Highlights
- Konami is gearing up to introduce more combat-focused gameplay in future Silent Hill games like the SH2 remake, a departure from its traditional scare tactics.
- Adding a parry mechanic, inspired by Resident Evil 4, could provide players with a versatile approach to combat encounters.
- By emphasizing evasion and strategic play, Silent Hill games could heighten tension by making combat a risky last resort option.
As Konami prepares to unleash an onslaught of new Silent Hill games for horror fans to sink their teeth into in the coming years, now is the perfect time to update one often-overlooked part of the series’ gameplay. Historically, the franchise has focused more on scaring players senseless than testing their mettle in a fight, but combat has always been part of the Silent Hill series and looks to be playing an even more prominent role moving forward. This is why, with players poised to take a more active role in fighting off monsters in upcoming entries, Silent Hill should emulate the Resident Evil 4 remake’s game-changing parry mechanic.
As evidenced by a Silent Hill 2 combat trailer that’s already proved divisive among franchise fans, Konami is seemingly doubling down on the contentious mechanic in some upcoming Silent Hill games. Although this decision hasn’t come without criticism, including a system like Resident Evil 4’s parry mechanic could soften the blow by making combat encounters more dynamic and even avoidable in some instances. And while this increased emphasis on combat runs contrary to what some fans want for the franchise, a well-implemented parry system could actually help increase the tension in upcoming Silent Hill games.
Bloober Team Has Good News for Silent Hill 2 Remake Fans
Bloober Team's CEO has good news for fans eagerly anticipating the upcoming remake of Konami's survival horror classic, Silent Hill 2.
A Parry Mechanic Could Make Silent Hill’s Combat Less Controversial
Having earned a reputation for pairing slow-simmering survival horror gameplay with deeply disturbing narratives exploring trauma, guilt, and other mature themes, the Silent Hill series’ action-oriented reimagining was never going to be welcomed by everyone. This is why giving players options when it comes to approaching combat would be a smart move on Konami’s part. Adding a parry mechanic like the one found in Capcom’s wildly successful Resident Evil 4 remake would be the perfect way to do this, giving gamers the option to embrace fight or flight as they see fit.
For players who enjoy combat-focused gameplay, the addition of a parry move to upcoming Silent Hill games could let them take a more aggressive approach to enemy encounters without fear of being instantly overwhelmed by foes. Meanwhile, players who prefer a more traditional pace of play could use the parry mechanic to quickly escape the clutches of Silent Hill’s menacing monsters and avoid many combat situations altogether. Either way, gamers could approach enemy encounters how they preferred rather than being forced into a particular style of play.
Future Silent Hill Games Could Use Parries to Ratchet Up the Tension
Another option for Konami would be to make parries the centerpiece of enemy encounters in future Silent Hill games, with outright combat becoming a dangerous option of last resort rather than the first choice for players. This could be accomplished in a variety of ways, such as giving players a limited selection of in-game weapons and ammo or making combat items single-use only. Unable to rely on weapons to overwhelm their enemies, players would have to try to slip past them and parry their way free if they fail.
This focus on evading enemies, whether by sneaking by them or parrying their attacks, wouldn’t be unprecedented for the franchise, either. Originally released for the Nintendo Wii in 2009, Silent Hill: Shattered Memories completely removed combat and forced players to flee on foot from foes during the game’s nightmare sequences. A modern take on this approach that incorporated a parry move to break free from enemies who get too close could result in some truly terrifying set pieces in new Silent Hill games.
Whether introduced as just another way to deal with aggressive enemies or incorporated into the gameplay in a more substantial fashion, emulating the Resident Evil 4 remake’s parry system would be a wise move for future Silent Hill games. This would ensure that, whether they revel in the thrill of the fight or prefer to sneak by in the shadows, Silent Hill players could take on the series’ twisted enemies on their own terms.
Silent Hill 2 Remake
Silent Hill 2 is a remake of the classic 2001 survival-horror game, developed by Bloober Team and published by Konami. It features an over-the-shoulder camera and gameplay changes inspired by other horror game remakes.
- Franchise
- Silent Hill
- Developer(s)
- Bloober Team
- Publisher(s)
- Konami
- Genre(s)
- Survival Horror
