========================================================= Ushinawareta Kioku (Lost Memories): Silent Hill Chronicle ========================================================= Ushinawareta Kioku is part of Silent Hill 3: Koshiki Kanzen Koryaku Guide (Official Perfect Capture Guide), published by Konami and NTT publishing. ======== Contents ======== prologue Silent Hill series overview Silent Hill area map History of Silent Hill Alessa's history Characters relation map logue 1 "Silent Hill" Story preview Dialogue 1 Character commentary Creature commentary Ending analysis Staff credits logue 2 "Silent Hill 2" Story preview Dialogue 2 Character commentary Creature commentary Ending analysis Staff credits logue 3 "Silent Hill 3" Story preview Dialogue 3 Character commentary Creature commentary Ending and theme song analysis Staff credits Making of "Silent Hill 3" Silent Hill fugue: suggestion of cards Materials for solve Inspirational works ============ Introduction ============ The name of that town is Silent Hill. Although it is known as a scenic resort area, it is a cursed place where the town's former inhabitants were once driven away, brutal executions were once carried out, and a mysterious plague was once prevalent. The town is centered around Toluca Lake, from which a thick fog perpetually enshrouds the area and makes vague the reality and dreams of those who visit the town. And according to those who have seen them, there are also times when "things" that should not naturally exist appear. A few incidents that have occurred in this town up to this point have gone unaddressed, leaving behind a great number of mysteries. Here and now, looking back on it all, let's elucidate these mysteries one by one. ==================== Silent Hill Area Map ==================== Silent Hill is a rural town located in northeast America. To start with, let's look at a summary of the buildings and locations that have become the setting for the series. ==== Lake Side Amusement Park: An amusement park built on the outskirts of town. The park is adjacent to the church. Lake View Hotel: Before the second game took place, the hotel was completely destroyed by a fire. Silent Hill Historical Society: The Historical Society traces the history of the town with paintings and photographs. Brookhaven Hospital: A hospital that was built in response to the outbreak of an epidemic that once swept the town. Rosewater Park: A park on the water that looks out onto Toluca Lake. Stone statues and monuments here communicate the town's history. Observation Deck: The entirety of Toluca lake is visible from the viewing platform. This is the starting point of the second game. Residential Area: The area that became the opening scene of the first game is the new town situated on the north side of the lake. Among other things, the church and elementary school are found here. Business District: The business district across the bridge is the location of a shopping center and hospital, among other things. It is busier than the south side of the lake. Resort Area: Located south of the residential area is the resort town. The amusement park can be reached by advancing west on the main road. ====================== History of Silent Hill ====================== A town that possesses a mysterious power, Silent Hill. Using facts introduced in the games as a foundation, let's delve into the history of this town. year in American history relevance to Silent Hill ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- before 16th c. * Native Americans conduct rituals here. This land is valued as a sacred place in Native American religion (see: folklore) around 1607 * England begins colonizing North America late 1600s * settlers begin to come to Silent Hill 1692 * Salem Witch Trials in Massachusetts early 1700s * a mysterious epidemic breaks out, and the town is abandoned 1776 * U.S. declaration of independence 1789 * first presidential inauguration of George Washington around 1810 * civil war breaks out * the town is resettled as a penal colony. Silent Hill Prison is constructed (see: prison) Brookhaven Hospital is constructed in response to the outbreak of an epidemic (see: epidemic) 1820 * Maine becomes a state * Allen Smith paints "waterfront landscape" 1830 * beginning of forced removal policy for Native Americans around 1840 * Silent Hill Prison closes around 1850 * A coal field is discovered and Wiltse coal mine opens, which leads to the revitalization of the town 1861 * outbreak of the * a man called Chester and his American Civil War son both participate in the war (see: the Civil War) 1862 * Toluca prison camp is constructed for POWs 1865 * culmination of the Civil War 1866 * the prison camp is converted into Toluca Prison around 1890 * end of Native Americans' * at this time people everywhere organized resistance in the town mysteriously disappear one after the other early 1900s * Toluca Prison closes and Silent Hill becomes a sight- seeing area Nov. 1918 * a sightseeing ship called the Little Baroness goes missing 1939 * strange events take place at Toluca Lake (see: Toluca Lake) 19XX * the mayor of Silent Hill dies suddenly, and one after the other the staff at a development group die accidental deaths folklore Sacred ground where Native Americans conducted mysterious rituals Before settlers came from Europe, Silent Hill was a holy place. Even then, the land seemed to possess a mysterious power. IMAGE: the memo titled "Lost Memories" They revered the town as "The Place of the Silenced Spirits." However, they were driven away by settlers and had to abandon the town. ==== prison After the spread of an epidemic, resettling of the town as a penal colony begins Many people lost their lives on this abominable soil. Consequently, the town was used at first as a penal colony. It was at this time that it was given the name "Silent Hill." IMAGE: James in the Historical Society After the closing of the prison, the Historical Society was built on its former site. It conveys a sense of the town's history. ==== epidemic Once more, the threat of a plague steadily wraps the town in darkness The town was stricken by an epidemic. It may be that because of the unforeseen deaths of the town's population, as well as the thoughts and feelings of the prisoners, the original power that the town held was gradually distorted. IMAGE: the front doors of the hospital The current incarnation of Brookhaven Hospital has existed since it became large-scale in the late 1800s. ==== the Civil War The town is drawn into the Civil War that divided the nation in two The Civil War occurred in 1861. The stone statue by the lake is a memorial to Patrick Chester, a soldier who fought in the war at this time. IMAGE: James examines the statue in the park Although the conflict was originally born from political opposition, it was distorted by future generations into an issue concerning the birth of the religious cult. (note: Whether the word used here, "suuhai," means "cult" or "worship" depends entirely on context and the context here doesn't seem to be clear enough to rule out the possibility that this sentence could also mean something like, "...it was distorted by future generations into an issue concerning religious worship.") ==== Toluca Lake After becoming a sightseeing area, a series of misfortunes befall the town With the closing of Wiltse coal mine came the attempted reinvention of the town as a tourist attraction. However, due to a succession of boating accidents the town gained a poor reputation as a sightseeing area. IMAGE: a rowboat is barely visible through the fog on the lake The famous Toluca Lake is a place that overflows with atmosphere. It is known as an ominous lake that has become completely shrouded in a pervasive mist. (note: Although the Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865, the dates for its outbreak are listed as both 1861 and around 1810 so I can only assume that this is a typo. The earlier date is probably meant to indicate the War of 1812.) ================ Alessa's History ================ Silent Hill is a town where an ominous god is worshipped, and where those who hold darkness in their hearts gather. This is a look back at half of the lifetime of the young girl from whom it all originated. ==== around 20 years ago: one after the other, the staff at a development group die accidental deaths mysterious consecutive deaths The staff of a company that was working on developing the town as a sightseeing area died mysteriously one after the other. Because of the extent of the the mystery surrounding the cause of these deaths, it was rumored that there was some connection to the town's religion. IMAGE: Lisa tells Harry about the string of deaths It was thought that the mysterious deaths overlapped with the strange faith from the town's past. ==== around 14 years ago: Alessa is born Alessa had unique abilities since she was very young. In school they called her a witch and tormented her by excluding her and scribbling on her desk. IMAGE: an ethereal image of Alessa huddled in a corner In "nowhere" of the first game, we catch a glimpse of the pain that characterized Alessa's childhood. ==== around 12 years ago: Claudia is born Two years after Alessa, Claudia is born. The parents of the two girls were of the same faith, and it seems that they were on extremely good terms during their childhood. IMAGE: Heather reminisces about playing cards with Claudia In Alessa's room, memories of the two of them remain. ==== around 11 years ago: Harry suffers the death of his wife ==== around 7 years ago: Cheryl is born Dahlia's ritual A fire breaks out that burns down six houses in the business district. It was declared that Alessa's dead body had been found at the Gillespie house, which was the origin of the fire. However, the cause of this fire was a ritual that Dahlia conducted using her daughter Alessa in order to bring about the coming of God. IMAGE: blood cascades down Lisa's face Lisa nursed Alessa, who was made to continue living by means of an incantation. IMAGE: the scene in the Aratron room Kaufmann probably replaced the body. ==== (no time indicated) drug circulation After the fire in the business district, a drug known as "PTV" becomes prevalent in town. First a criminal investigator and then the mayor, who had redoubled efforts to impose control, met with mysterious deaths one after the other. IMAGE: Harry opens the safe PTV was circulated among tourists and the town was corroded. IMAGE: Dahlia and Kaufmann at the scene of the final battle An unseen alliance existed between the hospital and the religious organization. ==== 0: Silent Hill "Heather" is born Alessa (14 years old at the time) suffered from the burns inflicted upon her since the ritual that brought about the descent of God. In order to escape Dahlia's control, she calls out to Cheryl, her other self (7 years old at the time) to return. Due to the power of Alessa's thoughts, the town is transfigured into the otherworld. IMAGE: Harry awakens in the diner In his attempt to rescue his daughter, Harry becomes involved in the events that take place in Silent Hill. IMAGE: Alessa's form enveloped in light After the two girls became one, a new life was born. ==== 5 years later: a murder case in Portland After the events of Silent Hill, Harry took Cheryl (Heather) and moved to Portland. However, her whereabouts were discovered by a cult member who was searching for her. IMAGE: Douglas' notebook Apparently at this time Harry kills a perpetrator. ==== (no time indicated) expansion of the religious organization After Dahlia's death, there was a period of inactivity in the religious organization. However, after around ten years had passed it became active once more. The structure of the organization was adjusted and the number of adherents rapidly increased. One young priest was behind this renovation. IMAGE: Vincent in the library Vincent is the one whose efforts financed and implemented the structure of the organization. ==== ? years later: Silent Hill 2 the materialization of delusions Starting with the first game, the power that the town holds has intensified greatly. It has reached the point that those who hold darkness in their hearts are called to gather, and each of their unconscious minds is manifested. IMAGE: James in the prison Deep "holes" appear to those who hold darkness in their hearts. ==== around 17 years later: Silent Hill 3 a priestess behaves recklessly Claudia, a priestess in the religious organization, discovers Heather, who is the reincarnation of Alessa. In order to bring paradise to the world she tries to resurrect the god that sleeps inside Heather. IMAGE: Heather's encounter with Claudia in the shopping mall Claudia attempts to nurture the god that sleeps inside Heather with hatred. (note: Although the timeline indicates that Harry's wife passed away four years before Cheryl was born, this seems to contradict what we know about the chronology of events in Silent Hill. I think it's likely that this is a simple oversight on the part of whoever compiled the timeline-- it seems that Harry's wife died a few years after Cheryl was found, not before.) ====================== Character Relation Map ====================== A diagram of the interrelations of the series' characters centered around Alessa, who is repeatedly reincarnated. A deeper understanding is likely to be reached from summarizing the relationship to the religious organization. ==== Cybil--->Harry: Support in his search for Cheryl Harry---Cheryl: Child that was found and adopted Harry---Heather: Child that was born anew, picked up and raised Douglas--->Heather: Support for her revenge Vincent--->Heather: Support in stopping Claudia Claudia--->Douglas: Commissions him to search for Heather Claudia--->Heather: Seeks her to bring about the rebirth of paradise Leonard--->Claudia: Abused her when she was a child Heather--->Claudia: Revenge Cheryl+Alessa---Heather: Restored to one body and reborn Alessa---Cheryl: Divided into two due to resistance to the technique used to bring about the descent of God Lisa--->Alessa: Responsible for nursing her during her hospitalization Kaufmann--->Lisa: Gives her drugs and oversees Alessa's nursing Kaufmann<--->Dahlia: Alliance centered around drugs Dahlia--->Alessa: Performs the technique used to bring about the descent of God and impregnates her with the deity James<--->Angela: Meet in Silent Hill James--->Eddie: Murder James--->Mary: Murders her due to the burden of nursing her James--->Maria: Projection of his delusion Maria<--->Mary: Closely resemble each other Ernest Baldwin--->Maria: Asks her to search for items for a ritual Laura<--->Eddie: Meet on the way to Silent Hill Laura<--->Mary: Meet during hospitalization Parent and child relationships: Harry and Cheryl, Harry and Heather, Dahlia and Alessa, Leonard and Claudia Husband and wife: James and Mary Transmigration of souls: Heather, Cheryl and Alessa Characters connected to the religious organization: Dahlia, Claudia, Vincent, Leonard Silent Hill residents: Lisa, Kaufmann, Dahlia, Alessa, Claudia, Vincent, Leonard ===================== Logue 1: Silent Hill ===================== Harry, who appears in the first game as the protagonist, is the father of Heather (Cheryl), the heroine of Silent Hill 3. Let's look back at each aspect of the story that became the starting point for all the events that occur afterwards in the town of Silent Hill. ========================= Silent Hill Story Preview ========================= Not being limited to simple character introductions, the opening depicts events that take place prior to the start of the game. After the "Good+" ending, the image in one section of the opening is altered. ==== 01 A photograph of Alessa is projected following the words, "The fear of blood tends to create fear for the flesh." 02 Harry stands with his wife holding a baby in his arms. Although it doesn't appear in the main part of the game, this image is probably from the moment when Cheryl was found. 03 Cheryl stands amidst the fog. Harry comes to wander about the town of Silent Hill in his attempt to find her. 04 Harry awakens on the sofa in the cafe. He was dreaming that he was pursuing Cheryl and had lost his way in the otherworld. 05 The nurse Lisa crawls out from under the desk where she was hiding. This image is from the scene in which she runs into Harry for the first time in the hospital. 06 Dahlia turns around as she becomes aware that Harry has entered the church. Behind her is an image of Christ on the cross. 07 Only for an instant, a vision of Alessa appears in the boiler room in the basement of the elementary school. She looks older than she does in the photograph in 01. 08 Imploring him to help her, Lisa clings to Harry. She appears before him whenever the world is transfigured into the otherworld. 09 Having killed a creature with his gun, Kaufmann feebly sits in a chair. This image is from the scene in which he encounters Harry for the first time in the hospital's examination room. 10 Cybil walks up with a mysterious smile. When she encounters Harry in the cafe, she is not yet aware of the seriousness of the situation. 11 A single car drives up a deserted county road. Riding in the car are Harry and Cheryl, who are going to Silent Hill for their vacation. 12 Nodding off in the passenger seat, Cheryl holds the sketchbook that Harry gave to her. Later, this sketchbook is found in the otherside alleyway. 13 A woman whose skin is inflamed as a result of burns and is wrapped in bandages which cover her whole body. This is the only image seen of Alessa suffering in her sickbed. 14 After getting confirmation over her wireless, Cybil leaves the room in a haste. This is a depiction of the sequence of events prior to her arrival in Silent Hill. 15 Drawing near to Kaufmann, Lisa quarrels in a vehement tone. The fact that the matter of Alessa's nursing is at hand indicates the subject of their dispute. 16 Lisa laughs as if possessed by something. Could this be the state induced by the drug administered to her by Kaufmann? 17 Driving alongside Harry's car, Cybil uses her fingers to signal something to him. She passes Harry and continues to drive on head. 18 Immediately afterwards, for unknown reasons Cybil's bike is rolled over on its side. His attention attracted by the bike, Harry is unaware of the imminent danger he is in. 19 A close-up of Dahlia looking back in bewilderment as she becomes aware of someone's presence. This is yet another image that doesn't appear in the main part of the game. 20 A single house surrounded by disused telephone poles and a pool of water. Could this be Dahlia's house where Alessa was burned in the fire? 21 Harry hurriedly turns the wheel as he realizes that someone has appeared suddenly in front of the car. 22 In front of the car is a young girl with the same appearance as in 07. Could the female figure that Harry saw really have been Alessa? 23 Upon attaining the "Good+" ending, the image in 02 is altered. Cybil replaces Harry's wife. ================================ Silent Hill Character Commentary ================================ The story from which the horror originates. Let's take another look at the significance given to the characters that appear in the game. ==== name: Harrold "Harry" Mason age: 32 sex: m job: writer profile: A writer who lost his wife four years ago and currently lives with his daughter. He takes Cheryl to Silent Hill in order to spend a long vacation with her. With the occurrence of a sudden car accident, he finds himself involved in strange events. creator's comment When development first began on this project, because of his role as the doting, dutiful father he was given the name "Humbert Mason," which was referenced from the protagonist of Stanley Kubrick's film Lolita. However since this is an uncommon name, it was changed by the English staff. Actually, "Harry" was the nickname of the person who named the character. I thought, "They're the same," but... ==== name: Cybil Benett age: 28 sex: f job: police officer profile: A police officer from Brahms, a town adjacent to Silent Hill. Due to a sudden interruption of correspondence, she comes to Silent Hill to investigate. creator's comment Her last name is an allusion to Lawrencia Bembenek, a real-life policewoman who was a murderer. It was slightly tweaked to sound more generic. The first name calls to mind both the model Sybil Buck and the action star Sybil Danning. ==== name: Cheryl Mason age: 7 sex: f job: elementary school student profile: Although she is Harry's only daughter, the truth is that they are not related by blood. It is because of her wishes that the two of them travel to Silent Hill. creator's comment Originally we wanted to call her Dolores for the same reasons as Harry's character, but this met with fierce opposition and was rejected. The name originates from Sheryl Lee, but there is no particular significance. ==== name: Lisa Garland age: 23 sex: f job: nurse profile: A nurse who worked at Alchemilla Hospital. She was charged with nursing Alessa, who was kept alive even with her severe burns by means of an incantation. creator's comment The name Lisa comes from an actress who plays a nurse and is a murderer in the movie Sanguelia. Her last name is borrowed from Judy Garland, who plays a character in The Wizard of Oz who has lost her way in a dreamland. ==== name: Michael Kaufmann age: 50 sex: m job: doctor profile: A doctor who works at Alchemilla Hospital. Like Harry, he struggles to escape Silent Hill but the truth is that he is closely connected to the disaster taking place in town. creator's comment His name is a combination of the names Lloyd Kaufman and Michael Herz, two Troma Studios producers known for many B-movies such as The Toxic Avenger. There isn't a particularly deep significance. ==== name: Alessa Gillespie age: 14 sex: f job: unknown profile: A young girl who carries God inside her body as a result of a ritual conducted seven years ago. Cheryl was separated when the ritual took place, but in order for the two of them to return to a single body once again she was called back to Silent Hill. creator's comment In the initial stages of development we used the name Asia, which was taken from the daughter of the Italian film director Dario Argento. However, because it's an uncommon name, we decided to rename her. ==== name: Dahlia Gillespie age: 46 sex: f job: unknown profile: A mysterious woman who is devoted to the occult. She conducts a ritual to bring about the coming of God using Alessa, her real daughter, inflicting extensive life-threatening burns upon her. She is the person responsible for setting a series of events that take place in Silent Hill into motion. creator's comment She is named after a former wife of film director Dario Argento. Argento has made many horror movies including Suspiria, and is a master of the genre. =============================== Silent Hill Creature Commentary =============================== A look at the many creatures that suggest important elements of the otherworld ==== Air screamer (Bird) area: Housing district, business district character: Flying creature that moves in groups of five metaphor: "Air screamer." An image that comes from an illustration in one of Alessa's favorite books, The Lost World by Conan Doyle. ==== Night flutter (Bird of the business district) area: Business district, resort character: Appears in the business district's otherworld. It is sensitive to light metaphor: "Creature that flutters in darkness." The influence of the shift that the world undergoes is strong; its head is completely covered in worms. ==== Mumbler (Humanoid monster/Hook-clawed monster) area: School, sewers character: Although its movements are slow, it has a powerful claw attack metaphor: "Mumbler." The image of small menacing animals and small demons from fairy tales. ==== Larval stalker (Small humanoid shadow) area: School, amusement park character: Completely non-aggressive metaphor: "Larval stalker." Its laughter evokes memories of being teased at school. ==== Groaner (Dog) area: Housing district, business district character: Appears widely outdoors. It is sensitive to sound and will react to a gunshot metaphor: "Groaner." The image of large dogs, which Alessa has a strong dislike of, is the basis for this creature. ==== Wormhead (Dog of the business district) area: Business district, resort character: A more powerful dog-type creature metaphor: "Wormhead." The effect of the shift to the otherworld is strong; its head is completely covered in worms. ==== Puppet nurse (Parasitized nurse) area: Hospital, nowhere character: Its speed and physical strength differ depending on its dress and hair style metaphor: "Puppet nurse." A nurse that has been parasitized by something. This parasitized body is the same as Cybil's after she becomes possessed. ==== Parasitized doctor that appears only in the first game Although the female nurse-type creatures have become typical of the series, there was also a doctor-type "puppet doctor" that appeared only in the first game. IMAGE: Harry aims his gun at one of the puppet doctors In respect to the otherworld, the creature does not appear in the later works of the series. ==== Romper (Jumping creature/Jack) area: Business district, resort character: Powerful monster that attacks with a body blow and pins down its victim metaphor: "Jumper." Manifestation of Alessa's fear of adults. ==== Creeper (Insect/Cockroach) area: School, hospital, sewers character: A giant insect that moves with great speed and reacts strongly to light metaphor: "Creeper." The manifested image of Alessa's dislike of insects. ==== Split head (Long-bodied monster/Lizard) area: School character: Although its movements are slow, its attack is powerful. Its weak point is the inside of its mouth metaphor: "Split head." The incarnation and transfiguration of a great lizard that appears in a fairy tale from the elementary school. ==== Twinfeeler (Green caterpillar/Giant green caterpillar) area: Shopping mall character: Lurks underground, utilizes a ramming attack as well as a poison gas attack metaphor: "Twinfeeler." The manifested image of an insect specimen from Alessa's room. ==== Floatstinger (Moth/Giant moth) area: Business district character: Mature form of the twinfeeler. Attacks with poison gas and the poisonous stinger on its tail metaphor: "Floatstinger." The image of an insect specimen that was used to decorate Alessa's room. ==== Bloodsucker (Tentacle monster) area: Hospital character: Tentacle creature that has no effective attacks metaphor: "Bloodsucker." The embodiment of a strong aversion to worms and snakes and the like. ==== Hanged scratcher (Long-limbed monster) area: Sewers character: Its hook-like claws are its weapons. It also hangs from ceilings metaphor: "Hanged scratcher." The manifestation of an image that is a composite of insect specimens. ==== Incubus (Demon/Incubus) area: Unknown realm character: Hangs in the air and attacks intermittently with a thunderstrike metaphor: "Dream demon." Incarnation of the mental image of God that Dahlia had. ==== Fusing with God, Alessa awakens. In the case of the bad ending, Alessa/incubator appears instead of incubus. Alessa's mental image is projected. IMAGE: a bright light emanates from Alessa's body The name "incubator" signifies "incubator for a premature baby." =========================== Silent Hill Ending Analysis =========================== The first game has four conclusions that play out depending on the protagonist's actions. Let's reaffirm their respective differences. ==== Good The orthodox ending, which is connected to the third game summary: Before Harry's eyes, Alessa and the young girl in the wheelchair