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One of the biggest changes inSilent Hill 2is how combat works. With the new camera angle comes a brand-new movement system. So, it was inevitable that the combat would need to be adjusted in order to fit the game better. But these changes aren’t simple adjustments. You’ll find that the flow of combat itself has been completely reworked.
New abilities have been introduced, and certain areas have been redesigned to allow for the new mobility options, which means that even seasoned fans will benefit from some tips. Naturally, some of the same strategies that applied to the previous games will also apply to this one. Since this remake is likely to bring in a whole new generation of gamers, we’ll cover that stuff as well.
The Dodge Is The Central Mechanic In Melee Combat
You will need to pick your shots when fighting the terrifying foes stalking the streets of Silent Hill. Mashing the attack button will quickly get you killed. After landing one or two solid attacks, wait for your foe to commit to their attack, then dodge to the side.After you have circled the enemy, land a few more attacks, then wait for them to attack again, dodge that attack then rinse and repeat.
This is a strategy that will see you throughnearlyevery one-on-one encounter. Even the formidable Bubble Head Nurses will be defeated by this strategy,though the difference is they attack multiple times in a row, so you will have to dodge consecutively before taking your turn.
James isn’t the only one with the new dodge ability; the Mannequin has the ability to dodge as well. If a Mannequin dodges your attack, don’t hammer your own dodge, wait until they return fire. Otherwise, you will be recovering just as they are attacking.
Save Your Bullets And Use Melee Attacks
All the way through to the end of the game, most of the encounters you will face will be one-on-one.When you encounter an enemy alone, draw them away from the unknown area and back into somewhere you have already been. That way, you can face them without fear of bumping into one of their buddies. The more you do this, the better off you’ll be for ammo.
Even if you enter into a room with multiple enemies, it is quite possible that you will be able towait for them to drift apart, grab the attention of one of them, and then draw them into an isolated area.
Attacking Downed Enemies
The entire cast of monsters has the ability to play possum.So, it is incredibly important that you stomp on them until a pool of blood forms underneath. The Lying Form does this particularly often. If you aren’t sure, stomp an addition four or five times. That should remove all doubt.
Additionally,if an enemy is grounded, they are vulnerable. Once you start stomping they will struggle to get you off of them. That applies to the Lying Form when they are squirming on the groundat full health. See that as a gift. Catch them and stomp them out. Additionally, monsters when climbing in through a window to get to you will often fall onto the ground. Once again, this is your chance to stomp them.
If you are fighting two enemies at once, and you down one of them, they will stay for around ten seconds or so. That means thatyou will likely have time to down the second enemy, run over and stomp the first monster to death, then return to the second monster and stomp them to death.However, you will want to move quickly, the clock is ticking.
Back Attacks
Slent Hill 2 is NOT a stealth game. However,occasionally you will be able to come up behind an enemy without them noticing you. When this happens, you will be given a prime opportunity to introduce the back of their heads to your pipe.This typically will down them with a single strike. As we already mentioned, a downed foe is a dead foe as long as you stomp them into oblivion.
The Nurses are often the most susceptible to these back attacks, as they often patrol hallways.So, you’re able to duck into a room, wait for them to walk past you, then hop out and brain them when their back is turned to you.
Clearing Areas
If you are looking to speedrun the game, then feel free to sprint past every enemy you face. However, there are items hidden in every nook and cranny of Silent Hill 2. So, the question quickly becomes, are you willing to give all those up? And if not, do you really want to be dodging enemies as you scan every surface and break every car window?
Personally, I think you are better off just taking out every enemy you encounter. Especially if you are using your melee weapon, you may stand to take a hit or two here and there, asthere are plenty of Health Drinks and Syringes around. Enemies will typically stay dead.However, after you accomplish certain goals, you’ll notice that new enemies will appear.
When you encounter new enemies in areas that you have previously cleared, you’ll actually find that they didn’t just appear out of nowhere.Often they burst out of a door that had been previously locked. So, look around for newly opened doors, there will probably be treasures inside.
Some previously killed enemies will revive. This will happen when you reenter an area. They will spasm on the ground, and bring attention to themselves when this is happening, so you will have an opportunity to put them away before they even stand up. As far as I can tell, this is randomized, and I don’t think I ever saw the same monster revive twice.
Understanding Enemy Placement
There are a few things to consider when entering into a new area.For starters, if there are cars, there is a chance that a Lying Form is hiding under one of them, just getting ready to squirm at you from underneath.As we mentioned in the stomping section, this is actually a gift.
Additionally, once you run into your first Mannequin, you will encounter them in nearly every section of the game thereafter. They will get up and move around, and their hiding place can change from playthrough to playthrough.They will crouch under tables, crouch beside objects, or stand straight up against walls.Take corners wide and look out for these creatures.
Creepers, on the other hand, are small enough that you often won’t be able to reliably locate them. However, they make pretty distinct insect sounds and will set your radio off, so you will know when one is nearby.Get out into a clearing and shine your light where you heard them. They will reveal themselves.Then just give ‘em a whack with your melee weapon.
Aim While Walking Away
Like so many games with third-person shooting mechanics, Silent Hill 2’s reticle will tighten the longer you aim, making for a more accurate shot. This is easily one of your best tools when dealing with terrifying enemies like the Bubble Head Nurses.Headshots will put these enemies down faster, so backing away will let you narrow your sights and pick your shots, while slowly widening the distance between you and them.
With how slow most enemies move in this game, this strategy will pay major dividends. Now, I feel like this goes without saying, but only back away into areas you have already been through. We’re not looking to gamble with our lives here.
This tactic is exclusive to the handgun. If you move backward while wielding any of the other guns their reticles will expand.
If You Didn’t Kill Them, Then They Aren’t Dead
You will occasionally walk into a room that has the corpses of monsters on the ground. In nearly every instance of this you will encounter,they will rise at a later date once you return through the area. Typically, this will happen at set moments, like once you have solved a puzzle or obtained a key item.Keep those areas in mind, and be on high alert when heading back through them.
You can, of course, give them a few whacks when they are down, I always do myself, but this isn’t going to amount to anything. You will only be able to kill them permanently once they have risen.
Utilize Bottlenecks To Your Advantage
The Silent Hill 2 remake has taken a number of notes from the modern 3rd person shooter horror genre. That means you’re able to leap across waist-high surfaces and position yourself favorably. This is great for creating distance, but it will also often help you create a bottleneck.If you are pursued by monsters on the streets of Silent Hill, you may be able to locate one of those leapable walls that leads into a building.
If you hop over one, your enemies will be forced to pursue you through that one point of entry. Giving you a chance to melee them as they lumber over it. And while not as effective at slowing them down, a good ol’ doorway is still good at clustering enemies together. Which will, at the very least, prevent them from surrounding you and attacking your back.
