For 23 years, Silent Hill 2 fans have speculated that James Sunderland is trapped in the town, reliving the events of the game over and over again as punishment for killing his wife. Well, as confirmed by creative director Mateusz Lenart, one fan has finally proven this theory true, as the newly added Strange Photos spell out, “YOUVE BEEN HERE FOR TWO DECADES”.
They figured this out by counting the number of ‘things’ in each photo, such as windows, birds, lipsticks, etc., and then using that number to find a letter from each corresponding note.
There was plenty of evidence in the original, but the remake has more obvious hints such as the “Glimpses of the Past”. They show puzzles, paths, and props from the 2001 game, but their signifance to James clearly goes beyond mere Easter Egg, as he mentions throughout that he has a strange sense of deja vu.
The bodies found throughout both the original and the remake also bear a striking resemblance to James, alluding to failed loops where he died before ever reaching the end. That’s not to mention that in the Rebirth ending, he cuts Maria off, knowing what’s about to happen because he has gone through this rigmarole already (further evidenced by the fact you can only do this in NG+).
That Means Silent Hill 2 Remake Is A Sequel
We can gather through the Glimpses to the Past, old Silent Hill 2 map, broken puzzle pieces, corpses that look like James, and even Maria’s original outfit, that the remake is actually a sequel to the original.
We also discover in the fourth game that Frank Sunderland’s “son and daughter-in-law disappeared in Silent Hill”.
We don’t know what ending is ‘canon’, but going by the fact that the old endings reappear in the remake, it’s likely that they all were (at least, the serious ones). No matter what James does, he wakes up in Silent Hill and lives out this nightmare all over again.
With the Strange Photos confirming that James has been here for two decades, it even confirms another fan theory — Silent Hill 2 remake takes place after Silent Hill 3, technically.
Twitter user @DeadheadJackal speculated that the easter egg in Room 106 from Jack’s Inn (Douglas’ hat and the Halo of the Sun sigil) are more than just a callback, they’re evidence that James has been trapped in the loop for so long that Heather Mason went through the events of the third game long ago.
Whether he actually escapes at the end of the remake at long last is another question, but going by the original game which likewise had the Leave ending, I’d say it’s unlikely.
Investigating a letter from his late wife, James returns to where they made so many memories – Silent Hill. What he finds is a ghost town, prowled by disturbing monsters and cloaked in deep fog. Confront the monsters, solve puzzles, and search for traces of your wife in this remake of SILENT HILL 2.
High-end Graphics and Sound
With ray tracing and other cutting-edge technical enhancements, the world of SILENT HILL and its unsettling ambiance is even realer than before.And with the inclusion of new, immersive soundscapes, you’ll feel like you’re standing in the thick of it.
Larger Environments
Explore locations and buildings that were once inaccessible, or are newly added in the remake. Enjoy the same acclaimed story, even while you experience the town of Silent Hill with fresh eyes across an expanded map.
Over-the-shoulder Camera
The remake moves from the original’s fixed-camera viewpoints to an over-the-shoulder perspective, putting you closer to what James sees, for a more thrilling, more immersive experience as you explore the town and come face-to-face with monsters.
Evolved Combat Gameplay
Familiar weapons like the steel pipe and handgun make their return, but now with an updated combat system. Avoid attacks with carefully timed dodges, aim down sights, and more, making monster encounters more engaging and nerve-wracking than ever.