Game Review: 'Silent Hill 2' (2024)

A game that has been elevated to legendary status since its 2001 release, "Silent Hill 2" thrived on tone, pregnant pauses and a steady deluge of psychological torture. The task of remaking the game for current consoles is a formidable challenge, but it's one that Bloober Team proves ready to tackle with fervor. The new "Silent Hill 2" feels like a full-fledged reinvention of an all but dormant classic.

Diabolically creepy from the outset, the game casts you as a forlorn traveler, haunted by devastating loss, who desperately seeks out answers in the seemingly abandoned town of Silent Hill. 

To give away any more of the story would be a disservice to the sprawling, surprisingly incisive narrative, but know that your journey is a haunting, often jarring voyage into a dark night of the soul that grows increasingly bleak and horrific. A twist-filled exploration of interwoven mysteries, you have limited resources and physical abilities at your disposal to take on daunting, sometimes inescapable forces geared to make you seethe with dread.

Yup, "Silent Hill 2" is one for masochists.

That said, the march into darkness is never a slog. The sense of satisfaction in confronting not only your own fears, but a seemingly insurmountable challenge, only to develop your skills and tactical approach up to a level that hoists you to success, is hard to match. That's due to the consistent level of challenge at play, as well as the thread-pulling writing that keep you hooked enough to soldier on to the next save point.

Yup, I said "save point." The remake sticks with the old-school bugaboo that eschews the hand-holding auto-saves modern gaming has gotten us all used to. Clearly a strategic choice by Bloober Team, the presence of save points ratchets up the stakes considerably when there are no simple checkpoints to fall back on. Thus, failure costs you considerable time and often causes commensurate anguish. But that sense of failure only fuels your drive to succeed and makes it that much more satisfying to overcome the darkness both within and without.

True, many of the hokey archetypes from the original are still around. Some ham-fisted moments tend to sap away the elegance of some otherwise fascinating tale spinning, but there is also an old-school charm to the game's archaic ways. They sure don't make 'em like this anymore. To experience true horror, try booting up the original "Silent Hill 2" after experiencing Bloober Team's infinitely smoother, better-looking and sounding remake. You will wonder how you ever got by in the olden days.

"Silent Hill 2" brought a sadistic smile to my face more than once, as I was made to look like an idiot by skillful design elements and slyly effective jump scares. This is a gorgeous, ominously frustrating and ultimately indispensable adventure. Its genius is that it knows thoroughly that, when it comes to horror, less is more and insinuation is twice as sharp as explicitness. 

Yup, 23 years have passes, and like the protagonist, you have still yet to escape the dingy town of Silent Hill.

Publisher provided review code.

Today, KONAMI announced that SILENT HILL 2, the anticipated remake of the 2001 psychological horror, has released on PlayStation®5 and PC via STEAM®. Developed by Bloober Team, composer Akira Yamaoka and concept artist Masahiro Ito, the unsettling town shrouded in the brooding fog is now available with enhanced visuals, sounds and gameplay from the original.

 

The remake also expands the areas players can explore, introduces an over-the-shoulder view, revamped combat capabilities and thrilling new cut-scenes to give new and returning players different ways to experience the game.

 

Konami Digital Entertainment Inc. (KONAMI) today announced SILENT HILL 2, the anticipated remake of the 2001 psychological horror has released on PlayStation®5 and PC via STEAM®. Developed by Bloober Team, composer Akira Yamaoka and concept artist Masahiro Ito, the unsettling town shrouded in the brooding fog is now available with enhanced visuals, sounds and gameplay from the original.

 

SILENT HILL 2 | Launch Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JHD_vb4jxE

 

 

Experience the guilt, grief and existential horror of James Sunderland as he explores the town of Silent Hill – the special place he and his late wife Mary used to visit –a symbolic backdrop now shrouded in fog. The remake expands the areas players can explore, introduces an over-the-shoulder view, revamps the combat system, and adds new cut-scenes to give new and returning players different ways to experience the game. What awaits in the shrouded alleyways and corridors of Silent Hill?

