Silent Hill 2: Remake Story Explained

Silent Hill 2 is a psychological horror game that delves deep into the mind of its protagonist, James Sunderland. The town of Silent Hill acts as a reflection of the inner turmoil and guilt of those who visit, manifesting their fears and regrets in twisted, often horrific ways. In this guide, we’ll explore the core story and the various endings featured in the Silent Hill 2 Remake, breaking down their significance and what they reveal about James and the world around him.

The Core Story

Prologue: James Arrives in Silent Hill

James Sunderland arrives in the eerie town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his deceased wife, Mary, asking him to meet her at their “special place.” Armed only with a map and a few supplies, James begins his search, starting near the observation deck by Toluca Lake.

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Entering the Town

After getting a map from a car, James heads into Silent Hill. He follows blood trails and strange noises down foggy streets and into an alleyway on Lindsey Street, where he encounters his first enemy, the Lying Figure. Armed with a wooden plank, James fights it off and retrieves a radio that alerts him to nearby monsters.

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Woodside Apartments

James eventually makes his way to the Woodside Apartments. The building is dark, decrepit, and filled with strange enemies. Inside, James solves several puzzles, such as the coin puzzle in Room 105, to progress through the building. He also encounters Pyramid Head for the first time, watching it murder other monsters.

In addition, he meets Angela Orosco, a disturbed young woman searching for her mother, and Eddie Dombrowski, an unstable man hiding in a room filled with corpses. Both interactions are brief but hint at deeper, troubled backgrounds.

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Blue Creek Apartments

After escaping Pyramid Head in the first building, James crosses over to the Blue Creek Apartments. Here, he encounters more monsters and another set of puzzles, including a clock puzzle that reveals a hidden passage. Eventually, he finds a key to Room 307, where he fights Pyramid Head again. James narrowly escapes this second encounter by jumping into a flooded stairwell.

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Brookhaven Hospital

Next, James heads to Brookhaven Hospital. Here, he meets Maria, a woman who looks nearly identical to his late wife, Mary. Maria joins James, but the hospital is crawling with monstrous Nurses and filled with puzzles. After solving the hospital’s tricky puzzles (like the X-ray puzzle and box combination), James and Maria try to escape through the hospital’s basement. However, Pyramid Head strikes again, seemingly killing Maria while James escapes alone.

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The Labyrinth

After navigating through town and a series of eerie underground tunnels, James finds himself in a hellish labyrinth beneath Silent Hill. The labyrinth is filled with more monsters and complex layouts, symbolizing James’ psychological turmoil. Here, James faces off against Eddie, who reveals his murderous tendencies. This confrontation escalates, and James is forced to kill Eddie in self-defense.

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Toluca Prison

James stumbles into the Toluca Prison next, where he solves more puzzles, like the Gallows Puzzle, and uncovers more about the town’s dark history. This section is particularly disturbing as it continues to mirror James’ guilt and trauma. He confronts Angela again, who is now in a deep state of despair and reveals more about her abusive past.

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Lakeview Hotel

James finally arrives at the Lakeview Hotel, the “special place” Mary mentioned in her letter. As James explores the decaying, abandoned hotel, he finds the final clues that unravel the truth behind his wife’s death. He watches a videotape that reveals the true reason why he came to Silent Hill. Maria reappears multiple times, blurring the line between reality and delusion as James comes closer to confronting the full weight of his past actions.

Depending on which ending you get, you may face Maria as the final boss of the game.

The Endings

Silent Hill 2 Remake features eight endings, each revealing a different outcome based on James’ actions and state of mind throughout the game. Here’s a breakdown of each one:

1. Leave Ending

In the Leave ending, James finally has a moment of closure with Mary, who forgives him for his actions, understanding that he acted out of love and mercy. James is seen walking out of Silent Hill with Laura, seemingly ready to start a new life. This ending signifies that James has accepted his guilt and is ready to move on, perhaps not just from the town, but also from his mental and emotional torment.

• How to Achieve:
• Keep James in good health throughout the game.
• Frequently examine Mary’s photo and letter, indicating that James is still focused on her memory.
• Avoid harmful actions toward Maria, but don’t get too close to her emotionally.

