Summary
Silent HillandResident Evilare two gaming franchises that are often compared, in spite of their many differences. These comparisons are likely to continue, since both series are revitalizing their classic releases with ground-up remakes. It looks like theSilent Hill 2remake will be taking some notes fromthe recentResident Evilremakes, and if this is the case, then Capcom should consider reciprocating this influence for futureResident Evilreleases.
BothResident EvilandSilent Hillhave been hailed as being revolutionary for horror in video games. Released in 1999, the firstSilent Hillwas Konami’s attempt to replicate the success of 1996’sResident Evil, which set the standard for atmospheric survival horror games at that time. Although the two may seem similar at first glance,Silent Hillwas decidedly darker and more psychological, with a more melancholic tone. The differences between the two series would only grow as time went on, withResident Evilleaning more into actionand camp andSilent Hillbecoming more and more thoughtful and surreal, especially in its second and third entries. Interestingly enough, it seems that history is repeating itself, with Konami once again following in Capcom’s footsteps by releasing a high-fidelity, modern rendition ofSilent Hill 2, much like Capcom has been doing with theResident Evilgames.
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New Resident Evil Games Should Follow Silent Hill’s Approach to Psychological Horror
While there is an undeniable charm inResident Evil’s campy, over-the-top elements, many fans would likely agree that the series is at its best when it is more focused on subtlety and horror. After all, a significant portion of thecriticism leveled againstResident Evil 5andResident Evil 6tied to their focus on action over the comparably nuanced horror of the earlier games. This melting away of the series' identity played a big role in the franchise getting a soft reboot afterResident Evil 6- a reboot that was characterized by an emphasis on psychological horror.
None of theResident Evilgames take psychological horror as far as the earlierSilent Hillgames did, however.Silent Hill, specificallySilent Hill 2andSilent Hill 3, centered on characters who were plagued by grief and anxiety, and many of the horrors that they face are directly tied to their subconscious.Resident Evilis famous for things like theiconicResident Evil 4opening village, whileSilent Hillis famous for things like the shocking, upsetting twist in the second game or the psycho-sexual imagery present in its disturbing enemies.
Resident Evilshould retain its own identity, but it could also stand to learn a thing or two fromSilent Hill’s more sober and cerebral approach to horror. Borrowing some staples from theSilent Hillseries, such as the metaphorical, subjective nature of the game’s environments and NPCs, could go a long way towards making futureResident Evilgames more interesting and effective as horror titles. SinceResident Eviltends to shine when it is slower and more thoughtful, looking toSilent Hill’s prioritization of atmosphere and storytelling would help the franchise bolster its strong points.
How much the newSilent Hill 2will take fromResident Evil’s modern releases remains to be seen, but it’s likely that the remake will share at least some similarities with Capcom’s slate of games, specifically when it comes to gameplay. If this results in a greater focus on action or moment-to-moment gameplay over tense, slow-paced storytelling, then it could make the game more engaging and fun to play in some respects. By that same token, if newResident Evilgames can learn fromSilent Hill’s psychological horror aspects, then they could be much more intriguing and creative.
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