Silent Hill HD Collection
Hijinx Studios spent more than two years building the Silent Hill HD Collection. The team received incomplete source code from Konami because the original files had not been properly archived. This missing data meant developers faced technical issues that the original creators had already solved, such as Heather turning blue in Silent Hill 3. They also uncovered hidden textures like wall scratches and puzzle clues that players never saw in the original releases. Masahiro Ito, the art director for both games, speculated that translucent fog effects might have been difficult for PlayStation 3 hardware to handle.
New voice actors re-recorded dialogue for both games under the direction of Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. She had previously provided vocals for various soundtracks in the Silent Hill series. Guy Cihi refused to allow Konami to reuse his voice work for James Sunderland because he believed the company owed him residuals. Troy Baker disputed this claim by arguing that residuals for video game voice acting were unheard of in Japan. An arrangement was eventually reached to include an option for original voices in Silent Hill 2 but not in Silent Hill 3 due to technical difficulties.
Konami officially announced the compilation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo in 2011 with a fall release target. The project initially appeared as a PlayStation 3 exclusive before adding an Xbox 360 port for simultaneous publication. North America received the game on March 20 while Japan got it on March 29. Europe followed on March 30 and Australia on April 5. Only the PS3 edition was published in Japan. A patch addressing frame rate issues arrived for the PS3 version in July 2012, though the Xbox 360 update was canceled later that year.
Reviewers gave the collection mixed or average scores across both consoles according to Metacritic. Many critics called the title misleading since it excluded Silent Hill 4: The Room and other franchise entries. Some reviewers noted that removing fog from Silent Hill 2 revealed hidden textures and technical limitations. Others praised the updated visuals while pointing out glitches and frame rate problems. Audio syncing issues with character animations also drew criticism alongside unupdated subtitles reflecting script changes.
Tomm Hulett faced harassment from a small portion of the fanbase during production because they blamed him for all perceived series failures. Critics compared the compilation unfavorably to other remastered collections like Metal Gear Solid HD Collection. Despite technical faults, some players enjoyed the port as an updated presentation of well-regarded games. The absence of bonus material drew negative feedback from several outlets. Long-term reception remains divided between those who appreciate the visual overhaul and those who prioritize original fidelity.
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Common questions
Who developed the Silent Hill HD Collection and how long did it take?
Hijinx Studios spent more than two years building the Silent Hill HD Collection. The team received incomplete source code from Konami because the original files had not been properly archived.
When was the Silent Hill HD Collection released in North America and Japan?
North America received the game on March 20 while Japan got it on March 29. Europe followed on March 30 and Australia on April 5.
Why were some voice actors replaced for the Silent Hill HD Collection?
Guy Cihi refused to allow Konami to reuse his voice work for James Sunderland because he believed the company owed him residuals. Troy Baker disputed this claim by arguing that residuals for video game voice acting were unheard of in Japan.
What technical issues affected the Silent Hill HD Collection release?
A patch addressing frame rate issues arrived for the PS3 version in July 2012, though the Xbox 360 update was canceled later that year. Audio syncing issues with character animations also drew criticism alongside unupdated subtitles reflecting script changes.
Which games are included in the Silent Hill HD Collection compilation?
The collection includes Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 3 but excludes Silent Hill 4: The Room and other franchise entries. Only the PS3 edition was published in Japan.