On its release in 2001, Silent Hill 2 was lauded for its suffocating atmosphere, horrific imagery and adult story. Fans have long since clamoured for a remake (ignoring the dreadful 2012 ‘remaster’) and now Layers Of Fear developer, Bloober Team, have delivered a brand-new version for modern systems that is resolutely faithful to the original, for good and for ill.

The 2001 game slathered itself with dense fog to overcome that era’s technical limitations but it also helped establish the game’s foreboding atmosphere. This time round, volumetric fog feels less like a necessity and more like a feature: seemingly alive, it rises and falls and creepily caresses the street furniture. The audio design, also critical to the original, is exemplary. Long before encountering an enemy, you’ll know it’s coming thanks to the crackle of static on James’ radio and the gradual massing of nightmarish tones. There are sparse moments featuring a barely audible inhuman gasp or whisper; elsewhere the soundscape intensifies to a terrifying cacophony that signals immediate danger. Together with the hideous, iconic creature design, at times it almost becomes overwhelming.

There are ways in which the game would have benefited by diverging from its progenitor: it has far too many enemies, while the hospital and prison sections are interminable. But remaking Silent Hill 2 was a mighty big ask and Bloober Team have crafted a fine remake. For fans of the original who want the same experience but shinier, this is an unmitigated triumph, and for newcomers it’s the best way to experience one of gaming’s greatest horror stories.

Silent Hill 2 is out now on PC and PS5.