It looks like each time Konami reveals off the upcoming Silent Hill 2 remake, one thing doesn’t sit proper with followers. It began with the sport’s announcement when it was revealed Layers of Concern and The Medium developer Bloober Staff could be helming the reimaging of the seminal survival horror title, which didn’t instill confidence in lots of followers. Now, after new footage debuted through the newest PlayStation showcase, State of Play, followers are upset once more—this time, it’s concerning the character fashions, which can or could not butcher the unique designs, relying on who you ask.
In the course of the Silent Hill Transmission, the quick showcase that instantly adopted the Might 30 State of Play, Konami gave us a take a look at 13 minutes of gameplay within the remake. In it (and the State of Play trailer), we see protagonist James and supporting characters Maria and Angela. Let’s begin with James, as he’s our main man. Those that are followers of the redesign level out that it seems to be noticeably higher than when first proven through the remake’s reveal.
These within the dissenting camp, nonetheless, level out that James’ new design seems to be a tad bit acquainted—he has a Leon Kennedy vibe to him, right down to the swooping blond haircut that simply feels somewhat off compared to the unique recreation.
Then there may be Maria, a personality James crosses paths with all through the sport who is thought for her confidence and overt sexuality. Followers are criticizing her new outfit, which is decidedly extra demure (and fewer trendy, TBH.
As folks with a familiarity with the unique recreation have identified, Maria’s costume design is extraordinarily vital to her character in addition to a few of the recreation’s bigger narrative beats. What’s disappointing is that Bloober doesn’t seem to have tried to recreate the long-lasting particulars of the outfit in a contemporary method, dropping the leopard print and gold jewellery in favor of a bland black gown and a jacket that seems to be the identical pinkish shade of the unique outfit. As many have mentioned, she simply isn’t serving within the remake and that appears like a misstep. Much more complicated is that the quick take a look at Return to Silent Hill, a film adaptation of the second recreation additionally in manufacturing, confirmed that Maria might be carrying her authentic outfit.
However the largest backlash relating to the footage from the Silent Hill 2 remake facilities round Angela, a 19-year-old lady who additionally crosses paths with James in Silent Hill whereas they each seek for their lacking family members. Some gamers are suggesting that she seems to be uncanny, and bizarrely completely different, and that her face has misplaced one thing hard-to-place that was there within the authentic recreation. However the outcry is generally targeted on a couple of screenshots that present Angela from an unflattering angle.
After all, there’s a vocal minority of individuals suggesting Angela has been ruined due to woke and compelled DEI (or variety, fairness, and inclusion, the newest buzzword amongst reactionaries). It’s an unfounded declare that’s all too widespread in gaming these days and removes any probability for precise followers of the sequence to debate the deserves and downsides of the remake.
Whereas the remake does change her design barely with an up to date face mannequin, Angela appears to be the character who receives probably the most minimal rework. Her outfit and coiffure stay remarkably unchanged versus each Maria and James. It seems to be good outdoors of the selection screenshots individuals are circulating on-line. But some are arguing that slight adjustments to a 19-year-old online game character are a serious offense, all whereas flinging round horrible insults whereas they’re at it.
The redesigns look high-quality! I believe Maria’s is probably the most disappointing as a result of beforehand acknowledged outfit change, however none of that is indicative of gameplay. We’ll have to attend until the Silent Hill 2 remake releases on October 8 to actually know the way Bloober Staff’s imaginative and prescient holds up towards the unique.
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