UPDATE AS OF 6/22/24 !!! I was forced to trim out the CURE section of this video in order to appease youtube's copyright system and allow the video to continue being seen. this section discussed the film Cure (1997) and its relation to Silent Hill 2. It was originally placed right in-between the Purgatory and Hell sections of the video. Thanks for watching!
Mary's letter at the end breaks my heart everytime, especially when she says "James, you made me happy." It touches on one of the scariest ideas in the game: that you could find pure love and fulfillment and assume that it'll be with you your whole life, only to have it not only taken away, but twisted into something ugly and miserable first.
i just wanna say i love how the pyramid shape is colored in. a lot of the time its just this greyish colored thing but so often people forget it was red and pyramids names is officially "Red Pyramid Thing"
It feels like some kind of sick cosmic joke that I became obsessed with Silent Hill as a kid, and then as an adult in the real world, I went through something very similar with my late mother who was terminally ill. When you're the caretaker of a loved one who's sick (or even if you're not their main caretaker you're just witnessing their deterioration), it can genuinely poison your mind. You wish so intensely for their suffering to end, but then you question if that is essentially the same thing as wishing for them to die? The monologues from Mary sound eerily similar to the messages my mother would leave on my phone before she passed. It's insane how relatable Silent Hill is despite it being so otherworldly. This game has me in a chokehold, and I don't think I'll ever get over it.
The amount of work you put into these videos never ceases to amaze me. You do a really good job of setting the appropriate tone and using it to further get your point across. Fantastic work, brother.
What scares me about this concept as someone with deep trauma, is knowing if you are just living in the misery and letting it consume you, or if there are things you cannot change and you need to accept that to heal. At times I just cant tell if im really healing or not and the idea that I may be making a mistake and failing to heal, and just am stuck in my own misery truly terrifies me. And it is so terrifying in part cause its one of those things that feels almost impossible to be certain on. So i just end up scared.
I believe the "good ending" is the one where James leaves with Laura. I always got the feeling this meant that he was going to adopt and take care of her, fulfilling Mary's wish.
I loved absorbing this beautiful demonstration of a heart of a game, scrolling down while awash in your deftly curated vibes, and seeing "KuuEater: SILENT HILL 2 - i hate it when women die". Got it in one.
The reason why Silent Hill 2 it became a classic is because eventually people began to see how unique, eerie, melancholic and authentic the game's atmosphere it really is, and took the time to enjoy its deeply thoughtful narrative and symbolism. To this day it’s by far one of, if not the most mature examination of grief, sexual trauma, suicide, and morality all combined. It’s an intelligent game that does not hold anyone’s hand and comes at the player with utmost confidence in itself. It’s fantastic stuff. The rest of the original 4 are great in their own right and have their own well written stories, but they don’t hold the same emotional weight to them. I think SH2’s maturity by comparison is something that a lot of people are drawn to. ☯️
I emulated this game while I was I college a few years ago. The way how everyone has their own "little private traps" in their own Silent Hills is really interesting and how isolated trauma can make you feel. An empty town with all your demons, its scary but for those in it, it's strangely comforting because it's all they've ever known. It makes me wonder what did Mary see in Silent Hill considering how much in 2 its based off of your psyche. I got the "In Water" ending on my first playthrough (cried btw) and hearing how you compared the recklessness of James with the player being negligent of their health bar/items really blew my mind! And it really shows how Team Silent nailed this games themes down to the gameplay itself! (Which is also why I'm terribly worried about the remake) Great video Kuu!
as someone else with trauma, it's so great to hear another person that can view the game this way as well. your video is great and it's so easy to understand and relate to all three characters in the game, flawed or not. you rock for making this
Funny enough, when Maria lashed out at us was the only time I found her not to be just terrifying. I don't know why but her facial expressions always terrified me.
What an absolute brilliant video! This is the kind of video essays I love watching where you give a quick synopsis, highlight the atmosphere, and then jump into analyzing the game rather than retelling the whole story and give a breakdown. The chills I got where Mary says "go on with your life" and then the music kicks in! You did an amazing job!
You've done a fantastic job. As someone who has dabbled in a variety of horror games, and lives with their own and others' traumas they've grappled with for years, the care and elaboration on the themes of SH2 touches home for me. Guilt, shame, and fear are all powerful emotions that drive us to places we feel are unavoidable. Choosing to remain in the prison we make for ourselves is all too easy to do, especially when it's so hard to talk to others in earnest, perhaps now moreso than ever. Being able to leave someplace like that, as the option that is made clearest to the most people in a situation like what you're prompted with in James' scenario, is perhaps a testament to hope, or maybe even teaching to the player. To accept, and to move on, knowing those scars will never fully fade, is the hardest trial of all for those of us living in the hazy and unrelenting world that we're made to believe is the only one that was meant for us.
