Comments on: Silent Hill 2: Plot Analysis

By: Threedogg

Threedogg — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 07:22:54 +0000

Absolutely brilliant review of the story…Im amazed

By: Tasos_The_Greek

Tasos_The_Greek — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:57:02 +0000

very good explanation but i would like to add sth if you don’t mind!i, just like your brother, believe that the characters are aspects of James, now every character, has a specific target to achieve (eddie wants to kill everyone who makes fun of him, laura wants to meet Mary, Maria wants to go with James, i think, and Angela wants to kill herself)now from all these characters only Angela succeds her target (SHE KILLS HERSELF)so if those are aspects of james personality, i assume that the real-normal ending to silent hill 2 is the water ending (where he kills himself)

By: Matthew

Matthew — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 13:54:14 +0000

I meant to write…

“Anyone who even drove thorugh the town is now tainted by the thing/god that Alessa woke.”

NOT-

“Anyone who even drove thorugh the town is not tainted by the thing/god that Alessa woke.”

By: Matthew

Matthew — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 22:03:30 +0000

I have played Origins, 1, 2, 3, 4, and Homecoming through at least six times each and have obtained every ending but one (the bad+ ending on 1). I haven’t gotten far in Shattered Memories because I felt let down in the first couple of hours in gameplay. So, I’ll disregard that. Needless to say, I have had eight years of in depth thought and discussion on the entire series and 2 is still my favorite due to issues that seem to spoken for already. However, I wanted to add my bit since it doesn’t seem to have come up yet. Yes, there is some kind of ancient ‘god’ living under Silent Hill. Alessa woke it up and in her pain and terror, she let lose this ‘god’s’ power… The only ‘accidental’ character in all of the games is Travis, the truck driver who just happened to be passing when Alessa needed help and the ‘god’ responds. Bang. Silent Hill is long longer a ‘sleepy’ town, but a living thing. Of course, Travis gets out after helping Alessa -or does he, since he helps bring Alex to Silent Hill…perhaps he is still a messenger for the ‘god’? Harry mason escapes with the other part of Alessa. However, the town is now alive and anyone who has been there is fair game for Alessa’s nightmare world and also for the ‘god’ under Silent Hill. Notice how you have to ‘go down?’ a lot in these games? James is real and alive. Laura knew Mary, so at some point she was alive. However, Maria is clearly a temptress that this ‘god’ had come up with – most likely by memory retrieved from Mary since she died in the town and her spirit lingers there out of strong emotions. Yes, Silent Hill 2 is a test for James; to see if he is worth a chance. He is sent a letter that is probably real – and most likely written by Laura, Mary’s agent, like Travis was Alessa’s. But with unfinished business, the ‘god’ and the ‘order’ will not rest. The call goes out to Heather/Cheryl. Silent Hill 3 speaks for itself. It is the most clear cut of the stories. After Harry is killed, Heather has nothing left and off she goes to put an end to it. And she does, in her own way. In the fourth installment, we get another spirit not resting so comfortably – Walter Sullivan. SO, to make matters worse, the evil is spreading. Anyone who even drove thorugh the town is not tainted by the thing/god that Alessa woke. Henry is in the wrong place. The place where Walter was born. It also happens that James’ father runs the building. bad luck. Now Henry has to clean up some other folk’s mess. Sympathetic, since he is just cursed by circumstance. So, I was wrong, he is like Travis. I don’t know why there’s so much fuss about Homecoming. No, it isn’t my favorite, but I really do like it a lot. Now we have the evil that hasn’t just spread to people, but now it is begining to devour Shepherd’s Glen due to some nasty doings of the Order. Like with James, you play a character, Alex, who is riddled with guilt and he is there to redeem himself. While not quite as well executed as 2, Homecoming still has that depth of sadness – reflected in the music very strongly – and you just kinda have to go with your gut feeling on what the ‘true’ ending should be.

As for the monsters, I think there is way too much professional psychology going on here. yes, some have representaions. but some are just what they are. Nurses – from Alessa’s experience, will probably be in most of the games. The hospital is a lively place. Think about 1 and 3 – the only two places to include the school. But the hospital is special to the ‘god’ and Alessa – I expect nurses in every game. Sure, PH is a force that can have some signifigance, but he’s more like a FORCE than some kind of representation.

I could go on for days, but there’s my bit.

By: Thanatos of Crows

Thanatos of Crows — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 09:58:52 +0000

Well I think they’re both valid, as the only characters James can leave with are Maria and Laura, who according to the alternate analysis represent James’ love of self and of others.
In the good ending James comes into terms with himself and finds redemption, he’s forgiven by Mary, so he can leave the town with the only surviving portion of his mind: love of others, he’s come to understand life. I have yet to see the Maria ending, so I don’t know about the last conversation between James and Mary, and therefore can’t be sure if James behaves much differently from the others.
To support the analysis; James acts more empathic towards others after killing of Eddie, his hate of others, and after encountering Angela for the last time he starts to sort out his head and comes to understand the Pyramid Head and understands that he doesn’t need anyone to guide or punish himself, he’s ridden of his self loathing.
As I played I had both of these theories co-exist, and let the story unfold and explain itself. Both of them have parts that make them more valid than the other, and it’s really up to the observer to decide what to believe in.

And thanks for Shamus: I had wanted the game for years, and after finding out had made an analysis based on it that hunger grew almost unbearable, I had to play the game before I could read your thoughts of it. So now, after about a year I was finally able to get my hands on it -it’s normally very hard to come by, sucks to live in a back-water country like Finlad- and I think it’s really one of my favourites, so thank you for your analysis and for making me really work for finding this game.

By: Rohit

Rohit — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 17:28:13 +0000

finished the game today and was looking for an in depth analysis on the game and found a great one here :D big thanks ! that cleared a lot of my doubts. i reckon your thoughts on the game to be valid rather than your brother’s because at a point in the game it was mentioned that eddy was also brought to the town cuz he had a purpose too just like james and besides, if the characters weren’t real and just manifestations of james’ imaginations then how can they leave the town with james.

great game btw. out of all the silent hills i’ve played. this one has to be the one with the best story !

By: Steve

Steve — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:44:34 +0000

I like the idea that PH represents James. Which would explain why he can’t see PH’s face. Liked the analysis even though I’ve never played the game it’s interesting to see your take on it and to take a view into the deep story that is Silent Hill 2…Awesomeness.

By: Yulderbung

Yulderbung — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 07:48:48 +0000

HEY HEEEEEY! Just recently completed the game, and on my first run-through I got the “in the water” ending, which bugged me for some reason. I’d LIKE to try for the other endings, but the thing is, I don’t know what triggered this SUPER SECRET UNLOCKABLE ending, so I don’t know what to avoid! Is it getting ol’ Triangle Face’s Superknife™? Because I wouldn’t really mind passing that up; it’s really only cool conceptually. As a weapon it’s about as useful as, well … as a megaton over-sized knife really would be! GIVE A CHEER FOR REALISM~ when done right, it means that using ridiculously over-powered, over-awesome weapons actually makes combat MORE frightening and tense!