are enveloped in light and take the shape of a single woman. Just then, Kaufmann enters. He throws red liquid at the shining woman. However, incubus is born from the girl. Harry defeats incubus and, taking the baby given to him by the dying woman, escapes the town. conditions: To receive this ending, the player must trigger an event with Kaufmann at the resort area and also defeat Cybil at the amusement park. If the player goes to Annie's Bar and Indian Runner upon reaching the resort area, opens the tank of the motorcycle in the motel's garage, and then witnesses an event with Kaufmann, the requirements are fulfilled. IMAGE: after the battle After incubus is defeated, the woman appears once again. She presents Harry with a baby. IMAGE: Harry holds the baby Harry escapes the town. In once again raising a child found in Silent Hill... ==== Bad It was all a delusion? The incident was the end result of the crash summary: Alessa and the young girl in the wheelchair are enveloped in light and take the shape of a single woman (incubator). Incubator attacks Harry, and he has no choice but to defeat her. Incubator tells him, "Thank you daddy..." and disappears. The sorrow of losing his daughter has Harry at wit's end. The next instant, Harry is lying in the driver's seat of his car at the scene of the accident. conditions: This ending takes place when the player defeats Cybil and doesn't trigger the event with Kaufmann. Head straight to the boat without stopping at the motel or anywhere else in the resort area. If Cybil is defeated at the amusement park, the conditions are met. It is not necessary to get the red liquid at the hospital. IMAGE: Harry mourns the loss of his daughter Suffering from the knowledge that his daughter may have been taken away from him, Harry involuntarily collapses. IMAGE: the scene of the crash The final scene depicts Harry's form with blood streaming from his head. He already seems to be unconscious. ==== Good+ An ending that has a hidden aspect of changing the opening image? summary: At the heart of "nowhere" are Dahlia and Cheryl, restored to her original form. There is a young girl sitting in a wheelchair as well. Cybil fires her gun at Dahlia in order to stop her from carrying out her plans, but the bullet is repelled and Cybil is knocked unconscious. At this point, Harry at last appears and stands before Dahlia, but because Kaufmann uses the red liquid, incubus is born from the girl. Harry defeats incubus and accepts the baby from the dying woman. Carrying the baby in his arms, he escapes the town with Cybil. conditions: This ending takes place when the player triggers the entire event with Kaufmann and saves Cybil as well. First, obtain the plastic bottle from the kitchen on the first floor of the hospital and collect the red liquid from the director's office next door. After that, it is necessary to use the red liquid during the fight with Cybil. IMAGE: Cybil trains her gun on Dahlia Cybil is one step ahead of Harry and finds her way to Dahlia before he does. However, her handgun is useless because of Alessa, who has regained her powers. IMAGE: Harry holds the baby When the woman presents Harry with the newly born baby, she shows him which way to go in order to escape. IMAGE: escaping after the battle Alessa uses the last of her power to stop the falling sparks. Harry and Cybil escape to safety. ==== Bad+ Cybil rescues Harry, who is crushed by despair summary: Cybil fires her gun at Dahlia in order to stop her from carrying out her plans, but the bullet is repelled and Cybil is knocked unconscious. Harry also appears and stands before Dahlia, but Alessa and the young girl in the wheelchair are enveloped in light and take the shape of a single woman (incubator). Incubator attacks Harry, and he has no choice but to defeat her. In Cheryl's voice, incubator tells him, "Thank you daddy..." and disappears. The sorrow of losing his daughter has Harry at wit's end, but Cybil forces him to recover and together they escape the town. conditions: This ending takes place when the player saves Cybil at the amusement park, but doesn't trigger the event with Kaufmann. After collecting the red liquid on the first floor of the hospital, at the resort area head straight to the boat. Later, if the red liquid is used during the fight with Cybil at the amusement park, the requirements are fulfilled. IMAGE: Alessa's transformation The bullet that Cybil fires is repelled and Alessa, who has returned to a single being, attacks Harry as incubator. IMAGE: after the battle Incubator expresses her gratitude to Harry. Her voice is unmistakably that of his daughter. IMAGE: Cybil attempts to motivate Harry Cybil roughly forces Harry to snap out of it as he has crumbled from the pain of the loss of his daughter. =================== Silent Hill Credits =================== Executive Producer: Translated by: Makoto Yano Daniel Monteverdo Producer: Arranged by: Gozo Kitao Rika Muranaka Omar Valente Director: Keiichiro Toyama Lead Vocal: Vanesa Quiroz Game System Programmer: Akihiro Imamura Package Designer: Daisuke Nakayama Graphic System Programmer: Naoto Oshima Publicity: Shigeyuki Tamura Character System Programmer: Kanako Nakahara Yuki Mizuochi Taro Miyake Enemy Programmer: Play Check: Kazutoshi Sugai Tatsuhiko Urushibara Hiroyuki Owaku RMC Kazumasa Ogiso STUDIO STAT Event Programmer: English Staff Hiroyuki Owaku ------------- Background Designer: Recording Director: Isao Takahashi Harry Inaba Masahiro Ito Masashi Tsuboyama Audio Engineer: Mihoko Kimura Scott Greiner (Transmedia) Takayuki Ando Tomohisa Koike Senior Product Coordinator: Takamitsu Nemoto Harry Inaba Kazuyuki Kaiho Tatsuto Yabe Product Coordinator: Soichiro Kitai Aki Saito Keiichiro Toyama Script Translation by: Monster Designer: Latina International Corp. Naoko Sato Masahiro Ito Recording Studio: Transmedia Motion, Story Demo Designer: Naoko Sato Voice Talent Agency: Takayuki Ando STARS Masashi Tsuboyama Voice Talents: Character Designer: Harry - Michael G Takayoshi Sato Cybil - Susan Papa Lisa - Thessaly Lerner CGI Creator: Dr. Kaufmann - Jarion Monroe Takayoshi Sato Alessa/Cheryl - Sandra Wane Dahlia - Liz Mamorsky Digital Technician: Kenichiro Imaizumi Special Thanks: HALKY Sound Director: Mike Gallo (KOA) Akira Yamaoka Ken Ogasawara (KOA) Kelly N Pine (Transmedia) Sound Programmer: Britney L Yunker (STARS) AKT Kiyohiko Yamane Nobuaki Yamazaki Ending Theme "Esperandote" Kazuaki Sugawara Produced by: Akihito Ichihara Rika Muranaka Emi Kori Music and Words by: Rika Muranaka ======================= Logue 2: Silent Hill 2 ======================= The complex story of the second game attracts attention with its shocking conclusion and various possible interpretations. If one plays with a deeper understanding of the elaborately integrated scenarios and the backgrounds of the characters that appear in the game, one should be able to gain a deeper appreciation for the story. =========================== Silent Hill 2 Story Preview =========================== An opening movie featuring many images and various speculative situations that do not appear in the main part of the game. Spoken dialogue is added once the game is cleared. ==== 01 Maria speaks to James from the other side of the bars. For some reason she seems to possess the memories of his wife, who is supposedly dead, and yet... 02 James and Maria hold a conversation through the bars. James is confused by the fact that Maria has Mary's memories. 03 Light streams in through the window of the vacant sickroom. It appears to be the same as Mary's sickroom, which is seen in the endings. 04 Countless objects are sucked into a "hole" at tremendous speed. This image does not appear in the main part of the game. 05 A strange creature lurks in the innermost darkness. It is also a vision that represents what lies hidden in the depths of peoples' hearts. 06 A light shines into the vacant private room, as if searching for something. Could the shadows of bars indicate that this is a prison cell? 07 James stares at his reflection in the mirror in the observation deck's restroom. This is the scene that leads into the story. 08 When Mary visited Silent Hill with James three years ago, James made a video tape recording. 09 James wanders through a place that resembles a prison holding a woman in his arms. Could this scene which doesn't appear in the main part of the game be an image from James' mind? 10 As in 08, an image from the recording that was made three years ago. Mary likes the location of Silent Hill very much. 11 Maria meets James again in the hospital's otherworld. She becomes angry at being mistaken for Mary and vehemently presses James to explain himself. 12 James encounters Angela for the first time in the cemetery. She stares suspiciously at James, who is using the trail to pass though to the town. 13 As the light is suddenly directed onto him in the underground prison, Eddie loses his cool. His agitated expression betrays his consciousness of his crime. 14 James meets Laura again on the way to the park. She clearly harbors some animosity towards him. 15 Lying in front of a mirror, Angela gazes with vacant eyes at the kitchen knife that she holds in her hand. She entrusts James with the knife before she leaves. 16 Eddie puts the gun muzzle to his temple. Like 13, this is the scene in which he encounters James in the prison. 17 Laura gives Eddie a kick while he sits on the street. This scene indicates that the two of them met by chance on the way to Silent Hill. 18 Maria speaks to James from the other side of the bars. Like 01, this is an image from the scene in which she meets James again in a passageway in the labyrinth. 19 In contrast with 04, this time a large quantity of something is ejected out of a hole. The objects seem to resemble mannequins and body parts. 20 A close-up of a "mouth" that writhes bizarrely. It belongs to a being that portends of Mary, the "flesh lip." 21 Eddie vomits into the toilet. He appeals to James to believe that he hasn't killed anyone. 22 Maria lies sprawled on the stage at Heaven's Night. Although this image doesn't appear in the main part of the game, she possesses a key to this establishment. 23 Laura visits Mary's room. She enters tentatively while assessing the situation. Who could be there that she has set her eyes upon? 24 Reaching through the gap in the bars, Maria touches James' cheek and says, "See? I'm real." ================================== Silent Hill 2 Character Commentary ================================== For a certain reason, they were drawn to Silent Hill. What darkness do each of them hold in their hearts? ==== name: James Sunderland age: 29 sex: m job: clerk profile: The protagonist. A letter from his late wife Mary has lead him to Silent Hill. creator's comment In the initial stages of the scenario, he was a character who had two personalities, "Joseph" and "James." The name "Joseph" was borrowed from the name of a man suspected of being Jack the Ripper, and "James" is a derivative. raison d'etre The letter James received from Mary was an illusion. Weary of nursing his wife's poor health, he took her life with his own hands to release her from the misery of her illness. However, he was unable to withstand the weight of his crime, and, immersed in his own delusions, one can think that he was drawn to the town of Silent Hill. ==== name: Mary Shepherd-Sunderland age: 25 sex: f job: housewife profile: James' wife, who supposedly died of an illness three years ago. Ever since visiting Silent Hill with James, it has been a place of memories for the two of them. creator's comment Her name is taken from the victim Mary Kelly in the "Jack the Ripper" case, who was living with the suspect Joseph as detailed in case files regarding the murders. raison d'etre Mary says various things in each ending to James, who has become aware of the crime he has committed. It is conceivable that her death three years ago is merely James' delusion. ==== name: Maria age: 25 sex: f job: dancer profile: A woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to Mary, although her personality and taste in clothing are completely opposite. For some reason, she tags along with James. creator's comment In the original scenario, the heroine also had an existence characterized by a double personality. The first personality is "Mary," so for the other, the name "Maria" is derived from that. raison d'etre Maria was produced by James' delusions as a result of his inability to bear the weight of the crime of killing his wife. It is established in the third game that her model was a dancer at the club Heaven's Night. ==== name: Laura age: 8 sex: f job: -- profile: A young girl who was a patient in the same hospital as Mary. Having no mother of her own, Laura loved Mary as if she were her real mother. creator's comment Her name is taken from the nonfiction work No Language But a Cry by Richard D'Ambrosio, the story of a young girl's search for happiness while struggling to overcome the scars of abuse. (note: the title of this book in Japan is something like "Laura, story of a little girl burned by a frying pan," which refers to an incident in which Laura's mentally ill parents placed her into a hot frying pan as a baby and began to cook her alive.) raison d'etre Of all the characters, she is the only one who does not hold any darkness in her heart. It may be that she came to Silent Hill looking for Mary. To her the town appears to be normal; she does not see any monsters, nor does she see Maria. ==== name: Angela Orosco age: 19 sex: f job: unknown profile: A girl who came to Silent Hill in search of her mother. After graduating high school, she ran away from home but was found and brought back by her father. creator's comment Her name is borrowed from the protagonist of the film, "The Net." This religious name meaning "angel" is common among Hispanics, thereby giving rise to the implied "immigrant" as well. raison d'etre From the article in the bloodstained newspaper, the conclusion can be made that Angela was unable to bear her abuse and took her father's life. After this incident, being in a state of emotional turmoil, one can think that she was called to Silent Hill. ==== name: Eddie Dombrowski age: 23 sex: m job: gas station employee (part time) profile: A young man who is teased because of his weight. Although he is usually passive, there is a side to him that is extremely violent. creator's comment In the initial stages of the scenario, Eddie was actually a very cheerful character. Therefore, the name was borrowed from Eddie Murphy. In the end however, we changed his personality completely. raison d'etre According to one of Eddie's monologues, his anger and frustration at the way he was treated by others reached a climax when he killed a dog in a fit of rage and also shot the dog's owner in the leg. While running from the police, he began to have feelings of guilt, and one can think that he was called to Silent Hill. ================================= Silent Hill 2 Creature Commentary ================================= Grotesque creatures brought forth by James, who is tormented by feelings of guilt. This section will examine the significance of these creatures. ==== Lying Figure area: Streets of the town, prison character: Attacks by spewing a poisonous mist. Falls to a prone position and moves by crawling along the ground metaphor: "Lying figure." A being that represents the image of a patient writhing in agony. A manifestation of James' suffering. Lying Figure: rough sketch IMAGE: sketch of the creature wearing thigh-high women's boots. Its upper body is completely covered and a long, thin appendage dangles from its face Early design incorporating a pair of red boots. It has a "mouth" that allows it to nourish itself by feeding on corpses. IMAGE: a similar drawing but with a darker, bulkier looking upper body covering An early design in which the upper half of the creature's body is wrapped in cloth and the image of "restraint" is strong. ==== Bubble Head Nurse area: Hospital, streets of the town character: Attacks by swinging the iron pipe it carries metaphor: "Bubble Head Nurse." Its grotesquely swollen head faces the wrong way. A being that is suggestive of Mary's hospitalization. Bubble Head Nurse: rough sketch IMAGE: sketch of a hunched figure holding an IV stand In this design it carries an IV stand instead of an iron pipe. ==== Mannequin area: Apartment building, hotel character: Reacts strongly to light and comes alive when approached metaphor: A manifestation of James' natural urges and inclinations. Accordingly, it is abused by Pyramid Head. ==== Mandarin area: Labyrinth, hotel character: Hangs from a mesh grating by the tips of its arms and reaches out to attack with its tentacles metaphor: "Mandarin." Symbolizes feelings of overwhelming, incomprehensible anguish. For this reason, it is not permitted to stand above ground. ==== Red Pyramid Thing area: Apartment building, hotel character: With Great Knife and spear, he stalks Maria unrelentingly metaphor: "Pyramid head." Takes the appearance of an executioner of times past, but is actually incarnated from the part of James' consciousness that feels that he deserves punishment. ==== Abstract Daddy area: Labyrinth, hotel character: Attacks by attempting to grab and envelop its victim metaphor: "Ideal father." On top of its bed-like form are two covered reclining figures. A symbol of Angela's past. ==== Creeper area: Apartment building, prison character: An insect-like creature that moves with great speed metaphor: "Creeper." Since it also appears in the preceding work, one can think that it is derived for the most part from the town's power. ==== The prison's unseen monster In the prison, an ominous voice resounds from one of the cells. This is the voice of the creature called "prisoner" that appears only in the prison. IMAGE: James fires his handgun through the prison bars Although it can't be seen, readying a weapon confirms its existence. ==== Flesh Lip area: Hospital character: Lattice-based monster that hangs from the ceiling and attacks metaphor: "Lustful lips." The lattice, which signifies a bed, and the "mouth" located on the abdomen symbolize Mary. Flesh Lip: rough sketch IMAGE: sketch of the creature A rough sketch that is very similar to the final design. Instead of a "mouth," a protuberance is visible in the abdominal area. ==== Mary area: Hotel character: Hangs in the air and attacks with a vine-like tentacle. She is accompanied by insects metaphor: A being that embodies James' conflicted emotions toward Mary during her final days. Her face is like the Virgin Mary's, and her posture is reminiscent of a crucifixion. ============================= Silent Hill 2 Ending Analysis ============================= Of the four conclusions, there is no one correct interpretation. Each ending indicates a different possibility. ==== In water He came to this town to take his own life in a place of memories summary: Standing on the rooftop of the hotel is Maria, dressed in Mary's clothing. She becomes angry at James, who persists in searching for Mary. Maria undergoes a transfiguration and attacks him. When James kills the monster, the scene switches to a sickroom. After Mary's last breath has left her, James lifts her body off the bed and carries her away somewhere. In darkness, the violent sound of a car's brakes is heard. conditions: Thinking of Mary first and foremost is the principal requirement. Specifically, read the diary on the roof of the hospital, read the graffiti on the wall of the bar at night, and examine the headphones in the reading room at the hotel (latter half). Also, this ending is easy to get if the player keeps his or her health under 50% throughout the game. IMAGE: the scene in the sickroom James lifts Mary's lifeless body in his arms and leaves the sickroom. His destination is... IMAGE: Mary's letter After the violent sound of brakes, a view from beneath the surface of the water fades in. Finally, the screen fades to total darkness. ==== Leave He leaves this town as a man who has accepted reality summary: On the rooftop, James finds Maria in Mary's clothing. When James appeals to Maria to "end this nightmare," she becomes angry and attacks him. After killing the monster, the scene switches to a sickroom. As James agonizes over the fact that he murdered his wife, Mary tells him with her last breath to go on living. James puts this nightmare behind him and together with Laura, leaves Silent Hill. conditions: This is the ending that is most likely to occur, so it does not have major requirements. If requirements must be listed, listen to the conversation in the hallway in its entirety after defeating the Pyramid Heads at the hotel and also heal many times, exceeding maximum health. IMAGE: at Mary's bedside As James expresses his anguish, his wife lies on the bed and imparts her final words to him. IMAGE: in the cemetery James makes his way through the cemetery where he met Angela and leaves the town with Laura. ==== Maria A man who has murdered his wife a second time continues to live immersed in a delusion summary: On the roof of the hotel is Mary, lying on a bed. She does not forgive James for having created Maria-- the woman who is his delusion-- and attacks him. When James kills the monster, the scene switches to the park. As James stands looking out onto the lake, Maria walks up to him. She asks, "You killed Mary again?" to which James replies, "I want you with me..." Mary's words are written in the letter that Maria silently hands to him. The two of them cross the observation deck and depart from the town of Silent Hill. conditions: Whether the player receives this ending is determined by how well he or she looks after Maria. Specifically, go to check on her again after parting ways in the hospital and try to reenter the room after finding her body in the labyrinth, among other things. Also, it is important to stay close to Maria and make sure that she takes very little damage. IMAGE: Mary on the rooftop In the case of this ending only, not Maria but Mary waits on the rooftop of the hotel. She vehemently blames James for killing her. IMAGE: James and Maria James makes the decision to continue to depend on Maria, the product of his delusion. IMAGE: the observation deck Leaving the town from the observation deck that is the starting point of the story. Could this suggest that nothing has been resolved at all? ==== Rebirth To resurrect his wife, he carries out a forbidden ritual summary: Standing on the rooftop of the hotel is Maria, dressed in Mary's clothing. She becomes angry at James for pursuing Mary, who he himself has murdered, to the very end. Maria undergoes a transfiguration and attacks him. When James kills the monster, the scene switches to the lake. James is heading for a small island in the lake in a rowboat. James says to Mary's corpse which lies in the boat, "Forgive me for waking you." Could he be attempting to bring Mary back from death using a ritual that has been handed down from long ago in Silent Hill? conditions: Obtaining four special items that appear on a second playthrough is the requirement. The necessary items are white chrism from room 105 on the west side of the apartments, the book of Lost Memories from the gas station, the obsidian goblet from the Historical Society, and the book of Crimson Ceremony from a bookshelf in the reading room on the second floor of the hotel (latter half). IMAGE: James listens to the recording in the reading room The four special items all have to do with Silent Hill's long-standing religious tradition. This reveals a point of contact with the preceding work. IMAGE: James and Maria on the rooftop James rejects even the fantasy that he himself has created to escape. That unadulterated emotion is... IMAGE: James rows out onto the lake Finally, James is driven to carry out the forbidden ritual that can bring the dead back to life. ===================== Silent Hill 2 Credits ===================== Director: Monster Program: Masashi Tsuboyama Hideyuki Fujii Scenario Writer: Shadow Program: Hiroyuki Owaku Hayato Fukushima Drama Director: Camera Program: Suguru Murakoshi Satoshi Kikuchi Sound Director: Effect Program: Akira Yamaoka Hidehisa Harada Masayoshi Sato Art Director: Masahiro Ito Peripheral Program: Osamu Komuta Designers --------- Sub Program: Taku Otani Background Design Naoto Ohashi Coordinator: Hiromichi Ito Yumiko Fujishima Tool Program: Background Design/ Makoto Hiura Modeling: Takamitsu Nemoto Sound Program: Yoko Ito AKT Jun Inoue Atsumu Miyazawa Masayuki Fujiki Tetsushi Takahashi Kyohei Yamaguchi Yasunori Kanetake Technical Support: Motomo Minowa Hideo Ueda Hiroto Yamaguchi Nozomi Akimoto Tomohisa Koike Keiichi Ikeda Mayuko Yano Hisashi Kato Tomoko Morohoshi Takayuki Ando Publicity Keiko Yamazaki --------- Hitomi Namatame Overseas: Drama Animation: Kazunori Nirasawa Sachiko Sugawara Minako Asano Domestic: Chieko Ogura Kanako Nakahara Taro Miyake Character Motion: Osamu Shigeta Shingo Yuri Shigeru Kobayashi English Supervisor/ Translator: Still Picture: Jeremy Blaustein (Wordbox) Takashi Ito Casting Coordinator: 2D Design: Haruhiko Inaba (Wordbox) Takeshi Miura Motion/Voice Actor: Logo/Package Design: Monica Horgan Daisuke Nakayama Ward E. Sexton Florence Minowa Monster Design/ Modeling: Motion Capture Studio: Masahiro Ito Links DigiWorks Sakuratei Character Design: Voice Recording Studio: Sato Takayoshi OMNIBUS JAPAN Programmers Special Thanks to: ----------- Tomoko Furukawa Kosuke Iwakura Event Program: Norio Takemoto Hiroyuki Owaku Masahiro Sato Character Program: All Music and Sound Effects: Yuki Mizuochi Akira Yamaoka Graphics Engine Program: Producer: Norihito Hatakeda Akihiro Imamura Collision Program: Executive Producer: Yukinori Ojima Gozo Kitao Converter Program: Kazumasa Ogiso System Program: Kazutoshi Sugai Takayuki Kobayashi ======================= Logue 3: Silent Hill 3 ======================= The third game is a depiction of what takes place seventeen years after the story of Silent Hill. It is the story of the young girl who carries God inside her and stands in opposition to the cult, whose presence has grown. The truth about Alessa (Heather), who is repeatedly reincarnated, is likely to be revealed if one reaffirms the dialogue spoken by and objectives of each of the characters that appear in the game. =========================== Silent Hill 3 Story Preview =========================== A strange opening that begins with the symbolic appearance of the legs of two young girls. For the theme song, a vocal accompaniment was used for the first time. ==== 01 Valtiel turns the handle. Overhead, the legs of two young girls that resemble those of Alessa and Cheryl are hanging. 02 Heather awakens from a bad dream in the hamburger shop. The interior of the store is strangely enveloped in the red of the setting sun. 03 Valtiel clings to the ceiling in a long corridor. His head trembles and vibrates oddly. 04 The church is the setting of the final stage of the game. Claudia stands before the pulpit with her back turned. 05 In the confessional, Heather listens to an unknown voice that expresses repentance. The owner of the voice committed a murder in order to get revenge for the murder of her own child. 06 Douglas drives Heather to Silent Hill. In the car, secrets regarding her birth are revealed. 07 Heather passes through the gates of the amusement park. In the main part of the game, she experiences the same sense of dread from the beginning of her nightmare all over again. 