I always feel so roasted when people say you need to be deliberately low on health for the In Water ending... Because like... I was just bad at playing it, man. If you suck at the game you only need to inspect the knife once and boom, you're doomed.
Silent Hill II should have a second part. Brilliant analysis in this video. I do have some theories about Silent Hill II however, I still need to type them up. This game is not "just a game", it's a way of life and state of mind. I've introduced SHII to some of my psychology professors and they were fascinated about all of the concepts, imagery, and all of the symbolisms that SHII contains. It's a perfect game to play on a foggy Saturday night to say the least. However, James Sunderland is still a Certified FartFace!
hey guys!!!! big update: i recently launched a patreon for these exact types of videos. it's on a per-video basis since I don't normally release videos monthly, so please consider supporting me there. thanks!!! ⭐ www.patreon.com/shinigamieater
Here's a secret: Team Silent researched on kids' night terrors at different elementary schools in the Central Valley, in California, one being Madera. As for this video, it's makes you think. I like SH videos that do that. Everytime now, I believe Mary Shepard-Sunderland was from a family of Native/European pagans. To me, she was a blood relative to, say, Jennifer Carroll--the first so-call demon or witch by The Order, what would become The Order in she day long, long ago. She is the one who brought the fog and the supernatural terrors to Silent Hill in the first place, not Alessa Gillespie, when it was a village. All of this stuff was there in the first game, for example. not said, but shown. That is how Silent Hill franchise became what it is today. But, it's a shame that that later SH games were meh to me and countless others. As for myself, I'm supervising over a new SH dev team for Sony as creative director. We are working on a new-age SH videogame. It's still in early development. It will be a totally different story with a new main character with ties to a few SH characters. One being Harry Mason. Okay. You play as Harry Mason is younger, half-brother name Alan Jasso who one weekend goes on a sightseeing trip alone and happens to end up in Silent Hill where his childhood nightmares come to life before his very eyes. This is how the game starts after you stroll through Silent Hill Veteran Cemetery area, looking for a gas station to buy gas for your car that happens to run out of gas on the outskirts.
You have a truly incredible skill for video essays. The amount of emotions you evoke in me in both this and your Bloodborne video through your choices of visuals, editing, soundtrack, and narration is genuinely astounding
still adore this essay, EXTREMELY GOOD. Love the connections to Cure too (FANTASTIC CHOICE TO INCLUDE *THAT* SCENE TOO. One of my favorite depictions of absolute despair on film, total silence that screams louder than any voice. A+)
this was probably the greatest Silent Hill 2 video I've ever watched, the explanation and the way the game made you feel, my god, you provided so much information, it feels like I just replayed the game, thank you for making me feel so much & revisiting one of the greatest games ever made
@ 03:05 I disagree. Maria is NOT Mary. Maria is what James wanted Mary to be, or a temptation. Maria is a construct of James' psyche. The picture James carries is the idealized version of Mary, the one with no flaws. Maria is what James wanted. Mary in reality was somewhere in between. The real Mary was probably more like "In the Water" ending, or "the leave" ending. Also, like the conversation that leads up to the final area. => A normal person who is flawed, and is willing to forgive after having a fight. As the player, you control James' intention, as well as his physical movements.
Maria is the main villain of the game. On the surface Pyramid Head is James’ villain and Maria is James’s main ally. The truth is Pyramid Head helped James push him to face the reality of why he is here and Maria deludes James into running away from the reality of what he has done.
this video was wonderful, thank you for your hard work with such a wonderful series. Seeing the footage of "cure" really shook me to my core after being away from it so long. thanks for including my favorite sceene!. also as a super big fan of this game i personally love seeing the "in water" ending as the true ending. the reason why i love this one the most is that it feels the most "final" the way he talks about not caring about his own safety when angela first warns him, his reaction to first losing maria after the elevator scene, and the fact he never tries to leave even after hes been in danger the whole time. It just felt right.
