Replay value in games comes in all shapes and sizes. For theSilent Hillseries, Konami likes to add a lot of endings to their games.Silent Hill 2, for example, has six endingsin the original game which Bloober Team kept in the remake albeit tweaked a bit. They also added two new endings for players to enjoy.
Getting to these endings requires a lot of hoops to jump through and the basic information will be highlighted. However, this isn’t a guide as this list will instead go through and rank the effectiveness of all eight endings in the remake ofSilent Hill 2. There will, of course, be spoilers.
Spoilers ahead for Silent Hill 2
8UFO
James Was A Clone to PS2 James?
UFO endings have become traditional in the Silent Hill series and they are usually poorly made on purpose. In this ending, James summons a UFO with a stone, and then things turn into a green-tinted silent movie with stilled frames. James sees another version of himself descend from the spaceship who addresses himself as Space James and the real James overall. The Earth James was a clone all along and now Space James, along with astereotypical alien creature, invites James back to space. It’s weird for sure and not without entertainment but it’s one of those things that would have been nice to see being made better for this remake.
7Stillness
James Has An Extra Passenger
Stillness is the name of this ending and it’s pretty simple and yet terrifying. James is sitting in his car at the same rest stop where players will begin the game. He’s talking to Mary who then starts to talk back. Then her hands appear in the frame and throughout the ending, other pieces of Mary can be seen but her face is hidden throughout. First-time players probably expecta jump scareto happen at this point but nothing nefarious ever happens. James is just delusional, talking to his wife in his car and then that’s it.
6In Water
James Drives Himself and Mary’s Body Into Toluca Lake
In Water is similar to Stillness but players can be happier with this resolution. It should be called Acceptance because the ending starts with James talking in his car to Mary but then he admits she isn’t there. He questions it, looking at the back of his car, again, prepping players for a jump scare.
It doesn’t happen again though and as rain starts to pour, things go black and then the lake is shown as a letter blissfully glides down a shaft of light. Mary reads her own letter, revealing that James knew all along she was dead. It’s a bittersweet ending but beautiful in its simplicity nonetheless.
5Bliss
Home Movies With A Sense Of Dread
Bliss can be interpreted in several ways. It begins with James walking into a room popping in a tape into a VCR. This dates the game significantlyto the late 90sor early 2000s. He watches himself film Mary as they are about to go home. As things are wrapping up, James gives a weird look into the camera, dismissing Mary’s concerns that something is wrong. The tape stops and then things zoom out to the room where James has now disappeared. Maybe it’s implied James never left his home after picking up Mary and this was all a ruse. Or perhaps that smile he gives into the camera is James admitting he is going to kill Mary once they get home. It is hard to say.
4Dog
Oh, It Was A Dog All Along
The Dog ending is silly just like the UFO ending. However, because there was effort put into the production, it’s a great ending. James will walk into a control room and ask that the person in the chair reveal themselves. When they do, it turns out a dog was controlling Silent Hill all along. James drops to his knees, unsure of how to continue. Instead of being malicious, the dog just walks over to James and licks him and then that’s it. Look.Silent Hill 2is one of the most oppressive andatmospheric horror gamesto ever be released. Players deserve some levity with this bizarre ending.
3Maria
Sacrificing One Love For Another
Maria is kind of a positive ending depending on how players look at it. It begins with James confronting a physical manifestation of Mary who is bitter at him for letting her die. She then transforms into a monster, a boss battle ensues, and then players have to finish her off one last time. Thanks to her death, James can go back and save Maria.
He’s now let go of Mary and is willing to move on with a new girl. On their way back to his car, Maria starts coughing and James tells her she should get that looked at. Could Maria becontracting a virusthat eventually led to Mary’s sickness? There’s a lot to unpack here but it does betray James a bit to go back with Maria even if it’s good he lets Mary go mentally.
2Rebirth
Summoning The Old Gods
Rebirth begins with a similar scene to Maria, but there is a twist. James tells this “Mary” that he knows she is Maria. She was trying to tempt him into being unfaithful or to sell his soul somewhat. Maria admits it and then the same boss battle begins. Afterward, James rows into the middle of the lake, talking to Maryabout old godsand the ability to bring her back. It could be inferred that James killed Maria, brought her body into the boat, and then planned to sacrifice her to some old gods to bring Mary back to life. It’s a bit twisted on James’ part since he still hasn’t been able to let go of the idea of Mary, but it is interesting to see him row out into the darkness.
1Leave
James Leaves Silent Hill with Laura
Leave is an ending that puts all the pieces together. James confronts Mary’s death in two brutal ways. First, through a series of boss fights, and second, by seeing Mary in a sickened state. It also ties things back to Laura, the little girl, whose story is kind of left on a cliffhanger if players don’t get this ending.
All in all, this is what many consider to be the true ending. It’s not a happy ending by any stretch by it will be cathartic for players to experience. As the game was built in a vacuum though, there will never be a real “true” ending unless Konami or Bloober Team ever gets around to doing the Square Enix thing by makingSilent Hill 2-2.
