Fun Fact: Pyramid Head starts wielding the Great Knife around the same time James acquires the Bloody Knife from Angela. Almost like the idea of self harm was seeded in his mind and manifested through Pyramid Head.
Yeah I'm one of those people who thinks that the Pyramid head is James himself, or "the worst of James". He's also the embodiment of James's worst nightmares. And he comes for Maria, which is to be expected. And he kills her on more than one occasion. In a sense, he's also death, coming to separate him from the person he both loves, and resents.
@@samf.s.7731 Id agree if only the original's assets datamined suggest otherwise being that pyramid has the giant knife before James meeting with Angela on the graveyard.
Fun Fact: It is James face under that Pyramid Helmet. His desire to be punished and his selfhatred manifested pyramid head as an relentless prosecutor, who knows of every of james missdeeds. The original Developer and the artist disclosed that.
I like the idea of pyramid head just up and leaving when he's done what he needs to, like he's clocking out of a nine to five then wandering off to his other silent hill appearances
"Ah shit, peace out, gotta go bash Jon Snow around for half an hour now." Edit: you just know SH2 is the main gig and the rest of the shit is just random appearances he does to round out the month.
He really is just an incredibly aggressive shock therapist when you think about it. Constantly forcing James to face up and remember why he's there and making rounds and killing all the monsters in the town because their existence clouds his mind and keeps him from focusing on what he should (as confirmed by Masahiro himself). In a weird spin of the idea of the monster chaser, PH almost seems like the only other thing in the town trying to point James towards the proper conclusion. As much a major adversary as he is weirdly in your corner too.
I think it also add to the "this is what you wanted, you manifested her and you seem to be willing to cheat on an ideal version of her" so he takes her out
I love that, but how do you explain him trying to kill James? I guess because he's also his need to be punishedso he's forced to be a walking contradiction@@OsnosisBones
@@anthonyf616 It very much seems the most logical reason why is probably due to his dual nature of being a punisher born from James' own wishes, and potentially a test of sorts for James to see if he can overcome what drew him to the town in the first place. It also could come down to the fact his own mind can't decide whether he wants to die for what he did or try to go on living and redeem himself. It's only when he stops being indecisive, stating out loud he doesn't need Pyramid Head anymore and proves that to be the truth that Pyramid Heads(s) kill themselves, their role finished.
4:11 The artist who designed him for the original Silent Hill 2 hates the overuse of him after it. And I don't blame him because Pyramid Head only makes sense in 2 being the embodiment of James's guilt and wanting to be punished for killing Mary.
@@hafirenggayudaits sad because i think the boogeyman design was cool. Its a giant in a trench coat with a gas mask and a gavel representing a judge in a sense and the game is about a prisoner. Its also like the only one since 2 that tried a concept unrelated to the cult as a whole and related more to personal trauma. But they missed the mark hard on execution and at times it was just goofy. I think one of the best moments that said there was something there that almost made it acceptable was the final bit at the end where the prison transport officer at the end reveals she sees the player character as the boogeyman this whole time and for good reasons. But its a shitty unremarkable fight you can easily lose as that antagonistic force if you dont know you have more than one attack option which leads to its own ending and takes a long time, but the main point is they had led they could transmute to gold or pyrite at least and instead their poor decisions transmuted it to shit.
@@daysand123 yea, it got potential, but almost everything have bad implementation. I can't describe how fail it was, but basically "Not Silent Hill". I do think it's somewhat feel better than Homecoming (I refuse playing/seeing shattered memories, can't compare)
Something else I would like to add is that to me: the pyramid on his head represents the heavy guilt he cannot bear to look at because that metal pyramid on his head looks so heavy and how you can't see his face.
@@beginnereasyMostly by laborers payed for in Alkohol and other eaten goods. Like wheat and bread. After the harvest season where there was not much to do.