08 Heather and Claudia confront each other in the church. Alessa, who exists inside Heather, regains her memories indicating that the birth of God is near. 09 Heather sees a "closer" creature for the first time. It becomes aware of her as she enters the room, and attacks her. 10 Vincent appears before Heather and gives her an enigmatic piece of advice. When she first encounters him, his intentions are unknown. 11 Heather in the car on the way to Silent Hill. She holds her father's notebook, which was found by Douglas. 12 The "split worm" creature attacks Heather. Its appearance resembles that of the "split head" that appears in the first game. 13 An unmanned subway train enters the station at high speed. Heather seems to be in imminent danger of being run over and killed by the train. 14 Valtiel drags Heather's body away after her strength has run out. In certain locations, seeing this scene is the same as getting "game over." 15 Heather sets foot in the otherworld for the first time in the shopping mall's elevator. 16 A scene connected to 09. Heather, who has picked up a gun, takes the life of another for the first time at this point in the game. 17 Douglas, who has collapsed due to his injury, aims his gun at Heather's back as she walks away. 18 Valtiel's silhouette wriggles behind a giant ventilation fan. He first discovers Heather's existence in the shopping mall. 19 On the revolving merry-go-round, countless strange shadows reminiscent of burn marks crawl. 20 As in 01, Valtiel continues to turn the valve handle. What meaning could his behavior hold? 21 When the vinyl bag filled with blood is offered to the altar in the hospital, a huge hole appears in the room. 22 The bottom of the hole that becomes the scene of the final battle. Here, Valtiel is present, continually watching Heather. 23 Heather stands motionless at the unmanned merry-go-round. Sensing that someone is there, she turns her head... 24 The image of Heather looking over her shoulder is completely enveloped in a shade of an orange that is quite like the color of flame. ================================== Silent Hill 3 Character Commentary ================================== Silent Hill 3 develops a rich story using a limited number of characters. Let's look at a deconstruction of the transitions of their designs. ==== name: Heather (Cheryl Mason) age: 17 (24) sex: f job: various part-time work profile: An ordinary girl that could be found anywhere. She visits the mall to go shopping and finds that she has set foot into a nightmarish world. creator's comment Her name comes from Miss Heather Morris, who did Heather's voice and motion in the game. At first we had chosen the name Helen, but it was pointed out that this name is old-fashioned and so it was changed. rough sketch IMAGE: two sketches detailing facial features French actresses such as Charlotte Gainsbourg and Vanessa Paradis were the models for these sketches. IMAGE: Heather in three different outfits The outfit designs include coloring. Many of these drafts were considered. ==== name: Douglas Cartland age: late 50s sex: m job: private detective profile: A middle-aged private detective who handles missing person and personal conduct cases. He originally worked as a police detective but retired ten years ago. On that occasion, he and his wife were divorced. creator's comment His name comes from a famous actor from the 1920s, Douglas Fairbanks. Simply put, this name just seemed to suit him. There is no real connection to his namesake. rough sketch IMAGE: two sketches detailing facial features Actors such as Ian Holm and Giancarlo Giannini were the models for these sketches. IMAGE: an outfit sketch It seems that his image as an unremarkable middle-aged detective was solidified in the early stages of design. ==== name: Claudia Wolf age: 29 sex: f job: priestess in a religious organization profile: A priestess who believes deeply in her religion. In order to create paradise, she shadows Heather and attempts to cultivate the hatred inside of her. creator's comment Her name comes from an Italian actress from the 1960s, Claudia Cardinale. Originally we had named her Christie, but it was pointed out that this name is too "cute" and so we decided to change it. rough sketch IMAGE: a flowing dress that covers her head and arms A draft featuring a long robe that trails along the ground. IMAGE: a saintly figure with a halo Of the four characters, her design was the most difficult. Dressing her like a holy woman was considered as well. IMAGE: no hair and tattoos An early design in which she is a skinhead covered in tattoos. This design was discarded. IMAGE: three sketches detailing facial features The model for these sketches was Hollywood actress Julianne Moore. ==== name: Vincent age: 24~26 sex: m job: priest in a religious organization profile: A young priest who is at odds with Claudia and supports Heather in order to thwart her plans. The prospect of putting himself in physical danger scares him. creator's comment His name originates from Vincent Gallo, an actor known for films such as Buffalo '66. The association is suggested by his unshaven look. He isn't cool like his namesake, though. rough sketch IMAGE: Vincent in three different outfits Although Vincent's clothes in the game are formal, casual outfits were considered as well. IMAGE: two sketches detailing facial features Modeled after the actor Ethan Hawke. These sketches emphasize derangement and moodiness. ================================= Silent Hill 3 Creature Commentary ================================= Creatures that have come to have abundant variations. Each of them holds a certain significance. ==== Numb body area: Sewers character: Creature with long, slender legs. Comes in various sizes metaphor: It is given the name "numb body" due to its slow and clumsy movements and the fact that its body appears pale as if frozen. ==== Double head area: Office building, amusement park character: Monster resembling a dog that has a split head with sharp fangs metaphor: "Split head." Its appearance is greatly influenced by the image of Alessa after she was incapacitated due to the fire. ==== Pendulum area: Sewers, amusement park character: Monster with two heads and a metallic body. Although it has no wings, it revolves in midair metaphor: "Pendulum." So named for the way that it moves and attacks while the upper half of its body rotates. ==== Insane cancer area: Subway, office building character: Monster with a soft and flabby whitish body metaphor: "Cancer running wild." So named because its outward appearance is suggestive of a cancerous mass. ==== Closer area: Subway, amusement park character: Monster that has an extremely large body. Attacks with blades that come out of the ends of its arms metaphor: Named "closer" because of its ability to obstruct a route with its huge body. It also has the appearance of a Mandarin from the previous work that has risen above ground. (note: The creature's name implies "someone that closes (something)" instead of the more common use of the word meaning "getting nearer.") ==== Slurper area: Office building, church character: Humanoid being that crawls along the floor. Plays dead in order to lure its prey metaphor: "Slurper." Named for its habit of slurping up the rust-colored blood and bits of flesh that stick to the floor with its pointed bill. ==== Nurse area: Hospital character: Nurse-type monster that carries a handgun and iron pipe metaphor: A nurse that roams the halls of the hospital. It may be that the nurses of the hospital transformed into monsters, but the details are unclear. ==== Split worm area: Shopping mall character: Gigantic worm with jaws inside the tip of its head metaphor: "Split worm." It is patterned after the "split head" creature that appears in the first game. ==== Glutton area: Office building character: An extremely large cylindrical monster. Regardless of what weapons are used on it, it is impassable metaphor: "Glutton." Although it is a "monster" that appears in a story from a picture book, its form is manifested by the power of the otherworld. ==== Memory of Alessa area: Amusement park character: A facsimile of Heather that attacks and attempts to kill her metaphor: "Alessa's obsession." Alessa's "other mind" that was separated seventeen years ago, it is a memory that clings to this place. ==== Valtiel area: Hospital, church character: Appears in various places, but does not attack Heather metaphor: Derived from "valet." As God's attendant, Valtiel observes Heather in order to ensure the birth of God. ==== Missionary area: Apartment building character: Humanoid monster that obeys Claudia and carries out her commands metaphor: "Missionary." Cult member transfigured by Claudia's power, to Heather's eyes the appearance it takes is that of a monster. ==== Scraper area: Church character: Humanoid monster that carries a weapon in each hand. Moves with great speed metaphor: "Scraper." So named for its habit of incessantly scraping the two sharp-edged tools it carries together. ==== Leonard area: Below the hospital character: Lurks in the water and surfaces to attack without warning metaphor: Leonard's transfigured form. The shape he has assumed is the embodiment of Claudia's hatred or of Heather's terror. ==== The God area: Church character: God that manipulates flames. The lower half of its body is in an immature state due to its birth metaphor: As a result of being born from Claudia's womb, its form is close to the image of God she believed in (that of Alessa). ========================================== Silent Hill 3 Ending & Theme Song Analysis ========================================== A review of the ending along with a look at the significance entrusted to the theme and insert songs. ==== Ending Analysis After God was dead, what was it that she saw? summary: After Heather has defeated the monster, all of her stress and tension seems to loosen at once and she breaks down crying while calling out for her father. However, immediately afterwards she senses that someone is there and looks back over her shoulder. After this, Heather returns to where she left Douglas and cheerfully discusses how her assumed name is no longer necessary. IMAGE: after the battle Heather kicks the monster in the head and puts the church behind her. Valtiel is already nowhere to be seen. ==== opening theme: You're Not Here The opening theme is sung about the feelings involved with the loss of an important person. These feelings of loss become an important factor in what drives the heroine in the latter half of the game. insert song: Letter - From Past Days This insert song is the background music for the scene in the car driving to Silent Hill. In a voice expressing pain, it is sung about hope for the future. insert song: I Want Love This is the insert song for the scene in which Heather and Douglas meet again. The two of them are in the mutual situation of having lost a family member, which overlaps with the world of the lyrics. The song emphasizes sorrowfulness. ending theme: Hometown The memorable lyrics of the ending theme seem to be about the story of Silent Hill being told in a town somewhere far away. ==== footnote: The lyrics in Silent Hill 3 were made to fit the songs from the original Japanese verses and produced with the English translation. The Japanese is written strictly in poetic verse, and the English translation isn't exact in quite a few sections because it was fitted to the music and converted to English. ===================== Silent Hill 3 Credits ===================== Director: Still Picture: Kazuhide Nakazawa Masaru Inomata Jun Inoue Art Director: Takashi Tsuchiya Masahiro Ito Mayuko Yano Sound Director: Item Modeling: Akira Yamaoka Hidetomo Nishiura Minako Asano Program Director: Yukinori Ojima Logo and Product Design: Daisuke Nakayama Scenario Writer: Hiroyuki Owaku CGI Movie Editors: Morio Kishida Programmers Masahiro Ito ----------- Publicity: Graphic Engine Program: Taro Miyake Norihito Hatakeda Osamu Shigeta Hiroki Tabata Character Program: Yoshinori Hirai Yuki Mizuochi Kanako Nakahara Kaz Nirasawa System Program: Yoshinori Aoyagi Hidehisa Harada Kazutoshi Sugai Outside Companies ----------------- Collision Program: Yukinori Ojima Motion Capture Studio: Links DigiWorks Co. Ltd. Converter Program: Sakuratei Kazumasa Ogiso English Supervisor/ Event Program: Translator: Hiroyuki Owaku Jeremy Blaustein (WORDBOX) Tomohiro Maeyama Hiroki Sato Casting Coordinator: Megumi Igei Creature Program: Takumi Miyagishima Motion/Voice Actors: Yukinori Ojima Heather - Heather Morris Hidehisa Harada Douglas - Richard Grosse Claudia - Donna Burke Shadow Program: Vincent - Clifford Rippel Hayato Fukushima Voice Actors: Camera Program: Matt Lagan Makoto Hiura Lenne Hardt Mike Matheson Another World Evil Effect Program: Voice Recording Studio: Norihito Hatakeda OMNIBUS JAPAN Effect Program: English Vocals produced by: Hayato Fukushima ZRO Limit Productions Naoto Oshima In association with: SI Tool Program: Shadow Box Studio Atsushi Sakamoto Producers: Sound Program: Yutaka Maseba Kenji Kawai Haruyo Kanesaku Makoto Hiura Music Supervisor: Designers Joe Romersa --------- Music: Character Modeling and Akira Yamaoka Facial Motion: Shingo Yuri Lyrics (Original): Minako Asano Hiroyuki Owaku Sachiko Sugawara Lyrics (Translation): Monster Design and Nora Stevens Heath Modeling: (WORDBOX) Masahiro Ito Jun Inoue Vocalist "You're Not Here" Takashi Ito "Letter" "I Want Love" Kazuhide Nakazawa Melissa Williamson Background Design and Vocalist "Hometown" Modeling: Joe Romersa Yasunori Kanetake Takamitsu Nemoto Production Coordinator: Motomi Minowa Aki Naito Masahiro Ito Yuko Ito Recording Studio: Takayoshi Tanaka Magnitude 8 Post, Takashi Tsuchiya Los Angeles, CA Takashi Maruyama Hiroko Usuda Recording Engineer: Mayuko Yano Michael McCarty Tomoko Morohoshi Runa Sugiyama Market Researching: Shiro Yanagawa Dentsu Motonobu Yoshino Nippon Information Kyohei Yamaguchi Incorporated Masayuki Fujiki Hiroki Hamashima E3/TGS Trailer Editing: Yuji Kobayashi SONY PCL Yoshie Suzuki Ryoko Horie Special Thanks: Hiromasa Kano Kaz Nirasawa Naoki Takenaka Wilson Cheng Ken Ogasawara Character Motion: Noba Oda Naoki Tarama Hina Sumida Sosuke Honda Shiro Kanemori All Music and Sound Effects: Akira Yamaoka Drama Camera: Tomohisa Koike Producer: Atsuya Tanaka Akira Yamaoka Masahiro Ito Shingo Yuri Senior Manager: Minako Asano Hirotaka Ishikawa Sachiko Sugawara Jun Inoue Executive Producer: Takashi Ito Gozo Kitao Drama Motion: Harumi Murakami Shiro Kanemori Atsushi Sakamoto Atsuya Tanaka Lighting: Masami Naito Hidetomo Nishiura Takayoshi Tanaka Harumi Murakami ======================= Making of Silent Hill 3 ======================= (note: Due to the length of this interview, I've decided to summarize a few things from each page instead of translating it word for word.) Profiles of those present Producer & Sound Director: Akira Yamaoka Born in 1968. Responsible for sound in the first game as well as in the subsequent games of the series. Also the producer in Silent Hill 3. In addition to this series, he has worked on games such as Contra and Beatmania. Art Director & Creature Designer: Masahiro Ito Born in 1972. Responsible for background and creature design in the first game. Held the position of creature designer and art director in Silent Hill 2 and 3. Character Model Chief Designer: Shingo Yuri Born in 1970. In charge of character motion in Silent Hill 2. Acted as chief of character team in Silent Hill 3. Besides this series, he has worked on games such as Hyper Olympics. Graphics Engine Programmer: Norihito Hatakeda Born in 1972. Has had a hand in the Silent Hill series since the second game. In charge of programming related to effects throughout. In addition to the Silent Hill series, he has worked on games such as NHL Blades of Steel 2000. Character Programmer: Yuki Mizuochi Born in 1972. Responsible for character programming since the first game. Puts together everything related to fighting and action. Works he has been responsible for besides this series include Fairway of Glory (Virtual Golf Simulation). Planner & Scenario Writer: Hiroyuki Owaku Born in 1975. Responsible for all event programming in and after the first game. Also worked on the scenario in Silent Hill 2 and 3. ==== excerpt from page 73 Q: First of all, please tell us about how you got started on the development of the game. Hiroyuki Owaku: We finished working on our previous project on the ps2 in August of 2001, and then in October we were hard at work on Restless Dreams. We began working on Silent Hill 3 immediately after that. Q: It looks like you rarely saw any vacation time. Was this painful for you? (everyone laughs) Masahiro Ito: I felt that it was dispiriting at times, but then if you take a vacation whenever you feel like it, you'll lose your job, so... ==== page 74 Owaku mentions that one reason for starting the game someplace other than Silent Hill is so they could include locations that wouldn't be found in a small countryside town, such as an urban shopping center and subway. page 75 Ito says that the use of visual noise in the game isn't constant-- it's very slight at the beginning and increases as Heather gets closer to Silent Hill. footnote #3: In Silent Hill 2, noise was used to express James' delusions. In Silent Hill 3, one reason there's very little noise in the early stages of the game is that Heather hasn't yet recovered her memories. Owaku says that he wrote the scenario in Japanese and then Jeremy Blaustein, the English supervisor, translated it into English. In order to breathe life into the English version of the script, many small revisions were made during the translation process. He also mentions that one of the reasons for choosing a main character that was a girl is that he was getting bored with male protagonists. Making the protagonist female gives players something new, and depicting the storyline as well as fear and other emotions can take on new aspects. And of course, a male protagonist can't be the mother of God. The reason for having only four central characters (five if you count Leonard) is that the team had planned to keep the story relatively simple from the beginning. page 76 Shingo Yuri says that the overall quality of the character designs benefited from the fact that there were so few characters. footnote #8: The development team made a point of including characteristics like freckles, spots and moles for the character models. footnote #9: Certain characteristics that members of the development team possess were also included to make the characters more realistic, such as an asymmetry between the left and right side of the face, Vincent's tendency to squint, and Douglas' hair thinning at the back of his head. Owaku mentions that he feels that the insertion of prerendered movies disrupt the flow of a game. Part of the reason for animating facial motion so meticulously was so that prerendered scenes would not be necessary. Yuri says that since certain things such as the movement of fingers and eyes can't be motion captured, video recordings of the voice actors were referenced while programming the facial animations for the characters they voiced. page 77 Owaku says that the nature of the horror in Silent Hill 3 is a bit different from 2. In Silent Hill 2, this aspect of the game sinks in quietly bit by bit, while in 3 it's more vivid and intense. For example, the gap between the "right side" world and the "reverse side" world is more distinct. He also mentions that when he first saw the scene in which the office building undergoes the shift to the otherworld, this was a point at which he felt this game would be able to surpass Silent Hill 2 in some respects. Norihito Hatakeda feels that it's ideal for events to take place in real time. The shift to the otherworld that takes place in the office building as well as the shift during the transition from the subway to the sewers are both examples of this. Akira Yamaoka mentions that he'd had an interest in including songs with vocal tracks for a while, but there was a question of finding a vocalist with a quality in his or her voice that would be suited to the atmosphere of Silent Hill. Most game music makes use of sounds that are synthesized instead of using real instruments, and Yamaoka feels that it's desirable to utilize the expressive power of the human voice. According to Owaku, the combat in Silent Hill 2 had not been particularly well- received. The team was careful to include more enemies in the third game so that players could enjoy devising strategies to fight them. Yuki Mizuochi says that he had decided from the start to include more enemies and weapons. He was also able to program more specialized vibrations for the dual shock to correspond to each weapon. page 78 Asked whether he feels that he has a complete grasp of what happens in the Silent Hill games, Yamaoka says he wonders if anyone besides Owaku understands it all completely, and also expresses his shock at having recently heard that some of it is based in Freud's psychoanalytic theories. Hatakeda thinks that understanding it all might be impossible. Owaku says that there are things about Ito's designs that he doesn't understand himself, and that he actually didn't understand Valtiel's significance completely until data was being gathered for this book. Ito says jokingly that he'll be sure to explain it to other people from now on. Shingo Yuri jokes that when the book is released, he and other members of the team will be reading it and saying "Ah, I see..." Hatakeda mentions that he created a certain effect with the images of Alessa's burns, fire, and blood in mind, and asks the other members of the development team what sort of understanding they have of it. Owaku says that he has the same understanding of it as Hatakeda. footnote #19: Hatakeda did all the effects that have to do with the real-time shifts to the otherworld and the moving walls. This effect represents the intense suffering that Alessa endured as a result of her burns. page 79 Yamaoka is asked whether or not there will be subsequent games in the series, to which he replies that he simply doesn't know at this point. To the question, "What would you like to do next?" Shingo Yuri replies that he would like to work on something that isn't a horror game. Hatakeda says that he would like to do something along the lines of Half Life 2, and suggests that it might be possible to do a game of this type in the world of Silent Hill in which a different otherworld appears before each player. Mizuochi says that he would like to do something more colorful along the lines of a game about an American comic book hero, since he feels that the fact that the protagonists in the Silent Hill series are merely ordinary people is a bit restricting. Ito says that he'd like to do a game with a science fiction theme. Owaku says that he's always wanted to work on the kind of game that could affect or change someone's life. He feels that there are novels and movies that have had an impact on his own life, but hasn't yet had that sort of experience with a game. page 80 The interviewer suggests that there are probably people for whom Silent Hill has had an impact comparable to the impact that books and movies can have. He then asks each member of the development team to say something to players in closing. Owaku says he worked on Silent Hill 3 with the intention of giving players something that would be fun and interesting as well as frightening, so he'll be happy if he was able to achieve this. Ito says that he'd like aspiring game designers and art directors to someday name Silent Hill 3 as having had an influence on them. Mizuochi suggests going for 100 stars and getting a perfect score. Instead of simply playing straight through the game, Hatakeda recommends slowing down once in a while to look around, as there are discoveries to be made. Yuri says not to be distracted by the cutscenes or subtitles and to look closely at the characters. (Owaku says, "Huh? The scenario...?) To anyone who is introduced to Silent Hill by the third game, Yamaoka recommends playing the first two games in the series after finishing Silent Hill 3. ================= Silent Hill Fugue ================= Suggestion of Cards Tarot cards appear in Silent Hill 3 as key items that open the final door. The truth is that these cards hint at characters that appear in the game. Although their origin is shrouded in mystery, tarot cards have been given profound significance since ancient times and have come to be used for fortune-telling. In order to decipher the Silent Hill series, this section will introduce keywords and liken them to corresponding cards from the tarot. ==== 0: The Fool Heather A summary of the reincarnations of Heather, who has the memories of three people Heather, who obtained an immortal body as a result of being impregnated with God, possesses the memories of three people: Alessa, who received severe burns due to Dahlia's ritual; Cheryl, who was separated from Alessa as a result of the ritual and raised by Harry; and Heather (real name: Cheryl), who was born as a result of Alessa's and Cheryl's return to a single body. The dialogue and events that take place in the game should become easier to understand if a summary of these facts is arranged. IMAGE: Heather in Alessa's hospital room At the final stage of the game, the memories that Heather recovers are reflected in the otherworld. An overview of Alessa's reincarnations Alessa is born ---- | | | | | 7 years | | | | | Cheryl is born-------------Dahlia's ritual ---- | | | | | | | | | | 7 years | 7 years | | | | | | | | | | Heather is born-----------------SH1 | | 31 years | | | | | | | | 24 years | | | | | | | | 17 years | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | SH3 ---- ---- SECTION TWO: A murder case that Harry was involved in twelve years ago? After the first game, Harry lived an ordinary life in Portland with his daughter. Twelve years ago however, the religious organization, which had regained influence, formulated a plan to abduct the young girl who had been reincarnated. This ended in Harry killing a cult member. Thereafter, in order to hide from the cult Cheryl was called by the assumed name "Heather" and her black hair was dyed blond. IMAGE: Douglas' notebook The "murder case of twelve years ago" is mentioned in Douglas' notebook, but it doesn't relate all the particulars of the case. SECTION THREE: Heather is awakened by the religious organization = Alessa's abilities Heather, the protagonist of Silent Hill 3, is the reincarnation of the two young girls who appeared in Silent Hill, Alessa and Cheryl. This girl, who carries God inside her body as a result of the ritual that Dahlia once conducted, assumed an alias and dyed her hair to conceal her whereabouts. However, seventeen years later, because her body had matured enough for her to take on the role of the mother, her existence was perceived by the religious organization. One can think that Vincent's line, "the time has come" also signifies the fact that Heather's body has matured as the mother of God. Additionally, Heather's abilities as the mother of God are awakened as she regains her past memories in the game, and a premonition of this is already apparent even in the bad dream that immediately follows the opening. What becomes the scene of the beginning of her nightmare is the amusement park that also appears in the latter half of the game. One can think that Heather is endowed with precognitive abilities and that this dream was a warning that she sent to herself. IMAGE: Heather in the amusement park At the beginning of the game, the scene at the amusement park is a "premonitory dream." It warns of the danger that is imminent in Heather's future. Creator's Commentary: The Fool card in the game suggests Heather. This card means departure, potentiality, and recklessness. I think that her recklessness in fighting against Claudia and, in a certain sense, her genuineness are applicable to "the fool." -Hiroyuki Owaku SECTION FOUR: Heather's age varies depending on the interpretation Telephone 24 & 31 The voice on the phone from the hospital locker blesses Heather for being 24 and 31 years old. If one adds her 7 years as Cheryl to Heather's true age of 17, her age becomes 24, and if one adds her 7 years as Alessa, her age becomes 31. IMAGE: the phone call The true nature of the voice's owner is shrouded in mystery. Birthday Card 14+7+17=38 14, the first number, is the period before Alessa returned to a single existence in the first game, 7 is the period before Cheryl returned to a single existence, and 17 indicates the length of time Heather was alive after the two girls returned to a single existence. IMAGE: Heather reads the card A puzzling numerical formula is written on the birthday card in the hospital. Douglas' Note 17? 