I tell you, I've seen a LOT of videos on Silent Hill 2. But this one isn honestly one of the best ones I've seen. Seeing you really get into the minutae of the world, actually defending the voice acting (I had no idea Donna Burke was an opera singer -- learning something new is always a positive!), mentioning CURE instead of Jacob's Ladder, and even defending the Leave ending.... you kinda blew me away! You earned a sub from me, man!
as an "in water" enjoyer, i've never once had the thought you brought up about the "leave" ending. i can't believe it never crossed my mind that it's perhaps the intended canon ending from team silent themself. this really gave me something to think about, thank you. i'm a huge SH fan, i connected so much to angela and her struggle, so i always just assumed it'd make sense since she and eddie both ended up that way for james to as well. but now that i've seen this video and heard your take, maybe that was too defeatist of me? too pessimistic? either way, i think you're really onto something here.
I’ve punished myself for so long like James does and I feel genuine unbearable guilt about what I’ve done to others everyday as well as my own traumas and suffering. Idk if I can change or grow as a person but I’m not going to end it since I choose to live even after all the pain and suffering I’ve endured and seen not only my own but also the pain and suffering so many people deal with everyday. I think all we can do as people is choose to live despite all of our suffering and pain, but for me it’s since that makes me feel comforted and keeps me moving forward, and do what we can to move forward from it and do our best if possible to make peace with what we can’t. And this is coming from a man who has suffered for a VERY long time I know what it’s like it haunts me everyday. God bless everyone who is suffering and may peace walk with you always. Also thank you shingami you probably just saved my life tonight you are the best buddy 🫂
Rebirth is equally canon to the 3 first-run endings and SH4 and Born from a Wish comment on it. We have no idea which concussion Team Silent liked best and only know that James and his wife disappeared a few years ago due to SH4. Meaning that no one ever found out that Mary is even dead.
I’m pretty sure people know Mary is dead, the hospital staff most likely definitely reported Mary and James missing after Mary’s theorised death date. She didn’t have long left, a few weeks or maybe a few days. She was terminally ill and bedridden in James’ care.
Your videos really need more views. They are incredible. It is very clear that this game means a great deal to you. I liked listening to you explain why.
just got your bloodborne vid in my reccomended again, i HAD to check if you had uploaded and ive never been more grateful. i love your content, hope you're in good health.
This video is spectacular and one of the best examples of what a video essay can be. I've always wanted to check out Silent Hill 2, but I feel that after hearing you speak about it with such passion that it's something I will definitely do. Really looking forward to what you do next!
Amazing video!!! I pregamed this one by rewatching your Bloodborne essay and I gleefully admit they both got me tearfully emotional. Your scripting and line delivery is perfect, and I'm pretty sure I laughed at every last joke you made too.
This was the greatest silent hill 2 video I have seen, the in depth explanations mixed with the amazing visuals made this a throughly enjoyable experience that has shook me to my core and deepened my knowledge, thank you
I found your channel when you're bloodborne essay released it's my favorite game of all time. I recently did a playthrough of Silent Hill 2 just before this vid released and I have to say, the moment I finished it I knew it was next to bloodborne. The timing is kind of fucking crazy.
Went to rewatch the bloodborne video today and was hyped to see another video essay! you're so freaking good at theese, I LOVE the sound design, your use of music and voice is so damn good.
wow. Incredible job on this one, the editing was phenomenal and the emotional impact was devastating. The progression and pacing were really effective too. You outdid yourself dude ! Showin this to my video essay friends
Even though the Remake was great. The original voice actors and direction of the game, managed to be so very human and raw. They even kept the little lip smacks because those takes were the most natural and real... It's one of the most heart-wrenching performances I've ever seen in a game. And no matter how much time passes, it never ceases to be disturbing on such a visceral level.
Towards the beginning of the game we encounter a person death in front of a TV that makes question what happened. And towards the end of the game we sit down in front of a TV that reveals to us the truth.
I binged watched all of your video essays and i must say you got a charm hard to beat. I feel it’s on par w Maxxor, and both channels are great in their own right. His is more bombastic and stylistic brainrot, but your videos are more intimate and emotional. Thank you for trying these video essay formats, your humor, voice, added inputs like the Cure movie, and pacing really feels as good as playing the games for the first time. 👏
awesome video, I adored this, a very great comprehensive rundown of a game that has so much to offer even now. I love the general mood and comedic timing as well. fantastic stuff
You are an exceptional writer and editor. This game and Bloodborne clearly have had such an incredible on you it's palpable. Wonderful work, thank you for sharing 👍
this video brought a perspective to this game i hadnt heard yet, something very personal about the overall message. your videos rock man ty for making them
Yeah I played Silent Hill for the first time I got In Water and definitely considered it 'my canon ending' at the time. Now over 20 years later, Leave resonates with me the most.
