People love to embellish their favorite stories — particularly Silent Hill fans, who’ve long held onto a theory that’s not true.
Yes, I’m referring to a two-decades-old suggestion that in Silent Hill 2, protagonist James Sunderland looks at players during the iconic mirror scene. If you’re unfamiliar with the cutscene, watch it here. Basically, people have long-believed James is looking into the camera – but Silent Hill 2‘s original art director Masahiro Ito has set things straight: it’s not true.
“So many people have asked me. But it’s a headcanon. James doesn’t look at the player,” Ito said recently on Twitter. “I’m so fed up with this.”
Ito also linked an image of the scene in question with an incredibly high contract to reveal – yeah, James isn’t looking at us. Check it out below.
So many people have asked me. But it's a headcanon. James doesn't look at the player. pic.twitter.com/w40F7sBsJN
— 伊藤暢達/Masahiro Ito (@adsk4) October 22, 2022
It’s rare that someone attached to a classic thoroughly dismantles an old fan debate, so this is fun. Particularly for something like Silent Hill 2, where an enormous part of the story’s appeal is how up to interpretation everything is.
Silent Hill 2 is also getting a full-fledged remake by developer Bloober Team soon. Many long-time fans are nervous about the Polish studio remaking such a classic, but Ito, along with series composer Akira Yamaoka, are overseeing the project. So there’s a good chance it’ll be faithful to the original game.
Written by Kyle Campbell on behalf of GLHF.