24? The results of the investigation conducted by Douglas, the private detective, identified Heather's registered age as 24. One can infer that Harry raised Heather as the child he found 7 years before the first game-- in other words, that he raised her as Cheryl. IMAGE: Douglas' notebook It's unsettling even to Douglas' observant eyes. ==== I: The Magician Valtiel A mysterious creature that is always lurking near Heather. What is his true purpose? Valtiel shadows Heather as if stalking her ever since her encounter with him in the shopping mall. While this strange creature observes Heather, he makes no effort to inflict harm upon her; the truth is that he has a unique purpose, a role he plays which enters into the game. The fact of the matter is that in the religious tradition of Silent Hill, Valtiel is a saintly being corresponding to an angel. Concerning that complex and profound reason for existence, let us consider such things as his design and behavior from various angles. IMAGE: Valtiel Whenever there is a shift to the otherworld, Valtiel appears before Heather. It can be said that this being is a guide to the otherworld. IMAGE: from the elevator scene First encounter in the shopping mall's elevator. This is after Heather was found for the first time. SECTION TWO: Watcher To ensure the protection of the unborn deity, he watches Heather, mother of God Since the name Valtiel means "attendant" by way of the English word "valet," his existence as an angel is derived from suffixing "-el." In short, he is the being that attends to and watches over God. For the purpose of carrying out his duty of watching and protecting the mother until the time comes for God to be born, he does not harm Heather. IMAGE: exploring the church Valtiel persists in watching Heather in the church near the end of the game. IMAGE: Claudia's final scene Claudia assumes the role as mother and takes the necessary steps to birth God. SECTION THREE: Messenger An angel in the town's religious organization that governs the cycle of rebirth, he appears as a symbol of the otherworld Valtiel's intentions have little to do with Heather; his concern is primarily with the god that sleeps inside her. It can be thought that in order to restore God to this world, every time Heather (Alessa) dies, he is the one responsible for resurrecting her many times over. Additionally, the valve handle that Valtiel turns with his left hand represents the idea that "God can be reborn any number of times," which can be thought of as having significance to the basis of the sect's doctrine. IMAGE: dragging Heather's corpse away If Heather should die, Valtiel takes action to resurrect the mother of God. IMAGE: Heather stands opposite Valtiel in the church In many places Valtiel is seen turning the handle, which signifies the cycle of rebirth. SECTION FOUR: Deciphering the meaning hidden in the design of the being that ties together the three works of the series In the long-standing religious tradition of Silent Hill, Valtiel is worshipped as a being that is close to God. And so even in the previous works of the series, Valtiel has appeared in different forms. In other words this is why Valtiel ties together various events that have taken place in Silent Hill. In the case that any events transpire in Silent Hill in the future, Valtiel may again appear before players in another form. IMAGE: Valtiel before the fight with God Noting the significance of Valtiel's design, the relevance between the three works becomes clear. Ceremonial robes from Silent Hill In the school's otherworld, a number of body-shaped figures can be seen. If one looks closely, it becomes clear that there is something familiar about what the figure is wearing. What looks like a body bag is actually the ceremonial robe of the town's religion. This robe is modeled after the appearance of an angel from Silent Hill's traditions, namely Valtiel. IMAGE: the hanging robed figures seen throughout the game The rags the figures appear to be wrapped in are actually ceremonial robes. Pyramid Head from Silent Hill 2 One notable connection between Pyramid Head and Valtiel is the fact that they both stalk the protagonist persistently. If the helmet that conceals Pyramid Head's face were to be removed, it would become apparent that the designs of the two are surprisingly similar. When the executioner's outfit that is Pyramid Head was designed, it was modeled after Valtiel, an angel from the indigenous religion. IMAGE: Pyramid Head Pyramid Head's gloves are very similar to Valtiel's. IMAGE: molesting the mannequin At the back of the garment Pyramid Head wears, there is a mark where the cloth is stitched together, which is also a shared characteristic. Creator's Commentary: In Silent Hill 3 the connection to the first game is quite clear, but the point of contact with the second game isn't so obvious. I created Valtiel because I wanted to relate the works of the series through a creature. In the religion of Silent Hill, Valtiel exists as one who is close to God, and Pyramid Head takes the shape of Valtiel's reason for existence. That is to say, the Pyramid Head character was born from the townspeoples' idolatrous ideologies. In the first game, the ceremonial robes were in homage to Valtiel. -Masahiro Ito SECTION FIVE: Making of Valtiel (note: the three images here are hand-drawn sketches) IMAGE: turning the valves One of the early designs of Valtiel turning the valve handle. The central hole closely resembles the one in the final church. IMAGE: from the elevator scene A rough sketch of a design in which multiple creatures seem to be intertwined. The hole at the top of the creature's head is the same as in the final design. IMAGE: behind the propeller blades There is also a scene in the elevator with a giant propeller and Valtiel. The propeller has a handle as well, which has the same implication as the valve. (note: Not only are some of Masahiro Ito's comments in this section extremely vague, but I had a particularly tough time deciding how to express parts of his commentary in English. In case there's anything I didn't express clearly the way I decided to translate it, I'll try to explain in depth certain parts of the third and fourth sentences of Ito's paragraph. "Pyramid Head takes the shape of Valtiel's reason for existence--" literally, "Pyramid Head also exists with the form (shape) in which that reason for existence is borrowed" (or "with the form that borrows that reason for existence.") To put it another way: Pyramid Head embodies Valtiel's reason for existence. Although Ito doesn't explicitly state what this "reason for existence" is, from the fact that Pyramid Head is the image of an executioner's outfit, I think we should be able to infer that the aspect of Valtiel Pyramid Head embodies is that of "executioner." Indeed, other supplemental material from Konami states that to the cult, Valtiel signifies "executioner." "The Pyramid Head character was born from the townspeoples' idolatrous ideologies--" literally, "Pyramid Head is a character that was born (created) from idolatrous ideologies (ideas) among the townspeople (the locals)." Originally I'd decided to omit the word "character" because it didn't seem necessary to the sentence, but it then occurred to me that Ito may have used it to indicate (although it seems to me this should be evident regardless...) that of course he's not saying the Pyramid Head creature which stalks James was literally "born" from the cult's ideas involving idol worship, but that Pyramid Head (the executioner's outfit) came about as a result of the cult's ideas involving idol worship. This outfit is something that was created by the cult because of their "idolatrous ideologies"-- in other words, because they worshipped the image of Valtiel and incorporated it into the attire of the cult members who carried out executions.) ==== II: The High Priestess Claudia Wolf A faith which is too pure invites a new tragedy Claudia, a priestess in the religious organization, appears in the game as Heather's adversary. As the game progresses, it becomes known that she was once friends with Alessa when the two of them were young. Even though she kills Harry, Heather's father, as well as Vincent, who is supposedly of the same faith in upholding her cause of the revival of God and the establishment of paradise, her actions are rooted in genuine piety in that she desires the salvation of peoples' souls. Hers is a sorrowful existence, which cannot be simply tucked away into the category of "villain." IMAGE: Claudia in the church She is willing to take any steps necessary to attain her goal of creating paradise. Creator's Commentary: The High Priestess card in the game suggests Claudia. This card means mystery, faith, and dogmatism. Doesn't it seem that the self-righteous way that Claudia behaves as a consequence of being too genuine is in accordance with the meaning of the card? -Hiroyuki Owaku SECTION TWO: An unhappy connection with Leonard, her father, which is the cause of her self-righteous personality The one who guided Claudia to the town's indigenous religion was her father, Leonard. It seems that Leonard, who held strict religious views, forced his beliefs onto his daughter and inflicted physical punishment upon her for irreligious behavior. From an episode in which he stabbed a patient because of a religious dispute and from the radical memo in which he calls himself a "protector of the seal," it can be surmised that Leonard possesses extremely elitist ideas. Claudia has come to hope for a salvation in which not only the chosen ones but everyone is saved, which is completely opposite from Leonard's ideas. One can think that in the background, there were feelings of repulsion and hatred towards her strict father. IMAGE: the phone call from Leonard Leonard's strict attitude towards Claudia on the phone indicates the extremist nature of his piety. IMAGE: Vincent in the motel Vincent seems to have witnessed the physical punishment inflicted upon Claudia by her father. Could Leonard's violence have been well-known even inside the religious organization? SECTION THREE: Unique abilities as a sorceress that sleep inside Claudia In the early stages of the game, the otherworld appears even though Heather has not yet awakened as Alessa. This is undoubtedly due to Claudia's power. Let's inspect a few instances that indicate her abilities. IMAGE: Claudia on the rooftop Claudia issued the instruction to kill Harry. It seems that she can manipulate the hearts and minds of believers. IMAGE: Heather encounters the "closer" in the mall The shopping mall being swallowed by the otherworld was due to Claudia's influence as well. IMAGE: the tape recording in the church It seems that her abilities were feared along with her profound devotion. SECTION FOUR: The witch from seventeen years ago, Dahlia Gillespie? In the first game, Dahlia Gillespie was a priestess like Claudia who attempted to revive God. Faith in God is a tradition that has been handed down over the years in Silent Hill, and, separated by a period of seventeen years, each of these two women who belonged to the same religious organization took steps to bring about God's revival. However, to Dahlia God is an object to be exploited, while to Claudia, God is a being that will bring salvation. Although they use a common means of "reviving God," their intentions are fundamentally different. In order to arrange the differences between the two of them, let's look back at the first game. IMAGE: Dahlia in the church Although they are both priestesses who aim to revive God, their motives are fundamentally different. From "Silent Hill:" The case of Dahlia Dahlia's intention is to destroy and negate existing concepts by reviving God. However, she has no concept of salvation through the "establishment of paradise." The revival of God is strictly a means to destroy the present world and for her to personally command power. For this reason, she finally comes to make her own daughter a sacrifice. It is evident that her thought patterns exploit people she can take advantage of such as Kaufmann and Harry to the fullest extent possible. IMAGE: the scene in the hallway before the final battle Through the entire game, Dahlia never speaks the word "salvation." From "Silent Hill 3:" The case of Claudia As with Silent Hill's long-standing tradition, Claudia's intention is to remake the present world into paradise by reviving God. Because of her experiences during her childhood, she perceives the world as being full of suffering and in order to "save everyone," she attempts to create paradise. And so one can think that for everyone to be saved, some sacrifices like Harry and Vincent are unavoidable. IMAGE: Claudia in the church Her genuine faith is the cause of her actions, and she has no intention to try to exploit God. ==== III: The Empress Alessa The suffering of a young girl who is unable to die as a result of being impregnated with God Alessa attempts to release Heather from the suffering that God would surely cause her. Ever since she was born, the original Alessa had unique abilities. The direct cause of her undying state is the seed of God that was implanted within her by means of a ritual that Dahlia conducted in order to bring about God's descent. Heather, who is Alessa's reincarnation, is finally drawn to the town of Silent Hill when her body has matured enough for her to take on the role of the mother. IMAGE: Heather addresses Claudia in the church It becomes clear that Claudia and the original Alessa were childhood friends. IMAGE: Heather reads the memo at the carousel Heather regains Alessa's memories, but the will that dictates her actions still differs from hers. Creator's Commentary: Alessa, who lies dormant inside Heather, makes appearances in various places as her memories are revived. The reason why her behavior differs depending on the place is in accordance with what's written in the occult magazine that was dropped in the subway. The principle behind her behavior is that she desires to escape from suffering. It will become easier to understand if I say "to die." -Hiroyuki Owaku SECTION TWO: From "Silent Hill:" In order to escape from her suffering, she attempts to return to a single body In order to understand Alessa's situation, it is necessary to look back at what happened in Silent Hill seventeen years ago. Alessa, who received extensive burns as a result of the ritual that brought about the descent of God, finds her other self in order to escape from her eternal suffering and, because of God's revival, attempts to destroy herself. However, Dahlia uses Harry to prevent her from carrying out her plans. IMAGE: Dahlia apprehends Alessa at the amusement park Alessa's power grew to the extent that it exceeded Dahlia's control. For that reason, Dahlia uses Harry. SECTION THREE: The church that materializes as a guide for Heather = Alessa as a young girl In the church that is the final stage of the game, a young girl's crying voice and footsteps materialize, as well as a map that is reminiscent of childlike scribbling. Although these phenomena act as a guide for Heather, the simplistically drawn map and forlorn sobbing are not there to lead her-- rather, the explanation comes to light if one imagines that Alessa's thoughts from her childhood linger in the church. It may be that the younger version of Alessa who was teased and called "witch" is wandering aimlessly about the church. While the Alessa that appears at the amusement park is an entirely different person, if it's the younger version of Alessa from before she encountered the fire then there is no need to destroy "herself" who is suffering from the pain. In this way, one can imagine that Alessa's purpose and the form that she takes differs greatly depending on the place. IMAGE: footprints that disappear behind a painting Footprints walk along the corridor accompanied by the sound of sobbing. They are most likely not showing Heather the way, but simply wandering aimlessly about the church. IMAGE: the map of the church A map that is drawn with a childlike simplicity. Alessa, whose mother was Dahlia, must have visited this church. SECTION FOUR: To end her perpetual suffering, Alessa's obsession materializes At the merry-go-round in the amusement park, the "memory of Alessa (Alessa's obsession)" appears. In accordance with her name, she is not Alessa herself but her profoundly dark emotion that clings to this place. Her intention is to escape from the pain in which she was perpetually made to live by destroying herself. And so, for that reason she acts out of a sense of kindness in that she wants to spare Heather from that same suffering. In the first game, Alessa's aspirations were never realized and her obsession adhered to this place for a period of seventeen years. IMAGE: the mirror room The event that occurs in the hospital's storeroom in which Heather's reflection in the mirror freezes in place is an omen embodying Alessa's obsession. IMAGE: the memo at the carousel The object of Alessa's obsession was only for herself to cease to exist. It is a sentiment that is rooted in benevolence. IMAGE: the memory of Alessa The fact that she comes to attack many times over with different weapons indicates the depth of her suffering. ==== IV: The Emperor Visual Concept The mist and darkness that blur the line between dream and reality Mist and darkness have become symbols of the Silent Hill series. It is not the case that these elements are present merely to frighten the player. Mist and darkness obstruct the horizon by creating a condition in which visibility is limited. In other words, the boundary between heaven and earth is obscured, which suggests a blurring of the line between dream and reality. IMAGE: Heather near Jack's Inn The mist is a symbol of Silent Hill. It can also be interpreted as the thoughts of the dead rising up from the lake and settling over the town. Mist IMAGE: Harry stands by a chasm at the end of a street In the first game, the production used hardware limitations to an advantage. Darkness IMAGE: Brookhaven's basement The darkness that deprives one of one's field of vision evokes an instinctual terror. SECTION TWO: Noise and camerawork that represent mental distortion and blur While on one hand elements such as mist and darkness are plainly visible, when these elements are presented production design is included even in the technical effects. For example, the noise that produces a sense of reality and atmosphere expresses the grittiness of the psychological aspect involved and heightens the intensity in accordance with the progression of the story. Additionally, if one pays attention to the camerawork, one might notice that the way it shifts to the protagonist's point of view at times expresses a sense of confusion and anxiety. IMAGE: Harry in the alleyway In the first game, from the outset the camera position moves freely and draws in the player. Noise IMAGE: Claudia swallows the fetus The purpose of this effect is to eliminate any "CGishness," but it also manages to disturb the player's psyche. Framing IMAGE: James and Angela in the apartment building A demo scene from Silent Hill 2 that makes use of a particularly slanted point of view. It indicates the mental state of the characters that appear in the scene. ==== V: The Hierophant Key Items The many items with magical properties that give depth to the story The works of the series are tied together through the town called Silent Hill and the long-standing religious tradition native to the region. As might be expected from such prevalent themes as the otherworld, resurrection of the dead, as well as occult elements and other phenomena, various religious items such as charms and equipment used in rituals appear widely in the games. There are items that are referenced from various religions and folklore and of course, there are original ones as well. These religious items give a unique depth to the story. Let us examine this using a few representatives. If one acquires more information on the subject, one should be able to gain a deeper appreciation for the series. Halo of the Sun/Talisman The two crests of the series are deceptively similar. On the talisman, the seal that appears in the first game is inscribed. IMAGE: Heather stands on the emblem in the church The Halo of the Sun is the crest of the religious organization. The difference between the two seals has an important significance in the series. Aglaophotis A red liquid that appears in the first and third games. Made from a medicinal herb, it seems to have the effect of repelling evil spirits. IMAGE: Heather's pendant It would seem that after the first game, Harry once again procured some of the liquid for the sake of his daughter. Flauros A charm that appears in the first game. It has the ability to break the continuity of the boundary that surrounds Alessa. IMAGE: the Flauros Harry receives the Flauros from Dahlia. The Book of Lost Memories An original book written about the history of the town. It appears in the second game, Restless Dreams, and the third game. IMAGE: the "Lost Memories" memo from Restless Dreams A section of this thick book is quoted in each of these three games. White Chrism and Obsidian Goblet Items used in rituals required to see the "rebirth" ending in the second game. Supposedly, they are used to resurrect the dead. IMAGE: Maria retrieves the white chrism for Ernest Details concerning the ritual to bring the dead back to life are written in the book of Crimson Ceremony. SECTION TWO: An examination of the names of key items reveals an influence from various religions The Seal of Metatron According to the Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism), the angels Metatron and Samael originally shared the same existence. Aglaophotis A medicinal herb that appears in the Kabbalah. It is used to expel demons from the possessed and can also be used for a magical array. Flauros One of the seventy-two demons that appears in the Lemegeton, a book of magic said to have been compiled from the writings of King Solomon of Israel. The Book of Crimson Ceremony The roots of the Crimson Ceremony lie in Mayan and Aztec rituals. At one time, the ritual of human sacrifice was quite prevalent. ==== VI: The Lovers Love Deciphering the love and hatred behind the terror Although the Silent Hill series has consistently come to portray terror as a central theme, the fact that behind this, "love" is invariably depicted is frequently overlooked. One aspect that has become particularly prevalent is the attachment between parent and child. Up to this point in the series, the love between parent and child has brought about a great deal of drama and has even become a great driving force in the development of the story. IMAGE: Dahlia and Alessa in the hallway before the final battle In the first and third games, a contrast between each parent and child relationship is portrayed. IMAGE: James in Brookhaven Hospital In Silent Hill 2 the profound suffering of a man who has killed his wife, which becomes the theme of the game, is a consequence of love. From "Silent Hill:" A mother who uses her real daughter and a father who loves his adopted daughter In the first game, two pairs of parents and children appear: Harry and Cheryl, as well as Dahlia and Alessa. One of these is a parent who has a strong love for his daughter, which is in contrast with the other parent who is unloving and uses her daughter for her own personal gain. It is a point of interest that the relationship between Harry and Cheryl is unaffected by their lack of blood relation, in fact the two of them are tied together by a close bond. IMAGE: Harry confronts Alessa From the start, Harry, the protagonist, primarily acts in accordance with his role as a parent. From "Silent Hill 3:" A daughter who loves her father and a daughter who detests her father-- each of them are in pursuit of something On the other hand, two relationships are contrasted in the third game: that of Harry and Heather with that of Leonard and Claudia. Heather, the daughter who is loved by her father and Claudia, the unloved daughter, become the principal axis of the story. It is a point worth noting that a complete contrast is formed by their respective actions and intentions. IMAGE: Heather confronts Claudia in the chapel Simultaneously with the love between parent and child, the elements of "life" and "rebirth" are also closely related to the theme. SECTION TWO: A relationship between Harry and Cybil, the heroine of the first game? In the "Good+" ending of Silent Hill, Harry and Cybil escape the town together. Although one could interpret this in such a way as to envision a connection between the two of them, Cybil doesn't appear in Silent Hill 3... IMAGE: Cybil and Harry in the opening movie The alteration of the opening after clearing the game with the "Good+" ending invites various speculations. Creator's Commentary: Cybil is not involved with Silent Hill 3. What happens to her afterwards is left to players' imaginations. -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== VII: The Chariot Symbols Negative images related to the pain that Alessa suffered Since the first game, stretchers and wheelchairs appear as symbols of the otherworld. These objects are not there merely for the sake of invoking an element of weirdness; the truth is that they are an important hint that indicates the reason why the otherworld itself exists. Alessa, who originally suffered from severe burns, is the one whose delusions produced the otherworld in the first and third games. One can think that images related to fire, hospitals and the like indicate the pain that she constantly endured. Let's introduce a few examples. Flame IMAGE: the fight with God "God" manipulating flame has to do with the fact that Alessa was burned in the ritual of resurrection. Writhing shadows IMAGE: a door in the otherside hospital The writhing shadows on the surfaces of walls and creatures are related to the burns that Alessa received. Wheelchairs IMAGE: the wheelchair in the office building The wheelchair is an image that has to do with Alessa during her hospitalization, hospitals, and death. The setting sun IMAGE: Heather in the hamburger shop After the bad dream in the opening, Heather awakens in the blood-like red of the setting sun. SECTION TWO: An afterimage of the nurse Lisa appears in the otherworld's hospital IMAGE: the video of Lisa Forebodingly, a video image that appears in the first game is inserted during the interval when the hospital undergoes the shift from the right side to the reverse side. IMAGE: the figure behind the ladder in the hospital Lisa appears along with Valtiel. Could it be that her spirit must continue to endure