Silent Hill remains one of the most popular horror video game series out there and it could prove to be a real challenge to find a gamer who hasn’t heard of it at all.
Classic Silent Hill 2 in particular was truly horrifying at times and today we’d like to focus on that.
But before we do, it’s worth mentioning that not long ago the game received a highly anticipated remake that brings the original experience up to speed with what you’d expect from a modern game.
Remakes are often a risky business. If done in a lax and potentially disrespectful way, they’ll ruin the game’s reputation and will leave exceptionally bad taste in everyone’s mouths.
Thankfully, in the case of Silent Hill 2, the remake was executed masterfully and, for this, it received well-deserved praise.
It managed to perfectly capture the atmosphere of the original game while paying attention to all the details and adding more to it to fit modern game standards.
It exceeded people’s expectations and, as such, it became not only a great and convenient way of reliving the past for that sweet kick of nostalgia; it’s also a perfect starting point for newcomers to the series who’d like to try Silent Hill 2 but found the original too old and outdated to be bothered with it.
But enough of that. Down below we’ve highlighted some of the most terrifying moments in the original Silent Hill 2. Keep in mind it’s not exactly a ranking; the events were described in order they appeared in the game.
Due to the nature of the article, it’s naturally full of spoilers – you’ve been warned.
Road to Silent Hill
The game doesn’t start directly in town. To get there, you’ll have to take a short walk, and that’s the first scary moment in the game.
Nothing really scary happens during that time, but when you play it for the first time, you can’t possibly know that.
There’s that thick fog everywhere which creates a tense, unsettling atmosphere, putting you in a high-alert mode in anticipation of a jump scare.
Meeting Pyramid Head
The first time you meet Pyramid Head, it can be quite a scary experience, which now may sound silly, considering that he’s just standing there behind the metal bars and staring at you, menacingly.
But it looks dangerous and hostile, plus you’re not sure yet what it’s capable of – maybe the bars are not enough to stop him if he decides to get you?
Shortly after, a second encounter occurs. This time you’re hidden in the closet and there are no bars between you two anymore, which makes the situation a bit more frightening.
Now you’re completely helpless and mentally preparing for the worst.
He then appears a few more times throughout the game and every time it happens, it can be just as scary.
Angela with a Knife
It’s the second time you meet the mysterious girl, this time lying on the ground, holding a knife in her hand and mumbling to herself.
The scene can be deeply disturbing; you’re all alone with a stranger you know nothing about and they’re armed while you’re not. She doesn’t seem to be in the best mental state, making her a potential threat.
As you talk to her, the atmosphere gets tense, and you just keep looking at that knife, praying that nothing bad happens.
Whisper in Room 209
On the list of Silent Hill 2 scariest moments, one can’t forget about room 209 whisper. As you enter the room, you may start hearing someone whispering directly into your ears, which could easily startle almost anyone.
The word “may” is the key here, as this one occurs randomly and there’s a chance you missed it.
As such, it becomes even spookier if you already played the game once or twice, and then the whisper occurs during your 3rd playthrough when you thought you already knew the game inside out and there’s nothing that could scare you anymore.
The Bathroom in Toluca Prison
If you knock a few times on one of the doors inside the prison’s bathroom, you’ll get a sound jump scare that can take a lot of people by surprise.
No sounds, no static noise, no sense of danger, and then it suddenly happens.
What’s funny is that you can only blame yourself and your own curiosity for triggering it.
The Gallows
Just a very creepy place with several bodies hanging around (pun intended).
The Underground Graveyard
There’s something unsettling about finally arriving at that place. Why would there be a graveyard so deep under the surface?
But things get even spookier once you start reading the names inscribed on the tombstones.
All the names sound familiar. Especially your own.
After the Labyrinth
It’s more mind-bending than scary but when you finally leave the Historical Society and the labyrinth, you may find yourself deeply confused if you think about it.
You were going down into the abyss all this time, which was emphasized on several occasions, and suddenly you just walked outside like nothing ever happened.
It makes you wonder if some evil spirit is messing with you.
Conclusion
Silent Hill 2 is full of terrifying moments and places and we thought that the release of SH2 remake is a good opportunity to remember some of them.
Did we get it right? Or perhaps there were other scary parts that left a lasting impression on you?