One Silent Hill 2 Remake Ending Could Make Room for a Sequel

The Silent Hill 2 remake has eight different endings, including two endings that most players agree are probably the “true” canon endings. There are also a couple of joke endings, including one where James discovers that a dog has been in control of the Silent Hill simulation the entire time. One Silent Hill 2 ending does leave room for a sequel, which would shake up the Silent Hill franchise.

Most Silent Hill games exist independently of each other. The power of Silent Hill connects the games, but they usually follow new characters and stories. The major exception to this rule is Silent Hill 3’s (2003) connection to the original Silent Hill (1999). SH3 is a direct sequel to the original, but the rest of the franchise fails to follow this trend. Silent Hill 2’s “Rebirth” ending existed in the original Silent Hill 2 (2001), but it still has the potential to continue James Sunderland’s journey in Silent Hill.

The Rebirth Ending, Explained

James is at His Most Unhinged & Mentally Unstable State

In the Rebirth ending, James becomes convinced that he can resurrect his wife, Mary, with the power of Silent Hill. Players will know that they achieved this ending the second the cutscene before the final boss fight with Mary/Maria triggers. When James approaches “Mary,” he accuses her of being Maria in disguise. Maria will insist that Mary is dead, so it shouldn’t matter that she’s not Mary. Maria is there for James and Mary isn’t. That should be enough for James.

Maria, disguised as Mary:
James! … What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy to see me?

James:
I’m sorry. I know what you are… Maria.

Maria:
What does it even matter? I’m here for you.

James:
You’re not her.

Maria:
She’s gone. And she’s not coming back.

James:
You’re wrong. There is a way. I can still bring her back.

Maria:
What? No… That’s not true.

James:
But before I do, I need to kill that part of me… that still clings to you.

Maria:
Who the Hell do you think you are?! You don’t get a say in this! Not anymore! Like it or not, I am here now. And I won’t let it end like this.

After this exchange between James and Maria, players will have to play through the final boss fight again. In this fight, Mary or Maria (depending on which ending players get) transforms into a terrifying conglomeration of a few different monsters players have seen throughout the game. Some noticeable comparisons include the Lying Figure, the Bubble Head Nurse, and Flesh Lip.

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After the final boss, players will see a new end cutscene that features James rowing across Toluca Lake with Mary’s body in the boat. James is heading towards the island at the center of the lake. As he rows into the thick fog that surrounds Silent Hill, he speaks to Mary’s body. Out of all the endings, James sounds the most manic and unstable in this one. Even James’ suicide ending made him sound more mentally sound.

“Mary. You look so peaceful. Forgive me for waking you. But without you, I just can’t go on. This town, Silent Hill… The Old Gods haven’t left this place. And they still grant power to those who venerate them. Power to defy even death. Ah… Mary.” – James speaking to Mary’s body in the “Rebirth” ending

This ending differs from the other endings where James remains in Silent Hill or Silent Hill “won,” like the “Bliss” ending. In the Bliss ending, James is reunited in a happy memory with Mary. He never remembers the truth about what happened to her. This ending thrives under the “ignorance is bliss” statement. James remains in the happy memory with Mary, unaware that he’s likely doomed to be trapped in Silent Hill forever. In the Rebirth ending, James purposefully chooses to stay in Silent Hill to resurrect Mary, a decision that he doesn’t make in any of the other endings. His goal is almost always to leave, whether that means physically leaving Silent Hill or killing himself.

How to Get the Rebirth Ending

Players Need to Collect a Few Ritualistic Items

To get the Rebirth ending, players will need to restart Silent Hill 2 on New Game+. The Rebirth ending cannot be obtained in a single playthrough. Players will need to finish the New Game+ file to completion. They’ll also need to find a few special collectibles along the way that didn’t exist in the original playthrough.