endless suffering? Creator's Commentary: Just before the shift to the otherworld in the hospital, the nurse Lisa who appears in the first game can be seen. The purpose of including this is to show that Alessa's influence on the otherworld grows stronger as she regains her memories. It indicates that even after the first game she continues to suffer in the otherworld. Although a nurse appears in a similar fashion in the church as well, this does not have anything to do with Lisa. -Masahiro Ito (note: The word "temae," which Ito uses in the first sentence in this paragraph can have a number of different implications. It can mean "near," "before," "this side," or "in front of" and so I've translated it as "before the shift," but the fact that Ito describes the nurse in the church as "appearing in a similar fashion" seems to indicate not the video of Lisa but her appearance just after the shift to the otherworld. I suspect that it could also mean "after the shift" in the sense of "in the forefront of the otherworld" if the point at which Heather climbs the ladder is considered to be after this "interval," but I can't be positive so I wanted to mention the ambiguity of this sentence.) ==== VIII: Strength Power of the Town Just what is the effect of the mysterious power of this town that was revered as a sacred place? Originally Silent Hill was a holy place to the area's former inhabitants. It would seem that although the power of the town was not evil in nature, due to a number of factors including the spread of an epidemic and executions at the prison, the power that this place held was greatly distorted. Furthermore, due to the large-scale shift to the otherworld that occurred in the first game, the town has become a great catalyst for the manifestation of peoples' unconscious minds. It appears to have become a place that beckons to those who hold darkness in their hearts. IMAGE: Mary from the video in the opening movie Silent Hill was once revered as a sacred place. That power has been completely twisted over the course of history. SECTION TWO: Embody The materialization of the darkness that sleeps in peoples' hearts In the town of Silent Hill, a power exists that gives discernable form to peoples' innermost thoughts. As for the otherworld that appears in the series, the town is not merely showing the characters their nightmares, but actually manifesting elements of their unconscious minds. IMAGE: the otherworld in the chapel from the third game If the subject's mind is in a state of turmoil, the state of the otherworld will be chaotic as well. SECTION THREE: Calling Those who have guilt are summoned Due to the appearance of the otherworld on a massive scale in the first game, the town has come to be a place that calls those who hold a profound darkness in their hearts. It seems that people with afflicted minds are easily drawn to the otherworld. IMAGE: Eddie says to James, "This town called you, too." The town calls to those who bear the weight of some crime and shows them what is in their hearts. SECTION FOUR: Link Transcending time, minds are connected It would seem that in the otherworld, time and physical limitations are transcended and peoples' thoughts are communicated. In accordance with this are the enigmatic phone conversation and Stanley's letters in the third game, as well the director's letters, among other things, in the second game. IMAGE: Heather receives a strange phone call in the locker room It seems that in the otherworld, the flow of time has no continuity. SECTION FIVE: The darkness of Silent Hill transcends the boundaries of the town? In the third game, the otherworld appears even in the shopping mall and subway, outside of the town called Silent Hill. It is possible that this is due to Claudia's abilities. However, if one imagines that the human mind is where the otherworld dwells and holds power, then perhaps the shift to the otherside could occur regardless of the location. IMAGE: the magazine from the subway The occult magazine that was dropped in the subway has an article regarding lingering thoughts. Creator's Commentary: The shift to the otherworld that takes place outside the town depends entirely upon a unique power. The power that absorbs and reflects what people hold in their hearts is established as being exclusive to the town of Silent Hill. -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== IX: The Hermit Sound Effect The meticulously refined sound effects of the Silent Hill series IMAGE: Heather in the sewers A mechanical sound that is reminiscent of a construction site evokes a sense of urgency. IMAGE: the "pendulum" creature A sound that is unpleasant in a very visceral way is mixed into the noise. Creator's Commentary: When it comes to sound, what I pursue in particular is a sense of reality. There's a sense that it's not so much music as it is the creation of something that stimulates one's sense of hearing, wouldn't you say? There are also places where there is no sound at all, and it isn't that sound hasn't been added; it's that silence is simply the sound of that particular place. -Akira Yamaoka SECTION TWO: A sound effect design that is inlaid throughout the entire game? IMAGE: the first floor of the shopping mall While walking down the corridor in front of the payphones, heavy footsteps are heard, as if something is being carried. IMAGE: the fourth floor of the office building When Heather gets off the elevator at the fourth floor, suddenly out of nowhere a scream like that of a wild beast is heard. IMAGE: the fifth floor of the construction site Footsteps are heard from the floor above, but the building is only five stories high. IMAGE: Hazel Street Station The payphone rings for just an instant when Heather approaches it. IMAGE: near the elevator in the church A piercing shriek like a bird's cry is heard. Creator's Commentary: In daily life, complete silence in one's environment is unusual, wouldn't you say? And so in the same way, things like footsteps and people stirring are inlaid even in the game. One responds to sounds that are not related to the game and once one is pulled back to reality, one is immersed more deeply into the game world. These sorts of effects are what I'm aiming for. The probability of their occurrence is random, so the point at which these sounds are heard should differ depending on the player. Without the importance placed on atmosphere in Silent Hill, its production wouldn't be possible, right? -Akira Yamaoka ==== X: The Wheel of Fortune Loop The immortal Alessa repeats an infinite loop of birth and death In addition to "terror," motifs that have to do with life such as "birth" and "reincarnation" also become major themes in Silent Hill 3. It may fairly be said that like rotating objects and the crest which is used as a save point, a "cycle of rebirth" motif is inlaid throughout the game and Silent Hill 3 is thoroughly filled with this "loop." It is worth contemplating the proposition that this "cycle" is closely linked not only to the work itself, but also to the act of playing the game. IMAGE: Heather stands on the emblem in the church The possibility of various profoundly meaningful interpretations is hidden in what Heather says after she understands the significance of the religious organization's crest. IMAGE: Heather fights her alter ego What could the reason be for choosing a merry-go-round as the setting for the fight with the Memory of Alessa? SECTION TWO: The hidden meaning of rotating objects Beginning with the merry-go-round in the opening, and then the handle that Valtiel operates as well as giant electric fans, rotating objects appear everywhere in the game. It can be thought that these objects suggest the circular passage of time. IMAGE: the carousel The revolving merry-go-round symbolizes the repeated reincarnation of Alessa herself. IMAGE: the fan in the passageway leading to the underground chapel Even the giant ventilation fans that appear since the first game can be seen as overlapping with this "cycle." SECTION THREE: Even the development of the story is inevitably similar? The story of the first game begins with a nightmare, passes through an amusement park and concludes in "nowhere." The third game also starts from a nightmare and finally comes to an end in a church. One should reach an understanding if one imagines that even the story development which is similar to a surprising degree is a phenomenon that "loops." IMAGE: the hamburger shop Exactly like the first game, in the beginning of Silent Hill 3 the protagonist is just about to awaken from a bad dream. IMAGE: Heather in Alessa's room In the final stage of the game, the protagonist comes to wander about "nowhere," a realm which is formed from memories. SECTION FOUR: Save and Load Save points = the crest of the religious organization which signifies resurrection and the flow of time According to a book that can be read in the church, the crest of the religious organization is known as the "Halo of the Sun." The three circles drawn in its inner part signify present, past and future. Couldn't it be that there are two meanings in the fact that this crest appears as a save point, namely that "Heather regains her memories as a result of looking at the crest" and "her time is managed by the player?" IMAGE: Silent Hill 3's load screen Each time the player loads a game in the real world, Heather comes back to life again in the game. IMAGE: the memo titled "about the cult's symbol" The crest of the religious organization signifies charity and resurrection, as well as present, past and future. Creator's Commentary: Given that the crest of the religious organization symbolizes "resurrection" and "save and load" are perceived as a "cycle of rebirth," it seems that a link to the real world is created. After she understands the significance of the crest, Heather remarks, "Even if I die, it's not the end. That's certainly convenient, I think. But somehow... I can't help but feel that this is terribly unpleasant." The truth is that this is a message to the player. In short, it means "as far as the player is concerned starting over again and again is convenient, but for Heather herself, this is painful." -Hiroyuki Owaku (note: Unfortunately the English translation of the lines that Owaku quotes loses a bit of the meaning in regard to what he mentions in this commentary. I've translated it more literally here but what Heather says in the English version of the game is, "So death isn't the end. Pretty good deal if you ask me. [...] But you know... just the thought of it is starting to turn my stomach." SECTION FIVE: Gameover and Restart Valtiel, who drags Heather away, is an angel that governs the cycle of rebirth Upon receiving "game over" in places such as the church and amusement park, a demonstration of Valtiel dragging Heather's body away occurs. Although his purpose is to restore life to Heather, whose body is where God resides, if one shifts one's attention to the real world it is possible to interpret "game over and restart" as a kind of "death and rebirth." Regardless of Heather's own will, she is brought to life again by the player and the story must continue. IMAGE: Valtiel drags Heather's body away At the moment of "game over," Valtiel appears. He drags Heather off somewhere to restore life to the body of the mother of God. IMAGE: Heather climbs the ladder in the hospital The handle that Valtiel turns suggests all of these "looping" phenomena. Creator's Commentary: In the religious tradition native to Silent Hill, Valtiel is a being that is close to God. In other words, he is established as an angel. Simultaneously with acting as an agent of God, Valtiel takes on the role of watching over the body of the mother until God's revival. For this reason, he continues to observe Heather without harming her. When a "game over" occurs, he takes Heather away to restore life to the body of the mother of God. In this case, there are two meanings to Heather's rebirth. One is that she is reborn as Alessa's reincarnation in the game scenario. The other is that she is reborn when the player retries the game another time. -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== XI: Justice Letter from Silent Heaven To what extent do James' delusions reflect reality? James, the second game's protagonist, murders his wife who suffers from an illness due to the burden of nursing her. However, in the work in which his delusions have become the focal point, many mysteries remain after the story's conclusion. Why is James under the impression that his wife died three years ago? And when did he kill her? Focusing on two matters that become key points, let's inspect these mysteries left behind by Silent Hill 2. IMAGE: James confronts Laura in the hospital Laura says that she became friends with Mary when she met her at the hospital last year. As James believes that his wife died three years ago, his memory is greatly shaken. Hotel Holding the letter addressed to her, Laura tells James that her birthday was last week. If this letter that was supposed to be sent to her on her birthday is real, then Mary was alive until quite recently. IMAGE: James and Laura in the hotel's restaurant The contents of the letter to Laura are effectively Mary's last words to her. Letter At the start of the game, James is in possession of "Mary's letter." As he awakens to the crime he has committed, the contents of the letter disappear. What this signifies is that the letter itself was James' delusion. IMAGE: Mary's letter After killing Eddie, the words vanish from the page. Finally, the letter itself disappears completely. SECTION TWO: Happy days for the two of them surely "died" three years ago Taking the facts mentioned above into consideration, there can be almost no doubt that Mary was alive three years ago. However, there is no mistaking that three years ago something happened. Couldn't it be that what James made himself think of as his "wife's death" is really the turn for the worse that Mary's condition took three years ago? James, weary of nursing his wife, probably lost his memories of that three-year period as a result of the shock of having taken her life with his own hands. IMAGE: room 312 Although James recovers his memories, it isn't revealed exactly when the crime was committed. IMAGE: the opening scene at the observation deck The real reason James came to Silent Hill was to take his own life in a place of memories. If this is the case, could Mary's body be in the car!? (note: The word "kanbyouku" appears in the first paragraph of this section as the reason given as to why James kills Mary. It is a compound word for which the definition doesn't seem to be in any dictionaries, but what's interesting about it is the fact that it seems to encapsulate the duality of James' motive. If read as "kan + byouku," it could be interpreted as "observing the pain of her sickness," while if read as "kanbyou + ku" it could be interpreted as "the hardship of nursing her." I can't be certain if it's supposed to be read as one and not the other or if the duality I've mentioned is even intentional, but I think it's interesting either way.) ==== XII: The Hanged Man Douglas Cartland The morgue's card signifies the ironic fate of the private detective The story of the third game begins with the occasion on which Douglas finds Heather. Although he was originally searching for her at Claudia's request, Douglas comes to assist Heather after Harry's death. In the end however, it is beyond his power to help her. IMAGE: Douglas in the amusement park He is a kind man who tries to help Heather, who he has only just met, but... Creator's Commentary: The Hanged Man card originally means self-sacrifice, perseverance, and selflessness. Douglas' ironic fate is expressed by this card, as he sticks his nose into Heather's affairs but in the end is not of any help at all. -Hiroyuki Owaku SECTION TWO: Guiltless characters who visit Silent Hill by chance In the town of Silent Hill, those who shoulder the weight of their crimes and their own pasts gather. However, like Douglas, characters who happen to become involved for some reason or other have also come to appear. These characters, who hold no darkness in their hearts, come to fulfill the role of supporting the protagonist. IMAGE: Cybil Cybil was supposed to assist Harry in his search for his daughter. In the end, she was parasitized by a creature. IMAGE: Laura Having gotten to know Mary in the hospital, Laura visits the place which held memories for Mary in the hopes of seeing her again. SECTION THREE: The second time around, Douglas' shocking proclivities come to light Upon starting an Extra New Game and entering the "Konami command" (up up down down left right left right XO) at the title screen, Douglas appears in his hidden costume and the middle-aged widower's secret interests are revealed. IMAGE: Douglas peers around the corner at Heather From behind, Douglas' appearance seems to be the same as always. But when he turns around...! ==== XIII: Death Holes Falling and descending time and again to arrive at the abyss of the heart In Silent Hill 2, "holes" (including vertical corridors and long, downward staircases) appear repeatedly upon and after James' arrival beneath the Historical Society. James falls through these holes many times over as if lured by something. One can think that these holes symbolize the abyss which has opened up in his heart. By means of falling through holes, James dives into his own subconscious and finally comes to accept the crime he has committed. As with the scrawled words at the bar, it seems that in the town of Silent Hill holes open up here and there and lure those who hold darkness in their hearts. IMAGE: Bar Neely's Perhaps holes are entrances to the abyss of the heart seen only by those who bear the weight of misdeeds. SECTION TWO: Strangely shaped elongated holes that suggest the birth of God Although holes appear in Silent Hill 3 as in the previous work, Heather does not merely drop down them but also ascends using ladders. It seems that the implication of the holes that appear in the third game differs greatly from that of the previous work. And so, the hint is in the difference in the shape of the holes. IMAGE: the hole in the church's final room Surely, the hole that is torn up by Valtiel symbolizes the birth of God. IMAGE: the painting titled "Faith" Even in a painting in the church, an elongated hole is depicted. Could it have some ritual purpose? Creator's Commentary: Although many holes also appear in the third game, these ones are oblong and elliptical in shape. In other words, they are depicted as a "birth" motif. The "holes" which appear in various scenes are related to Silent Hill 3's themes of "life" and "rebirth." The design drawn on the Eye of Night card is also related to "holes." -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== XIV: Temperance Keys and Doors Items that open doors and the design of the places where they are hidden Doors that stand in the player's path, and keys for opening them. When it comes to keys in particular, there is a curious trend in the places where they are kept, and one can feel that a deep meaning is concealed even in the strange ways that they are hidden. Couldn't it be that keys are not items merely for opening doors and that there is a major significance to the places where they are found? Let's explore the intentions of the creators. IMAGE: Heather retrieves a key from the vending machine The irrationality of such an improbable thing happening bewilders the player. Creator's Commentary: Concerning the places where keys are put, they are often chosen not so much because of the scenario as for production reasons. The "cooked key" for example-- the weirdness of how the dog swallowed the key and was cooked like that. The key that comes out of the soft drink can from the vending machine plays off of a fear of machines that perform functions outside of their predetermined roles. The key that is stuck to the wall in the hospital depicts the incoherent thought processes of someone who is not of sound mind. If anything, I'd say there are more cases in which meaning is entrusted to doors, don't you think? -Hiroyuki Owaku SECTION TWO: The significance given to doors themselves In the Silent Hill series, like religious key items, keys with motifs pertaining to literary works and the like, the presence of the doors that obstruct the path of the player is also full of profound underlying suggestions. Looking back at some representative doors that have appeared up to this point in the series, let's reaffirm the important significance that each of them holds. From "Silent Hill:" Keys for eclipse The word "eclipse" comes from astronomy. For example, a solar eclipse occurs as a result of an overlap of the positions of the sun and moon. This can also be interpreted as signifying the overlap of Alessa and Cheryl. IMAGE: Harry opens the back door of the house on Levin Street Upon opening the door, in an instant the town is enveloped by darkness and light around Harry is literally blocked off. From "Silent Hill 2:" Doors on the floor The strangeness of vertical corridors and opening doors on the floor is evidence that the world James sees is not reality. Of course even for the player, these things cause strong feelings of uneasiness and tension. IMAGE: James in the prison James, who accepts the strangeness of the vertical corridors, is not of a normal state of mind. From "Silent Hill 3:" The moon door The message on the door that reads "piling up the 300th day and night" followed by "cries of pain are heard" is a metaphor for the sequence of events from conception to childbirth. It suggests the harsh fate that awaits Heather, who has become pregnant with God. IMAGE: Heather in the shopping mall Since it's the "moon door," a moonstone was chosen as the item that opens it. ==== XV: The Devil Creatures Is the true nature of the grotesque creatures that are produced by the otherworld really what one expects it to be? The reason why creatures exist differs subtly in each work of the series. While the subject in Silent Hill was Alessa's hatred, the delusions of James, who suffered from feelings of guilt, were manifested in Silent Hill 2. As there were also creatures acting under Claudia's instruction that appeared in Silent Hill 3, it can be inferred that there was also a variation in their existence. Could these creatures truly be monsters, as one expects? Let's explore their true nature. IMAGE: Heather swings her pipe at a "double head" Could the creatures that appear in the game be illusions that Heather sees? Creator's Commentary: Concerning the true nature of creatures, I think various explanations are possible. Even now I get lots of questions about the true nature of creatures. Although I don't intend to suggest the correct interpretation here, what Vincent says in the library room-- "Monsters...? They look like monsters to you?"-- is something that was provided as an answer to this question. -Hiroyuki Owaku IMAGE: Vincent in the library Vincent points out that Heather takes pleasure in defeating the creatures. SECTION TWO: Making of Creatures (note: the three images here are hand-drawn sketches) IMAGE: a horizontally positioned figure with something strange on its back Many creatures that appear to be completely integrated with matter have appeared in the series. IMAGE: something long and thin extends from the creature's finger Although its silhouette is human, the creature has an organ that shouldn't be there. IMAGE: the "pendulum" creature A rough sketch of the pendulum. Although there are traces of the human form, it is entirely changed into a thing with ambiguous implications. Creator's Commentary: In older drawings, the demons are depicted as monsters with horns and fangs. This is because the target at that time was the fear inspired by wild animals. And so in order to express the scariness of the demons in a way that was modernistic, another motif was necessary. Fundamentally, human beings harbor a fear of others, and in particular, a fear of that which is impossible to comprehend. Therefore, the human form was made into a motif and many creatures that are as if dissimilated into living things with ambiguous implications came to be designed. -Masahiro Ito SECTION THREE: The rumors from four years ago were true!! A disclosure of the whole story of the phantom creature In the first game, there was actually a child-type creature that was discarded. When Silent Hill first went on sale, rumors about this became a topic of conversation among some fans. Accordingly, if one checks the preview images of Silent Hill that were presented to the public at E3 of 1994, sure enough, there is a creature that doesn't appear in the game. The truth is that the "mumbler" that appears in the elementary school was pronounced "no good" as many as three times by the Ethics Committee, which was something that gradually gained quite a bit of notoriety. Let's introduce the whole story of the design changes that stretch from the phantom creature to the mumbler. IMAGE: a strange, short child-like figure in the school's courtyard The child-type creature that was rumored by some to exist was real after all! code name CHILD #1 IMAGE: Harry fires his gun at the creature advancing towards him This is one of the images that was presented to the public at E3. It also appeared in a magazine as an image from midway through the development process. IMAGE: Harry takes aim at a small creature across the room The child-type creature that appears in the classroom is extremely shocking. CHILD #1' (larval stalker) IMAGE: a small humanoid shadow The fact that it was made into a shadow-like being that is unable to attack got the approval of the Ethics Committee. code name CHILD #2 IMAGE: an eyeless, tan-skinned figure #2 was created as a nopperabou-like humanoid monster that is not wearing clothes. (note: In Japanese folklore, a nopperabou is a ghost without a face.) code name CHILD #2' IMAGE: a similar creature but with gray skin Compared to child #2, this humanoid creature is somewhat larger. The head was modified. CHILD #2" (stalker) IMAGE: the stalker attacks Harry As for the stalker that appears in "nowhere," child #2" was made into a silhouette. code name CHILD #3 IMAGE: a green-skinned, inhuman-looking creature carrying a weapon A creature that was designed anew. It appears in the North American edition of the game. CHILD #4 (mumbler) IMAGE: a faceless creature with large claws Because the humanoid silhouette was abandoned and hook-like claws were added, permission for the domestic release was finally obtained. Creator's Commentary: Could it be that the three times the same creature was determined to be "no good" set a record for the highest number of times this happened in the history of the CESA Ethics Committee? It seems that the point of fighting and killing a creature with a child-like form became quite a problem. Silent Hill's preview images are included in the "Lost Memories: The Art and Music of Silent Hill" DVD. -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== XVI: The Tower Cult A long-standing religious tradition native to the region is twisted by history The town of Silent Hill is where Claudia and Dahlia took steps to bring about the revival of God, and where in the second game James attempted to resurrect his deceased wife. It is a town that has an indigenous belief system that has been passed down over the years. With the appearance of nothing but unearthly rituals and fanatical priests over the course of the series, players have never clearly seen the true essence of the town's religion. Exactly what is the nature of the faith that