@@hypnos9336 i wouldn't say it's about time passing or nostalgia, the game is just so deep, charming and relatable in many ways. This is why it attracts newer generations of gamers as well as the oldies
@@djapathy8967 Nostalgia has a lot to do with it though. It's an amazing horror game, one of the best of it's kind, but it isn't this untouchable masterpiece either - other games reach it's level of greatness.
I fucking love this game. Its awesome when you fall in love with a game when you're a kid, and you have NO IDEA how universally loved it is until you get older.
Angela walking up the flaming stairs is one of the saddest moments if not the saddest moment in gaming I can Honestly think of. That game tackles some hardcore subjects. It's therapy for people who have been abused or have experienced suicide in their lives. Game broke me and helped me rebuild in the wake of my father's suicide juat before covid started. Silent Hill 2 is my favorite game of all time and I can't begin to explain how much it means to me. Great video man
I feel the same way. And my father committed suicide a couple years before covid. I'm so sorry you had that happen. It's hard but we gotta find art, love, and joy. I think playing silent hill 2 has all of that. I played it through such things too
First of all. Sorry to hear about the 2 of you dealing with such a loss. As someone who has dealt with abuse and mental health issues for most of my life, the whole arc with Angelina really struck a cord with me. I still think about her going into the flames to this day.
Same thing happened to me. After some huge losses in my life, crying everyday and thinking of killing myself, one random day for no fucking reason I started to search some games from my old dusty ps2. There was a lot of games I've never played at that time, and Silent Hill 2 was one of them (because it was, you know, scary). Thinking it was a game about jumpscares, I started playing it and immediately fell in love with the atmosphere and soundtrack, how different it was from other horror games. What Silent Hill 2 means to me? I couldn't even describe. It saved me, it made me live again.
Man, as an aspiring game designer that's only now learning how to code, let alone writing stories for games, masterpieces like Silent Hill 2 keep me motivated to pursue this complex yet amazing goal
how old are you? how long does it take to learn? i thinking about studying it also. for the passion! i sugest you learn how to play competitive at fighting gamea also is very good
That was... incredible. Framed it in a way that opened up more to the human experience for me than a piece of interactive media ever has before. Great fuckin work man.
The most precious and meaningful game of my life is Silent Hill 2. What that game did to me is beyond what words can convey. I, however, never knew that player choice and playstyle mattered this much in the game. I believe it has only further deepened my adoration and love for this game. Thank you DX! This video was such a wonderful thing to see today!
Similar here. There was an extremely low point in my life following all my games being stolen (not what caused it, just circumstantial timing) and you know what my first thought for comfort was? Buy it again. I did, and noticed the then-new SH3 on the shelf with it, and got that too. Played them both, as well as the Maria scenario, which I didn't have on the copy that was stolen but was on the copy I got after, so... what a treat, right? Soothed me immensely. Such an atmosphere to inhabit.
@James Sunderland For me it made me realize I was falling in a depression pit similar to James. James confronting his emotions like lust, loneliness and malice made me realize how present those things were in my own life no piece of media has made me that aware of my psyche like that for that it is a work of art.
I slept on this franchise for too long until recently when I completed my first run of SH2 on stream for my friends, blissfully unaware of the innerworkings and systems in place, working seamlessly with my gameplay to tailor my outcome and ending. How a horror game from 2001 calculates your outcome for you based on how you play and treat the characters around you while factoring in aspects of the human condition, with no dialogue options or deliberate player action present (e.g "do this and this happens" prompts), is nothing short of phenomenal. Excellent game, excellent video, DX.
horror games aren't meant to be streamed to other people. they are meant to be played alone, in the dark with headphones. I feel bad for anybody that ruined the experience playing it the way you did
I loved the reverence and how you spoke about the game. While watching I kept thinking "please make a 90m deep dive!" As I enjoyed it so much. Great vid!
Thank you! So many people have made such in depth content on this game that this was all I felt I could really add to the conversation without treading into familiar, already ventured territory. It says so much about this game that it's over 20 years old and we're still talking about it.
@@DXFromYT thanks for the response, that is fair enough. None of them _you_, though! Like your RE7 vid is the best RE7 vid on CZcams. I even hassled my gf who doesn't like horror to watch it 😆
And let's not forget about the geniously crafted soundtrack. Akira Yamaoka managed to capture so much with songs that are so simple yet so effective (in terms of arrangement, most of them are easy enough to be the first song someone learns on that instrument). Promise is one that I think captures masterfully the feeling of being simultaneously happy and depressed, one of the hardest feelings to describe.
I freaking love SH4, it has the best story along with SH2, and honestly the creepiest atmosphere of the series imo. It surely had its shortcomings, specially in some enemy designs and gameplay, but I'll always defend it
@@caro1ferreira it's a secret masterpiece its such a complex work and I'd even Dare say it's the 2nd best behind 2 ofc, I feel it's treated the same way as the movie "alien 3" from the alien franchise
It's fucking insane to think that even RPG's, the genre that's SUPPOSED TO be about player choice and interactivity with the narrative, hasn't managed to pull off what this team did over two decades ago.
There are plenty of games with different choices and more customization, they just are older or less popular. They definitely aren't quite the same as Silent Hill though!!
@@ereviscale3966 absolutely - there are a few rarities out there that pull off amazing feats of nuanced character progression (e.g. SYNTHETIK is a top-down pc rougelite that grants you weapons, abilities and buffs based on how you're playing; how far away from enemies you engage them at, how many times you reach critical health, how long it takes you to clear a stage, etc., and it adjusts both your loot and the enemies behaviour to match/counter your approach), but they're dragged down by downfalls that SH2 really doesn't have. in this case, SYNTHETIK has practically no story (or, well, a slideshow at the beginning and some light worldbuilding throughout) - SH2 really is a perfect game, huh?
