2024 was an enormous yr for people with a unending affinity in the direction of all issues survival-horror, largely on account of the truth that the Silent Hill 2 Remake lastly launched. A recreation that, after its preliminary announcement, I used to be really dreading. I really like Silent Hill 2, a lot, and for the longest time, all I ever actually wished was for the unique trio of video games to be ported to trendy platforms precisely as they’re. Nothing extra, and nothing much less. I, admittedly, didn’t belief Konami or Bloober Workforce to do it justice.
I couldn’t have been extra improper. After a preview occasion wherein we spent three hours with the sport, I used to be wholly obsessed. Transformed from the cussed, bitter Silent Hill fan I used to be all the time was (that is with due to the cancellation of Silent Hills, which I’ll by no means cease banging on about) into, effectively, somebody who lastly felt hopeful in regards to the collection. Bloober Workforce alleviated me of all my Silent Hill woes in such a brief span of time, and continued to take action as soon as the sport was launched.
The remake was a special recreation to the unique Silent Hill 2, however Bloober Workforce managed to make one thing so particular; a completely new iteration of James’ journey that was simply as psychologically tormenting because the final. I’ll by no means doubt Bloober Workforce ever once more. As for my belief in Konami, we’ll need to see how Metallic Gear Stable Delta seems first.
Whereas the Silent Hill 2 Remake stands tall as my private recreation of the yr in 2024, it was removed from the one recreation to have impressed me. 2024 wasn’t fairly the yr for horror followers that 2023 was, — we bought the Useless House remake, Resident Evil 4 remake, and the distinctive Alan Wake 2 final yr — however we did obtain an excellent portion of indie horror video games attempting to make their mark, which some did with ease.
Mouthwashing, for instance. An acid-trip of a recreation that, for 2 hours, is unattainable to place down as you attempt to piece collectively its non-linear, ugly story. Beneath all that, although, is a poignant dialogue of existential dread. Is there extra to life than, effectively, capitalism? Working your means up the ranks in an more and more merciless world? Does any of it even matter? It isn’t the cheeriest approach to spend your time, nevertheless it’s one recreation that you just received’t be forgetting in a rush.
My horror GOTY’s apart, there may be yet one more recreation that — whereas it doesn’t fairly beat Silent Hill 2 for me, personally — I spent essentially the most time with this yr. A recreation that some might argue isn’t actually a recreation in any respect, and that’s Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree growth.
Part of me would argue that Shadow of the Erdtree, given its measurement and scope, is a recreation inside its personal proper. There’s simply a lot to be carried out, however the people who argue that it’s important to combat the likes of Radahn and Mohg to even entry the DLC admittedly have a degree. Both means, I believe one factor many people can agree on is that Shadow of the Erdtree was an distinctive DLC. I anticipated one thing sensible from FromSoftware, as all the time, however I wasn’t fairly ready to be whisked right into a haunting world wherein most of my burning questions had been lastly answered.
Shadow of the Erdtree boasted quite a few bosses in a way more compact area. An area that was nonetheless enormous, nevertheless, that means that exploration was nonetheless very a lot an enormous — and necessary — factor in Erdtree, however the DLC felt one step nearer to a Darkish Souls recreation. Boss fights had been frequent, the world felt darkish and grim, and the characters you meet alongside the way in which… oh, how they tug at your heartstrings (for essentially the most half). Moore and his associates will endlessly have my coronary heart.
I additionally owe a shout out to the likes of Persona 3 Reload and Balatro. These are two extra video games which have helped form my yr in gaming, although I’m not fairly carried out with them simply but. And I don’t suppose I’ll ever be carried out with Balatro… that’s for certain.