I feel that too many people have tried to focus on what Pyramid Head looks like under the helmet. To me, that was never the point. It what he does that’s so terrifying and important. He never speaks, he doesn’t give many clues as to what his true purpose is. He’s meant to be mysterious.
@@TheSpartanBlues Yeah but he's also specifically made to be someone else who can punish James for the things he feels he deserves punishment for so it's debatable if that notion loses its strengths if James internalizes it as just himself under there. It feels like he specifically wants someone else that can hold him accountable other than himself. Plus technically his physical appearance was born from James' memory of a painting depicting old Silent Hill customs with an executioner surrounded by his criminal victims so it really amounts to what he envisioned was beyond the mask, if anything at all I feel.
There was an old small statue of Pyramid Head (or was it a toy?) and there was just a massive "tumor" inside although not probably what they had in mind when they developed Silent Hill 2
Pyramid head is one of the very few monsters I still get nervous over, there’s something so wrong about him to me. I projected all my fears onto him and he soaked it like a sponge
Sadly I find him super cool, despite of him looking encumbered there is something powerful about him. You can sort of plop him into any setting and he will be the same thing. Like Michael Myers does not function in a medieval setting. You could plop pyramid head into Game of thrones or idk Bleach, he just works.
The 3rd encounter with pyramid head where you're in the small room was ingenious at the time. This was back before you could just whip out a smart phone and look up how to beat a particular part of a game. Nowadays we know you can just run around and avoid him until the siren goes off, but back when it first came out we ran around trying our best to figure out how to beat this boss and blasting all of our ammo panicking. It really made you feel hopeless against pyramid head. And the relief when that siren goes off is a feeling you can't replicate when you know in advance what to expect. That encounter the very first time I played SH2 was the single most helpless I've ever felt in a video game before or since.
I had an experience similar to that with one of my favorite games of all time, Signalis. I went in without spoilers, and boy did that encounter fuck me up. No spoilers, if you like Silent Hill, play Signalis.
I have never played Silent Hill 2 or even silent hill 1. I use to react really bad to monsters in games like the necromorphs in dead space but nowadays even Pyramid Head feels not that bad to me. But who knows. If i get the remake i may eat those words.
@Justmemyguy I just got to that last night. I had no clue that it was a timed event, so when he just effed off I got so mad I wasted that much ammo, I reloaded my checkpoint lol.
Pyramid Head is not punishing James for his sins. He's violently stripping his sins away until he confesses them. He looks and acts like a punisher because that's what James wants. But Pyramid Head isn't actually doing that. He's actually killing all the monsters that are his sins made manifest. Why does Pyramid Head keep killing Maria? Because Maria is one of James' monsters, and his most powerful one. Even Pyramid Head is unable to keep her from coming back- only James can do that.
It's the best supported interpretation. Pyramid Head is also only actively hostile to James when James is at his lowest, when all parts of James' mind turns in on itself. At other times Pyramid Head actively helps James get on the path to self-discovery and healing, even if it looks violent. This is why Pyramid Head goes between fighting James and just tossing him into holes, dragging him places or "chasing" (more like herding) him in some direction. Pyramid Head is James' "guardian angel," he is just a messed up guardian angel because James is so messed up.
Correct. From Masahiro Ito's own twitter, from a tweet in May 20th, 2020: "I wanted to depict that Pyramid Head is trying to remove the visions from James' mind. Those mean L-Figure, BHNurse, etc. PH trys to make him face to the fact by that. This means his conflict in his mind. He still afraid to face to it at that time so he shoots a gun in the closet"
Something interesting that happens during the game, once James learns the truth, other than Pyramid Head, the monsters no longer attacks him, they either back away in fear or die in shock, almost as if they've realized that he is a monster, James has become Pyramid Head, and it makes them afraid. The Executioner painting might be a way to explain how Pyramid Head was or could be able to come back in another game. In fact, the nurses did appear multiple times, especially in the first trilogy. But i think there is purpose to it, the nurses in the Silent Hill 2 was because of James psyche. 1 and 3 are so tied together that they pretty much serve the same purpose and they were very different from 2 so they had a new meaning. Pyramid Head in Homecoming however was only there because he was popular and the film adaptations were because the director loved him. If Pyramid Head comes back, he needs to have a reason for being here, a purpose to exist, a meaning to whatever that story will be. Honestly i don't care if he comes back and even if he does, he wouldn't have the huge impact that he had in Silent Hill 2.