Yea i think SH4 followed this concept too. The endings are determined by how you play. SH1 and SH3 endings are more traditional. Endings are determined by actually making pivotal decisions such as saving Cybil or choosing to forgive the woman in the booth. SH2 and SH4 are based off how you play the character.
I had this game since I was a kid but never played it. I was going through my old PS2 games and saw it sells on ebay for a good price. I went to play test it just to see if it works. I ended up playing through the whole game over the course of a few days and i'm not even a gamer really. I still think about it months later because it blew me away so much. Def the best game ive ever played, and I cant bring myself to sell it now.
I finished this game last night. The "leave" ending hit me a like truck. I'm glad I got that ending, seems like a good conclusion to James's purgartory. I'm still thinking of about every word of the letter at the end, still crying because of its amazing delivery. The hallway corridor almost had me in tears, too. Silent Hill 2 became one of my absolute favorite games of all times. This game is a piece of art, made me happy.
The moment when Mary says, 'You made me happy', and that last word almost crying... I played the game at least 12 years ago for the last time (before my PS2 died), and I can still hear her voice saying that. It makes me want to cry every time I think of it.
I've seen countless videos about Silent Hill 2, every single one says something different, but it's the same point, and in the end everything just clicks, truly a masterpiece of a game, and truly a great point of view of it
Seriously respect someone who would just outright say SH2 is the best game ever made. This game blew me away and changed me for life. God bless Team Silent for making it and putting their hearts and souls into it. Other games may be more about “having fun,” but this game uses your feelings about the mechanics as part of your experience of the story and how you relate to the main character. It’s a work of art that can impact anyone who plays the game earnestly, no matter their gaming background. Thanks for the video, loved it!
Brilliant video! No other game has come close to my experience with Silent Hill 2. It's portrayal of what it is to be human is so haunting but also really beautiful, albeit in a morbid way. I enjoyed watching this!
is it just me, Silent Hill 2 still haunts me to this day, i feel like i've become a part of it, it suddenly gets on my mind out of nowhere, it's almost like a completly different world, inside the real world, like a world I can escape to I guess? it hits very hard when im at my lowest, the game, the atmosphere, the weirdness, and the story, just trickers something in my brain, I can't explain.
This is the greatest game I personally have ever had the joy of experiencing firsthand. Let alone the multiple replays and watching others play it. This video was absolutely brilliant and you really nailed that shit dawg. I genuinely hope this video blows up and people will revisit / visit this game again. Such a beautifully made piece of phenomenal story telling, soundtrack and overall just a piece of art. Thank you so much for making this, and furthermore thank you for bringing me back to this classic masterpiece.
God, I'm so glad to see you get back to us with another great video on occasion. SH2 is a game that I replay endlessly and I just CANNOT get tired of hearing people talk about it. Same applies for all 4 classic entries. I am happy that you grace us with your perspective on it. It is a masterpiece. Keep on doing what you're doing and never change, DX. Thank you.
i was never impacted by something like i was when i finished this game. me and my brother always bonded over this game and what it meant. he passed away last week, i like to think he’s finally out of his own silent hill.
Stunning analysis, even with a game that has been under study by an unnumerous amount of people for two decades, it's fascinating how a game gives another layer through different lenses !
Since 2016, which is the year I got my hands on SH2 for the first time ever (my bad!), each year I always come back at least once or twice to the game to finish it again; to quote you, to re-experience it again, having grown up just as much as it is needed in order to catch something different than what I did the former time playing it. I have (un)constantly been checking for videos, reviews, opinions, critics, anything new about the game would convince me to hear or look at a different point of view - which I may had not considered at the time. This is one instance of what I just stated. Your video, and your explanation overall, is marvelously crafted and, really, one in which you could say the work was made with passionate love towards the videogame itself. One thing I loved the most about your perspective is considering "the canon James" rather than the usual, boring, unconclusive fights over the canon finales. At times like this you are really aware of a videogame being "meta", going the idea of a mere experience - ending it like that, like nothing has passed and made you feel like you had just lost hours of your life on something that maybe could have been skipped all the way through. And Silent Hill 2, on the other hands, makes you feel like you NEED to come back each time, whenever you feel like to, because it's mandatory to 'be in the mood' to best enjoy the game. I grew up a lot since 2016 with and thanks to Silent Hill 2. It made me more reflective, more introspective, more 'human'. You guess which final I always get. Thank you for your time and your efforts.
This game is one of the best game for me, and i also localize it to my mother language... but the sad part is... because it's an old game, no one care except some veteran or journalist media, at least that's how the game is now in my country, that localize that i release seem only have little effect to make it popular again. But again, i really love this game and the series, even tho it's probably are dead now. Nowdays people only care about mainstream game anyway, they should play this hidden gem at least one time to feel the emotion of the story. I'm glad that i play this game and dedicated myself once to release that particular localization. And also thanks for DX for making this video, i watched every videos about silent hill 2 on every channel, and this video is also a good video, nice one man.
A new sub from me for sure, I literally just finished watching your RE7 saves RE video and I loved it. Great content. I hope we get a proper revival and saviour for Silent Hill soon, too!
James doesn't make it home after his adventure to Silent Hill, his father tells us this much during the fourth game so basically any ending that shows James leaving isn't canon.
If we listen to any of the post SH2 Silent Hill games as a means to derive what endings are canon, then the reason Silent Hill 2 happens at all is because James Sunderland gets a magic book in the mail that gives him amnesia because he asks to forget what he did to Mary. Hiroyuki Owaku said the endings are up to interpretation and as far as I understand, he did not write 4 where this was mentioned. I'm perfectly fine with considering 2 as untouched regarding its canon despite what other games like 4 and Book of Memories imply.
