Silent Hill 2 includes a major plot twist as James explores the town of Silent Hill, having received a message from his deceased wife and feeling the need to investigate this mystery. The remake follows the same core story beats as the original game, so the story will be familiar to players who had the chance to experience that version. However, new players experiencing the story for the first time might have a few questions about the characters and their motivations.

Warning: the following article contains major spoilers for both Silent Hill 2 and Silent Hill 2 remake.

The the endings are decided based on James' actions throughout the game, and each ending results in James having a different reaction to a key event that happened before he even arrived in Silent Hill.

Silent Hill 2's Big Plot Twist Explained

James Might Be The Real Villain

James is upset about the death of his wife, Mary, throughout the game, and it's revealed that she suffered from a terminal illness. This is something both she and James struggle with, as she's not only coming to with her own loss of life, but she's also depicted as feeling like a burden on him. He also finds it difficult to manage, both emotionally and with how physically demanding the illness is. Sexual elements in the game also suggest James struggled to cope with what the illness meant for their physical intimacy.

The game adds a few layers to her death with the plot twist that James killed her by smothering her with a pillow, perhaps making him a Silent Hill 2 villain instead of a hero. However, the game doesn't explain true his motivations beyond hints to his emotional state, and the way he comes to with Mary's death varies across endings.

Silent Hill 2 Leaves James' Motives Up For Interpretation

It Could Be A Mercy Killing

There are quite a few endings, and a few of them can only be seen through New Game Plus in Silent Hill 2. However, it's the three base game endings that offer the most explanation for James' motivations. In the Leave Ending, James accepts his role in her death and decides to move on, possibly seeing his actions as a mercy for her. With the In Water Ending, James decides to die and Mary, overcome with guilt for killing her. The Maria Ending has James ignoring that Mary ever existed, showing his frustration about her illness.

The remake of Silent Hill 2 gives new life to the game, and now it's more approachable than ever for players who might've not had the chance to experience it before. Plus, the game now has new ways to bring horror, with increased graphical quality and a new camera angle that keeps secrets in the dark. However, the core elements of the game remain the same, meaning that James' past remains morally questionable in Silent Hill 2.