It is well known that this Konami horror video game saga is inspired by a lot of horror and suspense literature and films. Although the references are not as many as in the original 1999 game, Silent Hill 2 It also has a good number of secrets, easter eggs and the 2024 remake added even more.
Let’s get to know them, but first we invite you to read our game reviewthe guide to all your puzzles and that of how to get all the endings, including the new ones.
Street names
Same as in the first Silent Hillall the streets of Silent Hill 2 and its ‘remake’ refer to horror and suspense authors. Many of the works that we will mention below as examples of their work were confirmed as Team Silence influences by themselves after the release of the original SH2.
- Nathan Avenue: Robert Nathan, author de The Portrait of Jennie
- Vachss Highway: Andrew Vacsh, author of the crime novel series Burke
- Wiltse Highway: David Wilse, screenwriter of Revenge of the Stepford Women
- Calle Lindsay: David Lindsay, author of Journey to Arcturus
- Calle Martin: David Lozell Martin, author of crime novels
- Calle Sanders: Lawrence Sanders, autor de The Anderson Tapes
- Calle Neely: Richard Neely, author The Plastic Nightmare y Madness of the Heart
- Katz Street: William Katz, author of surprise party y Prisoner of a face.
- Harris Street: Thomas Harris, author of The Red Dragon, The Silence of the Lambs y Hannibal
- Calle Saul: John Saul, author of Creature y Guardian
- Calle Munson: Ronald Munson, author of Fan Mail
- Calle Rendell: Ruth Rendell, author of the mystery novel series Wexford.
- Calle Carroll: Lewis Carroll, author of Alice in Wonderland.
References to Silent Hill 2 original
Vestiges of the past
The remake is very faithful to the original in terms of story and basic structure, but makes many changes to the gameplay that caused many puzzles and mapping to be altered or changed entirely. Despite this, the ‘remake’ manages to make references to the Silent Hill 2 2001 through “moments” called Vestiges of the Past.
When we approach a location that had special meaning in the previous game, we can interact with it to see a green flash and static effect. There are many moments so we are not going to list them all here, but we have them all separately in a guide to find all these vestiges of the past.
Finding them all unlocks the achievement or trophy «Echoes«.
The original map
At the point where we pick up the South Vale (West) map we can see a poster with the original design of the map as we remember it from the 2001 game.
Maria’s original costume
The original dress that María had in the Silent Hill 2 original —and that is copied directly from the one that the singer Christina Aguilera had at the Teen Choice Awards ’99— has been changed for a more modern ‘look’. But we won’t miss him because he has a special appearance in one of the rooms at Jack’s Inn in South Vale (west).
Later, we will see Maria take the suit and ask James if he thinks it would look good on her.
The rancho in comic sans
One of the funniest aspects of the infamous version HD Collection of SH2 for Xbox 360 and PS3 it was the Silent Hill Ranch sign written in comic sans font. In the ‘remake’ the sign is written in a more appropriate font, but the funny sign can be found inside the ranch if we ‘hack’ the game’s camera to see what is inside.
The Baldwin Mansion
If when we are with María we approach the Baldwin Mansion (In front of Jack’s Inn on Munson Street) we approach the Baldwin Mansion, she will comment that this place seems familiar to her despite having never been there.
This is a reference to ‘Born From a Wish’ a bonus story included in the special edition Restless Dreams of Silent Hill 2. In this prequel to James’ story we control María and visit this place.
References to Silent Hill 3
When Heather Mason’s adventure was released for PS2 in 2003, it made several references to its predecessor. It’s time to return the favor. There are a couple of ‘easter eggs’ that make references to Silent Hill 3 in the remake of Silent Hill 2. One is very humorous and the other is intriguing.
The mystery of room 106
If we enter room 106 when we are with Maria, James mentions that something is not right there, but the most important thing is that We can see Douglas Cartland’s hat from Silent Hill 3 on one of the chairs.
This is the room Douglas and Heather stay in after traveling to town in that game.
If we return to this room after completing Brookhaven Hospital, we will find that the wallpaper behind one of the beds has been torn off and we can see that there is a Halo of the Sun.
This will also unlock the achievement or trophy Everything in order.
It’s bread
If we go to the kitchen of the Lakeview Hotel we will find a shelf of bread trays. If we interact with it we will unlock the trophy It’s bread (‘it’s bread’). This is a reference to Heather’s infamous line in Silent Hill 3 when he does the same thing, which became a meme in the game’s fan community.
Robbie the rabbit
One of the cosmetic masks that we can put on James if we buy the deluxe version of the game is that of Robbie the rabbit, the “mascot” of Silent Hill 3 which would later appear in more installments of the saga.
References to movies and books in the remake of Silent Hill 2
- Mary and Laura’s outfits are copied from those of the wife and daughter of Nicholas Cage’s character in the film Con Air: Risk in the air.
- The Blue Creek Apartment Building is directly inspired by the Deep Rivers building from the David Lynch film Blue Velvet. Another reference to the same film is the scene in which James shoots Pyramid Head from inside a closet.
- One of the poses that James can do after taking the chainsaw and standing still for a while is an homage to Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
- At the Historical Society there is a painting called Banquet of the Gods that seems to be about the origin of Pyramid Head, but also a reference to the masked-faced seer in the cursed video of The Hoop.
- The movement of the nurses’ heads is taken directly from the movement of the monsters’ heads. Jacob’s ladder. This film was one of the main influences behind the first Silent Hill.
- The moth with a skull that we see in one of the rooms of the Blue Creek building is similar to the one on the movie poster The silence of the innocent.
- According to the creators, Angela’s name was taken from Sandra Bullock’s character in the film. The Network and Laura’s from the novel No Language But a Cry by Richard D’Ambrosio.
Other articles and guides on Silent Hill en PS5
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