@@DXFromYT Book of memories is absolute shit and doesn't exist in my eyes because it wasn't made by Team Silent also, I know he said that but in order for the first four games to connect properly you have to go for certain endings, for example in the first game I don't save Cybil because it wouldn't make sense in the context of the third game since Harry raised Heather/Alessa on his own, basically what I'm getting at is each entry tells you what really happened in the game before cementing what is canon. P.S just so we are clear I'm not trying to be a bitch and I did enjoy the video, it's just I'm a massive fan of the first four and felt the need to express what I said in my original comment :)
Nah, don't worry about it, I get what you're saying. On the topic of Cybil, I believe Owaku did say that what happens to her is also left to interpretation. So she could live and simply not raise the child with Harry. Homecoming, similar to Silent Hill 4, just says she "disappeared" which could mean any number of things. I'm not against a canon really, I just think that the games don't have to fit as squarely as most people think. Or fit at all, it's also easy to assume that the games happen, then whatever events happen later just happen in other universes.
@@DXFromYT True because when you play them on their own they don't need the context of what came before or after since their stories are quite contained well, except for three which relies on the player knowing the plot of the original but, in saying that you're still right since there are other elements that tie them all together besides story, atmosphere and setting, I guess it might just come down to my OCD and needing things to have structure as well as order :)
DX is one the most criminally underrated youtubers.Like seriously I remember first watching akame ga kill and loving it. And then I looked up some videos on it and came upon dx's channel and his 20 minute video just completely blew me out of the water with how right it was.
To me, the in water ending is canon, but I completely agree that it really depends on the kind of James that you play. In my view he wouldn't have been able to deal with the guilt, which I guess reflected how I played, because that's the ending I got and I had no idea there were multiple.
I like games about people.... That line stuck with me because it's simple yet 100% true in my case. I have to commend the video as well DX. Been a fan of your channel for years and I think this is one of your best videos (One one of my all time fav games) Extremely well detailed on the game, characters & story and it honestly has me thinking way more different on it and I might replay it again once more. Would you ever make a video on the Music of the game because without Akira Yamaoka's OST the game would be vastly different
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. ☯️
you know what I'm 32 years old and always knew SH2 is a masterpiece but didn't have the perspective that different endings are also part of the game and level design deeply sure I knew it was but didn't knew the extend of it by looking at it in this context, great vid
Silent Hill 2 is one of the best video games ever made. Yes, this has been continuously said over and over again, but I think it's really easy to underestimate the narrative and artistic power of this title. I myself prefer Silent Hill 3, but there's no denying that the grandiosity of Silent Hill 2 was, and still is, a peak achievement for video game artistry as a whole. This was a very well made essay and made me wanna replay Silent Hill 2. I may do it in a while, I wanna get again lost in this game's world and characters
Stunningly articulated script, man. People who have finished at least one ending, I like to inform them about the context of the decisions, the other endings and contexts for them in isolation, then I let them stew on it a few days. If they're willing to put up with where I'm going with this after all that, and our accompanying book-club-style discussion about every aspect of the game, it all leads to one question: What ending resonates most with you, given the steps required to achieve it? It's not an easy question to answer. Given how the player must behave to inform the game's script to produce a certain ending, I find that a person's answer to the question reveals a lot about their character. Personally, I've always thought that the "in water" ending suited James best, given the context. Perhaps that reflects how I hold myself to a certain standard, where I feel such a drastic action is called for if the transgression is large enough and/or the thought process that lead to the bad decision that was made way "properly justified" or not. The psychology leads me to believe that people should simply behave themselves in life, or face an appropriate consequence. I know that that does not apply to other people's code of ethics, but that's the point. Not implying I'd do anything to someone else, mind, but rather I think people should be diligent in life as to know what is, and is not, appropriate behavior, and to punish *themselves* for their sins. It's only right, the way I see it.
SH2 is a great game and a timeless classic, no doubt. But oh boy, that title made me crack up, glad I didn't have my morning coffee in my mouth when I read that.
This "game" (or should I better say a piece of art) left a deep mark on me as a teenager. No other piece of media did this to me. It still resonates inside me after all these years. I still dream about this place where I can finally find the peace and tranquility.
SH2 really is in a league of it's own. I used to play it routinely back in the early 2000s. These days I only replay it like once every few years but every time I do rebadges it as my favorite videogame.
This is an excellent description of this masterpiece of a game. I'm so pumped for the announcement tomorrow. SH2 is hands down the most intriguing and interesting work of art I've ever experienced. I still come back to it every couple of years and it never disappoints. A well done remake (emphasis on well done, unlike the insulting hd remasters) will be the most anticipated release of my lifetime, no question.
we all know that the canon James is the James in the Dog Ending /j All jokes aside, this is a great video! I love the way you explain everything, really makes you understand how James feels throoughout the game. Silent Hill 2 is amazing, and so is your video. Keep up the great work!
This game keeps teaching me about life and myself everytime i watch a video a about it or play it , this game was made with intentioned love , good job on the video .
I'm sad to say I've never played this game, not even one time. Yet I can appreciate from watching this and the way it gets talked about, I'm missing out on having played a real gem.
@@hypnos9336 To be honest I still don't have a clue what happens here and I only watched around two thirds of this video cause I don't wanna spoil it.
