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The upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake 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 original Silent Hill 2 was 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 longer is 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 2 was 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.
Longer games can work well in some cases, though. Games like Resident Evil 4 Remake and Alien Isolation are 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
Hopefully, the combat in the Silent Hill 2 remake is both scary and satisfying. Image via Bloober TeamWhen 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, and Resident Evil 8 are 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 two Dead Space games are also good examples. These titles are around 10 hours long, and they’re some 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.
Last year’s stellar Dead Space 1 Remake thankfully 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 the Silent Hill 2 remake’s runtime debate? Let us know in the comments below!
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