2020 was a year that hit the world like a speeding car. I still remember the day my high school announced that we would have a few days off to reduce the chances of Covid spreading. I was on the bus when it happened, and I would be lying if I wasn’t happy to hear the news. The idea of having a length of time off from my least favorite place in all of my existence definitely sat comfortably with me, and I was ready to settle in. But a few days of cancellation turned into a few weeks. And a few weeks turned into complete remote schooling. After being thrust into such a position, I was confronted with the realization that I had a ton of time on my hands. And with this time, I decided to delve down the rabbit hole of obscure PS2 horror games.
My love for old video games really grew over the pandemic. Because of the massive amount of time I had on my hands, I didn’t hold back on really getting into the nitty gritty. I personally do not own my own PS2 console (sadly) but I do own a computer, and emulation is very much so possible. With this, I began my PS2 survival horror adventure. However, I will admit that I was a little overwhelmed by the options. And after scouring the internet, I discovered a series known as “Silent Hill.” At the time, I wasn’t totally unfamiliar with the series. My older brother knew some information about the game and we both had talked about it briefly in passing at one point in time.
Little did I know that I was stepping onto a roller coaster of emotions—with no chance of getting off the ride.
Silent Hill is a unique series. You don’t have to play the very first Silent Hill (PS1) to understand the story of Silent Hill 2 (PS2), as each game has its own isolated stories with different characters. However, the second game features a few easter eggs that relate to the previous entry, so fans who’ve played the previous entry will be treated to a nice few callbacks. The franchise is centered around a town in Maine known as (of course) Silent Hill. The lakeside resort town, despite its normal appearance, harbors supernatural powers. It’s capable of transporting people into a nightmarish realm known as “The Otherworld,” and the town itself manifests monsters into its streets to torment its visitors, each creature appearing uniquely to its victim based on their inner demons and fears. And it’s not just the monsters either; the town physically changes as well. Roads become blocked off, exits become inaccessible, and the town’s geography changes entirely as a whole. It’s also believed that the general consensus is that those who are psychologically vulnerable or have heightened senses to paranormal activity are drawn to the town. However, it’s not uncommon for people of sound mind to be lured in as well. Many people have compared Silent Hill’s Otherworld to the hit television show “Stranger Things,” a show that features its own similar concept dubbed “The Upside Down.” I prefer the game’s take on this trope–not just because Silent Hill’s came first but rather because it executed it better than the show did (and to be honest? Not a huge fan of Stranger Things anymore. I was at a point in time, but the final season was just an absolute dumpster fire.)
Silent Hill 2’s story introduces us to James Sunderland, a twenty-five year old man who’s struggling with the loss of his beloved wife. A widower of three years and borderline suicidal, our protagonist struggles severely with depression and guilt over the death of his partner, and he struggles to find purpose in his life as an individual after she’s gone. But after receiving a letter from her, he’s completely taken aback.
“In my restless dreams, I see that town. Silent Hill. You promised you’d take me there again someday. But you never did. Well, I’m alone there now. In our special place. Waiting for you.”
Mary died three years ago. She can’t be dead. But here’s a letter, sealed and addressed to him from her. Is it a joke? Some sort of prank being pulled on him? Despite this, he ventures out (it’s unsaid from where he’s originally from, but it’s presumed to be Ashfield, Massachusetts based on lore, notes, and overall theories) to the town of Silent Hill to search for his long lost lover, hoping to reconnect with her once again—by any means necessary. Was she truly dead? Or was he just going crazy? Nonetheless, there was nothing else left to lose.
It’s a heartbreaking visual display. I’m not married, nor have I ever experienced the death of a partner, but I started to project myself onto James’s character as a whole. While our experiences are entirely different, severe depression is something that I’ve fought long and hard with all my life—even now in the present day—and despite the game not outright saying it, it’s abundantly clear that James is a deeply emotionally damaged individual. It also didn’t help that my playthrough was happening during a time where we were all locked inside and forced to be shut-ins. That alone is terrible for one’s own mental health. James’s character allowed me to feel grounded within the game, like I too was experiencing my own journey through the foggy streets of the town. He’s rightfully earned his spot as one of my favorite characters in any franchise ever. Many people online seem to find his character to be relatable when it comes to the way he expresses his emotions throughout the story. His actions, of course, do not reflect my own character in any way shape or form, as the plot twist of the game truly shows how multi-layered James’s character is. He falls into a morally grey category and stands firmly between “good” and “evil,” and that makes his character all the more interesting to me.
James’s journey is absolutely gut wrenching and is a violent display of how far a human can truly be pushed. Gun fights, melee encounters, and psychological warfare are all utilized against our protagonist through his adventure to find his beloved, and the clashing of weapons and hearts follow suit. We, the audience, are a mere bystander to the absolute carnage that unfolds within the narrative, and it’s devastating watching a person–fictional or not–crack and break under pressure. But I had to see it through. The monochromatic tones and dreadful atmosphere provedtrue to the game’s intentions, and it truly did succeed. It was my first entry into the series, and it ultimately is my favorite one.
In 2024, a remake of the classic PS2 title was announced and released for the PS5 and, of course, I just had to buy it. No questions asked. I didn’t care how much it was, and I ended up paying the hefty sum of seventy dollars. Despite my pockets feeling lighter, it was ultimately worth it in the end. Seeing the game with upgraded graphics, new models, new content, and more—playing it felt like I was replaying it for the first time. It succeeds, despite a few nit-picky things that I noticed while playing (mostly slight outfit/design alterations). But nonetheless it did the original justice with its new and improved visuals.
The game’s ultimate plot twist ruined me. There was a mixture of a lot of feelings; anger, sadness, distrust, disgust, and sympathy. Complicated emotions all boiled into a painfully hot stew. For the sake of storytelling, I will not be sharing the details. And while it is not the end of the world if you do get spoiled, it’s still an experience worth experiencing for the first time ever. Though I recommend avoiding spoilers as much as possible. It’s just that heavy of a story, and going in blind is an incredibly rewarding experience.
I couldn’t believe my eyes and ears. The conclusion of the game’s story can completely shape the entirety of James’ character. Some endings result in his survival, while some have him face unfortunate circumstances. There are a total of six endings, and out of those six endings I got the “Leave” ending. It’s the easiest ending to get, and will most likely be the ending that most players receive on their first ever play-through. The ending features just that: James leaves Silent Hill, as he was able to confront his grief and face the future head on. I was crying like a freaking baby, y’all! I have never been so moved to tears in such a way by a piece of media before in my entire life.
When people tell me that watching or playing video games aren’t fun or interesting, I audibly sigh every time (this honestly hasn’t happened to me yet but I can definitely imagine my reaction). Like, how does it feel to know that you’re boring? Video games are more than just cool flashy lights and a collection of sounds, but rather they’re an art form as a whole. And that’s what Silent Hill 2 is—it’s art! It’s something that should be appreciated, admired, and beloved. It’s a beautiful piece of work, an experience.
Because of the remake, players can now enjoy the story on modern consoles with amazing visuals and sound design so it’s easily accessible. The original 2001 version was released on PS2, Xbox, and PC, while the remake is available on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC as well. It’s a little bit on the more pricier side, however, sometimes it’s on sale for cheaper prices during holidays or special events. It’s a game that will remain to be one of my favorites of all time, and easily earned its spot (in my opinion) as the ruler of psychological horror.