In a town of rust and fog's embrace, Where memories twist and shadows chase, A man walks lost, a haunted soul, Silent Hill's mirror, taking its toll. Flakes of ash fall, whispers in the haze, A wife long gone, a love that decays. Each rusted swing, a creaking plea, Echoes of guilt, a symphony. Mannequins writhe, grotesque ballet, A twisted reflection, a morbid display. The monsters born of what's buried deep, Secrets and sorrows nightmares keep. Letters scattered, whispers untold, A love unspoken, a story unfolds. He carries the weight, the burden he bears, The labyrinthine heart, where torment flares. Can he confront the sins he denies? Can love survive beneath these haunted skies? Silent Hill's whispers, a chilling decree, "The only monster here is you, can't you see?" For the human condition, a truth laid bare, We sculpt our demons, the burdens we share. The ghosts of regret, the choices we make, In the halls of memory, a haunting we wake. But redemption's embers, a flicker of light, Forgiveness a battle, in the darkest of night. To face the past, with a heart that's sincere, May love's fragile flame banish all fear. Silent Hill's fog, a chance to confront, The monsters within, the battles not fought. For in the depths of the human abyss, Lies the power to heal, with a single soft kiss.
Silent hil 2l is my favorite horror game of all time, that I bought a jacket that looks like james sunderland's, ordered the patches and I wear it everywhere. I went to gamestop to see if the employees would recognize it and none of them did. Bruh...
Silent Hill 2 is the only game where your wife and the simulacra of her dies 5 times and by your hands at least twice by however you interpret the monsters.
I implore you, please play them. They’re so much better than can be put into words. I would recommend emulating 1 through 4 since they’re all super expensive physically.
@@HugoRoids i played SH1 and 2 fully, but the third... oh I just drop that game, I found it boring compared to the other 2. I don't even try sh4, but maybe I will give it a try. But yeah, SH2 is the best horror game ever made.
@@williambilloverback3172 It's a shame you didn't like 3 but even I'll agree it's the weakest of the team silent games. I highly recommend you at least give 4 a try since it's pretty different compared to 1-3 and is my personal 2nd favorite one.
We need a silent hill remastered edition with all the games and done right. I am a silent hill fan as much as a resident evil fan. This series can be revived by the right people.
there aren't many games i consider to even holst a grip on the revolver of perfection. ninja gaiden black, halo 3, and of course, silent hill 2. other than its sequel, not a single game competes with its atmosphere. and back in 2020 my 14 year old self could never have been more impacted by this testimony. its hard to comprehend how honest it is, i guess
The thumbnail for this video was done by artist Azuma Yasuo, you can check them out on Twitter @AzumaYasuo96! twitter.com/AzumaYasuo96
Waiting for animes i fukin hate / attack on titen
It’s crazy how a 2 decade old game is still leaving people at awe to this day
because it is so good!
because time has a lot to do with it
I still have dreams about this game bro wont forget it ever
@@hypnos9336 i wouldn't say it's about time passing or nostalgia, the game is just so deep, charming and relatable in many ways. This is why it attracts newer generations of gamers as well as the oldies
@@djapathy8967 Nostalgia has a lot to do with it though. It's an amazing horror game, one of the best of it's kind, but it isn't this untouchable masterpiece either - other games reach it's level of greatness.
The letter from Mary at the end of the game gets me every time.
The voice actor did a phenomenal job, probably the best acting I've seen...ever.
yeah that ending was something else. I just sat there and listened to the whole letter. got damn what a masterpiece.
It touched my soul
James...
You made me happy
same it makes me so sad
I fucking love this game. Its awesome when you fall in love with a game when you're a kid, and you have NO IDEA how universally loved it is until you get older.
That’s exactly how it is for me too, when I was a kid I loved the game and I didn’t even understand much about it at all
no kid with responsible parents should ever be allowed to play this game
@@hypnos9336 oh shut up lol.
@@hypnos9336 lol true.
i really want remakes for the first four silent hill games i love them
This is the only game that has me flooding with tears at the end, every time. "You made me happy"...😭 That whole speech cuts deep man...
Dude. Dude. Dude. Those words kills me every fucking time I play this game.
Angela walking up the flaming stairs is one of the saddest moments if not the saddest moment in gaming I can Honestly think of. That game tackles some hardcore subjects. It's therapy for people who have been abused or have experienced suicide in their lives. Game broke me and helped me rebuild in the wake of my father's suicide juat before covid started. Silent Hill 2 is my favorite game of all time and I can't begin to explain how much it means to me. Great video man
I feel the same way. And my father committed suicide a couple years before covid. I'm so sorry you had that happen. It's hard but we gotta find art, love, and joy. I think playing silent hill 2 has all of that. I played it through such things too
thats painful to know... I hope u stays strong
First of all. Sorry to hear about the 2 of you dealing with such a loss.
As someone who has dealt with abuse and mental health issues for most of my life, the whole arc with Angelina really struck a cord with me. I still think about her going into the flames to this day.
@@TimeBunny It struck a cord with me too. I really identify with Angela's torment. Thank you and I'm also so sorry you've gone through so much
Same thing happened to me. After some huge losses in my life, crying everyday and thinking of killing myself, one random day for no fucking reason I started to search some games from my old dusty ps2.
There was a lot of games I've never played at that time, and Silent Hill 2 was one of them (because it was, you know, scary).
Thinking it was a game about jumpscares, I started playing it and immediately fell in love with the atmosphere and soundtrack, how different it was from other horror games.
What Silent Hill 2 means to me? I couldn't even describe.
It saved me, it made me live again.
Man, as an aspiring game designer that's only now learning how to code, let alone writing stories for games, masterpieces like Silent Hill 2 keep me motivated to pursue this complex yet amazing goal
how old are you? how long does it take to learn? i thinking about studying it also. for the passion! i sugest you learn how to play competitive at fighting gamea also is very good
You really don't need to learn how to code to be a game designer. It's like saying you need to become a gynecologist to have sex.
