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There is an abundance ofendings availablefor players to try inSilent Hill 2, and Bloober Team faithfully remakes them but with a few changes to how they are actually earned. One of the core three endings toSilent Hill 2, In Water, can be obtained in players’ first playthrough, and those who wish to obtain the ending for their own playthrough, might want to follow the steps below to ensure they don’t miss out.
Silent Hill 2’s In Water ending has a few requirements to get it to trigger, so as always, it’s best to save frequently and make sure players are following the prerequisites required of them throughout theirSilent Hill 2playthrough to make sure the ending they desire is the one they end up with.
Spoilers ahead for Silent Hill 2
All Requirements for the In Water Ending In Silent Hill 2 Remake
There are a few core requirements that players should keep note of when it comes to obtaining the In Water ending forSilent Hill 2, all of which will be described in more detail below, but here’s what players should really look out for:
The Rust-Colored Egg door might not matter, but through testing it multiple times, it provided the In Water ending.
Keep Healing to a Minimum
When James becomes injured in a fight against the many monsters ofSilent Hill 2, players might be inclined to heal up. However, players should only heal in near-death situations, so avoid using the Syringes, as they will fully heal James. Instead,use the Health Drinksto only heal James for small amounts. James’ health is indicated by the pulsing red outlines on the corners of the screen, or the blood present on the back of his jacket. By not healing immediately, the game will register how James has less regard for his own safety and well-being.
Examine Angela’s Knife
After a cutscene with Angela in Apartment 109 of the Blue Creek Apartments section, James will be given Angela’s Knife. Once acquired, head into the Inventory with Tab/Options, and then head to the Personal Items section to press X/E to inspect the knife. This weapon heavily implies the desire to self-harm and commit suicide, so by having James constantly inspect it at random intervals, the game will register James’ desire to do himself harm. Later in the game, perhaps at the Lakeview Hotel section, the knife will now have blood stains on the tip of the blade. This will indicate further progress for the In Water ending.
Ignore Maria
After meeting up with Maria after the Bluecreek Apartments chapter, players might feel comfortable in having a new ally to lessen the scares. However, players should treat Maria more as a burden than anything else. Elect to ignore Maria when she talks to James, and try and stay away from her when exploring. It’s important to not let the monsters kill her, but don’t pay her much attention when she’s following, and definitely do not re-enter her room in the Brookhaven Hospital chapter and the Labyrinth chapter. Ignoring Maria showcases James’ inability to move on from Mary, and how he doesn’t desire anyone else.
Go Through the Rust-Colored Egg Door
While an unconfirmed requirement, this was a step that seemed essential in the multiple playthrough tests.
After defeating thetwo Pyramid Headsafter the Lakeview Hotel chapter, the now-deceased Pyramid Heads will hold two eggs. The one on the left holds the Scarlet Egg and the one on the right holds the Rust-Colored Egg. Players must pick them both up and place them into the doors, but they must enter into the Rust-Colored Egg door. While unconfirmed, it seems that entering the Rust-Colored Egg door represents the decay in James’ mental state, and ticks another box for the game to fulfill the In Water ending.
Now, simply head through the long corridor where Mary narrates, and either wait for the dialogue or skip it, it doesn’t matter, and thendefeat the final bossofSilent Hill 2to obtain this ending.
In Water Ending, Explained
Most consider the In Water ending ofSilent Hill 2to be the bad ending to the game due to the fact that James kills himself. The reckless nature of the requirements in which players fail to examine the photo of Mary and her letter, while also leaving their health to a lowered state, shows that James doesn’t seem to care all that much about his own personal well-being, or anything for that matter.
The In Water ending shows James lamenting over murdering Mary from the driver’s seat of his car. Racked with guilt and unable to forgive himself, James falls deep into a dark depression that ends in his suicide. James drives his car into Toluca Lake, taking his own life because he could not live without Mary, nor the guilt for taking her out of this world.
As James’ body descends into the cold and wet abyss of Toluca Lake, Mary’s letter is read aloud, narrated to the player to share Mary’s last words to James before her death, and how she forgives him and will always love him. Through James’ desire to not live without Mary, he never sees the contents of that letter, and it falls into Toluca Lake with him. It’s also worth noting that Mary’s corpse is in the back of James’ car so that by driving into Toluca Lake, he is reunited with Mary in death as both of their bodies will be in the depths.
