One of the most lasting theories surroundingSilent Hill 2is that James is stuck on an endless loop of purgatory and torment. This is a theory that has been around for years, but it’s also one that has recently gained more traction thanks to Bloober Team’s remake ofSilent Hill 2providing further evidence to support such a fascinating theory.
Silent Hill is a mysterious place where guilt eats away at victims and perpetrators alike, so it wouldn’t be too wild a stretch to imagineSilent Hill 2as an infinite time loop of punishment. Bloober Team’sSilent Hill 2features a few things that could just prove that this is all an endless loop.
7Glimpses of the Past Prove James Has Been Here Before
Callbacks to the Original Silent Hill 2 Showcase Completed Puzzles and Old Locations
One of the most fascinating additions to Bloober Team’sSilent Hill 2remake is the Glimpses of the Past collectibles. These Glimpses of the Past are included as a collectible trophy, but they could actually harbor much deeper lore understandings past the added nostalgia. The purpose of Glimpses of the Past is to show modern players how the game looked in 2001’s original with respectful homages.
Glimpses of the Past provide just that, a glimpse into the past. Whether it’sshowcasing old puzzles, old props, or even an old environment. There’s something deeper about the Glimpses of the Past, and perhaps they are alluding to something that’s already happened, perhaps a previously completed loop by a previous James?
6The Bodies Around Silent Hill Are James
Scattered Corpses Wear James' Clothes
When James fights his first monster and enters the East Side of South Vale, he discovers a few mutilated and bloody corpses that have a striking resemblance to James in terms of his hairstyle and his clothing. It’s the same jacket, jeans, and boots, and it begs the question of whether this is just a part of James’manifested guilt, or something more.
Could the bodies scattered around Silent Hill be that of James’ past selves? Those who failed to complete the loop and have been left for dead? Past reminders of James’ failures and own inadequacies could further highlight his guilt and punishment.
5An Old Map Shows an Older Silent Hill
Discovering an Old Map Provides a Nostalgic Look Into the Past
One of the more convincing arguments thatSilent Hill 2(2024) is a sequel toSilent Hill 2(2001) with a loop theory comes from one of the many memos that can be found in the game. One in particular is found in the East Side of South Vale, down on Saul Street. The memo is of an Old Map, but it’s not the modern map that players themselves have. Instead, it’s one from the past.
The Old Map is the same as it was inSilent Hill 2(2001), complete with a set of notes and scribblings indicatingwhere this James was heading next. This isn’t even the only instance of old notes finding their way into the possession of modern James, as some notes act as warnings and hints, perhaps written by previous versions of James.
4Every Ending is Canon
Masahiro Ito States That All of the Endings Are Canon
One of the most important figures behindSilent Hill 2is Masahiro Ito, who is active on X (Formerly Twitter) to this day, and has been credited for the artwork and designs of some of the most iconic monsters in the Silent Hill franchise. In one particular tweet, Ito states “All of the endings are canon.” Could this just mean that every fan has their own canon ending, or does it mean something else?
Perhaps what Masahiro Ito is referring to is that after every ending, the loop resets itself. One loop could end with ‘In Water’ whereas another could end with ‘Rebirth’ oreven ‘UFO’. If all of the endings are canon toSilent Hill 2, then surely that means James has been through the town multiple times in New Game Plus and beyond?
3Maria’s Déjà vu
Maria Relives Previous Events
When one has Déjà vu, it means that they feel like they have lived through what they are currently experiencing before. It’s a phenomenon present in The Matrix, and one that seems to be frequent in theSilent Hill 2remake, more specifically, withthis version of Maria. It’s no secret that Maria isn’t real and is just a part of James’ delusions, but it goes deeper than that.
Maria will comment if players ventureclose to Baldwin Mansion, and she will even see familiarity with an old outfit from the originalSilent Hill 2at Jacks Inn. On top of that, Maria expresses a familiar distaste for bowling at Pete’s Bowl-O-Rama and Déjà vu where Heaven’s Night used to be prior to the “remake”.
2James Forgets His Guilt
James' Repeating Cycle Stems From His Lack of Guilt
A frequent story thread inSilent Hill 2is how James has no memory of his guilt, and deep down his subconscious is trying to tell him about what he has done.The monsters he fights are strong, but once James knows what he did to his wife, they become weak and powerless against him. Yet, it seems James’ intentional amnesia is doomed to repeat.
In the Brookhaven Hospital, there is a poster on the wall that speaks of trauma and guilt, however, when James inspects the poster himself, the word “guilt” is mysteriously missing. Perhaps James is constantly repeating this hell of Silent Hill due to his failure to recognize his misdeed, and amnesia swallows him into a repeating cycle.
The Red Pyramid Head, AKA Pyramid Head, has an outfit reminiscent of Silent Hill’s executioners for prisoners sentenced to death. Pyramid Head manifests in Silent Hill for James’ eyes only, and will constantly keep him on the right path to ensure he follows the script that has been established for him.
Pyramid Head will chase James in the right direction, or even throw him into the rooms that he needs to go. Pyramid Head is James’ eternal punisher, and so he knows how this is supposed to go. However, one instant completely stands out, and that’s in the Wood Side Apartments when James shoots Pyramid Head.Pyramid Head’s reactionis almost one of mockery for even attempting to shoot him, whereas in the original, Pyramid Head is stunned at the shots. Perhaps the remake’s reaction is based on how he’s so used to being shot in the head from James’ cycle.