Well said! I also feel like Pyramid Head is a special antagonist in Silent Hill 2, because he is basically a violent therapist, who's only goal it was to pursue James and bring him to a point of confession. But it felt sort of inconsistent, after Pyramid Head appeared in multiple sequels, losing not only it's individuality, but also the original reason to even exist.
I actually really loved this in the remake. Seeing all the monsters you faced previously in the game cower away from the player, or die when you get close, was super interesting.
I like the idea of James guilt and violence manifestation being so strong that even after the endings where triangle prism face dies he just comes back no matter what- and going off the 'PH acts as James guardian angel theory' where it is taking out a chunk of the other monsters so James doesn't have to fight them Silent hill repurposes PH if it needs something to scare monsters out of an area. However every time he's used it's been for fan service, and I think a lot of the later silent hills that bring back previous monsters just don't really care for the symbolism, just that sexy nurse/PH makes people go nuts.
I think I've seen a concept from the devs that pyramid head is just james under there. I think its extremely fascinating. My favorite take on it is that under it is this tumourus like growth of james' face. It was DISGUSTING. I loved it lol
And I disagree with Brett that he doesn’t want what is best for James. If I remember correctly, one of the inspirations for SH2 was the movie Jacob’s Ladder in which (spoilers) the “demons” that have been haunting the protagonist throughout the film were in fact trying to help him let go of his pain in life and accept his own death. Just because something looks scary doesn’t mean it can’t have a positive effect on you.
@@Garrus1995In a way I agree. Though I can't say that pyramid head would have that as his intention...I believe that PH is like a tool. But that PH himself isn't voluntarily trying to push James. James is the writer of the story in his case. Don't mean to discredit your thoughts on the subject.
Fun fact: in the OG game you can find PH’s great knife as a weapon and if you equip it, turn off the radio and flashlight, the monsters will run from you.
@ as far as I know, no you can’t wield the Great Knife, it’s only used to solve a single puzzle, which makes sense since the remake is going for a more realistic menu system, but is also a missed opportunity.
By the way, if you plan on doing a no-radio run you'll still hear static when approaching him for the first time. Just to let you know how strong of an influence Pyramid Head is.
You ever have a moment where you remember an instance of shame or embarrassment from your past? And it causes a physical reaction of revoltion & cringe in your body? *That* is what Pyramid Head causes the player. The truth can be ugly, and he has the freakish form to match. He forces James to own up to all of his wrongdoings, & the depraved nature of his past actions. Pyramid head is beyond being a simple stalker like Mr X. Atonement & making amends is often the only way to overcome & make peace with these moments of shame. Pyramid head is no different. By accepting what he has done, James frees himself of his guilt, and by extension this horrifying monster.
Personally, I disagree with something here -- James is not the only one to become aware of the truth behind Silent Hill and its environments. Both Eddie and Angela are clearly aware of it by the end of their respective storylines. Eddie's comments to James (paraphrased) "Don't get high and mighty on me, James. You were called here, too." This implies a certain level of understanding of his predicament, even leading him to deduce James is here for a similar reason. Angela seems to be aware that her monster represents her father, as she breaks down crying about her past after we kill it. Then during her staircase scene, Angela asks "You see it too? For me, it's always like this" as she's taken aback by James' ability to perceive the room as hot (or on fire) -- ergo she understands that not everyone sees the same thing she does. Neither of them were able to face and surpass their demons, however. Eddie's failure leads him to be shot and killed (as punishment for being a trigger-happy maniac) and Angela can't find it in herself to let go of her abusive family (or what remains of it), and supposedly dies off-screen burning in her own guilt-ridden hatred. James is the only one that overcomes his nightmare in the end, but he's not the only one "aware" of the nightmare.