I played this game recently, and my god, it has not left me. It is absolutely one of the most important games ever made for the themes it handles alone
Bro u put so much quality In these videos and it's amazing thank you for making these bro I will always watch ur videos please keep making these and please make a discord
Truly incredible work. Been looking forward to your next project ever since the Bloodborne video. Your editing, tone, and analysis was incredible. Amazing work.
I personally think the dog ending is the most canon. Like Silent Hill, SH2 is the story of the revenge from the dog Eddie killed. It’s like Silent Hill but from doge perspective
I've been SAYING for FOREVER that their voices are meant to sound off, they don't NEED better voice acting, they are meant to be weird and off putting because that's what makes their character
This game is great because it shows the real power of the town, a place of tortured souls, a concept that we saw at The Others. These characters are like Lisa on SH1, they are trapped in this town forever, because they took their own lives. SH4 could do the same, but the ritual and all that, removing the fear of this, would be better if Walter returned like Freddy Krueger by the power of the town. PH most likely is the perception of James about doctors; there is a key to this since on the table of PH there are abortion instruments. For James, the doctors tortured his wife with pointless treatments, and this led to her fate. This explained why PH attacked Maria over and over. The doctors were just butchers for James, and with a narrow point of view, which explained the helmet, he couldn't talk to them. The doctors also lead him into the truth, which is crazy, but this is almost like a subtitle or a twisted version of the real world. A fear of doctors is also a common situation; in the movie Jacob's Ladder, he saw the doctors as monsters.
So this PH isn'´t the same of Homecoming, the one of Homecoming is more like a god, which is ironic since the plot of Homecoming is very similar to Hereditary, even one of the endings of the game matched the movie, when Alex was turned in a god, a PH. Why Alex see PH? according with the ideas of SHV, Elle was gonna be Laura, this will create a very bizarre feeling that PH and Laura has a link in a sort of way, and this sort of true, because in the apartments James saw PH, and also Laura, both were a topic of a hospital, since Laura met Mary there. But also the last name of Alex is the same of Mary, this will put Laura as a very important character of the town. While "Leave ending" could be the one, Frank Sunderland, father of James confirmed on SH4 that James and his wife are missing, that means even on "Leave", James isn't any longer in the world of living, only Laura will exit the town, not James.
you know a man has issues when he goes to a town looking for his wife that he killed HIMSELF 3 YEARS AGO!!! Dude. you know you killed her and you think she is still ALIVE??? WTF?
UPDATE AS OF 6/22/24 !!!
I was forced to trim out the CURE section of this video in order to appease youtube's copyright system and allow the video to continue being seen. this section discussed the film Cure (1997) and its relation to Silent Hill 2. It was originally placed right in-between the Purgatory and Hell sections of the video.
Thanks for watching!
is there any way we can see the trimmed sections? you mentioned you had patreon so i should check there but i'll still post this just to make sure!
Can’t you make it unlisted and post the link to it in the description of comments?
Mary's letter at the end breaks my heart everytime, especially when she says "James, you made me happy." It touches on one of the scariest ideas in the game: that you could find pure love and fulfillment and assume that it'll be with you your whole life, only to have it not only taken away, but twisted into something ugly and miserable first.
i just wanna say i love how the pyramid shape is colored in. a lot of the time its just this greyish colored thing but so often people forget it was red and pyramids names is officially "Red Pyramid Thing"
10:21 I always thought the abstract daddy looked like one person pinning another one down on a bed
It feels like some kind of sick cosmic joke that I became obsessed with Silent Hill as a kid, and then as an adult in the real world, I went through something very similar with my late mother who was terminally ill. When you're the caretaker of a loved one who's sick (or even if you're not their main caretaker you're just witnessing their deterioration), it can genuinely poison your mind. You wish so intensely for their suffering to end, but then you question if that is essentially the same thing as wishing for them to die? The monologues from Mary sound eerily similar to the messages my mother would leave on my phone before she passed. It's insane how relatable Silent Hill is despite it being so otherworldly. This game has me in a chokehold, and I don't think I'll ever get over it.
"James, if that we true, then why do you look so sad?"
Oh god
Best game ever made. Every time I pick up a guitar, theme of Laura gets played at least once lol
The amount of work you put into these videos never ceases to amaze me. You do a really good job of setting the appropriate tone and using it to further get your point across. Fantastic work, brother.
What scares me about this concept as someone with deep trauma, is knowing if you are just living in the misery and letting it consume you, or if there are things you cannot change and you need to accept that to heal.