That was... incredible. Framed it in a way that opened up more to the human experience for me than a piece of interactive media ever has before. Great fuckin work man.
This game will never get old and will forever leave a mark on me.
The most precious and meaningful game of my life is Silent Hill 2. What that game did to me is beyond what words can convey. I, however, never knew that player choice and playstyle mattered this much in the game. I believe it has only further deepened my adoration and love for this game. Thank you DX! This video was such a wonderful thing to see today!
Similar here. There was an extremely low point in my life following all my games being stolen (not what caused it, just circumstantial timing) and you know what my first thought for comfort was? Buy it again. I did, and noticed the then-new SH3 on the shelf with it, and got that too. Played them both, as well as the Maria scenario, which I didn't have on the copy that was stolen but was on the copy I got after, so... what a treat, right? Soothed me immensely. Such an atmosphere to inhabit.
@James Sunderland For me it made me realize I was falling in a depression pit similar to James. James confronting his emotions like lust, loneliness and malice made me realize how present those things were in my own life no piece of media has made me that aware of my psyche like that for that it is a work of art.
I slept on this franchise for too long until recently when I completed my first run of SH2 on stream for my friends, blissfully unaware of the innerworkings and systems in place, working seamlessly with my gameplay to tailor my outcome and ending.
How a horror game from 2001 calculates your outcome for you based on how you play and treat the characters around you while factoring in aspects of the human condition, with no dialogue options or deliberate player action present (e.g "do this and this happens" prompts), is nothing short of phenomenal.
Excellent game, excellent video, DX.
horror games aren't meant to be streamed to other people. they are meant to be played alone, in the dark with headphones. I feel bad for anybody that ruined the experience playing it the way you did
@@hypnos9336 who are u to tell me how i should enjoy my games, clown?
I loved the reverence and how you spoke about the game. While watching I kept thinking "please make a 90m deep dive!" As I enjoyed it so much. Great vid!
Thank you! So many people have made such in depth content on this game that this was all I felt I could really add to the conversation without treading into familiar, already ventured territory. It says so much about this game that it's over 20 years old and we're still talking about it.
@@DXFromYT thanks for the response, that is fair enough. None of them _you_, though! Like your RE7 vid is the best RE7 vid on CZcams. I even hassled my gf who doesn't like horror to watch it 😆
A good deep dive is by the gaming brit on his video about SH2
I'll never forget my first play through, that ending hit me like a truck. Mary reading her full letter at the end broke me
And let's not forget about the geniously crafted soundtrack. Akira Yamaoka managed to capture so much with songs that are so simple yet so effective (in terms of arrangement, most of them are easy enough to be the first song someone learns on that instrument). Promise is one that I think captures masterfully the feeling of being simultaneously happy and depressed, one of the hardest feelings to describe.
This is a treat. Absolutely adore this game.
This may actually be one of the best short form examinations of SH2. What a great title
Been in love with this masterpiece since it was released. Even the music is beautiful.
Team Silent did an excellent job. Even Silent Hill 4 has an interesting plot. Yeah sure some flaws but its pretty good. Check out the film Session 9.
I freaking love SH4, it has the best story along with SH2, and honestly the creepiest atmosphere of the series imo. It surely had its shortcomings, specially in some enemy designs and gameplay, but I'll always defend it
@@caro1ferreira No. IT SUCKS!!!!....Nah, I'm kidding.
@@caro1ferreira it's a secret masterpiece its such a complex work and I'd even Dare say it's the 2nd best behind 2 ofc, I feel it's treated the same way as the movie "alien 3" from the alien franchise
Do it Gordon.
Sh4 is my 2nd favorite
All in all Sh2,4 and 1 are some of the best games ever made
I didn't dig 3 that much, but Heather was cool
It's fucking insane to think that even RPG's, the genre that's SUPPOSED TO be about player choice and interactivity with the narrative, hasn't managed to pull off what this team did over two decades ago.
It's gotten so bad, it's few and far between that I don't skip dialogue because of this.
There are plenty of games with different choices and more customization, they just are older or less popular. They definitely aren't quite the same as Silent Hill though!!
Tbh, Mass Effect is one of the few series that gave me that feeling.
But not even M.E was able to surpass what Team Silent did with S.H 2.
@@ereviscale3966 absolutely - there are a few rarities out there that pull off amazing feats of nuanced character progression (e.g. SYNTHETIK is a top-down pc rougelite that grants you weapons, abilities and buffs based on how you're playing; how far away from enemies you engage them at, how many times you reach critical health, how long it takes you to clear a stage, etc., and it adjusts both your loot and the enemies behaviour to match/counter your approach), but they're dragged down by downfalls that SH2 really doesn't have.
in this case, SYNTHETIK has practically no story (or, well, a slideshow at the beginning and some light worldbuilding throughout) - SH2 really is a perfect game, huh?
Yea i think SH4 followed this concept too. The endings are determined by how you play. SH1 and SH3 endings are more traditional. Endings are determined by actually making pivotal decisions such as saving Cybil or choosing to forgive the woman in the booth. SH2 and SH4 are based off how you play the character.
I had this game since I was a kid but never played it. I was going through my old PS2 games and saw it sells on ebay for a good price. I went to play test it just to see if it works. I ended up playing through the whole game over the course of a few days and i'm not even a gamer really. I still think about it months later because it blew me away so much. Def the best game ive ever played, and I cant bring myself to sell it now.
It’s definitely a piece of history… I wouldn’t sell it but it’s your life
That’s awesome.
Dann, I've played this several years back, achieved all endings... However...I've never thought the game in that way... That makes it better
I finished this game last night. The "leave" ending hit me a like truck. I'm glad I got that ending, seems like a good conclusion to James's purgartory.