In the newest Puss In Boots, Puss is literally pursued by death, who concedes defeat once Puss outgrows him. Just an example of the archetype being given characterization, AND disappearing once the needed lesson is learned.
7:45 There was an old tweet by Masahiro Ito saying that the scene of Pyramid Head abusing the 2 mannequins doesn't mean rape but rather: "I wanted to depict that Pyramid Head is trying to remove the visions from James' mind. Those mean L-Figure, BHNurse, etc. PH trys to make him face to the fact by that. This means his conflict in his mind. He still afraid to face to it at that time so he shoots a gun in the closet" (words by Masahiro Ito)
That doesn't make any sense, the scene before his bossfight in the original also shows pyramid head abusing a monster. I wouldn't be surprised if he said to avoid controversy.
@@mr.redhands8390Nah, Ito has said that for many years and has even given the direct reference he used to design Pyramid Head and his actions, that reference being a dialogue that occurs in Jacob's Ladder. It also wouldn't make sense for there to be 2 PHs after James kills Eddie if the PH was meant to represent something sexual.
i didnt see it as anything sexual when i saw it either, to me it felt more like a representation of james' inclination towards violence (against mary, and later eddie)
Gotta disagree with the idea that Maria represents a second chance. She isn't capable of being a fulfilling person, she seems to represent James fully buying into his own denial, and choosing sensory balm over truth
13:49 This is actually one area i was disappointed in with SH2re. OG Pyramid Pursuit is terrifying. You're wandering the same narrow corridors, but all you hear is a disturbing OST that feels distant and quiet. After wandering for so long you start to hear a third set of footsteps and it's only much later you realize Pyramid Head has started tailing you. No fanfare, no big reveal, just a wall with a barred window and one hallway with a mirror.
Spoilers for Silent Hill 2 The main reason why 2 Pyramid Heads appear when only one has been stalking you throughout the whole game is because the second one appears after James felt guilty for killing Eddie, and now that he killed 2 people he felt so ashamed to kill (Mary and Eddie) 2 of them appear to try and punish him
I think there are 2 contradictions in your theory. 1. The Pyramid Head we see in the hospital elevator chase scene has a spear instead of a sword, even though we saw Pyramid Head having his Big Sword in the appartements. Then afterwards we saw Pyramid Head with the sword in the Maze, it wouldn't make sense that he switched weapons for no reason, so the one in the hospital had to be the second one. 2.Why then the Nouse Puzzle in The Prison Section had 2 Pyramid Head Drawings in craved into them? So The Second Pyramid head existence was already hinted at, before Eddit died.
@@sanchezsaysno6858 The Pyramid Head on the drawing is not James' Pyramid Head, its the Pyramid Head executioners that James based his imaginary Pyramid Head on, like the painting in the museum. The Great Knife usage by Pyramid Head is tied to shared feelings James have with Angela (which RUclips doesn't like named), the spear using Pyramid Heads are tied to other feelings in James. The one in the hospital isn't after James, its after Maria, and in a way the two at the end are also after Maria, in that they are testing whether James have become strong enough to face the ultimate inner demon he is carrying around. There are two Pyramid Heads in the end because James committed the ultimate sin twice, not because the mural shows two. All Pyramid Heads not depicted on art pieces are born inside James and appear the way they do and act the way they do entirely based on how James feel at the moment. The confirmation of 2 Pyramid Heads = 2 sins is the eggs they carry. Rusty Egg for the old sin, Scarlet Egg for the new, they each unlock a door. Both doors lead the same place in the end, it matters not which path you take, both sins must be dealt with just the same.