At times I just cant tell if im really healing or not and the idea that I may be making a mistake and failing to heal, and just am stuck in my own misery truly terrifies me. And it is so terrifying in part cause its one of those things that feels almost impossible to be certain on. So i just end up scared.
I think our traumas will always be with us and wr just have to learn to accept them and move on
Wow, that was relatable. I’m not sure it ever ends but that’s how it feels when you’re in the middle of it I guess
Have I touched bottom yet?
What if I have?
What if I haven't yet?
Sometimes when there's no one left to forgive you, it's up to you to forgive yourself. Same goes with healing. 🤷♂️
I believe the "good ending" is the one where James leaves with Laura. I always got the feeling this meant that he was going to adopt and take care of her, fulfilling Mary's wish.
That whole “look James, I’m real” prison scene was honestly such a Masterclass. 20 years later and it’s still so beautiful and unnerving.
I loved absorbing this beautiful demonstration of a heart of a game, scrolling down while awash in your deftly curated vibes, and seeing "KuuEater: SILENT HILL 2 - i hate it when women die". Got it in one.
I felt so bad for the characters each person was a victim of something and such a sad story about how each person handles there pain
The reason why Silent Hill 2 it became a classic is because eventually people began to see how unique, eerie, melancholic and authentic the game's atmosphere it really is, and took the time to enjoy its deeply thoughtful narrative and symbolism. To this day it’s by far one of, if not the most mature examination of grief, sexual trauma, suicide, and morality all combined. It’s an intelligent game that does not hold anyone’s hand and comes at the player with utmost confidence in itself. It’s fantastic stuff. The rest of the original 4 are great in their own right and have their own well written stories, but they don’t hold the same emotional weight to them. I think SH2’s maturity by comparison is something that a lot of people are drawn to. ☯️
I emulated this game while I was I college a few years ago. The way how everyone has their own "little private traps" in their own Silent Hills is really interesting and how isolated trauma can make you feel. An empty town with all your demons, its scary but for those in it, it's strangely comforting because it's all they've ever known. It makes me wonder what did Mary see in Silent Hill considering how much in 2 its based off of your psyche.
I got the "In Water" ending on my first playthrough (cried btw) and hearing how you compared the recklessness of James with the player being negligent of their health bar/items really blew my mind! And it really shows how Team Silent nailed this games themes down to the gameplay itself! (Which is also why I'm terribly worried about the remake)
Great video Kuu!
as someone else with trauma, it's so great to hear another person that can view the game this way as well. your video is great and it's so easy to understand and relate to all three characters in the game, flawed or not. you rock for making this
Funny enough, when Maria lashed out at us was the only time I found her not to be just terrifying. I don't know why but her facial expressions always terrified me.
What an absolute brilliant video! This is the kind of video essays I love watching where you give a quick synopsis, highlight the atmosphere, and then jump into analyzing the game rather than retelling the whole story and give a breakdown. The chills I got where Mary says "go on with your life" and then the music kicks in! You did an amazing job!
You've done a fantastic job. As someone who has dabbled in a variety of horror games, and lives with their own and others' traumas they've grappled with for years, the care and elaboration on the themes of SH2 touches home for me. Guilt, shame, and fear are all powerful emotions that drive us to places we feel are unavoidable. Choosing to remain in the prison we make for ourselves is all too easy to do, especially when it's so hard to talk to others in earnest, perhaps now moreso than ever. Being able to leave someplace like that, as the option that is made clearest to the most people in a situation like what you're prompted with in James' scenario, is perhaps a testament to hope, or maybe even teaching to the player. To accept, and to move on, knowing those scars will never fully fade, is the hardest trial of all for those of us living in the hazy and unrelenting world that we're made to believe is the only one that was meant for us.
I always feel so roasted when people say you need to be deliberately low on health for the In Water ending... Because like... I was just bad at playing it, man. If you suck at the game you only need to inspect the knife once and boom, you're doomed.
Silent Hill II should have a second part. Brilliant analysis in this video. I do have some theories about Silent Hill II however, I still need to type them up. This game is not "just a game", it's a way of life and state of mind. I've introduced SHII to some of my psychology professors and they were fascinated about all of the concepts, imagery, and all of the symbolisms that SHII contains. It's a perfect game to play on a foggy Saturday night to say the least. However, James Sunderland is still a Certified FartFace!
hey guys!!!! big update: i recently launched a patreon for these exact types of videos. it's on a per-video basis since I don't normally release videos monthly, so please consider supporting me there. thanks!!! ⭐ www.patreon.com/shinigamieater
Here's a secret: Team Silent researched on kids' night terrors at different elementary schools in the Central Valley, in California, one being Madera.