originates from the town's former inhabitants? Concerning the history of this area which was revered as sacred ground and the doctrine which became the foundation for this faith, let us arrange a delineation of the relevant documents and dialogue from the series. Creator's Commentary: The religion of Silent Hill references various elements of different religions such as the origins of Christianity, Japanese folklore, and Aztec rituals. Original Native American beliefs have to do with animals and spirits that dwell in places, and borrowing their power to make oneself stronger. The names of the gods have Mayan and Aztec motifs. Using the strange pronunciations as a reference, I thought up original ones. -Hiroyuki Owaku SECTION TWO: History Before settlers first came to Silent Hill, the future site of the town had come to be valued as a holy place. The ceremonies that were conducted on this land became a model for the present-day cult faith. It is important to note, however, that the native religion is not the same thing as the cult. Think of them as being like Japan's Shinto shrines and Jizo statues. IMAGE: Harry stands before the altar in the "other church" The altar under the antique shop from the first game. Doesn't it seem to bear a striking resemblance to a household Shinto shrine in Japan? IMAGE: James in the Historical Society It seems that when the town's former inhabitants still lived here, strange rituals were conducted on this holy ground. SECTION THREE: Dogma The basis for what the cult believes is derived from a myth that has been passed down over the years. In summary, "Once, God set out to create paradise and Her power ran out, but someday God would be resurrected once again. The doors to paradise would be opened, and everyone would be saved." One detail unique to this religion is the idea that during the dawn of humanity, there was only suffering and hatred. It would seem that this has become a foundation for this unique belief system. IMAGE: the prayer written on the wall in the hallway before the church The voice of a believer that suggests self-sacrifice. One imagines that there were many such fanatical devotees. IMAGE: The painting titled "Salvation" The six paintings displayed in the chapel are a depiction of the myth that is the basis of the cult's doctrine. SECTION FOUR: System The popular beliefs native to the region began to take shape as a religion several decades ago. A rapid expansion took place over the course of a few years that was the result of Vincent's achievements. It can be surmised that Alessa, who was born around thirty years ago, was established as a saint in the cult and thus the structure of the organization was only recently put in order. IMAGE: Heather examines the memo titled "believers' complaints" It seems that shaping the indigenous faith into a religion was the work of Vincent. IMAGE: The painting titled "St. Alessa: Mother of God, Daughter of God" The three saints were probably established fairly recently, sometime after the Civil War. IMAGE: The painting titled "Creation" This structure in which many lesser gods appear under the chief deity differs greatly from Christianity. SECTION FIVE: The otherworld's church sheds light on the history and true image of the religious organization Although the church that appeared in the first game was Christian, the design of the church in the third game is unique to the cult. It can be surmised that the cult's influence grew over a period of seventeen years before the church was constructed. Furthermore, it is established that the underground area of the otherworld's church is in fact a ruin where the town's former residents once conducted rituals. If one examines the walls in detail, it becomes apparent that there are new discoveries to be made. IMAGE: the final room of the church What appear to be murals on the walls in the church's otherworld indicate that this place is a ruin. IMAGE: the final room of the church Unlike an ordinary church, the followers' seats are constructed to face each other. IMAGE: Heather approaches Claudia in the church's final room It appears that the underground chapel is a ruin that was sealed up until now. Creator's Commentary: In a church in the real world the adherents normally sit opposite the priest, however in the otherworld's final church the priest is encircled by the adherents. It calls to mind not praying to God, but everyone in attendance watching a ceremony taking place in the central area, don't you think? The design has a motif inspired by British Parliament. -Masahiro Ito ==== XVII: The Star Motif Motifs in the solutions to riddles chosen to include meaning and purpose in the works of the series The Silent Hill series has come to reference many literary works in the form of motifs in the solutions to riddles. However, these references are not limited to mere citations. The subjects and world views of the original works have important meanings and suggestions in the games. Looking back at these many motifs, let's reaffirm the significance included therein. IMAGE: the statues of Cinderella and Snow White Motifs that have to do with juvenile literature appear in great numbers throughout the series. IMAGE: the locked door in the house on Levin Street Even in the name of a key, an important meaning that is closely connected to the basis of the work is included. IMAGE: the bookcase in Alessa's room Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz are important reference books. SECTION TWO: Juvenile The ones that are used most often as motifs that appear in the series are juvenile literary works that began as fairy tales. Making use of these many different works relates the otherworld itself to the depths of the consciousness of the young girl called Alessa. The fact that the works that she loved appear in the otherworld clearly indicates that the otherworld is a manifestation of Alessa's mind. In the young girl's room that appears in the final stages of Silent Hill 3, original texts with motifs that have come to appear in the games such as Oz and Alice as well as Mother Goose and Cinderella can be found on the bookshelf. The Wizard of Oz In the early stages of Silent Hill, three keys called Scarecrow, Woodman, and Lion are necessary to open the path to the elementary school. The names originate from the three traveling companions of the young girl who is the protagonist in The Wizard of Oz. Alice in Wonderland In the first game, plates of Turtle, Hatter, Cat, and Queen appear as items that open a door in the hospital. These names all originate from characters that appear in Alice in Wonderland. Grimm's Fairy Tales In Silent Hill 3, Cinderella and Snow White appear in the solution to a puzzle in the Marchen Travel at the amusement park. The stories of these two young ladies also appear in the solution to the music box puzzle in the hotel from Silent Hill 2. The monster and the priestess This fairy tale which appears in the office building in Silent Hill 3 is the only one that is completely original. Of course, it goes without saying that the priestess in the fairy tale who once died and returned to life most likely signifies Heather (Alessa). Creator's Commentary: The otherworld in the first game is a world manifested from the depths of Alessa's consciousness. The reason why many items and solutions to riddles that originate from works like Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz appear is that these are Alessa's favorite books from her childhood. In other words, they indicate that the otherworld itself is produced by Alessa. Similarly, an illustration from The Lost World, which is one of her favorite books, is used as a motif for one of the creatures that appears in the first game. Also, Alice and Oz are both stories about young girls who lose their ways in an "otherworld." Such content also suggests Cheryl and the protagonist, who have lost their ways in the otherworld. -Hiroyuki Owaku SECTION THREE: Poem A poem is employed in the solution to the riddle in the crematorium under the hospital. When the riddle level is set on "hard," a long and complex poem appears. This poem is based on a piece of poetry from Mother Goose called "Who killed Cock Robin?" In Europe and America, everyone is familiar with poetry from Mother Goose. What significance could its appearance in Silent Hill 3 hold? IMAGE: the crematorium's riddle This esoteric poem was created with a motif of the original work. Creator's Commentary: Like Oz and Alice, the reason for using Mother Goose is that Alessa liked these stories when she was a child. It hints at the fact that as the setting of the game moves to Silent Hill, the otherworld also switches from being under Claudia's influence to being under Alessa's. -Hiroyuki Owaku SECTION FOUR: Occult Names of doors that are unfamiliar appear in "nowhere" of the first game. The truth is that they originate from the names of angels that appear in a medieval book of black magic called the Grimoire. Each angel is a being that governs a planet: Ophiel rules over Mercury, Hagith rules over Venus, Phaleg rules over Mars, Bethor rules over Jupiter, and Aratron rules over Saturn. Why were these doors given the names of angels? IMAGE: Harry stands before the "Ophiel" door The unfamiliar names of angels originate from a book of black magic. Creator's Commentary: In "nowhere" of the first game, occult-like elements are arranged even in the names of items and doors, which is mainly to represent magical elements that Dahlia possesses. The names of doors suggest planets, and indicate that a deeper part of the realm of Alessa's mind is being entered. -Hiroyuki Owaku SECTION FIVE: Literature In Silent Hill 3, five books including Shakespeare's four great tragedies of Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, and King Lear as well as Romeo and Juliet are used in the solution to the riddle in the bookstore. Shakespeare's works have been adapted all over the world and have become motifs in many works, and the sorrow that these tragic works hold has a strong relevance even to the subject of the game. IMAGE: the books found on the floor at the bookstore Macbeth's lines overlap with the grief of the characters. Creator's Commentary: The expression of emotion is particularly strong in Macbeth, don't you think? There's also a part in which the "hills of heath" lead to the pronunciation of "Heather." Also, if one consults the book one can read the line, "An existence completely forgotten after it has ended," which expresses reality for the game's characters. -Hiroyuki Owaku (note: The line from Macbeth that Owaku cites is tough to translate without knowing its context, and even after reading through the play I can't be sure which sentence it corresponds to in English. Another meaning of the verb used (wasuresarareru) is "to be left behind," and I would suggest that this phrase could also mean something like "When all is said and done, one is completely left behind," as Heather, Douglas, and Claudia are all left behind by family members who are killed.) SECTION SIX: A summary of the works that have become motifs The Wizard of Oz Dorothy, who is blown by a tornado into the Land of Oz, heads for the capital city with three comrades in order to return to the world she came from. Alice in Wonderland While chasing after a white rabbit, Alice falls down a deep hole and loses her way in a wonderland inhabited by strange animals. Macbeth Trusting in the witches' prophecy, the fearless general Macbeth murders his own friends and acquaintances one by one and is drawn into a world of nightmares. Hamlet From the words of his father's ghost, Hamlet knows how his father, the king, met his end. He feigns madness in order to take revenge on the new king. Romeo and Juliet Despite being from opposing families, Romeo and Juliet fall completely in love. The two of them become victims of the quarrel between the two families. Othello Othello, who is black, loses faith in his wife Desdemona (who is white), and comes to make the worst possible decision. King Lear An historical drama with an ancient England motif. Betrayed by his daughters, old King Lear becomes deeply upset and loses his sanity. Cursing the world, he wanders about the wilderness. Snow White The original work is one of Grimm's Fairy Tales. Snow White, who loses her life because of a poisoned apple, is revived by the prince's love. The Little Mermaid Andersen's fairy tale. In the end, the mermaid, who is in love with a human, sacrifices her body for love. Cinderella The prototype is Charles Perrault's fairy tale, which was later compiled as one of Grimm's Fairy Tales. It is the story of a girl who marries a prince with the impetus of a glass slipper. Mother Goose Nursery rhymes that have been handed down since long ago in the English-speaking world. Several hundred compilations of these nursery rhymes have been made, and they have been referenced in every direction including movies and literature. Grimoire A medieval book of black magic. The angels that appear are rooted in the Olympic Spirits of ancient Greece. Tu Fui Ego Eris In Latin, it means "I was you. You will become me." Originally these words are engraved on tombstones. ==== XVIII: The Moon Vincent A professional who uses Heather and the cult for his own personal gain Despite the fact that he is a priest in the town's religious organization, Vincent actively opposes the rebirth of God. Using the contributions of devotees he has been able to greatly expand the cult, and it is known that he forces some of the cult's adherents to donate to the church funds. Vincent's goal is to make money using the church. Although it is his plan to tie Claudia's and Alessa's special powers to faith in the church, he has no desire to take it so far as to actually see God restored to this world. For this reason, he intends to approach Heather and prevent Claudia from carrying out her plans. IMAGE: in the library To avoid putting himself in harm's way, Vincent approaches Heather in an attempt to use her to his own ends. Creator's Commentary: The Moon card can mean uneasiness, distrust, or inconstancy. I thought that the personality of Vincent, who does not speak plainly to others and makes them uneasy, was applicable to "the moon" so I included this card in the game. -Hiroyuki Owaku The power of the Seal of Metatron that Vincent clings to is...? IMAGE: Heather holds the seal Vincent believes that the Seal of Metatron has the ability to defeat God, but... IMAGE: the school's courtyard In the first game, this seal is inscribed in many places around town. IMAGE: the memo titled "day room notebook" For some reason, Leonard protected the seal obsessively. Creator's Commentary: To the town's religious organization, the Seal of Metatron is an ordinary talisman with no particular significance. As Alessa was unable to spread this crest throughout the entire town in the first game, its power was never demonstrated. In spite of this, both Vincent and Leonard misunderstood its abilities. -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== XIX: The Sun Extra Feature Are the "science fiction-like elements" that can be enjoyed after a clear game connected to the UFOs? Up to this point in the series, players have come to enjoy bonus elements in various forms after clearing the game. From Silent Hill 3, a connection comes to light: A "UFO ending" common to which are the three games of the series. Could the science fiction-like additional elements that have appeared so far have something to do with the UFO endings? IMAGE: Heather in the "Transience" shirt Depending on whether conditions are fulfilled and puzzles are solved, new costumes are made available. IMAGE: the password input screen Including the overseas editions, the number of costumes added is twenty-five in all. IMAGE: Princess Heart If one imagines that experiments have been performed on Heather, maybe her ability to transform isn't so strange!? IMAGE: Beam Saber A sword of light that is clearly not a weapon of this earth. Who in the world could have given it to her? IMAGE: Hyper Blaster The hyper blaster that appears in the first game is enabled after a clear game with the UFO ending. Is the UFO ending which establishes a continuity between the three games the true ending!? IMAGE: Heather enters her apartment Does the reason why Heather can transform and use special weapons become clear if one sees the UFO ending!? Creator's Commentary: I think that those who have seen it know-- it connects all three works of the series, doesn't it? The truth is that this is what really happens. -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== XX: Judgement Red Pyramid Thing Manifested by James' subconscious, it takes the form of an executioner of times past The creature known as "Pyramid Head" that appears in Silent Hill 2 leaves behind a great number of mysteries and has evoked a great response from players. Let's formally dispose of those mysteries. Originally, the pyramid head outfit was the guise of Silent Hill's executioners. Three years ago when James visited this town, that figure overlapped with his own feelings of guilt, and then later appears as a representation of his desire for punishment in the otherworld created by his subconscious. IMAGE: Maria about to be skewered Pyramid Head persists in tormenting not only James himself, but Maria as well. IMAGE: the painting of the helmeted executioner A picture of Pyramid Head from the Historical Society. It depicts the scene of an execution that was once carried out. Creator's Commentary: Pyramid Head wounds Maria again and again to reiterate the actuality of Mary's death and wake James from his delusion. In other words, something in the depths of James' consciousness is trying to force him to remember his crime. -Hiroyuki Owaku Was the "red devil" that Walter Sullivan saw...? Walter Sullivan murdered a young boy and his sister, and then took his own life. The connection between the "red devil" he saw and Pyramid Head has become a topic of discussion among players. However, Pyramid Head is only a representation of James' need for punishment. No one besides Sullivan himself can really know what he saw. IMAGE: Valtiel before the fight with God Valtiel is the being that Pyramid Head is modeled after. His form is also seen differently depending on the person. IMAGE: the article about Walter Sullivan Sullivan says that he saw a "red devil." What was it that he saw? (note: In sections concerning Pyramid Head, the word "jibatsuishiki/ jibachiishiki" is used frequently, and I think it's hard to translate perfectly into English. Ji = self, batsu = punishment, and ishiki = consciousness, or in the way it's used here, "sense of," so the meaning is that Pyramid Head comes from James' "sense of self-punishment," or "self-punishment-mindedness.") ==== XXI: The World Another World Does the real world influence the otherworld born of delusions and the power of the town? The power of Silent Hill absorbs what people hold in their hearts and manifests delusions and elements of their subconscious minds. And so, the truth is that the consciousness that becomes the main constituent of what is called the "otherworld" varies. As a few different incarnations of the otherworld have been presented up to this point in the series, let us ascertain the differences in each of these respective works. IMAGE: Angela tells James, "For me, it's always like this." In the otherworld of Silent Hill, the world is seen differently depending on the person. IMAGE: Heather experiences the shift in the office building On some occasions the shift to the otherworld can occur suddenly. SECTION TWO: The main constituent of the otherworld differs in each work of the series Silent Hill Due to her severe burns and endless suffering, Alessa's power runs wild. Her agony is manifested and the entire town is swallowed up by the otherworld. IMAGE: Harry ponders the presence of the wheelchair Harry searches for his daughter in the otherworld. Silent Hill 2 Regarding James, who escapes from the crime that he has committed, elements from the depths of his consciousness are manifested. What the power of the town causes to appear before him is an otherworld that is a combination of his delusions and his desire for punishment. IMAGE: "I was weak. That's why I needed you..." As James acknowledges his crime, the otherworld disappears. (note: Interestingly enough, what the Japanese script says here is "dakara omae no sonzai o nozonde ita," which literally means, "and so I desired your existence.") Silent Hill 3 The shift to the otherworld that occurs in the shopping mall, among other places, has to do with Claudia. As she recovers her memories, Alessa's influence grows stronger. IMAGE: Claudia in the chapel Claudia possesses a unique power. SECTION THREE: Inclusion of a phantom ending If Heather should attack Claudia in the final stage of the game, God is born and it's "game over." However, this can be interpreted as another conclusion to the story. IMAGE: Claudia's dream of reviving God is realized It's intended not to simply be "game over," but another ending. Creator's Commentary: The truth is that when we first started development on this project, we considered including an ending for this situation. However, in order to show another means of resolving this in a way that could be easily understood, we decided to show it in the form of a "game over." Just what sort of god was born, and what happened to the world? These questions remain, but Heather is already gone so the player has no way of knowing what happens next. -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== XXII: The Eye of Night The God The being that sleeps inside the holy mother... is this truly God? At the end of the game, the creature called "God" appears. However, the form that it assumes seems too sinister for it to be the same being that is supposed to bring paradise to this world. One possible explanation for this is that if the town of Silent Hill holds the power to materialize delusions and innermost thoughts from one's subconscious, "God" is the result of someone's delusions just like the other creatures. And did the seed of God that was growing inside Heather truly disappear? That is left to the player to interpret. IMAGE: Heather vomits up the fetus The fetus that Heather vomited up may have been actualized by the human subconscious as well. Creator's Commentary: In the original tarot, there is no Eye of Night card. The idea is that this card is added corresponding to a Hebrew vowel, even though tarot originates from the Hebrew alphabet which has only letters that are consonants. The card suggests God. -Hiroyuki Owaku The form of God that is born to the earth changes depending on those who summon it The god that sleeps inside Alessa has appeared in various forms throughout the series. The fact is that there is no one form of God because the form that it takes is projected by the minds of those who summon it. IMAGE: the memo titled "about syncretic religions" A book in the church regarding the form of God. It notes that the form and name of God have come to change. IMAGE: Incubus With the influence of the red liquid, Dahlia's delusion is projected. IMAGE: Incubator A manifestation of the mental image of God that Alessa herself had. IMAGE: the god God vaguely resembles Alessa because Claudia's thoughts are projected. ====================== Trick or Treat Special ====================== 82: The hamburger shop in the shopping mall is a Happy Burger, which also appears in Silent Hill 2. It would seem that it's a chain store. 83: After starting an Extra New Game with data from Silent Hill 2, if one investigates the mailbox in the apartment building, a "letter from a dead wife" is... 84: If one investigates the counter in the bakery after getting the "flamethrower" secret weapon, for some reason the lettering on the leaflet has changed. 85: In the first game, an article about the American homicidal maniac Ed Gein is used as a sample of a newspaper post in the town. 86: Posing as the names of shops, the names of gods are written in great numbers on the doors in the hallway in the shopping mall where Heather encounters Claudia. (note: Three things in this hallway seem to be worth mentioning: The back door of Cafe Paradise Noon reads "Cafe Tirn Aill" and two doors read "Yggr-drasill," the name of the World Tree in Norse mythology. "Yggr" can also be used to indicate the Norse god Odin. "Nornen" is written on the door at the end of the hall, which would seem to refer to the Norns, three sisters in Norse mythology who represent past, present and future and are responsible for the lifespans of all mortals. Unless there are little-known Norse gods called "Lumber Room" and "Office," it seems to be a bit of an exaggeration to say that the names of gods are written in great numbers.) 87: A sign reads "floor 1" in the lobby of the otherworld's elementary school in the first game. The source material for this is the movie 12 Monkeys. 88: Moore, Ranaldo, and Gordon are in the list of teachers in the elementary school from the first game. The names originate from members of Sonic Youth. 89: There is a store called "Li Jun Fan" on the map of the shopping district in the first game. It seems that a fondness for Bruce Lee is responsible for this. (note: Li Jun Fan is Bruce Lee's original Chinese name, which means "Li, the small dragon." If read in Japanese, the characters in his name could be pronounced "Rishoryo.") 90: For some reason, there is quite a bit of fishing tackle in the bar in the hotel from Silent Hill 2. This is because the person responsible, having an aversion to alcohol, was unable to collect information on bars. 91: The paintings in the Western-style house from Restless Dreams include processed pictures of random items, hotel panorama shots, and the like-- things that aren't actual paintings. 92: The names Midkiff and Crosby are in a memo in the hospital from Silent Hill 3. They originate from the names of two actors from the movie Pet Sematary. 93: Being able to get a handgun from a shopping cart in the apartment building in Silent Hill 2 is a satire of guns in American society. 94: "Li Jun Fan" appears on the map of the shopping district in the first game. Next to this is none other than a "Konami Burger." 95: During the interval space in the hospital, "What a wonderful world!" is written on a wall. It's an homage to Exorcist 3. 96: With data from Silent Hill 2, if one investigates the toilet in the bathroom in the otherside shopping mall... 97: There is a save point in the art gallery in the otherside office building, but if one investigates the painting that is in this spot in the "right side" art gallery... 98: In Silent Hill 2, James can ride in the hotel's service elevator even while holding "Mary's picture" and "Mary's letter." 99: The truth is that the hair on the back of Douglas' head is thin; he combs his hair straight back from his forehead to cover it. It seems that this is a worry that his creator has. (note: Does this mean Shingo Yuri is going bald? The word "tantousha" simply means "person responsible," so it's tough to say whether this indicates the character modeler or someone else responsible for the character conceptualization.) 100: The following message appears only once in the makeshift morgue from Silent Hill 2: "...Did that just move or was it only my imagination?" 101: In Silent Hill 2 the wall of the well can't be broken without the kind of weapon that can be used to strike it, but it can be broken with just the "hyper spray" secret weapon. 102: If left standing idle the character will go into a standby action, and when James has the chainsaw equipped... 