I'm still thinking of about every word of the letter at the end, still crying because of its amazing delivery. The hallway corridor almost had me in tears, too. Silent Hill 2 became one of my absolute favorite games of all times.
This game is a piece of art, made me happy.
The moment when Mary says, 'You made me happy', and that last word almost crying... I played the game at least 12 years ago for the last time (before my PS2 died), and I can still hear her voice saying that. It makes me want to cry every time I think of it.
I got the "In water" ending, wasn't even mad... It fits so well with the story.
@@aaronuzcategui287 its also the saddest end
@@residentevil094 for me, is the best ending, but I can see why other endings can fit as well
SH 2 is a master piece. It's sad that this franchise doesn't have the amount of fans that other franchises have uwu
I've seen countless videos about Silent Hill 2, every single one says something different, but it's the same point, and in the end everything just clicks, truly a masterpiece of a game, and truly a great point of view of it
We'll never get another silent hill 2 and that's how you know when something is truly special. The game makes me cry everytime 😢
atleast we're getting a remake though!
@@enjoyjared I KNOW AND IM EXCITED, making a video rn about it too I love this game 😭
Seriously respect someone who would just outright say SH2 is the best game ever made. This game blew me away and changed me for life. God bless Team Silent for making it and putting their hearts and souls into it.
Other games may be more about “having fun,” but this game uses your feelings about the mechanics as part of your experience of the story and how you relate to the main character. It’s a work of art that can impact anyone who plays the game earnestly, no matter their gaming background.
Thanks for the video, loved it!
Whenever you upload I got to drop everything and start watching. Another great video!
I've been obsessed with this game for so so long. I kept replaying it and could never get enough. I think I have never liked a game so much.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Brilliant video! No other game has come close to my experience with Silent Hill 2. It's portrayal of what it is to be human is so haunting but also really beautiful, albeit in a morbid way. I enjoyed watching this!
Definitely one of the best games ever.
is it just me, Silent Hill 2 still haunts me to this day, i feel like i've become a part of it, it suddenly gets on my mind out of nowhere, it's almost like a completly different world, inside the real world, like a world I can escape to I guess? it hits very hard when im at my lowest, the game, the atmosphere, the weirdness, and the story, just trickers something in my brain, I can't explain.
Glad to have you back...and I'm surprised you didn't touch on the music. 100 years from now people will still listen to this games ost.
This is the greatest game I personally have ever had the joy of experiencing firsthand. Let alone the multiple replays and watching others play it. This video was absolutely brilliant and you really nailed that shit dawg.
I genuinely hope this video blows up and people will revisit / visit this game again. Such a beautifully made piece of phenomenal story telling, soundtrack and overall just a piece of art.
Thank you so much for making this, and furthermore thank you for bringing me back to this classic masterpiece.
I love that till now people are still talkimg about SH2.. such a MASTERPIECE!
The story and characters in this game get in your head. One of a kind.
Remake confirmed 🎉
God, I'm so glad to see you get back to us with another great video on occasion. SH2 is a game that I replay endlessly and I just CANNOT get tired of hearing people talk about it. Same applies for all 4 classic entries. I am happy that you grace us with your perspective on it. It is a masterpiece. Keep on doing what you're doing and never change, DX. Thank you.
i was never impacted by something like i was when i finished this game. me and my brother always bonded over this game and what it meant. he passed away last week, i like to think he’s finally out of his own silent hill.
I'm sorry for your loss. I also hope he's found peace.
Always nice to see a DX upload!
My name IS James. For real. So each playthrough hits me.
That was a dope video dx. I'm gonna need to play this now. Didn't know a game could have this much detail
Stunning analysis, even with a game that has been under study by an unnumerous amount of people for two decades, it's fascinating how a game gives another layer through different lenses !
Such an amazing video for an amazing video game masterpiece.
I have a test tomorrow and I am clearly not ready... But I will always have time for your videos DX!
Since 2016, which is the year I got my hands on SH2 for the first time ever (my bad!), each year I always come back at least once or twice to the game to finish it again; to quote you, to re-experience it again, having grown up just as much as it is needed in order to catch something different than what I did the former time playing it. I have (un)constantly been checking for videos, reviews, opinions, critics, anything new about the game would convince me to hear or look at a different point of view - which I may had not considered at the time. This is one instance of what I just stated.
Your video, and your explanation overall, is marvelously crafted and, really, one in which you could say the work was made with passionate love towards the videogame itself. One thing I loved the most about your perspective is considering "the canon James" rather than the usual, boring, unconclusive fights over the canon finales.
At times like this you are really aware of a videogame being "meta", going the idea of a mere experience - ending it like that, like nothing has passed and made you feel like you had just lost hours of your life on something that maybe could have been skipped all the way through. And Silent Hill 2, on the other hands, makes you feel like you NEED to come back each time, whenever you feel like to, because it's mandatory to 'be in the mood' to best enjoy the game. I grew up a lot since 2016 with and thanks to Silent Hill 2. It made me more reflective, more introspective, more 'human'. You guess which final I always get.
Thank you for your time and your efforts.
Thanks so much for the kind words.
Not enough views on this! Good job, 100% agree!
wow your channel is still going strong after all these years niiiiiiiice
this was an amazing watch. those 14 mins flew by. i loved this game and didnt know it had all of this too it
This game is one of the best game for me, and i also localize it to my mother language... but the sad part is... because it's an old game, no one care except some veteran or journalist media, at least that's how the game is now in my country, that localize that i release seem only have little effect to make it popular again.
But again, i really love this game and the series, even tho it's probably are dead now.