 

Game Review: 'EA Sports NHL 25'

Like a highly touted draft pick who has put in his time in the minors and ready to debut on the biggest stage, "EA Sports NHL 25" makes its grand debut as a current-gen only product.

While the last few years' editions of "EA Sports NHL" have been solid on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, there was a nagging sense that devs were holding back in order to keep a sensible parity with the PS4 and Xbox One editions. Now unleashed by demands of the previous generation, the new game manages to scratch the ice with a fresh new pair of skates and some charged-up legs. "EA Sports NHL 25" feels like the franchise has come into its own.

The EA Vancouver dev squad channeled its blood, sweat and raw obsession into crafting as realistic and energetic hockey sim as it could. The visuals, buffed by Sapien technology, are crisper than previous editions, the AI is ramped up due to the integration of a gameplay learning suite dubbed Empowered AI, operating with a subset of hockey dynamics called ICE-Q, and an overlay called Next-Gen Vision Control makes it easier to skirt the blue line, confront the puck carrier and lock in on your target while you're winding up for a shot.

With ICE-Q, players won't blindly skate into danger. They deploy gamesmanship to chip at a crossing wing, disrupting the offensive flow, or strike aggressively to fence off an attack. The often subtle multitude of additions makes for an experience that feels more vivid and gritty than the silk-smooth, arcade-style movement of the past. The upshot is that this new playstyle can be choppier and grittier, providing opportunities for confluences of iterative dynamics that allow for eye-popping plays you'll never see occur the same way twice.

Street hockey-flavored World of Chel Live Events integration helps beef up the multiplayer mode, and Hockey Ultimate Team Wildcard mode adds some spice to the deck-building fantasy squad creator. The Grudge Match System, which seems geared to me an my online friends, tracks conflicts between teams across just about all modes, providing opportunities for X-Factors to be activated that provide some satisfying moments of retribution.

It was key that EA Vancouver stepped into this face-off with aggression, because this year's edition is a crucial purchase for true NHL fans, since it marks the re-emergence of the old Arizona Coyotes as the new Utah Hockey Club. The bedraggled franchise is all about new life and new starts, much like this gorgeous game.

Publisher provided review code.

Early Game Review: 'Diablo IV: Vessel of Hatred'

The "Vessel of Hatred" expansion is just the injection of lifeblood the game needs to reclaim its spot atop the pantheon of gothic, loot-grinding obsessions.

Due out Tuesday, "Vessel of Hatred" includes a new campaign. You can access this from the jump if you choose the "skip campaign" option while creating a new character. 

The $40 expansion amounts to something close to a full-blown sequel. The Blizzard wizards delved into the DNA of the 2023 title and reinvigorate it in innumerable ways. 

Coinciding with a standard build update accessible to all players, as well as a new season of content, the launch makes the year-old game seem new again, and an enticing destination for lapsed players to squad up with old friends. Players who complete the Dark Citadel will be able to land the Nahantu Cat Mount with their weekly reward haul. There will also be weekly Twitch Drops, which will dispense cosmetic items Oct. 8 through Nov. 5.

Those who elect to hold off on the "Vessel of Hatred," though, will miss out on the bulk of the new experience. Descending into the jungles of Nahantu, you tangle against a new slate of enemies, challenging environments and labyrinthine dungeons that house tempting goodies. New characters and mercenaries invite distinct playstyles and challenge you to shake up your previous strategies in order to optimize the new flow. There is also a new slate of runes you can use to upgrade, enhance or unbalance your slate of attacks and defenses.

There is so much to explore in "Vessel of Hatred" that I feel I have barely scratched the surface of its darkly alluring offerings. One thing that's certain is I am every bit as hooked by "Diablo IV" as I was at the outset. The inspiring level of support Blizzard is showing to the game proves that it's as worthy an investment of re-upping for the expansion as it was for the initial purchase. There is much to love in this Vessel of Hatred.

