
regarding the talk about yamaoka's style of music to compliment the scene, the most amazing scene this became aparent was during Silent Hill 1's final CGI scene of Lisa. if the player was given more ways to get to know and empathize with her, people would have bawled a river.
Super excited for this one! Love the podcast guys
This is so good. Premise, you guys are great. So happy to have found this
Jacob's Ladder is verrrrrry of the game. Definitely worth a watch.
Watch Jacob's Ladder guys, it's basically mandatory.
Can't wait to see Casen's reaction to the cutscene right before leaving the apartments.
Casen, in case you read this, please watch Twin Peaks S3! It's absolutely peak Lynch, but I obviously won't spoil anything about it.
I'm Hyped for this one thank's Boooooiiiis.
You should definitely watch Jacob's Ladder. It's fantastic:)
One of my favorite psychological horror/thriller films is Cure by Kiyoshi Kurosawa. I totally recommend it!
Like most of the comments say, pleeease stay away from the "remaster." They butchered it real bad.
I like 2, it's great and one of my favorites, but I love 1 and I don't understand why everybody thinks 2 is the best one or the most important one. It's great, but 1 is even better. Maybe 2 didn't had a huge impact on me like 1 because it wasn't my first Silent Hill. What 2 did is good, but it was "standing on the shoulder of the giant" that was 1.
I hope you guys do 1, 3 and 4 too. (yes, 4 is good, not the best, but not as horrible as some people say. it has very interesting ideas).
The fear of the unknown is also used a lot when it comes to the manipulative ways the media works. A lot of the time when the news is talking about how a person or event incited backlash over an establishment or group, they will list a couple of threats and then end with "etc" or another term that makes the listener fill in the blanks with their own fears.
I have heard the remaster is even more worse then the PS2 one. you guys got me into the metal gear solid franchise which I had never played which I can't stop playing now I will have to revist this!
If you were only aware of the storytelling in the Legacy of Kain series... The dialogue, the plot, the characters...for what it is, it is best in the entertainment media (not just games)
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Please watch Season 3 of Twin Peaks guys. You'll love it.
This town is full of monsters! How can you sit there making a podcast?!
Hell yeah guys. Been thinking about this game for months.
Mike, I will say the silent hill HD collection is not the way to play this game if it can be helped, alot of the game is built from the ground up in a crunched deadline with no source code. Fonts on textures are redone with comic sans, fog effects not working well, textures not loading, models t-posing
Ps2, or the original Xbox version is the way to go for an authentic experience, and the fan HD mod for the PC is the way to go if you want a true definitive experience but don't mind playing in a way the game devs didn't make wholely themselves
That damn Corgi!
It's sad how as games have developed technologically, music has fallen on the wayside and deteriorated, almost becoming a predictable extention of the realistic graphics.
There is also a Toluca Lake in California. It's on the Warner Bros' lot. That might not be a coincidence, as most street names in Silent Hill are those of US horror and SFF authors.
please do a jacobs ladder watchalong on patreon!
Really cool stuff, excited to see your take on this. I've been loving those analysis so far. Some are way too long, not gonna lie, so when you guys set it up to be shorter that's a relief actually.
Also where's that certain SH2 uncle? I know you there!
You two MUST watch 'Jacob's ladder' after this review. The narrative weight of the game is directly pulled from that film. Also riddled with themes for guilt, sin, dark reflections, the bridges between man and his tortured nature, the horrors of war, heaven and hell. You can absolutely see similarities between the two.
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I want my games like the Barney Stinson's playlist: always going up! That is in reference to the use of silence (and I totally agree with Mike) but sometimes it can more or less be done. And here I'm thinking specially on Metal Gear Rising mostly, where the worst parts are clearly the few silences it has.
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here,
It is gone now.
Silent Hill 2 is literally my favorite game of all time and I'm super jelly of anybody who's going to be playing this for the first time due to this podcast. It's one of a handful of games that if I could erase my memory of it to play it for the "first time" again, I totally would.
I will say, if you have _no other way,_ go ahead with the HD re-release. Konami lost the game's gold code for both SH 2 and 3 and gave the remaster team very little time to get it done. SH 2 fares better than 3 but once you see the "Silent Hill Ranch" sign's font was changed to comic sans, you'll kinda get a feeling for how rushed the HD releases were.
have you played SIGNALIS yet?
@@TheAlison1456 No but it's downloaded. I _will_ get to it but currently my game Backlog is so big I've started capitalizing It as It has gained sentience. I suspect It is waiting to expand to the point It can absorb the entire universe into Itself.
So, yeah, it's on the Docket.
@@Naterkix how do you know you'll get to it if your backlog is unapproachably sentient?
@@TheAlison1456 I feed it some Nyquil-laced Reeces Pieces. It's sentient but not all that smart.
Really excited for this one. My favorite video game after Xenogears.
But Mike switching to the dreadful HD Collection?? Yikes. Stick with the ps2 version or play the PC version with HD mods.
The HD collection has so many technical flaws that will make you appreciate the game less.
Hey guys, love your content. Like others here, I would highly recommend staying away from the HD Remaster. If you're looking for an updated port with higher quality textures, resolution support, etc, I would suggest getting the PC Port and grabbing the SH2: Enhanced Edition patches for the game as they do a much better job of remastering the game then the official remasters did. Can't wait to see the rest! Enjoy the game!
Arguably the greatest horror game ever made. Resident Evil games were always more 'fun' but from a storytelling perspective, Silent Hill 2 is second to none. The only game I've ever played where i felt a sense of dread upon completing it.
Probably moreso than any other game, I consider Silent Hill 2 to be a work of art. Every aspect of the game contributes to the overall theme and meaning. I think it's fascinating that they made decisions that from a gameplay standpoint wouldn't be fun or even be frustrating in some cases, and used those choices to reinforce the themes.
Few quick notes
- Jacob's Ladder is worth watching. You'll definitely notice how Silent Hill took influence from it
- I agree that games have taken a step back
- Konami is the worst. They ruined / wasted the potential of so many great series: Castlevania, Suikoden, Silent Hill, Metal Gear
- Regarding the remaster, my main complaint is the voice acting. I think the original got the characters right while the remaster tried too hard to sound professional
I’d love to see you guys cover a David Lynch movie. Twin Peaks would be amazing too but that would be a huge task.
Love you guys! Can you two give your thoughts on the new SH2 content??
Any chance someone knows the name of the song in the background at 46:00 into the video?
Pretty sure it's not from SH.
Twin Peaks the return (season 3) is top 5 greatest seasons or movies depending on how you look at it.
Just want to say i'll vouch for the ps2 version based on what i think has the best visuals. Digital Foundry put out an excellent video a few years back comparing all the versions of SH2 that had come out at that point in time
You guys should look into the Siren series. They were created by the original director of the first Silent Hill.
Mmmmm soured flesh, maybe I shouldn't have watched this right before Thanksgiving dinner.