@@sanchezsaysno6858 there IS no theory, it's backed up by the source material. Pyramid Head is not an executioner. it's a monster tied directly to James' nightmare
11:54 I'm convinced the foggy town is the dream, and the nightmare world is the true face of Silent Hill. The fog is it's 'mask', which is why there's no fog in the nightmare.
Pyramid Head fits so nicely as the "main villain" of Silent Hill 2 because of what he is to James. Its established through Eddie that the characters are forced to confront their sins, but also their own inner turmoil. Thus each person's experience is largely unique to them. For Eddie it was his deep insecurities and emotional instability that made everyone around him an enemy. But you know those moments where you remember doing something you're genuinely ashamed of? The almost physical reaction of disgust you have at yourself? That's what Pyramid Head is to James, it is the personification of the simple fact that he *wants to be punished.* The monster's namesake even plays into this, the iconic helmet it wears is cumbersome, impractical and hides its face entirely. A visual representation of the weight James attributes to his sin; namely the murder of his wife. Hell, when a second Pyramid Head appears, its because by the end of the game he feels guilty for killing Mary *and* Eddie (even if the latter was self defense) However, the way Pyramid Head constantly pushes James forward is also important. The deaths of Maria are most important because its him literally removing her from James's path, because it knows she is keeping him from moving forward. She is the most powerfull demon of his mind and only James can make her finally go away. And after James re-learns and accepts the truth, the monsters are seemingly scared of him. Almost like he has *truly become* the visage of Pyramid Head, just like how the game hints at, by accepting what he had done and that no amount of self-loathing or trying to forget will ever make him feel better. Its also why Silent Hill 2 *has no canon ending* What James does after the events of the game is intentionally left up to player choice. As its up to the player to decide if James deserves death, a shot at redemption or if he will simply repeat his mistakes.
I like how the remake portrays Pyramid Head as a force that aggressively confronts James until he sees the truth of what he did. The way they did PH's twitching when James was hiding makes it look like he is being a puppet controlled by the town. He could of killed James in the closet, but is being withheld.
The pyramid head scene does not imply sexual assault that’s a headcanon people think is canon. It’s actually pyramid head trying to hide the evidence of the monsters from James. This was confirmed by the original director of silent hill 2
@@HannyaBoi yea he’s not a fan of things he created losing their original intention. The guys very vocal about hating Konami for throwing pyramid head in everything
also that was just a general design choice for the game when it first was developed, that things should be 1. scary 2. unfamiliar and 3. sexy, because and I am paraphrasing, in the directors words sexuality, fear and the unknown are some of the biggest factors in a humans psyche or something along those lines. So they just made most things have a little of all of those aspects the monsters, the characters, the environment, noises the monsters make and so on.
I mean sure but that's definitely on them if basically everybody interprets it that way. You can say it means something else but it clearly gives a different idea
@@BeanMachineu3u the only reason everyone says it’s sexual assault is because of one person saying their headcanon years ago and people running with it as canon and spreading it.
The detail i find most interesting about his design is the use of the pyramid. Wild take i know, but in most interpretations, I've read the heavy pyramid being a visual representation of James' shame and guilt. But more than that, the pyramid resembles some of the helmets worn at the time of the inquisition, this stylistic choice seen again in Bloodborne worn by Alfred. The Pyramid Head is more than an executioner, but an agent of guilt meant to draw out a confession. The symbolism goes further when James sees him on the other side of the closet door, the leuvers resembling a confession booth. Pyramid Head does not try to attack James but waits patiently for admission of guilt. It is only after James responds with a gun that the Pyramid starts to use other methods to draw it out, much how inquisitors employeed torture and psychological stress on their victims to force a confession.
Something I noticed is when, James finds a handkerchief that reminds him of Mary, it bricgs back all the guilt, lust and shame, and then PH appears in all it´s power.
