Silent Hill 2 Part 3
Written by Dena Saturday, 25 July 2009 01:44
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07.24.2009 - 22:26 | Deimos1984rd
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07.24.2009 - 22:27 | The sad panda
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07.26.2009 - 04:25 | adrasl300
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07.28.2009 - 15:10 | Cyborcat
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07.24.2009 - 22:41 | mwong04
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07.24.2009 - 22:52 | NickTHPS
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07.27.2009 - 08:48 | Axikal

That game completely gave up on what made the SH series what it was. It tried too hard to be "disturbing", and didn't focus much on the actual psychological aspects that made 1 and 2 stand out.
It was the beginning of the end for an amazing series. That, and it went and explained too much that didn't need explaining. SH was a series better off left in isolated "chapters" (each game).
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07.25.2009 - 03:37 | Shinigami
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07.25.2009 - 03:53 | Nonesuch

It's good to see this up on the site Dena, since I think it's a very good analysis of one of my favorite games. A lot of people have a very negative reaction to James, but I don't think it's entirely justified. He's a far too complex character to judge with black and white morality. Easily one of the roundest protagonists of any game I've played.
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07.25.2009 - 04:52 | BlueGoldBizarros

My brother in law had this game while he was visiting. My first reaction was, "I can barely handle horror FILMS, I couldn't possiple handle horror games!" But after seeing your 4-part Silent Hill 2 series, I completly regret my decision!
Oh well, hopefully my brother in law will let me borrow it soon.
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07.25.2009 - 06:41 | Richard Wesker
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07.25.2009 - 07:15 | J_Conrady
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07.25.2009 - 09:44 | Cyborcat
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07.25.2009 - 18:20 | gamemaster1017
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07.26.2009 - 12:58 | Cyborcat
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07.25.2009 - 18:40 | knux12346
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07.25.2009 - 22:06 | Lotus Prince

You know which ending disturbed me the most? The "Maria ending."
END-GAME SPOILERS
After the revelation James had about killing his wife due to not being able to handle her illness, you get to the end of the game, and the final boss, rather than a demonized Maria, is a demonized Mary. After taking her out, James and Maria leave Silent Hill. Maria coughs, and James says, "You'd better do something about that cough," and the game ends.
It's a little thing, but that really got to me.
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07.26.2009 - 19:24 | dancergirl88
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Something I remember in the game was at the end he smothered his wife with that pillow (a spoiler but it is revealed in this video). Now I don't remember if they made it clear that he smothered her though. I am sure I remember theynhinted at it, heavily.
I remember it because all the monsters in the game save for Pyramid Head and a few others, attack in ways where they attempt to strangle, suffocate, or smother James. I always tied that to his subconcious desire to be punished for what he did to his wife by being attacked and killed the same way. Even upside down Mary has all suffocating attacks: the moth swarm, the tentacle, etc. The straightjackets look almost like plastic coverings that the creatures beneath struggle to breathe through. Just something I noticed.
Of course, then the straightjackets came back in later games and shot my theory to sh*t. I still like it though as being intentional.
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07.27.2009 - 01:28 | Disthron
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07.27.2009 - 09:09 | Axikal

I have to say that I was disappointed a bit in this review; if only because it feels there's a lot you're leaving out due to not researching a lot of the game.
Rather than just KILL this section with in-depth responses, I'll summarise the ones I caught:
1: The Mandarin monster - there was a rare enemy in the game (rare in that it only ever appeared in Otherworld) called Mandarin. It hung from gratings, and was the embodiment of James' hopelessness at Mary's sickness.
2: The Creeper monster - While in Silent Hill 1, the insects were manifested by Alessa, because of her entomophobia. In SH2 they represent nothing more than just a generalised fear of insects.
Some posit that since Alessa greatly affected Silent Hill in the first game, that subsequent visits from other parties to the town will notice her actions and influences. Though this is never substantiated by Lost Memories.
3: Flesh Lips Monster - Again, another monster that represented parts of James' torment towards his wife. In fact, the monster itself resembled Mary, in contorted fashion.
Also, CageAquarium is dead on. the way enemies go after James is to smother/strangle him. Suffocation is a HUGE factor in the game, solely because of how he killed Mary.
I really do recommend (again) http://silenthill.wikia.com
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07.29.2009 - 14:40 | Molly

Oh, I'm just now discovering this video series, and I'm loving it! I'm pretty sure someone could write a thesis on the symbolism of Silent Hill (for what class I couldn't tell you, but there's enough material there!)
As scary as the game is, I find it even more depressing than it is frightening - Angela alone makes me want to burst into tears, and when Laura asks James if Mary died because she was sick, my heart rips in half - whoever did her voice was terrific.
And that's not even touching on James and Mary's story and how freaking sad that is.
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07.29.2009 - 15:42 | Cyborcat
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12.24.2009 - 23:11 | thatkidwiththepimples
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01.31.2010 - 12:31 | valmont
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I absolutely love the Silent Hill series. Silent Hill 2 is the only game I own of the series. I don't play it often because it is one of the more scarier games that I have played. I still love the stories for each of the games (even though some people would disagree). It is a wonderful series of games and I love just researching the various bits of secrets within the games. Keep up the work.
I may have to say that Silent Hill 2 is my favorite because it was my first!
I didn't really trust Maria, as I played Silent hill 2 I felt like there was something wrong every time she was there.
I also like the ambient music in the game.