103: In the haunted house from Silent Hill 3, the clothes of the corpse that hangs down in Danny's room are identical to those of the designer who created them. 104: The drawing that became the foundation for the map of the church was done by the daughter of a friend of the staff. What she drew was "France." 105: In a passageway and on an outer wall of the otherside church, a mural is created from a drawing of Valtiel and Incubus centered around a female figure. 106: There are only three dwarfs near Snow White in the amusement park. If one searches the area, in the transparent floor panels the remaining four figures are... 107: Next to the place where the complete works of Shakespeare fell off the shelf, an image of Macbeth and the queen in an embrace can be seen on a book binding. 108: The name of the next station in the subway is Bergen Street, which is an homage to the movie Jacob's Ladder. 109: Although the beam saber is associated with a certain science fiction epic, it seems that the true source material is the Space Sheriff series. The proof is the way Heather readies the weapon. 110: In Silent Hill 2, a picture of what seems to be an assembly of the development staff is on display in the Historical Society's exhibition room. 111: Although America is the setting for Silent Hill, the reference material for creating the map was actually places in Japan like Towadako and Tazawako. 112: On a poster in the shopping mall, the words "Tirn Aill" are written, which means "fairy world." (note: in Celtic mythology, "otherworld" and "fairy world" are different terms for the same realm. The Revolt of Tirn Aill is also the name of an art gallery by an artist named Hiro Usuda, at least one of whose paintings appears in Silent Hill 3.) =============================== Silent Hill Inspirational Works =============================== Silent Hill has come to be produced with influences from a great number of works. Those genres include many different things such as literature and movies, as well as comics, paintings and music. Let's introduce the works from which Silent Hill originates. ===== Books ===== Stephen King A master of modern horror, many of whose novels have been made into films A leading figure in modern horror who has acquired many fans all over the world. His representative works include Carrie, The Shining, and Pet Sematary. Most of his works have been made into films and have gained high popularity. Incidentally, the Bachman Road that appears in the first game originates from Richard Bachman, which is Steven King's pen name. Skeleton Crew (1) contains the short novel "The Mist." Fusosha Mystery, 620 yen Carrie depicts a young girl who possesses special abilities. Shincho Bunko, 590 yen From Creator: King is a master and a pioneer of modern horror. His works have been used for various references and have also been influential. Of his works that have been made into movies, I recommend The Langoliers and Pet Sematary. -Hiroyuki Owaku The tv drama version of It that was produced in America is really worth seeing. -Masahiro Ito ==== Dean R. Koontz A popular horror author who, together with King, is one of horror's two most prominent figures A best-selling author with an artisan's temperament who devotes himself to entertainment. He wrote science fiction and suspense in his 60s under a number of different pen names, but gave modern horror his undivided attention in and after his late 70s using the name Dean Koontz. His representative works include Mr. Murder, The Face of Fear, The Vision, and The Voice of the Night. Phantoms: Hayakawa Bunko NV Modern Horror Selection, 660 yen (first and last volumes) The Door to December: Tokyo Sogensha/Sogen Novels, 680 yen (first and last volumes) From Creator: I think that as a master of modern horror, Koontz, like King, has been referenced a lot and has also been a great influence. He has a number of film adaptations and so even though King's works are more well-known, taking the story element into consideration, I personally like Koontz better. In particular, Hideaway is a book that I strongly recommend. -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== Kunio Yanagita A pioneer in folklore who systematized oral traditions A folklorist who continues to pursue folklore. Tono Monogatari, a collection of oral traditions, contains a great number of strange tales that call to mind otherworldly beings. From Creator: From this work, the traditions of Silent Hill reference the way prosaic folk traditions should be and their placement. -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== Masako Bando Manifesting the horror that lies hidden in popular manners and customs A horror novelist known for works such as Inugami and Shikoku. Many of her works portray the horror that lies in the background in the culture and beliefs that have been established in Japan since long ago. From Creator: Bando has a superb style that possesses a musty atmosphere and a viscous feeling of oppression. I made a great effort to work that sense of atmosphere into the game. -Hiroyuki Owaku ==== Robert R. McCammon A leading figure in modern horror who ended his literary career A novelist known for works such as Swan Song and Mine. Together with King and Koontz, McCammon became a leader in modern horror but announced his retirement in 1999. Stinger portrays the drama that unfolds between aliens and humans. Fusosha, 660 yen (first and last volumes) ==== Kobo Abe Works that have elements of abstract absurdity An avant-garde novelist known for a literary style that is absurd and abstract. Abe handled various genres such as science fiction and mystery, and all of his esoteric works have various possible interpretations. In Abe's masterpiece The Box Man, a soliloquy is composed in which a man is possessed by his fascination with a box and becomes a box man. Shincho Bunko, 400 yen ====== Comics ====== Daijiro Morohoshi Unorthodox works that portray an otherworld An expert who depicts every mysterious phenomenon from supernatural creatures to science fiction with an overwhelming sense of reality. The otherworld in which reason has no bearing is also something that is linked to the world of Silent Hill. Shiori and Shimiko's Incident Involving a Freshly Severed Head: Asahi Sonorama, 757 yen ==== Junji Ito A master of horror comics A leading figure in horror comics in Japan. Starting with the Tomie series and then works such as Lovesick Dead and Oshikiri, a great number of his comics have been made into movies. Horror Manga Collection series volume 11 "The Town Without Streets:" Asahi Sonorama, 552 yen ===================== Roots of Street Names ===================== Most of the names of streets in the town originate from the names of authors. Let's make all of their roots clear. ================================= South Side (from Silent Hill 2&3) ================================= The setting for the second and third games is the south bank of Toluca Lake, South Vale. Including the thin alleyways, all thirteen streets originate from the names of authors. ==== 1. Nathan Ave. Robert Nathan A fantasy author who also writes poetry and the like. His representative works include Portrait of Jennie, The Adventures of Tapiola, and Long After Summer. 2. Wiltse Rd. David Wiltse A novelist who is also active as a movie and tv scriptwriter. Among others, his representative works are Home Again and Prayer for the Dead. 3. Lindsey St. David Lindsay A mystery writer whose specialty is psychological thrillers. His representative works include the Stuart Haydon series and A Cold Mind. 4. Vachss Rd. Andrew Vachss An unconventional author who is also active as an attorney specializing in child abuse cases. He debuted with Flood, a novel set in his native New York. 5. Martin St. David Martin His specialty is powerful, hard-boiled psychological thrillers such as Lie to Me and Cul-De-Sac. 6. Katz St. William Katz His representative works include Facemaker and Surprise Party. Katz's forte is suspense with a science fiction theme. 7. Sanders St. Lawrence Sanders After being active as a journalist, Sanders debuted as an author at the age of 50 with The Anderson Tapes. Works such as his Deadly Sin series are famous. 8. Neely St. Richard Neely He became a writer after working at a newspaper publishing company. Among others, his representative works are The Plastic Nightmare and A Madness of the Heart. Neely has a cult-like following among certain fans. 9. Harris St. Thomas Harris Harris is the creator of Doctor Hannibal Lecter. He is known for works such as The Silence of the Lambs and for being a rather unprolific writer, as he has had a total of only four novels published. 10. Saul St. John Saul A leading figure in the horror novel world said to be second only to King and Koontz. His representative works include Guardian and Creature. 11. Munson St. Ronald Munson His specialty is suspense novels with a theme of computers. Munson's representative works are Fan Mail and Night Vision. 12. Rendell St. Ruth Rendell An authoress who is called the queen of the world of contemporary English mystery. Her representative works include Simisola and the Inspector Wexford series. 13. Carroll St. Jonathan Carroll A modern horror author whose specialty is dark depictions like The Land of Laughs and After Silence. He currently resides in Vienna. ============================= North Side (from Silent Hill) ============================= Old Silent Hill ~ residential area What became the setting for the first game is the north bank of Toluca Lake. Starting with Bachman Road, most of the streets have collapsed and are impassable. 1. Finney St. Jack Finney Representative works: From Time to Time, The Woodrow Wilson Dime 2. Matheson St. Richard Matheson Representative works: Where There's a Will, Mr. Right 3. Bloch St. Robert Bloch He is famous as the original author of Hitchcock's Psycho. 4. Bradbury St. Ray Bradbury Representative works: The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451 5. Midwich St. from Village of the Damned Midwich Street originates not from an author but from the name of the town in the movie Village of the Damned. 6. Levin St. Ira Levin Representative work: Rosemary's Baby 7. Bachman Rd. Richard Bachman Richard Bachman is Steven King's pen name. 8. Ellroy St. James Ellroy Representative works: L.A. Confidential ==== Central Silent Hill ~ business district Bloch Street and Sagan Street are connected by a bridge that can be raised and lowered. The two streets join the business district with the residential area. 1. Sagan St. Carl Sagan Representative works: Contact, Cosmos 2. Koonts St. Dean R. Koontz Representative work: The Face of Fear 3. Crichton St. Michael Crichton He is the original author of works such as Jurassic Park. 4. Wilson St. Colin Wilson Representative works: Encyclopedia of Murder, The Occult 5. Simmons St. Dan Simmons Representative works: Song of Kali, Hyperion ==== South Park ~ Lake Side ~ resort area There are only two new streets here. The "W" in W. Sandford is an abbreviation for "West." Bachman Road connects to the street of the same name in the residential area. 1. Sandford St. John Sandford His representative works include Sudden Prey and the Prey series. Sandford is also a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist. 2. Craig St. Kit Craig Her real name is Lillian Craig Reed. She is an authoress who previously worked as a newspaper reporter. Although she has more than one pen name, she has had a number of psychological thrillers such as Gone published under the name Kit Craig. ===== Films ===== David Lynch David Lynch enjoys a reputation as a man of remarkable talent because of his sense for creative imagery. What he portrays are always the "abnormal characteristics that lie hidden in peaceful normality." His nightmarish imagery and logic-defying story development always captivates ardent fans. From Creator: Personally, I think Twin Peaks is the best thing he's ever done. Also, I experienced a culture shock from the beauty of the visuals in Dune, which I saw when I was in junior high school. -Masahiro Ito Lost Highway A mystery that depicts psychological terror like a maze which the protagonist falls into after having lost consciousness from the shock of having seen a mysterious video tape. Data: Available on DVD from Pioneer LDC for 3,800 yen (excluding tax) Eraserhead The shocking feature film that Lynch debuted with, which depicts the figure of a man who enters a world of nightmares and insanity when his girlfriend gives birth to a deformed baby. Blue Velvet A suspense film in which an ordinary young man becomes involved in affairs as a result of finding a human ear by chance. The scene in which the protagonist hides in a closet is suggestive of Silent Hill 2. Twin Peaks A twenty-nine episode tv drama that depicts the case of the murder of a female high school student that took place in an American country town. The story development, in which mysteries invite mysteries, has gained fervent popularity to the extent that it has become a social phenomenon. Dune A sci-fi action film that depicts a power struggle that unfolds on a desert planet. The film is unusual for the director David Lynch, and the viewer can experience spectacular visuals that make full use of the special effects. ==== Stanley Kubrick The master filmmaker Kubrick is known as a perfectionist. He has worked in a wide range of genres, but whichever it is, his works are always filled with an overwhelming feeling of tension and his imagery is full of philosophical suggestions. From Creator: Full Metal Jacket is an unparalleled depiction of sadistic human beings. -Masahiro Ito Full Metal Jacket A war film that depicts the Vietnam War. Scenes of training go on and on during the first half, depicting the way human beings are transfigured into weapons. Data: Available on DVD from Warner Home Video for 2,500 yen (excluding tax) Lolita A controversial film that depicts the grief of a middle-aged man who suffers because of his forbidden love for a young girl and comes to bring ruin upon himself. The car driving through the fog in the beginning is reminiscent of the opening from the first game. A Clockwork Orange A unique science fiction film set in a chaotic near future. It depicts a juvenile delinquent who is devoted to being as bad as possible and gets arrested, and the way he is reformed as a result of experiments that are performed on him. ==== Alejandro Jodorowsky A Chilean visual artist who is said to be the father of the cult movie. With unique depictions that are like experimental imagery, he portrays violence and unearthly rituals, and throws the boundary between dream and reality into disarray. From Creator: Although I can't recommend his films to people unconditionally, they are all strange works that leave behind a strong impression. -Hiroyuki Owaku El Topo A road movie with a western motif. In this film, Zen ideology and freaks intermingle in bizarre events that take place in a desert. Data: Available on DVD from SPO for 4,800 yen (excluding tax) Holy Mountain Guided by an alchemist, nine men and women head for a holy mountain that is home to wise men who are immortal and perpetually young. There, a shocking conclusion awaits them. Holy Mountain is said to be Jodorowsky's most esoteric work. Santa Sangre Developed with visuals that are uniquely beautiful, Santa Sangre is a story about a parent and child in a circus troupe who hurt each other. The protagonist's mother, who is a devotee of a cult religion, was also a model for Claudia. ==== Jacob's Ladder A soldier who returns from the Vietnam War has horrifying hallucinations. The film has many settings in common with Silent Hill, such as the hospital and subway. Data: Available on DVD from Pioneer LDC for 4,700 yen (excluding tax) From Creator: I saw this movie when I was in high school and experienced terror psychologically for the first time. -Masahiro Ito ==== Betty Blue integral version A controversial film that depicts the ultimate love of a man who devotedly supports his girlfriend who has gone insane and a woman who goes to ruin as a consequence of her passionate love. From Creator: Silent Hill 2 was influenced more than a little by this last scene. -Hiroyuki Owaku Data: Available on DVD from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment Japan for 3,980 yen (excluding tax) ==== Alice Animated surrealist depiction of the strange Alice's Adventures in Wonderland from the extremely talented Czech director Jan Svankmajer. From Creator: Among other things, the "canned lightbulbs" from the second game were influenced by this work. -Hiroyuki Owaku Data: Available on DVD from Columbia Video for 4,700 yen (excluding tax) ==== The Exorcist III The third movie in the series was personally directed as a legitimate sequel by William Peter Blatty, the original author of The Exorcist. Data: Available on DVD from Pony Canyon for 3,800 yen (excluding tax) From Creator: Various aspects of this movie such as imagery and direction have been referenced since the first game. -Masahiro Ito ==== Event Horizon A spacecraft that vanished seven years ago appears again. Members of a rescue team board the ship and have hallucinations based on emotional wounds from their pasts. Data: Available on DVD from Paramount Home Entertainment Japan for 4,700 yen (excluding tax) ==== The Cell Directed by Tarsem Singh, who originates from the music video world, The Cell depicts the realm of the mind of a macabre killer with visuals that are vivid and beautiful. Data: Available on DVD from Pioneer LDC for 2,980 yen (excluding tax) ==== Gokumontou Kon Ichikawa's fascinating version of Kosuke Kindaichi portrays vivid terror and deep characters. The shots of crime scenes made up to look like Basho's haiku are shocking. Data: Available for rental from Toho Video ==== Terry Gilliam 12 Monkeys A feature-length science fiction film from Terry Gilliam, a director who is known for his surrealist style. In order to prevent a virus from causing the downfall of mankind, a convict is sent to the past world. Data: 12 Monkeys (DTS Edition) is available on DVD from Shochiku Co., Ltd. (Inc.) for 4,700 yen (excluding tax) From Creator: As for the asymmetry between Vincent's left and right eyes, Brad Pitt is the hint. -Shingo Yuri ==== Chris Cunningham The director Chris Cunningham, who is known for works such as Bjork's video "All is Full of Love," consistently treats the dissimilated human form as a motif. Data: Complete Volumen is available on DVD from Universal International for 4,200 yen (excluding tax) From Creator: When I bought the Aphex Twin video, I was amazed at how good the visuals are. -Masahiro Ito ==== Arts ==== Hieronymus Bosch The depiction of a paradise inhabited by strange monsters A Dutch artist who was active during the latter half of the 15th century. Bosch's preferred subject matter includes mazes, curious monsters, and demons. In his masterpiece The Garden of Earthly Delights, monsters that are only heads and legs also appear. IMAGE: one of Bosch's creatures Strange rituals in which monsters dance are also frequently depicted. ==== Pieter Brueghel Equal depictions of common people and the bizarre A 16th century Dutch artist who is famous for religious paintings with an Old Testament motif. On the other hand, there are also a great number of works in which curious monsters with plant and insect motifs appear. IMAGE: Bruegel: The Complete Paintings Works with biblical themes such as The Tower of Babel are central. ==== Francis Bacon Questioning the foundations of the human body A modern artist from England who is known for works in which violence and the human body are made into motifs. His works have had a great influence on the creature models in and after Silent Hill 2. ==== Salvador Dali An artist who embodies surrealism A Spanish artist representative of the 20th century. Dali is famous for his works depicting melted clocks and deformed bodies. He also drew still lifes as though drawing strange creatures. ==== Andrew Wyeth Depicting moments veiled in silence An artist who typifies American realism. Wyeth's central theme is everyday country life. His casual landscapes are depicted with a unique sense of atmosphere. ===== Music ===== Industrial Rock Sound that is aggressive and violent Sounds that are mechanical like those of a construction site and inspire fear in the listener are influenced by the dark sound of artists like Killing Joke and Alien Sex Fiend. ==== New Age Classics The source of a profound sense of atmosphere The roots of the sounds that produce a sense of atmosphere lie in the compositions of musicians such as the fusion artist George Winston, as well as Vangelis, who worked on films like Blade Runner. ==== German Techno Techno that gives an uplifting feeling The uplifting sounds of German techno are mechanical and strange. DAF, Nitzer Ebb, Klaus Nomi and the like have all had a strong influence. ==== New Wave Pop Melancholy 80s pop A source of a sense of pathos is electronic pop from the 80s that uses electronic instruments. The sounds of Midge Ure, who fronted Visage and Ultravox are essential. ======================================= Silent Hill Koshiki Guidebook Kanzenban ======================================= (Silent Hill Official Guidebook Complete Edition) 1999 Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo all rights reserved The Truth About This Town A Q&A on the story's secrets Even after playing it through many times, a few baffling mysteries remain in this game. The truth about what took place in Silent Hill behind what Harry does there is close at hand. ==== Q: How about an outline of the town of Silent Hill? A: At first glance, it's a deserted rural town, but... Silent Hill, the setting for the story, is a rural town located somewhere in northeast America. Its chief industries are tourism and, to a lesser extent, agriculture. It is a small town with a population below 30,000, and its key industry-- tourism-- is in a state of steady decline. Some of the town's conservative residents oppose modernization and the transformation of the town into a tourist attraction, and although Silent Hill appears at a glance to be an innocuous rural town, this has brought about an unexpected "darkness" of drug distribution here. It is rumored that a religious cult of a considerable scale exists behind the scenes. It also seems to be a place where young people are spirited away, workers from the town's development group die mysteriously, and sinister traditions continue to be handed down from long ago. Q: What happened to most of the people who lived in Silent Hill? A: Unknown! Whatever you feel to be frightening is the truth. From the moment Harry wakes up, the town is already deserted. What specifically happened is not made clear until the end-- the only thing that is certain is that this is not an ordinary situation. While it is only natural to wonder about the welfare of the people who originally lived in Silent Hill, one should be able to come up with a few explanations after completing the game: everyone died, or what happens in the nightmare world has no effect on reality, or it was all Harry's dream, etc. Of these, the most likely explanation is that the events took place in the world of Alessa's nightmares. Silent Hill is a town where nightmares become reality, so I want those who have played the game to take the truth to be whatever each of them feels is the most frightening. Q: Why is contact between the town and the outside world completely cut off? A: Unknown! The line between dream and reality is indistinct. The roads leading outside of town have all collapsed, as if there had been a severe earthquake. If one does not understand what happened in this town, neither will one be able to grasp the answer to this question. One thing that is certain is the fact that in Silent Hill, the border between reality and unreality is indistinct. It may be that the town itself has moved somewhere that is like another dimension, or it may be that this is all happening inside someone's dream. Could it be that the real world awaits beyond the collapsed roads? Q: Where did the monsters come from? A: They were born from Alessa's obsessions and compulsions. Mysterious monsters roam the deserted town, the same creatures that appear in Alessa's nightmares. Related to phenomena in her memories, they are materialized by stress, pressure, an anxious state of mind, and the like. For example, the pterosaur-type monsters found throughout town were brought forth from an illustration in one of Alessa's favorite books, The Lost World. The green caterpillar and moth monsters came from the insect specimens that decorate her room. Her sense of trivial things that looked strange to her as a child became reality, along with the objects of her fears. Q: Why does the town suddenly become dark? A: Even in the nightmare world, there is a cycle. It becomes night (?) on a number of occasions as Harry moves about the town. In the same way, there are also many times when aspects of the town and its buildings change completely. For the sake of convenience, this will be referred to as the "right side" and "reverse side" in this book. These changes occur because there is a cycle in the world of Alessa's nightmares which envelops the town. In the same way that a person normally repeats REM sleep and non-REM sleep in regular cycles while he or she is sleeping, when the nightmare world approaches a deeper darkness (sleep), a phenomenon occurs in which light is almost completely taken away and the world shifts into an even deeper nightmare as the cycle shifts again. As for the "right side" and the "reverse side," in short, it isn't that one is reality and one is a dream; the fact is that neither is reality. Incidentally, the reason the "reverse side" takes on such an ominous aspect is that with her burned body, Alessa's endless nightmares were twisted and amplified by thoughts of the malevolent god. Her hatred and terror became nourishment on which the malevolent deity thrived. Q: What were Dahlia's intentions? A: To realize the long-cherished wish of the religious cult to which she belongs. Dahlia Gillespie appears in and after the middle stage of the game and suggests to Harry his course of action. In the game's final stage, we discover that she is the one who masterminded the whole affair, and that what she was doing was supported by a profoundly grand motive. Although it isn't mentioned in the game, Dahlia assumes the role of a spiritualistic medium in a certain cult that has been established in Silent Hill's underworld. The unique doctrine of this cult is rooted in legends about the god of the land, and is separate from any religious doctrine that exists in reality. Simply put, bringing about the advent of the malevolent god and unleashing limitless destruction-- this is the long-cherished wish of the religious organization to which Dahlia belongs, because "all sins will be washed away," "everyone will be freed from all suffering," and they will "take back the true paradise." The technique to impregnate the womb of a human mother with the malevolent god had been carried out many times in order to achieve that end, but it had always failed. Among the mysterious disappearances that took place in town, there are cases in which young girls were abducted by the cult as prospective surrogate mothers (although most of them were simply young people who grew tired of the countryside and left for the city). Q: What was the cause of the fire that broke out seven years ago? A: A ritual that Dahlia performed using Alessa. Dahlia originally thought that Alessa would follow in her own footsteps as a spiritualistic medium for the cult, but realized that the ritual would be