If you’re looking for a scare during spooky season, we check out ‘Silent Hill 2’ and ‘Until Dawn’, then go hands on with the Gulikit KK3 MAX.
Despite releasing over 20 years ago, there’s still a hell of a lot of love for Silent Hill 2 – consistently regarded as one of the all-time horror greats. Needless to say, fans have been tentatively awaiting this remake for a while now, but thankfully despite Blooper Team’s arguably inconsistent past it’s absolutely knocked it out of the park here.
While there’s obviously a new coat of paint to marvel at and a whole lot of extra content to help extend the original game’s runtime, this new version of Silent Hill 2 manages to skillfully walk a very fine tightrope by clearly respecting the beloved source material without feeling like a lazy retread or cash grab.
As a result there are new puzzles to solve and larger areas to explore but the core story of James Sunderland searching for his deceased wife after mysteriously receiving a message from her remains firmly in place and it’s as impactful as ever. It also feels more modern thanks to improved controls that won’t see you seething in frustration and refreshed combat that introduces a few new enemy types designed to have you squealing (although it still does feel a tad one note). Combined, these tweaks to the core formula help Blooper Team focus on the big picture: scare the pants off you.
Perhaps that is Silent Hill 2’s biggest achievement. It’s oppressive, unsettling and atmospheric in all the best ways. It’s the type of horror game that lingers with you long after you put the controller down and absolutely deserves to be played by newcomers and long-time fans alike.
Meanwhile, with a movie adaptation on the way, there’s perhaps no better time to jump back into Until Dawn with this redo. Controlling a bunch of snarky teens in a classic cabin setting, Until Dawn quickly embraces sublime slasher sentiments, all amplified by the fact that your cast of characters will live or die by your hands. It makes for some entertaining fare and remains developer Supermassive Games’ finest title.
This PS5 iteration naturally makes use of the new hardware to switch things up a little – the most notable being the use of Unreal Engine 5 and it turns Until Dawn into an absolute stunner. The characters are vastly improved and refreshed lighting makes everything feel more natural. There’s also an extended introduction and new modern camera angle.
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Interestingly though there’s some unexpected changes at play here as well. Some of the game’s original music has been swapped out (likely a result of licensing deals) and the frame rate of this new iteration has taken a significant nose dive. Yes, despite the 9-year old classic running at 60fps via backwards comparability on the PS5, this remaster is barely able to hold onto 30fps.
It’s incredibly disappointing and will likely cause some divide with gamers trying to work out what feature they value most, especially considering owners of the original are unable to upgrade for a small fee (meaning you’ll need to choose between spending $25 for the PS4 original or $99 for this upgrade).
If you’re willing to cop that scary price tag then you’re still in for a seriously spooky time.
Silent Hill 2 and Until Dawn are both out now for PS5 and PC.
Also out now…
GuliKit KK 3 Max Wireless Controller
With the pro controller scene heating up of late, knowing what to look for and what to value is becoming an increasingly difficult proposition. That’s even more difficult considering the sheer cost some of those devices will set you back.
Enter the Gulikit KK3 MAX, a relative newcomer in the Aussie gaming scene which is hoping to crack the market by offering up a premium product for a more affordable price. Thing is, there’s a good chance it’ll succeed as well, because this device is pretty impressive.
Available in both black and retro colourways (think a white-ish grey finish with purple face buttons), both options of the KK3 MAX look pretty swish no matter which way you lean. I tested the black option during my time with the unit and enjoyed the incredibly clean matte finish and was instantly surprised how comfy it was in the hands without feeling too weighty. It’s almost shocking how premium it looks and feels for the price and could easily be confused for a Series X controller at a quick glance.
But get past the initial looks and the tech inside the unit is equally impressive. The KK3 MAX packs Hall Effect joysticks and triggers, adjustable triggers and even a built-in gyroscope. The MAXX even comes with a small customisation kit in the box, which includes six metal back paddles and four button caps that can be swapped out to better replicate Nintendo’s different layout.
The only problem with this is that actually installing the paddles felt incredibly sketchy, and required more force than you would ever think you’d need to implement. It’s a stark contrast from the likes of Xbox Elite and DualSense Edge but one of the inevitable concessions you’ll need to make for the price, especially when you consider the KK3 MAX is over $100 cheaper than both of those devices.
Speaking of compatibility, the KK3 MAX is compatible with Nintendo Switch, smartphones and PC and in my testing it worked pretty reliably across all three. I spent most time synced to my Switch OELD and it’s arguably one of the best pro controllers available for the system (easily outpacing Nintendo’s own offering). Button inputs were instantly responsive, Gulikit’s new Maglev vibration motor felt smooth and even the gyro was accurate (although personally I do mostly disable that functionality in my games).
Should you want to throw the KK3 MAX into a backpack for your daily travels, a nifty plastic shell is included within the box. But while I obviously commend Gulikit for including this for the asking price, I’m not entirely convinced it won’t eventually break after extended use. It’s also a little odd that if you do throw on the backpaddles onto the back of the controller, it will no longer fit into the case at all, which seems like a bit of a strange misstep.
Honestly though, this is just nitpicking because the rest of the Gulikit KK3 MAX is a strong offering. It’s feature-rich, stylish and, most importantly, wonderfuly affordable. Worth checking out for Switch or PC-heavy gamers.
The Gulikit KK3 MAX is available now for $139.95 from EB Games and other major retailers.
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