As for this video, it's makes you think. I like SH videos that do that.
Everytime now, I believe Mary Shepard-Sunderland was from a family of Native/European pagans. To me, she was a blood relative to, say, Jennifer Carroll--the first so-call demon or witch by The Order, what would become The Order in she day long, long ago. She is the one who brought the fog and the supernatural terrors to Silent Hill in the first place, not Alessa Gillespie, when it was a village. All of this stuff was there in the first game, for example. not said, but shown. That is how Silent Hill franchise became what it is today. But, it's a shame that that later SH games were meh to me and countless others. As for myself, I'm supervising over a new SH dev team for Sony as creative director. We are working on a new-age SH videogame. It's still in early development. It will be a totally different story with a new main character with ties to a few SH characters. One being Harry Mason. Okay. You play as Harry Mason is younger, half-brother name Alan Jasso who one weekend goes on a sightseeing trip alone and happens to end up in Silent Hill where his childhood nightmares come to life before his very eyes. This is how the game starts after you stroll through Silent Hill Veteran Cemetery area, looking for a gas station to buy gas for your car that happens to run out of gas on the outskirts.
You have a truly incredible skill for video essays. The amount of emotions you evoke in me in both this and your Bloodborne video through your choices of visuals, editing, soundtrack, and narration is genuinely astounding
still adore this essay, EXTREMELY GOOD. Love the connections to Cure too (FANTASTIC CHOICE TO INCLUDE *THAT* SCENE TOO. One of my favorite depictions of absolute despair on film, total silence that screams louder than any voice. A+)
this was probably the greatest Silent Hill 2 video I've ever watched, the explanation and the way the game made you feel, my god, you provided so much information, it feels like I just replayed the game, thank you for making me feel so much & revisiting one of the greatest games ever made
I only recently saw Cure and immediately recognized the influences it had on Silent Hill. Tremendous film
Yes, the game is a masterpiece!
Literally the most beautiful video on silent hill 2 ive ever seen,made me tear up
your speech at around 17:00 made me ugly cry, nice work. loved the video
@ 03:05
I disagree. Maria is NOT Mary. Maria is what James wanted Mary to be, or a temptation. Maria is a construct of James' psyche.
The picture James carries is the idealized version of Mary, the one with no flaws. Maria is what James wanted.
Mary in reality was somewhere in between. The real Mary was probably more like "In the Water" ending, or "the leave" ending. Also, like the conversation that leads up to the final area. => A normal person who is flawed, and is willing to forgive after having a fight.
As the player, you control James' intention, as well as his physical movements.
Maria is the main villain of the game.
On the surface Pyramid Head is James’ villain and Maria is James’s main ally. The truth is Pyramid Head helped James push him to face the reality of why he is here and Maria deludes James into running away from the reality of what he has done.
this video was wonderful, thank you for your hard work with such a wonderful series. Seeing the footage of "cure" really shook me to my core after being away from it so long. thanks for including my favorite sceene!. also as a super big fan of this game i personally love seeing the "in water" ending as the true ending. the reason why i love this one the most is that it feels the most "final" the way he talks about not caring about his own safety when angela first warns him, his reaction to first losing maria after the elevator scene, and the fact he never tries to leave even after hes been in danger the whole time. It just felt right.
God dammit this was a good video. Making something that adds to all the SH2 content, and doing it in such a fucking beautiful way.
I tell you, I've seen a LOT of videos on Silent Hill 2. But this one isn honestly one of the best ones I've seen. Seeing you really get into the minutae of the world, actually defending the voice acting (I had no idea Donna Burke was an opera singer -- learning something new is always a positive!), mentioning CURE instead of Jacob's Ladder, and even defending the Leave ending.... you kinda blew me away! You earned a sub from me, man!
I love the way you edit these videos and the topics you choose to focus on
Holy hell, you knocked it out of the park with this one! Your essay videos are the true hiddem gems of TH-cam in my eyes.
as an "in water" enjoyer, i've never once had the thought you brought up about the "leave" ending. i can't believe it never crossed my mind that it's perhaps the intended canon ending from team silent themself. this really gave me something to think about, thank you.
i'm a huge SH fan, i connected so much to angela and her struggle, so i always just assumed it'd make sense since she and eddie both ended up that way for james to as well. but now that i've seen this video and heard your take, maybe that was too defeatist of me? too pessimistic? either way, i think you're really onto something here.
This is so lovingly and intentionally edited. Great work!