Nowdays people only care about mainstream game anyway, they should play this hidden gem at least one time to feel the emotion of the story.
I'm glad that i play this game and dedicated myself once to release that particular localization.
And also thanks for DX for making this video, i watched every videos about silent hill 2 on every channel, and this video is also a good video, nice one man.
amazing vid bro
A new sub from me for sure, I literally just finished watching your RE7 saves RE video and I loved it. Great content. I hope we get a proper revival and saviour for Silent Hill soon, too!
James doesn't make it home after his adventure to Silent Hill, his father tells us this much during the fourth game so basically any ending that shows James leaving isn't canon.
If we listen to any of the post SH2 Silent Hill games as a means to derive what endings are canon, then the reason Silent Hill 2 happens at all is because James Sunderland gets a magic book in the mail that gives him amnesia because he asks to forget what he did to Mary. Hiroyuki Owaku said the endings are up to interpretation and as far as I understand, he did not write 4 where this was mentioned. I'm perfectly fine with considering 2 as untouched regarding its canon despite what other games like 4 and Book of Memories imply.
@@DXFromYT
Book of memories is absolute shit and doesn't exist in my eyes because it wasn't made by Team Silent also, I know he said that but in order for the first four games to connect properly you have to go for certain endings, for example in the first game I don't save Cybil because it wouldn't make sense in the context of the third game since Harry raised Heather/Alessa on his own, basically what I'm getting at is each entry tells you what really happened in the game before cementing what is canon.
P.S just so we are clear I'm not trying to be a bitch and I did enjoy the video, it's just I'm a massive fan of the first four and felt the need to express what I said in my original comment :)
Nah, don't worry about it, I get what you're saying. On the topic of Cybil, I believe Owaku did say that what happens to her is also left to interpretation. So she could live and simply not raise the child with Harry. Homecoming, similar to Silent Hill 4, just says she "disappeared" which could mean any number of things. I'm not against a canon really, I just think that the games don't have to fit as squarely as most people think. Or fit at all, it's also easy to assume that the games happen, then whatever events happen later just happen in other universes.
@@DXFromYT
True because when you play them on their own they don't need the context of what came before or after since their stories are quite contained well, except for three which relies on the player knowing the plot of the original but, in saying that you're still right since there are other elements that tie them all together besides story, atmosphere and setting, I guess it might just come down to my OCD and needing things to have structure as well as order :)
In water is the truly Canon ending
There’s only one word to describe this game: a Masterpiece.
*Finished this game for the first time yesterday... safe to say it did a number*
Phenomenal video! Ive been impatiently waiting for you to upload lol
The canon James is the one you are. The canon ending is the one you get. My James was In Water.
I’ve seen so many videos about this game and wow dude. I never knew any of this about the gameplay ending. Awesome video
DX is one the most criminally underrated youtubers.Like seriously I remember first watching akame ga kill and loving it. And then I looked up some videos on it and came upon dx's channel and his 20 minute video just completely blew me out of the water with how right it was.
To me, the in water ending is canon, but I completely agree that it really depends on the kind of James that you play. In my view he wouldn't have been able to deal with the guilt, which I guess reflected how I played, because that's the ending I got and I had no idea there were multiple.
I like games about people.... That line stuck with me because it's simple yet 100% true in my case. I have to commend the video as well DX. Been a fan of your channel for years and I think this is one of your best videos (One one of my all time fav games) Extremely well detailed on the game, characters & story and it honestly has me thinking way more different on it and I might replay it again once more.
Would you ever make a video on the Music of the game because without Akira Yamaoka's OST the game would be vastly different
I can’t tell you to remember me ,but I can’t bear for you to forget me
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. ☯️
you know what I'm 32 years old and always knew SH2 is a masterpiece but didn't have the perspective that different endings are also part of the game and level design deeply sure I knew it was but didn't knew the extend of it by looking at it in this context, great vid
Silent Hill 2 is one of the best video games ever made. Yes, this has been continuously said over and over again, but I think it's really easy to underestimate the narrative and artistic power of this title. I myself prefer Silent Hill 3, but there's no denying that the grandiosity of Silent Hill 2 was, and still is, a peak achievement for video game artistry as a whole.
This was a very well made essay and made me wanna replay Silent Hill 2. I may do it in a while, I wanna get again lost in this game's world and characters
Just like silent hill 2 this is one of the best deep game analysis videos ive watched
wow, finally someone said this, cus SILENT HILL 2 is my greatest game of all time
appreciate it brother and great video.
DX, great to see an upload!
SILENT HILL 2 is the only one horror videogame was made me cry .
Stunningly articulated script, man. People who have finished at least one ending, I like to inform them about the context of the decisions, the other endings and contexts for them in isolation, then I let them stew on it a few days.
If they're willing to put up with where I'm going with this after all that, and our accompanying book-club-style discussion about every aspect of the game, it all leads to one question: What ending resonates most with you, given the steps required to achieve it?
It's not an easy question to answer. Given how the player must behave to inform the game's script to produce a certain ending, I find that a person's answer to the question reveals a lot about their character.
Personally, I've always thought that the "in water" ending suited James best, given the context. Perhaps that reflects how I hold myself to a certain standard, where I feel such a drastic action is called for if the transgression is large enough and/or the thought process that lead to the bad decision that was made way "properly justified" or not. The psychology leads me to believe that people should simply behave themselves in life, or face an appropriate consequence. I know that that does not apply to other people's code of ethics, but that's the point. Not implying I'd do anything to someone else, mind, but rather I think people should be diligent in life as to know what is, and is not, appropriate behavior, and to punish *themselves* for their sins. It's only right, the way I see it.
