Silent Hills 2 is, without a doubt, among the best and classic games of the horror genre. One big factor contributing to its success is the monsters, as they have more to them than meets they eyes. Let’s take a deeper look at the Silent Hills 2 monsters!
Silent Hills 2 monsters: Personal demons are the scariest!
When James Sunderland, the main protagonist, arrives at Silent Hills, he found strange creatures roaming the streets. At first glance, they seem just like monstrosities we have to avoid or take down like in other games. However, there’s more to them. They do not resemble other monsters from any work of horror. Masahiro Ito, the designer, said that the team purposely designed the monsters to look like human from far, with the added strange postures and body angles. This serves to make a connection to players on a subconscious level as well. The game has succeeded in that aspect.
The monsters are are inspired by Francis Bacon’s art. What makes them so unique is that they tie in closely with the story. They represent the inner demons of the main character. For example, Lying Figures – faceless people wearing jackets of their own flesh, screaming in agony – represent Sunderland’s inner suffering. Another, Mannequins – feminine torsos with slender legs attached to them – represent his sexual frustration. The most notable is the Pyramid Head, which has become a trademark of the series. Pointy edges which suggest pain, on a human body, represent the protagonist’s desire for punishment – it makes perfect sense when you reach a point in the story.
Another thing that makes these creatures unforgettable is that they’re unique only to Sunderland. Interactions with other NPCs have hinted that they saw creatures too, but in different shapes, depending on their inner issues. At the start, we all sympathize with James Sunderland, because of his circumstances. However, the final act has made it clear that he had to come to Silent Hills to face his judgement for what he did, something he tried his best to hide and forget about. That is truly a masterpiece in story telling.
Silent Hills 2 monsters: A legacy unforgotten!
Silent Hills 2 has a deep and complex story that is unfortunately missing from games nowadays, especially in the horror genre. Everything has a purpose, and is linked closely to the story. Just by using common themes, it managed to shake your heart deeply, such as sex and death. We think about them everyday. Sometimes, he scariest monsters are inside our heads. The game has left such a mark on the horror genre, its legacy is too great that even now producers are trying to replicate the same success. It is a pity that Team Silent, the developer, has disbanded, so we may never get another story like that.