Silent Hill 2 Remake made quite a splash when it returned last October, revamping the iconic 2001 psychological horror game. Fans had mixed feelings before its release, fearing it might stray too far from the original’s core. However, Bloober Team did justice to the original, preserving the narrative’s impact and introducing some fresh changes to surprise even seasoned players.
One feature that remained prominently intact was the puzzle difficulty options, something that distinguished Silent Hill 2 back then from many of its rivals, including Resident Evil. Given how both franchises set the bar for their genre, the success of SH2 Remake suggests that Resident Evil 9 might benefit from adopting similar adjustable puzzle settings.
Back when the original Silent Hill 2 debuted, many games were notorious for their challenging nature, as developers were still figuring out how to offer a balanced but engaging experience. This often resulted in intimidating puzzles, which could discourage players who weren’t the best at solving them. Silent Hill 2 addressed this by allowing players to modify puzzle difficulty, making the game accessible to both novices and veterans. Bloober Team wisely retained this feature for the remake, thereby broadening its appeal to a diverse audience. With this in mind, Resident Evil 9 has a real chance to enhance its forthcoming title by incorporating adjustable puzzle difficulties.
Historically, Resident Evil games have been known for their unusual and often eccentric puzzles, which have become a cornerstone of the series. Rumors suggest Capcom might be exploring an open-world format for the next game, which could provide an exciting opportunity to innovate puzzle design further, drawing inspiration from Silent Hill 2 Remake’s approach.
An open-world setting would allow Resident Evil to expand its puzzle repertoire, diversifying challenges while still adhering to the franchise’s unique style. Allowing players to customize puzzle difficulty would cater to all fans, enabling them to tweak the game to match their preferences, whether they love a hard puzzle or want to immerse themselves in the story and action without getting hung up on intricate challenges.
Even if Resident Evil 9 doesn’t fully embrace an open-world concept, integrating adaptable puzzle settings like those in Silent Hill 2 would enhance accessibility and appeal. As the gaming industry continues to evolve with more inclusive options, Resident Evil could set a new standard by following Silent Hill’s lead in embracing flexibility. This would not only cater to varying player preferences but also strengthen Resident Evil’s standing as a forward-thinking franchise.