SH2 is a great game and a timeless classic, no doubt. But oh boy, that title made me crack up, glad I didn't have my morning coffee in my mouth when I read that.
you finally upload after months!
During SH4 James and Mary are referenced. Eileen reads writing on a tombstone they disappeared leaving the canon ending being unknown.
The letter in your inventory becoming blank by the end of the game was amazing.
This "game" (or should I better say a piece of art) left a deep mark on me as a teenager. No other piece of media did this to me. It still resonates inside me after all these years. I still dream about this place where I can finally find the peace and tranquility.
Shattered Memories's "Psychology Warning" system is basically exactly this done a hundred times clumsier. They learnt from success how to fail.
The Shiba Inu ending is still the ending that makes more sense to me
This content into my VEINS
Great video. Thanks for the time
And now this masterpiece is being remade!
Can't wait!
SH2 really is in a league of it's own. I used to play it routinely back in the early 2000s. These days I only replay it like once every few years but every time I do rebadges it as my favorite videogame.
Everyone knows the dog ending is the only canonical one.
this type of content is so high quality. Always love watching Analysis on video games
Man this guy would sure love dark souls
This is an excellent description of this masterpiece of a game. I'm so pumped for the announcement tomorrow. SH2 is hands down the most intriguing and interesting work of art I've ever experienced. I still come back to it every couple of years and it never disappoints. A well done remake (emphasis on well done, unlike the insulting hd remasters) will be the most anticipated release of my lifetime, no question.
we all know that the canon James is the James in the Dog Ending /j
All jokes aside, this is a great video! I love the way you explain everything, really makes you understand how James feels throoughout the game. Silent Hill 2 is amazing, and so is your video. Keep up the great work!
This game keeps teaching me about life and myself everytime i watch a video a about it or play it , this game was made with intentioned love , good job on the video .
I'm sad to say I've never played this game, not even one time. Yet I can appreciate from watching this and the way it gets talked about, I'm missing out on having played a real gem.
why are you watching this and spoiling it for yourself? go play the game first. oh wait, too late
@@hypnos9336
To be honest I still don't have a clue what happens here and I only watched around two thirds of this video cause I don't wanna spoil it.
@@greatdelusion7654 just make sure you play with the version that has the original voice acting, i.e. not the HD collection.
@@nightshadegatito
Noted, ok thanks. What about other HD updates/mods? Are there any that are essential?
In a town of rust and fog's embrace,
Where memories twist and shadows chase,
A man walks lost, a haunted soul,
Silent Hill's mirror, taking its toll.
Flakes of ash fall, whispers in the haze,
A wife long gone, a love that decays.
Each rusted swing, a creaking plea,
Echoes of guilt, a symphony.
Mannequins writhe, grotesque ballet,
A twisted reflection, a morbid display.
The monsters born of what's buried deep,
Secrets and sorrows nightmares keep.
Letters scattered, whispers untold,
A love unspoken, a story unfolds.
He carries the weight, the burden he bears,
The labyrinthine heart, where torment flares.
Can he confront the sins he denies?
Can love survive beneath these haunted skies?
Silent Hill's whispers, a chilling decree,
"The only monster here is you, can't you see?"
For the human condition, a truth laid bare,
We sculpt our demons, the burdens we share.
The ghosts of regret, the choices we make,
In the halls of memory, a haunting we wake.
But redemption's embers, a flicker of light,
Forgiveness a battle, in the darkest of night.
To face the past, with a heart that's sincere,
May love's fragile flame banish all fear.
Silent Hill's fog, a chance to confront,
The monsters within, the battles not fought.
For in the depths of the human abyss,
Lies the power to heal, with a single soft kiss.
If a new entry came its our work to BUY IT love SH from Ecuador
My cannon James would be the "In Water", that's the one who makes more sense to me, besides, Mary's body is on the back seat, so...
Silent hil 2l is my favorite horror game of all time, that I bought a jacket that looks like james sunderland's, ordered the patches and I wear it everywhere. I went to gamestop to see if the employees would recognize it and none of them did. Bruh...
Maybe the canon James is the one who encountered Harry Mason along with some aliens
😂😂
Silent Hill 2 is the only game where your wife and the simulacra of her dies 5 times and by your hands at least twice by however you interpret the monsters.
Never played the silent hill series.This made me want to give it a try!
I implore you, please play them. They’re so much better than can be put into words. I would recommend emulating 1 through 4 since they’re all super expensive physically.
@@HugoRoids that sounds amazing I just suck at puzzles and figuring out where to go but yeah I'll try it.
@@HugoRoids i played SH1 and 2 fully, but the third... oh I just drop that game, I found it boring compared to the other 2. I don't even try sh4, but maybe I will give it a try. But yeah, SH2 is the best horror game ever made.
@@williambilloverback3172 It's a shame you didn't like 3 but even I'll agree it's the weakest of the team silent games. I highly recommend you at least give 4 a try since it's pretty different compared to 1-3 and is my personal 2nd favorite one.
What a game... Till today nothing beats the experience of finishing it.
The best voice acting i ever saw in a video game
soo happy to watch ur analysis of game, keep up the good content!
Bro where ya been! I missed ya!
I’ve never played the Silent Hill games, I was always a Resident Evil boy back in the day. How should I experience these classics for the first time?
We need a silent hill remastered edition with all the games and done right. I am a silent hill fan as much as a resident evil fan. This series can be revived by the right people.
there aren't many games i consider to even holst a grip on the revolver of perfection. ninja gaiden black, halo 3, and of course, silent hill 2. other than its sequel, not a single game competes with its atmosphere. and back in 2020 my 14 year old self could never have been more impacted by this testimony.
its hard to comprehend how honest it is, i guess