Publisher provided review code.

Hot on Home Video: 'Friends 4K,' 'The West Wing,' 'Young Sheldon'

FRIENDS 4K

Establishing itself as one of the dominant sitcoms of the 1990s and early 2000s, "Friends" thrived from 1994-2004, emitting witty humor, iconic moments and insanely refined chemistry among its chief cast, which was made up of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc and David Schwimmer. A joyous, exuberant experience, the series is a masterclass on running gags, tight writing and establishing a winning, aspirational tone. Now featured in 4K, the visuals have never looked sharper.

Extras include two hours of previously unreleased bonus content.

THE WEST WING

Aaron Sorkin's 1999-2006 show was a political potboiler that made incisive observations about the American political system while also maintaining a strong sense of patriotism and hope. Martin Sheen, Rob Lowe, Mary McCormack, Alan Alda and Jimmy Smits were some of the standout stars. The show's tone, with its witty banter and fast-paced walk-and-talk tone, established a tone that would be imitated but never replicated.

Extras include featurettes, gag reels and deleted scenes. 

YOUNG SHELDON

"The Big Bang Theory" spinoff, which stars Ian Armitage as the pint-sized version of Sheldon Cooper, follows the boy genius' struggles and successes as he comes of age in small-town Texas. Taking on a sweeter, more family-oriented tone than its progenitor, the sitcom developed into a delightful ensemble, successfully generating a spinoff of its own, in the form of "Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage." The storytelling manages to stand on its own while tying into "Big Bang Theory" lore. 

Extras include a featurette that spotlights Easter eggs and Cooper family origins for the length of the show's 2017-2024 run.

Studios sent screeners for review.

Game Review: 'The Karate Kid: Street Rumble'

I am every bit as much of a sucker for side-scrolling beat-em-ups as I am "Karate Kid"/"Cobra Kai" content, so there was no question that I would adore "The Karate Kid: Street Rumble."

Building off the moderate success of the "Cobra Kai" brawler adaptations, the game takes a "River City Rampage" approach to the 1980s trilogy that fuels my beating heart. From the outset, absurdity reigns supreme. You can start off as Daniel, Miyagi, or, oddly, Ali, as you immediately take to jump-kicking, karate-chopping and round-housing a barrage of faceless minions. As you'd expect, villains such as Johnny, Kreese and Silver await for wall-breaking, crane-kicking slugfests.

This cheery, if unimaginative, approach harkens back to the standard way films and TV shows of the 1980s and 1990s, when the formula was to plop the main character in a side-scrolling hellscape and force them to punch and jump their way out. 

While incongruous to the plot, leaving the storytelling to clumsy cutscenes, the style makes for a delightful throwback to the ancient ways.

While a $40 asking price is heavily on the steep side, I'd be lying if I said I had anything but a glorious time with this thin, admittedly rail-thin content. 

This game is geared for those in their 40s who seek it as a nostalgia trip, as well as "Cobra Kai" devotees looking to steep themselves in the OG source material. The bare here was low, and the developers barely cleared it. But boy, am I grateful they attempted this delightfully silly and simple tribute to the cheeseball masterpieces from days of yore.

Publisher provided review code.

Game Review: 'BZZZT'

Czech developer KO.DLL channels its adoration of 8-bit gaming into "BZZZT," a passionate love letter to the glory days of 1980s gaming. 

Proudly wearing its influences, including the likes of "Mega Man," "Jackal," "Strider" and "Blaster Master," the Switch exclusive is a challenging, quick-hitting platformer that dares you replay its wares time after time in order to perfect your speed and technique.

Charm oozes out of every pixel. Set in the year 4096, you play as tiny robot ZX8000, leaping through treacherous, bite-sized levels crawling with enemies and spiked walls. The ultimate goal is to take down robotic megalomaniacal mad scientist Badbert and his horde of nefarious, mechanical lackeys, making the world safe for your creators, Doctor Emily and Professor Norbert.