I’ve punished myself for so long like James does and I feel genuine unbearable guilt about what I’ve done to others everyday as well as my own traumas and suffering. Idk if I can change or grow as a person but I’m not going to end it since I choose to live even after all the pain and suffering I’ve endured and seen not only my own but also the pain and suffering so many people deal with everyday. I think all we can do as people is choose to live despite all of our suffering and pain, but for me it’s since that makes me feel comforted and keeps me moving forward, and do what we can to move forward from it and do our best if possible to make peace with what we can’t. And this is coming from a man who has suffered for a VERY long time I know what it’s like it haunts me everyday. God bless everyone who is suffering and may peace walk with you always. Also thank you shingami you probably just saved my life tonight you are the best buddy 🫂
Hope you are ok…
Rebirth is equally canon to the 3 first-run endings and SH4 and Born from a Wish comment on it. We have no idea which concussion Team Silent liked best and only know that James and his wife disappeared a few years ago due to SH4. Meaning that no one ever found out that Mary is even dead.
I’m pretty sure people know Mary is dead, the hospital staff most likely definitely reported Mary and James missing after Mary’s theorised death date.
She didn’t have long left, a few weeks or maybe a few days. She was terminally ill and bedridden in James’ care.
After playing Silent Hill 1 like 5 years ago, I'm finally convinced I need to play 2 now. Another amazing, beautiful video essay.
This video deserves way bigger recognition. Come on algorithm, pick it up. Pick. It. Up.
Your videos really need more views. They are incredible. It is very clear that this game means a great deal to you. I liked listening to you explain why.
jesus christ, that one scene. It's like the actor had already lived it and is reliving it again.
It is such a guttural, real reaction that it made my stomach flop. Brilliant acting.
I'm so glad you're making more of these. Like, they're so fucking good dude.
You crushed this bro. Did SH2 justice
just got your bloodborne vid in my reccomended again, i HAD to check if you had uploaded and ive never been more grateful. i love your content, hope you're in good health.
This video is spectacular and one of the best examples of what a video essay can be. I've always wanted to check out Silent Hill 2, but I feel that after hearing you speak about it with such passion that it's something I will definitely do.
Really looking forward to what you do next!
Thank you so much for such a lovely video. I loved watching this, and quite honestly it helped me understand the story of this game much more.
Amazing video!!! I pregamed this one by rewatching your Bloodborne essay and I gleefully admit they both got me tearfully emotional. Your scripting and line delivery is perfect, and I'm pretty sure I laughed at every last joke you made too.
This was the greatest silent hill 2 video I have seen, the in depth explanations mixed with the amazing visuals made this a throughly enjoyable experience that has shook me to my core and deepened my knowledge, thank you
this is legit the best edited and most unique SH2 video essay i've watched - how the hell do you not have more views/subs??
I found your channel when you're bloodborne essay released it's my favorite game of all time. I recently did a playthrough of Silent Hill 2 just before this vid released and I have to say, the moment I finished it I knew it was next to bloodborne. The timing is kind of fucking crazy.
Went to rewatch the bloodborne video today and was hyped to see another video essay! you're so freaking good at theese, I LOVE the sound design, your use of music and voice is so damn good.
wow. Incredible job on this one, the editing was phenomenal and the emotional impact was devastating. The progression and pacing were really effective too. You outdid yourself dude ! Showin this to my video essay friends
This is a masterpiece, Thank you making it
Wow! What an uplifting message at the end. Great job, wonderful video
I'll never get tired of Silent Hill 2 analysis, such an incredible story. Also gotta get my hands on Cure now!
That was amazing it goes so strong I loved the blood Born video hope you make videos similar
God, Angela's theme still hits me right in the fucking chest.
Absolute cinema
Even though the Remake was great. The original voice actors and direction of the game, managed to be so very human and raw. They even kept the little lip smacks because those takes were the most natural and real... It's one of the most heart-wrenching performances I've ever seen in a game. And no matter how much time passes, it never ceases to be disturbing on such a visceral level.
Im in love with this trilogy (hopefully more in the future) of videos that are nothing but love letters to these games. Thank you.
Another absolute fucking banger. You are an unbelievably talented editor and such a good analyst. This video is dripping with passion! Rock on
Towards the beginning of the game we encounter a person death in front of a TV that makes question what happened. And towards the end of the game we sit down in front of a TV that reveals to us the truth.
I've seen so many video essays about this game, but this one tops them all.
