Though the gameplay mechanics and general story arc of the original game were a bit simplistic from what I remember, the quiet moments of striking honesty and humanity, depicting the brutality of emotional abuse and the potentially debilitating influence of mental illness, still managed to be rather heavy and effectively somber. Considering the somewhat stereotypical setting and plotline of a new tenant running erratically through a haunted, abandoned house in avoidance of the apparition of the previous owner, these interwoven psychological elements and grounded conversations helped to elevate and bring additional facets to this common premise. However, though I might be mistaken, I believe the jumpscares were slightly more effective, pronounced, and frightening in the original game, taking better advantage of the instances of tension which preceded them.
I appreciate that this remake has elected to incorporate some variation in its settings and provide greater logical underpinnings to the narrative overall. For instance, Miki’s initial attempts to leave the house or contact the police effectively eliminated certain alternatives and possibilities that she never even thought to try during the original game, as far as I recall. In addition to this more reasonable, gradual progression of her fear and desperation, the realities of her illness are more evident in this particular version of the story, and the exploration of Miki’s frustration at her mental fog and torpor, which are commonly concomitant with depression, was fairly accurate from my experience. Additionally, the successive removal of her potential options for escape essentially renders her entrapment and isolation far more oppressive and irrevocable, and, therefore, her lingering regrets and trauma can more frequently manifest and aggressively haunt her beleaguered mind.
In general, it appears that the supplemental dialogue and scenes have somewhat bolstered the complexity of the characterizations and created a more natural, logical flow of the events constituting the main plot arc.
As another specific example, I recall there being some vagueness in the original surrounding Miki’s inability to remember her aunt and the experiences they shared, and though it may have been possible to speculate as to the rationale for this haze, which suddenly dissipated during their final confrontation, no explicit or additional information was provided as to its source. This momentous instance of clarity after encountering the embroidered bear was better predicated in the remake, as Miki is shown to be struggling with these lapses in her memory and the general obfuscation of all remembrances of her aunt dissociated from her suicide. In a psychological sense, it’s possible that the traumatic sight of her aunt and the consequential guilt were so deeply rutted into her fragile mind that forgetfulness became somewhat of a protective mechanism to dilute the vividness of that final, unbearable image of her beloved aunt. The lucidity she regains at the end subjects her to the overwhelming grief and regret she attempted to suppress, yet, the positive memories also return, and the honest admission of her self-imposed blame represents the first step towards properly addressing her mental tribulations.
Overall, these foundational scenes introduced intermittently throughout the game reveal further insight into Miki’s personality and difficulties as well as restructure the narrative framework to provide more logical set-ups, motivations, purpose, and significance for the events of later scenes. From a storytelling perspective, the writing quality has certainly improved and the tone is more consistent. I’m definitely glad to see Uri returning to improve their earlier pieces, which grants me the opportunity to experience and discuss them anew.