Level design, musical cues and a deceptively high rchallenge ramp-up give "BZZZT" dollops of charm. Those who want a more palatable experience can opt for casual difficulty, and masochists can work their way up to the brutal hardcore setting. Leaderboards allow you to compare your best runs with friends and the worlkd at large, and an array of time challenges awaits for you to test your limits.

The retro soundtrack, orchestrated by Rytmik Ultimate/Studio's Martin Linda, serves as the backdrop for your misadventures. Expect to fail miserably time after time, only to hone your strategy and break through in glorious fashion. The old-school sense of achievement is largely lacking in games of today, but present in ample portions in "BZZZT."

Publisher Czech Cinemax Games flexes its considerable muscles with this release, which will undoubtedly pop up on many top 10 lists. A sweet-hearted, hard-edged charmer, "BZZZT" gives you a healthy dose of Vitamin 8-Bit.

Publisher provided review code.

Early Game Review: 'EA Sports FC 25'

Merging the technique and savvy of a seasoned veteran player with the spark and daring of an up-and-coming star, "EA Sports FC 25" tears up the pitch with a vigorous soccer sim ready to capture players imaginations as the MLS heads to the playoff and international club leagues get into the swing of their new seasons.

Due out Friday, the game dazzles with its motion-captured play styles, astounding attention to visual detail and herculean effort to capture hundreds of real-life players, stadiums and uniforms. Serving as an ambassador for the beautiful game, the sim soaks up the nuances that make up the cultural tapestry of the global passion, crafting a fitting tribute to the sport that captivates the globe. 

Like its cover star, 21-year-old British dynamo Jude Bellingham, "EA Sports FC 25" bursts with energy, pep and creativity. Fresh menus and musical backgrounds infuse a sense of urgency into every game mode, giving the game a refreshed feel that drives home the point that the reinvented franchise has firmly entrenched itself as a post-FIFA icon.

The onfield action gets a major upgrade in the form of FC IQ, an AI upgrade that allows players to adapt to tactics and evolving game situations on the fly. The change emulates the real game in the ways opposing managers act and react to opposing strategies, and how player leadership manages to shut down holes in execution that emerge as the game unfolds. 

The upshot: You can't stick with go-to strategies and expect them to work the same way every time. If you fail to keep up with the way the opposition adapts and deploys counter-strategies, you'll be left in the dust.

Also new is the 5-on-5 Rush Mode, which takes on the easygoing yet hypercompetitive feel of pickup matches. Gathering with friends and strangers, you take part in a mini-MMO experience that feels ripe for esports adaptation. It will be fun to see the ways this mode evolves as the community begins to embrace it.

Goalkeeping has also gotten a refresh. Gone are the cookie-cutter animations and behavioral tendencies from years' past, replaced with a suite of dynamic styles that replicate some of the most notable players on the scene.

EA's second year without the FIA license shows some holes in its mosaic of real-life teams. A few Italian Serie A clubs, including Inter Milan and AC Milan, are swapped out for dummy squads with goofy names, and you won't find the Belgian national team or Canadian women's team in this game. To level things off, there are some returning squads and first-ever appearances, including Azerbaijan's Qarabag and the Finnish women's team.

Ultimate Team continues to stake its claim as one of the more entrancing card-based fantasy squad builders around. Chemistry-altering Hero and Icon cards are fresh new touches that allow you to spice up your roster as you build toward international domination.

Manager and Player Career modes benefit from all-around improvements. In a nod to gender equity, in which the franchise has been leading the way in the sports realm since its FIFA days, you can now embark on a career as a female player.

Whether you're a dabbler who likes to get a sense of the way teams look and play around the world, or a die-hard who wants to replicate your favorite team's successes and make up for its failures in the virtual realm, "EA Sports FC" gives you the toolbox to live out your dreams to the fullest extent. The anthems have been sung, the whistle has blown and it's time to get set for kickoff.

Publisher provided review code.