I binged watched all of your video essays and i must say you got a charm hard to beat. I feel it’s on par w Maxxor, and both channels are great in their own right. His is more bombastic and stylistic brainrot, but your videos are more intimate and emotional. Thank you for trying these video essay formats, your humor, voice, added inputs like the Cure movie, and pacing really feels as good as playing the games for the first time. 👏
So glad to see someone relating SH2 to Cure. Always thought there was a thread there.
awesome video, I adored this, a very great comprehensive rundown of a game that has so much to offer even now. I love the general mood and comedic timing as well. fantastic stuff
Incredible video man. Thanks for the effort.
Well done for the video!
Amazing work 🤘🏻👌🏻
You are an exceptional writer and editor. This game and Bloodborne clearly have had such an incredible on you it's palpable. Wonderful work, thank you for sharing 👍
this video brought a perspective to this game i hadnt heard yet, something very personal about the overall message. your videos rock man ty for making them
Yeah I played Silent Hill for the first time I got In Water and definitely considered it 'my canon ending' at the time. Now over 20 years later, Leave resonates with me the most.
Worth the wait. Have a good year
I played this game recently, and my god, it has not left me. It is absolutely one of the most important games ever made for the themes it handles alone
This Channel is fantastic omg❤
Bro u put so much quality In these videos and it's amazing thank you for making these bro I will always watch ur videos please keep making these and please make a discord
Editing has me going oOoOOOoOo. Seriously, awesome job!
When I found out Angela was voiced by Donna Burke, I had the biggest Nani moment… 😮
"Lost?" I would sound confused too if there was only 1 road to follow
Cool shit. Love your work
21:43 this actually creeped me out awesome video by the way
Truly incredible work. Been looking forward to your next project ever since the Bloodborne video. Your editing, tone, and analysis was incredible. Amazing work.
you make a good point about how easy it is to get the leave ending!
You made me cry ty!
That was a fucking amazing video man
Absolutely beautiful video
You make such amazing videos; thank you!
Great video. I appreciate your perspective here.
After watching your Bloodborne video, im watching your other videos, and they’re really good.
i will never get tired of hearing people talk about this masterpiece
this was such a good video wish it was 3hours longer lol thank you for your work!
I personally think the dog ending is the most canon. Like Silent Hill, SH2 is the story of the revenge from the dog Eddie killed. It’s like Silent Hill but from doge perspective
I've been SAYING for FOREVER that their voices are meant to sound off, they don't NEED better voice acting, they are meant to be weird and off putting because that's what makes their character
I might be a little too drunk to say this but ur videos r truly moving ur the reason i started Bloodbornei
Maria’s outfit was based off the legendary Christina Aguilera. I’d love for Christina Aguilera to be the model for Maria in the upcoming remake !
We need more of this bro 🙇♂️🙇♂️
such a good analysis, gonna have to watch cure now
This game is great because it shows the real power of the town, a place of tortured souls, a concept that we saw at The Others. These characters are like Lisa on SH1, they are trapped in this town forever, because they took their own lives. SH4 could do the same, but the ritual and all that, removing the fear of this, would be better if Walter returned like Freddy Krueger by the power of the town.
PH most likely is the perception of James about doctors; there is a key to this since on the table of PH there are abortion instruments. For James, the doctors tortured his wife with pointless treatments, and this led to her fate. This explained why PH attacked Maria over and over. The doctors were just butchers for James, and with a narrow point of view, which explained the helmet, he couldn't talk to them. The doctors also lead him into the truth, which is crazy, but this is almost like a subtitle or a twisted version of the real world. A fear of doctors is also a common situation; in the movie Jacob's Ladder, he saw the doctors as monsters.
So this PH isn'´t the same of Homecoming, the one of Homecoming is more like a god, which is ironic since the plot of Homecoming is very similar to Hereditary, even one of the endings of the game matched the movie, when Alex was turned in a god, a PH.
Why Alex see PH? according with the ideas of SHV, Elle was gonna be Laura, this will create a very bizarre feeling that PH and Laura has a link in a sort of way, and this sort of true, because in the apartments James saw PH, and also Laura, both were a topic of a hospital, since Laura met Mary there. But also the last name of Alex is the same of Mary, this will put Laura as a very important character of the town.
While "Leave ending" could be the one, Frank Sunderland, father of James confirmed on SH4 that James and his wife are missing, that means even on "Leave", James isn't any longer in the world of living, only Laura will exit the town, not James.
you know a man has issues when he goes to a town looking for his wife that he killed HIMSELF 3 YEARS AGO!!! Dude. you know you killed her and you think she is still ALIVE??? WTF?
that's hell for you, torturing you for eternity in a constant loop.