How does the music compare to the original?

[Gerfreckle]

Obviously everyone knows how incredible and universally-praised the OST for the original by Akira Yamoaka is, and like I'm sure a lot of modern fans of the series that didn't play the originals at the time, what brought me to the series was the music itself, listening to it for a long time before ever actually playing a Silent Hill game. The praise for the music has already been sung countless times, there's no need to say why it's so amazing. It's not just the best music ever composed for a video game, but some of the best experimental dark ambient/industrial music of all time, period.

I know they brought back Yamoaka to work on the music for the remake, which is awesome, but I read that they redesigned/remixed a lot of the original music. How extensive was this? What are your thoughts on what they did with the music? How does it compare to the original? Is it worse, about the same, or even better (which I find to be practically impossible to achieve)? Is 'Black Fairy' still in the game? That is my favourite piece of music of SH2 and the most emotionally impactful and the one that stuck with me the most. It'd really disappoint me if it was changed or removed.

[Shaelent]

If you're that curious, there are playlists on YT for the Remake tracks so you can listen for yourself. And yes the Black Fairy track still plays in the game.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJb38m95zEMIw_NbrBfn1hbQFw3vDEYJ

[River Victor]

Akira Yamaoka redid all of them with practically no loss of quality. I feel no difference that I know of, although I do catch as a music knowledgeable that there are differences. They just don't FEEL different. The major changes feel no loss of feels and no change of feels, if you know what I mean.

[Freeman 2.0]

Before saying my opinion, I think Akira Yamaoka is great, he's one of my favourite videogame music composers and I always will have a great respect for him. But in this game...there isn't a single remix of classic tracks I don't like far less than the original. Too clean, too "digital" and clearly more in a "tLoU" vibe. Some new themes are good, other too Hollywood to Silent Hill. And when the best tracks to me are the original ones without any alterations...I see something wrong. I can't imagine a lot of people liking the new version of "Laura's theme" more than the original one.

I don't think he lost his touch by any means, but he clearly composed the new soundtrack under a certain "criteria" (like a lot of things of this remake).

[Shaelent]

Ursprünglich geschrieben von River Victor:

Akira Yamaoka redid all of them with practically no loss of quality. I feel no difference that I know of, although I do catch as a music knowledgeable that there are differences. They just don't FEEL different. The major changes feel no loss of feels and no change of feels, if you know what I mean.

There are definitely noticeable differences namely with some of the bigger soundtracks like Theme of Laura and Promise that are easily picked up on but in terms of the way the songs make you feel, it's still the same feeling you get from the original tracks. I always listened to the original tracks before the Remake and consistently experienced goosebumps and chills, those feelings are still definitely there when listening to the Remake tracks.

If there's one thing Akira is renowned for with his compositions it's the fact he is always able to evoke emotions from people and it isn't just with his contribution towards Silent Hill. I think what he's done with the soundtracks sheds a new light which is bound to happen given how old the game is and music is no exception to change.

"Remade all the original tracks and added new ones. After 25 years, my approach to music has evolved. This work reflects that change, blending past passion with today’s sound, challenging me like never before." - Akira Yamaoka via Twitter ( https://x.com/AkiraYamaoka/status/1827931948150669616 )

If you were someone that never played the original or never even heard the original soundtracks, the Remake tracks would more than likely be more of an appeal because it has a more modernised sound.

[GoldInfinit7]

They need to do more work on the song originally titled betrayal in this game. I don't know what the remake version is called but it plays when confronted by the two pyramid heads. It just doesn't hit as hard as the original. It's probably one of the only things I didn't like about the remake. I was disappointed that it wasn't at least just as amazing as the original.

[80TCS]

I have finished the game maybe 2 days ago and started over a New Game+ and I can safely say.. I have no idea.. The only soundtrack/s in my whole gaming life that got stuck with me would be Silent Hill 3 and Half Life 2. Hard to think of anything else from the top of my head..

[hahaisfunny]

OG IS THE BEST
but the remake one got their own vibes, and I accept it.

[Zombine3D]

Worse. Just like everything related to art compared to original. New voices are flat and character and environmental design is off.
The letter reading at the end was a huge let down, no emotion at all.
Basically SH2R is a very good game and product but it does not touch and shake the human soul like the original does3

[Plushyesque]

Lots retained from the original, but somewhat different. I love both the original and this one. When I first heard changes, my brain wanted to reject it as I've been listening to the original soundtrack regularly since release. Once I could accept the differences, I found some of the tracks evoked even more emotion. Some I don't like as much as the original. None of it is bad, it's all great. I love some of the brand new tracks. I think it makes sense for there to be changes in the remake, would've been odd for it to have been exactly the same. It just fits. The new version of Heaven's Night is particularly good.