2. In Water Ending

In this tragic ending, James, overwhelmed by his guilt and unable to forgive himself, takes his own life. After killing the final manifestation of Mary, James drives his car into Toluca Lake, choosing to reunite with Mary in death. This ending reflects James’ inability to live with the weight of his actions and his ultimate surrender to despair.

• How to Achieve:
• Keep James in critical health for extended periods.
• Frequently examine Angela’s knife and avoid focusing on Mary’s photo and letter.
• Listen to the entire conversation in the hallway before the final battle.

3. Maria Ending

This ending sees James choosing to leave Silent Hill with Maria, essentially giving in to his desires and ignoring the lessons he should have learned. As they leave the town, Maria begins to cough, suggesting that she, too, will succumb to the same illness that took Mary. This ending implies that James is doomed to repeat his mistakes, unable to let go of the past.

• How to Achieve:
• Spend a lot of time around Maria and protect her from harm.
• Avoid examining Mary’s photo or letter.
• Check on Maria frequently in the hospital and labyrinth.

4. Rebirth Ending

The Rebirth ending is only accessible in a New Game Plus. In this ending, James gathers several ritualistic items throughout the game, intending to use them to resurrect Mary. The game concludes with James rowing towards an island in the middle of Toluca Lake, where he plans to perform the ritual. This ending suggests that James is so desperate to undo his actions that he resorts to supernatural means.

• How to Achieve:
• Collect four specific items: the Book of Lost Memories, the Obsidian Goblet, the White Chrism, and the Crimson Ceremony.
• Complete the game after gathering these items.

5. Stillness Ending (Remake Exclusive)

This new ending added in the remake is a variation of the “In Water” ending. James, unable to come to terms with his guilt, sits trembling in his car before driving into the lake. However, before he dies, James speaks with Mary, who forgives him. Despite this, James still chooses to end his life, unable to live without her. This ending emphasizes the cyclical nature of James’ torment, as he seems doomed to repeat his fate.

• How to Achieve:
• Complete the In Water ending at least once.
• Retrieve a special item (Key of Sorrow) from a car using a chainsaw, then unlock a safe in the Lakeview Hotel to trigger this ending.

6. Bliss Ending (Remake Exclusive)

This alternate ending shows James watching a happy vacation tape of himself and Mary, with the camera panning out to reveal an empty chair. It is implied that James, after drinking a hallucinogenic substance called White Claudia, has chosen to live in a fantasy world where Mary never died. This ending explores the idea of James escaping his guilt by living in an artificial reality.

• How to Achieve:
• Complete the game once and start a New Game Plus.
• Retrieve the Rusted Key and White Claudia, then drink the White Claudia before watching the tapes in Room 312.

7. UFO Ending

The UFO ending is a humorous Easter egg that has appeared in several Silent Hill games. In this ending, James encounters aliens who abduct him, revealing that they’ve been behind everything in Silent Hill. This ending is non-canonical and serves as a lighthearted joke for players.

• How to Achieve:
• Find and use the Blue Gem in three specific locations during a New Game Plus playthrough.

8. Dog Ending

Possibly the most infamous ending in the Silent Hill series, the Dog ending reveals that a Shiba Inu dog has been controlling everything from a secret room. Like the UFO ending, this is a joke ending meant to provide comic relief after the intense and emotional journey through the game.

• How to Achieve:
• Complete the game multiple times and collect the Dog Key from two specific locations.

Conclusion

Silent Hill 2’s various endings reflect the different ways James can come to terms—or fail to come to terms—with his guilt. Whether he seeks redemption, succumbs to despair, or even finds solace in fantasy, each ending offers unique insights into his psyche. The town of Silent Hill serves as both a literal and metaphorical purgatory for James, shaping itself around his deepest fears and regrets. Ultimately, the ending players receive is a reflection of how they’ve chosen to navigate James’ emotional journey.

Each ending offers an opportunity to reflect on themes of guilt, forgiveness, and the lengths people will go to avoid or confront their inner demons.

You can see our Silent Hill 2 Remake: All 8 Endings Explained for a deeper dive into the endings.