Earlier this week, we were treated to additional footage of the Silent Hill 2 Remake, featuring our first glimpse of Angela and Maria, two pivotal characters in the narrative. With the remake set for release on October 8, tensions have begun to rise within the gaming community. This unrest primarily stems from the redesigns of Maria and Angela, which have dramatically altered their visual appearance.
As a remake, the developer Bloober Team has exercised creative freedom with these character redesigns. However, embracing change is often a challenge, especially for long-time Silent Hill enthusiasts. So, what exactly is fueling this debate, and how significant is it? Let’s delve deeper into the conversation, shall we?
ANGELA’S NEW LOOK HAS SPARKED DIVISIONS AMONG SILENT HILL 2 FANS
First, let’s address the prevailing issue—Angela. Before examining the details, here’s a comparison of the characters before and after their redesigns. Check out the images below:
Now that you’re familiar with her appearance, let’s provide more context. Even those unfamiliar with Silent Hill can observe that Angela’s design has had quite a transformation. Many dedicated fans believe that the original depiction of Angela was inspired by Sandra Bullock. However, the new design strays from that mature look.
In the original game, the Angela on the left appeared as a deeply troubled young woman James encounters at a cemetery. Her original look suggested she was in her thirties, though the lore indicates Angela is actually 19 years old, designed to reflect her troubled past. However, a teenager typically wouldn’t have such pronounced facial features, as they are still maturing.
To address this, the developers opted for a complete redesign. While she retains her white turtleneck and gray pants, her facial features were altered to present a younger appearance. Angela’s new face still exhibits her pale and melancholic demeanor, but it has been softened to better align with her true age.
Regrettably, this redesign has displeased many fans. Some players argue that her new look renders her unattractive and “woke.” In the trailer for the Silent Hill 2 remake released by PlayStation on X, internet users voiced their discontent in the replies section.
“>Check it out here.
Additionally, some gamers have attempted to “beautify” her using AI tools, producing altered versions that apply makeup and tonal changes, which many observers, including myself, find to be an unusual approach.
“>See the AI version here.
Nonetheless, opinions are not entirely divided. Many long-time Silent Hill fans have pointed out that Angela’s new design accurately captures her true age. This revelation astonished numerous users, who were oblivious to her being 19. A quick browse through the r/silenthill subreddit will provide additional commentary.
“>Take a look at this post.
One user on X argued that the discussions surrounding Angela’s redesign have missed the point entirely. They advocate for her updated appearance, asserting that the remake finally reflects her actual age.
“>Read their thoughts here.
As someone who has played the original Silent Hill 2 three times, I find myself echoing this sentiment. The remake does justice to Angela’s age. Not only does she look convincingly like a 19-year-old, but her appearance also conveys a level of maturity and understanding that pays homage to her backstory, which I was unaware of until now.
With Angela’s redesign settled in the Silent Hill 2 remake, let’s shift our focus to another aspect that’s causing discontent within the fanbase—Maria.
THE CURIOUS CASE OF MARIA’S MISSING CHEETAH PRINT
While discussions on Angela were heating up, another character had the Silent Hill community buzzing—Maria. For those unfamiliar, Maria is a supporting character in Silent Hill 2. She is a fictional representation of James Sunderland’s deceased wife, Mary, and dons an iconic outfit that includes a flashy cheetah-printed skirt, a red cardigan, and a matching choker. Her outfit is heavily inspired by Christina Aguilera’s attire at the 1999 Teen Choice Awards. As an imaginary figure, Maria’s appearance reflects James’s perceptions of his late wife.
Unlike Angela’s redesign, the primary concern among fans centers on Maria’s attire rather than her appearance. The main contention revolves around the replacement of her signature outfit with something more generic.
In the Silent Hill 2 remake, Maria no longer wears the cheetah-printed skirt and red top. Instead, she is dressed in a black dress adorned with dark prints that have a shiny finish. Her vibrant red top has also been exchanged for a standard red overcoat. Below are the side-by-side comparisons:
This change has upset many veterans of Silent Hill, as they argue that her outfit was crucial to the game’s storytelling. X user Hannah, a Twitch streamer, highlighted that the dress was intended to express James’ repressed fantasies manifesting through Maria. The outfit illustrates how he envisions his late wife, Mary, transferred onto Maria.
“>Read her insights here.
However, others are attempting to rationalize this alteration. X user VoidBurger suggested that perhaps the Bloober Team plans to offer the classic costume as downloadable content in the future. Many recent remakes have opted for this strategy, and it’s conceivable fans would be willing to pay for it.
Moreover, she speculated that the change could be an effort to avoid copyright complications or an attempt by the developers to distance themselves from the overtly provocative design.
To be fair, I also found this design decision perplexing. Maria’s leopard-print skirt and red top comprised her iconic look in the game. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Maria’s clothing symbolized deeper issues at play in James’s psyche.
The town of Silent Hill draws in individuals burdened by dark thoughts. At the game’s onset, James finds himself in his lowest state following Mary’s death. As players progress, they discover that the town manifests these dark realities.
Maria, a character who bears a striking resemblance to James’s wife, appears clad in an outfit that starkly contrasts Mary’s modest clothing. This suggests James’s latent desires for Mary to wear such attire, encapsulated within his manifestation of Maria.
Consequently, altering her outfit for contemporary sensibilities undermines its original intent, creating confusion surrounding the narrative implications.
THE SILENT HILL 2 FANBASE SEEMS TO BE MISSING THE POINT
Debates are a normal part of fandoms, fostering diverse opinions and discussions. The online conversations surrounding these changes were expected, but I believe that remakes should enhance the experience and not reduce it to an inferior version.
Firstly, a look at the trailers provides insight into the direction the Silent Hill 2 remake aims to take, which concerns me more than character redesigns.
The adjustments to Maria’s design aren’t the only aspect that raises eyebrows; the gameplay trailer also hints at potential shifts in her personality. In the gameplay showcase, Maria appears to abandon her composed and femme fatale demeanor, adopting a more timid persona. While it’s true she begins to panic when left alone by James in the original game, her earlier composure during the harrowing journey through a dilapidated hospital filled with aggressive nurses made her character compelling.
In this brief preview, she appears to display the opposite behavior.
In conclusion, Silent Hill 2 is an extraordinary video game, and the remake has substantial expectations to meet. Currently, being a Silent Hill fan can be challenging. I believe our focus on the game should gear more towards hoping for a successful remake rather than fixating on the redesign of a 19-year-old character’s appearance.
What are your thoughts on this redesign? Are you comfortable with it, or do you find it off-putting? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below.