far more likely to succeed if she used her as the surrogate mother to bring about the descent of the cult's god. And so seven years ago, Dahlia performed the technique to bring about the descent of the cult's god using Alessa in the cellar of her own house. Although it seems the cult has a place they use for rituals, Dahlia was confident that she would be able to summon the malevolent deity if Alessa was the surrogate mother; therefore, as it was not necessary to choose a location, she impulsively carried out the ritual in her own basement. The ritual process involved a great deal of fire, which consequently escalated into a conflagration. Incidentally, there is information in the game about "six houses that burned down in the business district," but the actual site of the fire can't be located on the business district map. It seems the houses were completely torn down during those seven years. Q: Did Alessa die in the fire seven years ago? A: She survived. In the game, it is reported that Alessa's "charred body was found." Although the records show that she had died, she was secretly taken to Alchemilla Hospital and nursed for seven years in the hospital basement. Kaufmann prepared a substitute body; it's possible he was also the one who performed the "autopsy." The method Dahlia used to bring about the descent of the cult's god had nearly succeeded with Alessa as the surrogate mother, but Alessa quickly let part of her soul escape and the technique was not completely successful. In short, even with the embryonic malevolent god within her, the ritual was in a suspended state. Alessa had suffered burns covering her entire body that were far beyond a fatal level, but she continued to live-- that is, she was kept alive-- because the malevolent deity protects its mother's body. Additionally, Dahlia continuously inflicted pain upon Alessa in that state for seven years by means of an incantation that compelled the missing part of her soul to respond to her. That part of her soul was Cheryl. If the soul could be unified, the ritual would be complete and the malevolent deity would awaken, so Dahlia caused Alessa to suffer, compelling her to seek help from Cheryl. Incidentally, corpses (?) that appear to be wrapped in robes that cover them from head to toe are seen in places that lead to the "other" world. These figures are wearing the cult's ceremonial robe. Perhaps they were manifested by Alessa's resentment of the cult? Q: Did Cheryl know that she was Alessa's "other self?" A: She was completely unaware of it. Although Cheryl was Alessa's "other self," she was not conscious of it. When she told Harry she wanted to go to Silent Hill, it was because the sensation of Alessa's suffering-- "Someone help me"-- had reached her. For seven years, Alessa endured her suffering because she had not wanted to destroy whatever small happiness her other self was able to enjoy, but little by little, Dahlia's incantation succeeded and it became more than Alessa could bear. And so based on her perception that "It's like someone (myself?) is calling me...", Cheryl came to Silent Hill with Harry. Q: When did Cheryl and Alessa unite? A: During the early stages of the story. Although the exact moment isn't specified, there's no mistaking that it was during the story's early stages. Cheryl's disappearance into the alleyway during the opening came about because Alessa's nightmare had encroached into Harry's dream; that development is not specifically related to Cheryl's fusion with Alessa. Additionally, the game features both a grown-up form of Alessa as well as a child form. One of these is her appearance at her actual age, while the other is a "phantom" from seven years ago. By merging with Cheryl, Alessa (at her actual age) was reborn from her severe burns, broke the spell that Dahlia and the cult's priests had used to bind her, and took action. After uniting, Alessa had acquired psychic powers such as teleportation-- powers that she had always possessed. If she had been living under normal circumstances, these powers would almost never manifest themselves. Alessa naturally possessed a certain amount of spiritual intuition and at that point in time her "sixth sense" was powerful enough that she was having premonitions, but these were more like hunches than supernatural powers. Her mother Dahlia may have performed magic and the like, but this does not mean she had special powers. Could it be that having the malevolent deity dwelling within her body and uniting with Cheryl were what led Alessa to acquire supernatural powers? Q: What is the Mark of Samael? A: The truth is that there is no profound significance. Dahlia uses the phrase "the Mark of Samael" while speaking to Harry. This is a sophism to make Harry worry that terrible things are happening that must be stopped at any cost; it's nonsense that falls under the category of wordplay. Dahlia thought she could use Harry to catch Alessa, so she used incomprehensible terms with feigned sincerity. Q: What is the Seal of Metatron? A: It's like a spell of annihilation. What Alessa was actually creating was the Seal of Metatron. Its name is derived from the name of an angel of release in the Kabbalistic system. Bound by the cult's spell and living in an endless nightmare in agony, Alessa's wish was for a complete death. Since she was unable to die in a normal fashion while under the influence of the power of the malevolent deity, Alessa intended to "annihilate" herself by the power of the Seal of Metatron with the nightmare world at hand. At the moment Cheryl and Alessa united, she gained the power to escape from the cult's spell; at the same time, the technique that brought about the descent of the cult's god succeeded and the malevolent deity resumed its maturation process. This time, Alessa was engaged in a struggle, a race between the malevolent god's maturation and the seal's completion. If the seal were to be completed, Harry, Cybil, Dahlia and the others would all be annihilated along with Alessa. However, as it is questionable whether the Seal of Metatron actually has this sort of power, there is also the possibility that Alessa, using knowledge she acquired when she was very young, freed herself from the effects of the malevolent god's power through autosuggestion and was attempting to realize her own death. Because Dahlia was at least aware of the fact that Alessa had the will to end her own life, she prepared for the worst-case scenario and took steps to prevent this from happening. She used Harry for that very purpose. Alessa was creating the Seal of Metatron at the school, hospital, antique shop, lighthouse, and amusement park. Draw lines connecting these seals and their placement creates an enormous Mark of Samael throughout the town. The seal may also have been created in other places as well. Q: Who constructed the "other church" and for what purpose? A: Dahlia constructed it based on the cult's doctrine. The "other church" is a reproduction of the one that was originally in Dahlia's home, where she used it for daily worship. In short, Harry was drawn to it because the antique shop is a place that was originally close to the "reverse side." The reason it appears in the final stage of the game is that Alessa retained the memory of having been made to worship at the altar in her house as a young girl. Q: What sort of partnership did Dahlia and Kaufmann have? A: One centered around drugs and magic. Dahlia and Kaufmann were connected by the trade of White Claudia, used to make the drug PTV. In the game, the white powder in the safe at the general store is PTV. The cult has used White Claudia, the raw material for the drug, during its rituals since ancient times. In short, despite the fact that the religious cult to which Dahlia belongs is a secret society, they have come to possess the sort of structure and organizational capability that allows them to manufacture narcotics beyond the reach of police surveillance. White Claudia, which is refined into the extremely powerful drug PTV, is transferred out of the cult and sold chiefly to tourists by Kaufmann. In return, Kaufmann carries out illegal medical dealings, such as phony autopsy reports and diverting pharmaceuticals into illegal channels. And then, ever since the fire seven years ago, magic through the power of the malevolent god and the matter of nursing the burned Alessa became bargaining points. Kaufmann's desire, the scope of which illustrates his worldly self-interests, was the profit yielded by the drug. Kaufmann is a realist by nature who does not believe in things like spells and black magic, but he accepted the responsibility of caring for Alessa so that the White Claudia exchange would continue to take place in his favor. However, being a firsthand witness to the deaths of the mayor and a narcotics officer, both of which were brought about by means of the magic drawn from the embryonic malevolent god's power, it seems he came to the decision that if the magic was something he could use, he would take advantage of it. Incidentally, the "mysterious deaths of a development group" that Lisa mentions during her conversation with Harry is a kind of urban legend, so whether or not that sort of thing actually happened is uncertain. Q: Who is the guy who ran the general store, Norman Young? A: A former colleague of Kaufmann's. Norman Young was once involved in low-level drug trafficking together with Kaufmann, but washed his hands of it completely because the risk was too great. He had nothing to do with the cult, and it seems that he had heard rumors that Kaufmann had recently done things that were disquieting. From details such as the fact that he was asked to transport food to the motel, it can be surmised that he might have been a henchman of sorts for Kaufmann. In any case, Norman Young is not someone who is particularly relevant to the events of Silent Hill. Q: What can the Flauros do? A: It has tremendous magical effects. It is said that powerful magic abilities lie dormant within the Flauros, which was excavated from ancient ruins. Dahlia prepared the Flauros in secret as a trump card that was hers alone. It is unclear whether she saw the current situation on the horizon... As for the etymology of Flauros, it is one of the 72 spirits of Solomon and the name of someone who possesses faculties as an "antagonist." Q: What is aglaophotis? A: The last resort against a malevolent god!? The religious cult to which Dahlia belongs, as previously mentioned, possesses an original structure that is wholly separate from any religious doctrine that exists in reality, although in some cases its concepts and terms were appropriated from other religious terminology for the sake of convenience. This is because of its "new religion" aspect, which came about as the cult's doctrine was systematized through the process of researching theology and demonology. Aglaophotis is a term from the Kabbalah that means something like "amulet." Dahlia and the others were using it to mean something that impedes the malevolent deity (what they call God). This is because they consider the roots of demons, as they are called in conventional religions, to be not far removed from those of the god of the land in which they believe. Kaufmann, who was aware of its existence from rumors in the cult, secretly obtained aglaophotis and then divided it up and hid it away as a last resort, just in case (having calculated that someone could have found out he was doing this). Just as he had expected, the aglaophotis that was at the hospital had been thrown onto the floor and smashed completely, but at the end of the game Kaufmann uses the other aglaophotis that he had hidden in the motorcycle (although it would seem to have had no effect). Aglaophotis is extremely rare, and Kaufmann must have had to go to extraordinary lengths to obtain it. These facts indicate that in spite of their cooperative relationship, Kaufmann distrusted Dahlia and the others. ========================================================= Silent Hill Koshiki Guidebook Kanzenban Translation Notes ========================================================= The answer to the question about where the monsters come from would seem to tie in closely with the "manifestations of delusions" memo found in the game, which states that "negative emotions like fear, worry, or stress [can] manifest into external energy with physical effects," and "nightmares have been shown to trigger them." The word "fuan," which means "anxiety" or "worry" appears in this paragraph from the book as well as in the memo. The word "jashin" (malevolent (evil) god) first appears in the Q&A on "why the town suddenly becomes dark," and is used frequently throughout the next few pages. Both the translator for the original Silent Hill as well Jeremy Blaustein, who translated Silent Hill 2, 3, and 4 decided to adopt the capitalization of "God" that is typically reserved for the god that the Christians believe in, and Ushinawareta Kioku, which I think requires us to look at this entity through the eyes of the cult, also uses the word "kami" (God) instead of "jashin." I'd initially wanted to continue translating "koushinjutsu" (where shin = God) as "the technique to bring about God's descent," but it's hard to reconcile with the fact that the god is characterized as evil or malevolent here so I decided to simply change "God" to "the cult's god." Those who have played the English version of Silent Hill probably don't recall a memo mentioning that "six houses burned down in the business district"-- the translator decided to omit the specifics about where the fire occurred and put it simply as "fire broke out in town, six homes destroyed." Answering the question "what is the Mark of Samael?" with "there is no profound significance" doesn't seem to make a lot of sense grammatically, but I didn't want to say "it has no significance," since it could be read as implying that the Mark is something that exists in and of itself (which of course isn't the case-- it's actually the Seal of Metatron). It seems to me that the implication is "the truth is that there is no profound significance (to the name given to the Mark)." As for what "kaihou no tenshi" (angel of release) in the paragraph about the Seal of Metatron implies, it seems that this has to do with the fact that Metatron is said to have had abilities as a magician and was able to do things like break magic spells. In one legend, Metatron was the only angel powerful enough to break spells that were cast by two evil sorcerers who used their magic to ascend to heaven. According to my proofreader, this is referred to as "kaihou" in Japan. Depending on the translation of the word "motomoto" (which can mean "originally," "by nature," or "from the start"), the second sentence of the paragraph about the "other church" could also be read, "...the antique shop is a place that is close to the 'reverse side' (otherworld) by nature" or "...the antique shop is a place that was always close to the 'reverse side.'" The Japanese word used to explain aglaophotis is "mayoke," which can refer to a talisman, charm, or amulet. "Ma" means "demon" or "evil spirit" and "yoke" means "shelter from" or "protection against," so the word implies "ward against evil spirits." It's worth mentioning that another one of the discrepancies between the English and Japanese versions of the script involves Dahlia's remark about the "Talisman of Metatron." This line was translated as "the Talisman of Metatron was being used," while it's "the Seal of Metatron was being created" in the original script. "Inshou," which means "stamp" or "seal" is the same word used in both the phrase "Talisman of Metatron" and the phrase "Mark of Samael"-- one is "Metatron no inshou," and the other is "Samael no inshou." ================================================== Silent Hill 2 Koshiki Kanzen Koryaku & World Guide ================================================== (Silent Hill 2 Official Perfect Capture & World Guide) 1999 2001 Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo (summary of pages 184 through 189) page 184 The "Flesh Lip" and "Boss Mary" have a number of characteristics in common: A lattice, which is suggestive of a bed; a "mouth which verbally abuses James" located on the lower region (Mary is upside-down while she attacks); and the sort of rough, dry skin that might be caused by severe illness. Mary's position is also similar to Maria's in the hotel lobby when she is hung upside-down in the lattice and executed by Pyramid Head. The "Legend of the Lake" memo is partially based on an incident that occurred in 1872 involving a ship called the Mary Celeste and was also inspired by Japanese legends about marine spirits. page 185 The three tablets found in the prison represent the three "criminals" who appear in the game: The Oppressor is James, the Gluttonous Pig is Eddie, and the Seductress is Angela. page 187 (staff interview) The final save point has to do with the fact that James' memories are no longer being repressed, but the reason why there are nine of them is "unknown." Why the save points are square and red is also "unknown." page 188 "Even so, I still want to believe that she was happy" is the clue for the "Little Mermaid" side of the music box puzzle on hard mode. The team member being interviewed suggests that this line has significance for James' and Mary's situation as well. (I wonder if Jeremy Blaustein translated this sentence the way it was intended to be read? Besides "unhappiness" or "misfortune," "fukou" can also mean "death." In the context of what's being suggested here, I'd say it's "But still I believed (or "I want to believe," as it's written in the game) that she wasn't dead.") page 189 One member of the development team recommends "meeting Johnny" in Lakeview Hotel. (If you return to the employee lounge after retrieving the flashlight from the shelf by the service elevator, you can examine the heater in the corner of the room for the following text: "There's a heater here. On the back, in small letters, it says: 'I'm Johnny, one hot guy.'") ================= Translation Notes ================= Notes from Ushinawareta Kioku -The History of Silent Hill section states that the Native Americans' organized resistance ended around 1890, but no details are mentioned concerning the reason for this, which is that the Native Americans were finally crushed so severely that they were no longer able to fight back against the settlers. In December of 1890, hundreds of Native American men, women and children were brutally slaughtered in what is known as "the Wounded Knee Massacre." That this event corresponds exactly to the mysterious disappearance of many of the town's residents almost seems too deliberate to be a coincidence. Could it be that this act of violence against the Native Americans was a catalyst for the power of the town to cause something to happen to the settlers who took their land from them? -Sanguelia, the film mentioned in the commentary for Lisa Garland, has a few different names depending on the country of its release. Some of its other titles are: Zombi 2, Gli Ultimi Zombi, Island of the Living Dead, Island of the Flesh Eaters, Zombie, Zombie 2: The Dead Are Among Us, and Zombie Flesh Eaters. Strangely though, there doesn't seem to be anyone in the cast by the name of Lisa. -In Japanese, the borrowed English word "image" can have the connotation of "a set picture in one's mind" or "something that one imagines." -"Gugenka shita mono" is a phrase used often when referring to the creatures that appear in Silent Hill. I've translated "gugenka" a few different ways depending on the context (materialization, incarnation, manifestation, embodiment, etc.) but it always carries the connotation of something (such as a mental image) being made real or being given concrete form. -"Kanri," the Japanese name for the "mandarin" creature, provides some context as to what the creature's name implies. The word mandarin can be used to refer to a public official in the Chinese Empire, and "kanri" means "government official" or "clerk." (The word for clerk in James' profile ("jimuin") doesn't have the connotation of being a government employee or official though, so I'm not sure whether there's an intended correlation between the two or not.) -It seems possible that the name "Xuchilbara" is a slightly altered version of "Xibalba," the Mayan word for the underworld (also referred to as "the otherworld"). It is said that the Mayans used human sacrifice or bloodletting as a means to open a portal to the otherworld. -The trick or treat special on page 95 uses the phrase "hazamakuukan" (interval space). What it literally says is "wall of the interval space of the hospital," which I attempted to make sound less awkward by saying "in the hospital during the interval space" but I think it could still use some clarification. Although I would've guessed that the room in which Heather climbs the ladder is actually in the otherworld, this sentence seems to indicate that the "interval" is what takes place between the end of the maze on the second floor of the hospital and Heather's emergence on the third floor after climbing the ladder. -I wasn't sure whether Vincent was speaking literally or figuratively when he says that he "built the church" with the power of money until I noticed what Heather says if you examine the stained glass in the main room of the chapel. The fact that Alessa visited the church as a young girl means that it's been around for 24 years at the very least, and 24 years ago, Vincent was no more than one or two years old. -An image caption in the "Judgement" section of the fugue states that Valtiel, the being that Pyramid Head is modeled after, is also seen in different forms (the form in which he appears depends on the person). Originally I decided to add context by saying his form appears differently depending on the person (who sees him), but is it possible that the implication could be "depending on the person (whose mental image is the basis for the form in which he materializes)?" -"It can be surmised that the cult's influence grew over a period of seventeen years before the church was constructed." This sentence is from the last body paragraph in the "cult" section of the fugue, and I've always thought it was strange. Although I'm certain that it's translated right, seventeen years would seem to indicate the time span between the first and third games, and we know from Silent Hill 3 that the church had already been built before the first game took place. Even if was somehow intended to say that the church was constructed before the cult's influence grew over a period of seventeen years, the time frame indicated just doesn't seem relevant. To further complicate this, a paragraph in Alessa's history states that for ten of the seventeen years between the first and third games the cult was not gaining influence but lying dormant. -The book mentions that what's written on the moon door is "a metaphor for the sequence of events from conception to childbirth," but I think it's possible that there is some intended symbolism on an even deeper level that has to do with the fairly common belief that there is a strong correlation between lunar cycles and women's reproductive cycles. -A sentence in the "Key Items" section of the fugue states that in the Kabbalah, Metatron and Samael originally "shared the same (or shared one) existence." It seems possible that what this refers to is the fact that both Samael and Metatron originally occupied positions on the Tree of Life, and shared the same existence as spheres (sephiroth) that were part of the Tree. -In his commentary in Heather's section of the fugue, Hiroyuki Owaku says that in a sense, Heather has "junsuisa" (she's "genuine," or "innocent"). I've noticed that this is also mentioned in the Making of Silent Hill 3 DVD where it was translated as "innocence," but I decided to go with "genuineness" because I think it's kind of strange to characterize Heather as innocent given that she travels to Silent Hill for the sole purpose of murdering Claudia. -The "Otherworld Laws" memo from Silent Hill 3 states that Metatron is known as "kami no dairinin," or "the Agent of God." In one of his commentaries in the "Wheel of Fortune" section of the fugue, Hiroyuki Owaku mentions that Valtiel is also a "kami no dairinin." Could the reason why Valtiel appears to have the Seal of Metatron tattooed on his shoulders have something to do with this parallel? ==== Notes on the English translations of the Silent Hill series -In her monologue before the final battle, Dahlia refers to the entity inside Alessa not as "God" but as "(her) savior." -Blaustein decided to use the word "hometown" in the memo about Walter Sullivan from Silent Hill 2, which doesn't quite reflect the wording in the original script. Pleasant River isn't Sullivan's hometown, but simply "where he was living." -A line from the diary on the roof in Silent Hill 2 reads, "would they have saved me if I didn't have a family to feed?" Blaustein seems to have taken quite a liberty with this sentence. What it literally says is "would they have (not) saved me if there was no one who would grieve for me?" -In a journal found in Brookhaven Hospital, a doctor makes a comment about the "other side" that was translated as: "After all, there is no wall between here and there. It lies on the borders where reality and unreality intersect." The second sentence is actually a word for word reiteration of something that's mentioned in the Koshiki Guidebook Q&A. More literally, it says that there is no wall because "the exact line (or border) between reality and unreality is indistinct (or vague or ambiguous)." -In the English version of Silent Hill 2, a line from Mary's letter to James reads, "You promised you’d take me there again someday, but you never did." What the translation doesn't capture is the fact that Mary blames not James but herself (and her illness) for this. -In the car on the way to Silent Hill, Heather tells Douglas that Alessa had "a power that wasn't normal and could not be explained." Jeremy Blaustein reworded this sentence as "she could make things happen with her mind." -The first sentence of the "cult's symbol" memo from Silent Hill 3 was translated as "Represents the deity known as the Halo of the Sun," but it's the symbol itself that is known as the Halo of the Sun and not the deity. In the original sentence, the word "crest" has two modifiers: One is "known as the Halo of the Sun" and the other is "represents God." A better way of putting it might be "the crest represents the deity and is known as the Halo of the Sun." -In the conversation on the cassette tape found in the church, one of the cult members tells Vincent that according to Claudia, Alessa had been located. Vincent replies that it must be true because "[Claudia's] Sight rarely fails her." However, the original script doesn't say anything about a "sight"-- Vincent's line is simply "There is a power in [Claudia]." ====== Thanks ====== Translation by wallofdeath Koshiki Guidebook translation checked and revised by Nora Stevens Heath Thanks to Glenn, Kara, Golgo 13, Kentaro, PaulTB, Scrivener, kevinsano, Elizabeth, and jt_ from the jref board, thanks to Olivier Hague for a few corrections, and especially thanks to Moeru and to Nora for help on a number of sections. ==== "SILENT HILL" is a trademark of Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc. "KONAMI" is a registered trademark of KONAMI CORPORATION. Silent Hill 3: Koshiki Kanzen Koryaku Guide and Ushinawareta Kioku: Silent Hill Chronicle are copyright 1999, 2003 Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo.