How the Silent Hill 2 remake turns the pyramid head into an even scarier monster

James first encounters Pyramid Head at the Wood Side Apartments, where he brutalizes two mannequin monsters in a hint at his psychological connection to James through his repressed sexual frustration. James hides in a closet to initially avoid detection and learns the hard way that Pyramid Head is bulletproof when he repeatedly shoots the monster at point-blank range with his pistol as the massive swordsman approaches the closet. However, it is when James arrives at the adjacent Blue Creek Apartments that he finds himself in a fight to the death with Pyramid Head, with no hope of physically dominating his opponent.

This is where the improved quality of life and the modernized and complete technical presentation for Silent Hill 2 the remake compared to the original version really shines. Even with improved movement and camera controls, this is a tense showdown; easily one of the most intense in the game and the most harrowing the player has ever endured at this point in the story. Pyramid Head attacks James, breaking metal cages scattered around the room, not only relying on his signature blade, but punching James if he gets too close. And this version of Pyramid Head is fast, marching steadily towards James and breaking through the twisted cages around him, filling the air with the sound of screeching metal as James tries to stay one step ahead just to stay alive.

Comparatively, the first confrontation with Pyramid Head in the original Silent Hill 2 took place in a relatively empty room, making it easier for players to navigate around the enemy and anticipate their movements. Taking advantage of the technical capabilities of the PlayStation 5, the confrontation in the remake takes place in a dark room where the player has to rely on James’ very weak flashlight, the noise that Pyramid Head makes dragging his sword and the sparks he emits as he scrapes the floor. to keep track of where the villain is, keeping the player hooked to the action if they want to survive. Plug in your headphones for this one and rest assured that you really need to pay attention to this fight.

In both versions Silent Hill 2the objective is not so much to defeat Pyramid Head as to stay alive long enough for the helmeted henchman to give up the fight, at least for now. The more damage James inflicts on Pyramid Head, the shorter the encounter lasts, concluding with Pyramid Head hearing an air raid siren and leaving the room, taking one last look at James before resurfacing later in the game.

Pyramid Head is the concept of self-flagellation made tangible in the purgatory that is Silent Hill, the ephemeral given terrifying physical form. From that introductory moment, when James glimpses the villain through the wooden slats of a musty apartment closet, to the duel against the two Pyramid Heads in the lobby of the Lakeview Hotel, Pyramid Head is the most striking antagonist in either version. of Silent Hill 2. And while Pyramid Head’s central role remains relatively the same in both versions, the remake makes the executioner more representative of the 2024 game’s broader spirit.

THE Silent Hill 2 remake is an elevation of the original material; everything seems intensified. The experience is scarier, more atmospheric, more tense and more ambitious, given the technical possibilities of the PS5 hardware and the benefit of hindsight to see how the original game Silent Hill 2 has been received and re-evaluated in the 23 years since its release. Pyramid Head is a big part of this, designed and rendered in an instantly recognizable way, but less as a hard-boiled villain and more as a legitimately frightening and oppressive enemy. THE Silent Hill 2 The remake never gets as intense as the first fight against Pyramid Head, though the memory of it will leave you on the edge of your seat whenever you encounter him again. And rest assured, you’ll see a lot of Pyramid Head. Punishment is here to stay in Silent Hill and James Sunderland is about to learn all about it.