The highly anticipated Silent Hill 2 remake is set to release soon, but it almost happened without the involvement of its original art designer, Masahiro Ito.
Initially, Ito was hesitant about revisiting the survival horror classic he helped create over two decades ago. He believed that Silent Hill 2 didn’t need a remake, a sentiment he held firmly when Konami first approached him in late 2019 or early 2020.
According to GamesRadar, Ito explained his initial reluctance via his translator at the Tokyo Silent Hill 2 Remake preview event on August 8th, “There was no need to do such a thing,” he said, recalling his thoughts when Konami’s Motoi Okamoto reached out to him via Twitter. At first, Ito planned to reject the offer, feeling that the original game stood strong on its own.
However, he soon reconsidered. Ito realized that the remake might proceed without his input, which could risk compromising the game’s integrity. He decided to join the project, stating, “Rather than let the project go without him, he felt it was best for him to cooperate and to do his best to make sure that the core of what made Silent Hill 2 was preserved.”
Ito emphasized that while the remake has undergone some stylistic and design changes, he managed to inject the original’s core philosophies into the new version. This approach ensures that new players can experience what made the original Silent Hill 2 a masterpiece while enjoying updated visuals and gameplay.
Silent Hill 2 releases on PS5 and PC on October 8th, 2024. You can pre-order the game now via PSN and Steam. Digital Deluxe versions of the game are also available on both platforms.