Rebirth Ending Collectible Requirements:

1. Collect Crimson Ceremony, found in the Graveyard
   • The Graveyard is one of the first major locations James explores. After the cutscene where James meets Angela in the Graveyard, players can find the Crimson Ceremony collectible before they leave the area. Players can find the book buried in front of a broken gravestone with an eye on it. The grave can be found right next to the lake.
2. Collect White Chrism, found at the Baldwin Mansion
   • The White Chrism is easy to overlook. While traveling with Maria after the Blue Creek Apartments segment of the game, players will need to find the Baldwin Mansion across from Jacks Inn. Players will find the White Chrism collectible on the right side of the mansion’s porch.
3. Collect Obsidian Goblet, found in the Historical Society
   • Once players enter the Historical Society, they need to find the painting of Red Pyramid Thing (Pyramid Head). Turn left and go to the left wall to find the Obsidian Goblet hanging in the middle of a frame.
4. Collect Lost Memories, found in the Lakeview Hotel
   • Go through Café Toluca and turn right. Players will find a breakable wall. Break it to gain access to the Lost & Found room. The Lost Memories collectible book is sitting on a desk to the player’s right once they enter.

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Fortunately, these four items are easy to acquire if players know where to look. These collectibles are four ritual items that James needs to revive Mary or, at the very least, he thinks he needs them to revive her. The ending never shows the ritual James participates in on the island, but the implications for what he plans to do with the items are there.

How the Rebirth Ending Opens Silent Hill 2 Up for a Sequel

If James Remains in Silent Hill, There’s More Work to Be Done

As mentioned, the Rebirth ending is the only ending where James willingly chooses to stay in Silent Hill. While players are replaying the game to achieve the requirements for the Rebirth ending, the game doesn’t change much. This provides a sense that James thinks he knows more about Silent Hill than he’s letting on, even to the player. As James searches Silent Hill and uncovers these ritual items, he begins putting ideas together about the power of Silent Hill and the Old Gods that reside there.

While the player fights for survival, James begins uncovering evidence of the Old Gods. The ending isn’t clear about how realistic James’ expectations are. He could just be diving into his delusion because he can’t cope with the truth; he killed Mary on her deathbed, and now he can’t live with the guilt for what he did. Players have already seen evidence of James’ fragile mental state. He was susceptible to Silent Hill’s influence in the first place, after all. To that extent, the player has to accept that James is an unreliable narrator. The nonsense he spouts in the Rebirth ending about the Old Gods and being able to bring Mary back could be just that, nonsense.

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At the same time, the power of Silent Hill is extremely real. Every Silent Hill game proves that time and time again. Some of the other Silent Hill games dive further into the Old Gods, the cult, and many other questionable things that happen in the town. The original Silent Hill was all about a cult trying to use a young girl with psychic abilities to rebirth a god. Silent Hill 3 used Heather as a vessel for the cult’s god too, and the cult nearly succeeded. James’ Silent Hill was a much more personal experience to him, but that didn’t remove all the other aspects that make Silent Hill a horrible place to be trapped.

Since the Rebirth ending focuses on James dipping into the occult side of Silent Hill and willingly staying, it opens up a lot of possibilities. The Rebirth ending also never shows the resurrection ritual. It doesn’t go into detail about how James came to these conclusions. It doesn’t confirm if he succeeded in bringing Mary back. It leaves so many unanswered quests that simply demand a sequel.

In addition to Rebirth’s unanswered questions, it also opens up some more disturbing possibilities. If James begins worshiping the Old Gods because he believes they can bring Mary back, does he get involved with the cult known as The Order? Do his attempts to resurrect Mary connect to events from other games? Could James still be in Silent Hill when future characters find themselves trapped there? These are all questions that could be answered if players get to spend another game with James Sunderland. The sequel would explore the true lengths James is willing to go to bring Mary back and undo his mistake.

Investigating a letter from his late wife, James returns to where they made so many memories – Silent Hill.

Survival Horror

Horror

Adventure

Action

Systems

Released

October 8, 2024

Developer(s)

Bloober Team

Publisher(s)

Konami

Engine

Unreal Engine 5

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ // Blood and Gore, Language, Sexual Themes, Violence

How Long To Beat

15 Hours

Prequel(s)

Silent Hill

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unsupported

How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)

26.5 hours

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

PC Release Date

October 8, 2024

PS5 Release Date

October 8, 2024

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