Note: This article contains spoilers for the story of Silent Hill 2 and its Remake. Read on at your own risk.
Since its release in 2001, Silent Hill 2 has left players speculating about the true nature of James Sunderland's experiences. Is he caught in a nightmarish hallucination fueled by grief and guilt? Has he entered a supernatural realm created by cultists and ancient deities? Or is he already dead, suffering in Hell for his sins? With the Silent Hill 2 Remake, developer Bloober Team offers more clues and details, expanding the original story. This remake is not just a revision but an extension, existing alongside the original Silent Hill 2, much like how Final Fantasy VII Remake revisits and expands its narrative.
The original Silent Hill 2 hinted at deeper mysteries. Players found bodies of people killed by monsters, often dressed in bloodied versions of James's clothes. This led to theories suggesting James might already be dead. The Remake continues this theme, with bodies resembling James scattered throughout the town. Notes near these bodies, written in a frantic hand, hint at others trapped in Silent Hill, some for extended periods. These notes, some resembling James's own annotations, suggest a shared experience, possibly even written by James himself.
One note, found near a James-like body, hints at a new ending: "I can leave by not leaving." Following these clues leads to the "Bliss" ending, where James hallucinates a happier past with Mary. Other notes, like one in Brookhaven Hospital, push James forward, hinting at the pain and struggle involved. In Wood Side Apartments, a note suggests a prison of James's own making, with choices leading to endless repetition.
In the Remake, Eddie claims innocence near several dead bodies, but his final outburst reveals his guilt. These bodies, including one that looks like James, suggest a cycle of violence and death. Angela's experiences in Silent Hill differ from James', with her world engulfed in flames. Eddie's world is cold and filled with death, mirroring his character's internal struggles.
These elements suggest that Silent Hill 2 Remake is another journey through James's hellish loop. Each playthrough represents another repetition, with every ending—whether James confronts his actions, idealizes Maria, takes his own life, or deludes himself—being a legitimate part of his torment. The Remake confirms the theory that James might be the one dead in that chair, making the game even more chilling. There is no escape from Silent Hill.