Agree. In my playthrough, I took it that James found comfort and distraction through drinking at the strip club, where he met Maria in real life. She became obsessed with him, doing anything and everything he wanted, including pretending to be Mary. She wanted him to love her, but he only loved Mary. This would explain her transformation into the final boss and also why PH kept trying to kill her. The guilt you would feel for trying to move on while your wife is dying while also using someone for that purpose with no care for their feelings, led to the double PH fight.
The different characters are seemingly represented by certain aspects. Angela is fire, Eddie is cold and James is water. Everywhere he goes in the game there are puddles, rain, fog, broken water pipes and flooded areas. And the worst ending is the in water ending. He's drowning in his guilt.
Fun fact: the "knife" that pyramid head wields looks like one of the 2 blades of a scissor, it seems like James wants to be hurt/punished by his other half
How I like to describe the SH series to new comers is SH is a town with the Eldritch ability to manifest your emotions into tangible creatures. But while the monsters are real, it distorts how each individual sees the creature. Another example is the Abstract Daddy, which is the main antagonist of Angela's psyche, while James is able to interact with him, the Abstract Daddy probably looks very different to James and Angela. Off-tangent: you would also excuse Laura a lot more when you understand this concept. To us, she is a bratty kid who puts James in danger deliberately. But to Laura, SH is most probably a pleasant place due to her 8 year old innocence, and trapping James with a monster through her eyes is just a harmless prank where he probably has to follow a few bunnies to escape.
PS: this probably applies to SH2 exclusively though, cuz SH1 and 3 is a whole new can of worms when you are related to the death worshipping cult in SH
I absolutely love the sound design they did for him in the remake. That weird mechanical/alien trill is so cool. It’s like…what is even making that sound? It’s just his aura being made audible lol
One of my favorite theories regarding Pyramid Head is Ragnarox's; he theorized that Pyramid Head not only represented judgement, but also forgiveness. James did what he did because he was frustrated; frustrated sexually, frustrated mentally, frustrated with life, and frustrated with himself. He loves Mary, and to watch her slowly waste away without any way to help her get better... he snaps. He regrets doing what he did, but he also prevented Mary from continuing to suffer. In this way, Pyramid Head is essentially Silent Hill trying to tell James that he doesn't need to continue to torture himself. That while he acted rashly (and the town punished him for it by shifting forms and forcing him on his journey in SH2), he acted out of love, and that by continuing to indulge in that gloom, James is destroying himself
I watched something that had another monster borne of a charcters psyche as a desire to punish themselves for a past sin and could only be overcome when they forgive themselves. The idea of discovering that the main character was the architect of their own is a common theme in fiction is because it's relatable. How many of us have had to come to terms with the fact that we are the ones responsible for screwing up our own lives having to forgive ourselves and make amends before we can rebuild
22:58 "His psyche transforms; he gains a command over himself that he did not have at the start of the game." It seems that for most people, In Water is the definitive ending for the game, but this statement summarizes why, for me, it's Leave. In Water sees James succumbing to his guilt and letting it destroy him, but that's just not what the two Pyramid Heads scene is communicating to me. I see it as showing that he has gained some control over himself
Are we sure it was really Pyramid Head in the Historical Society painting? Maybe James's mind superimposed PH onto the punisher in the painting, same is with everything else?
I’ve thought that as a possibility as well. I think it’s vague enough for you to come to your own conclusion! I think all three versions are interesting.
I think piramid head is supposed to be a distortion of those ancient executioners. The original probably did not have a literal metal casing on their head but rather would have had some kind of hood in the same shape but silent hill takes these figurative monsters and mold them into literal ones.
Im soo happy to see content about a new silent hill game! I think I should mention that sexual assault doesn’t have to involve genitals or sexual organs and that it is very often carried out to assert power or humiliate the victim, with sexual gratification being either a byproduct or entirely absent for the assailant
Just one thing: In the original the great knife is useless except for one thing. During the fight against eddie you can hide behind the meat, wait for him to empty the gun and, when he reloads, you have the exact time to wield the knife, charge it and kill eddie with a single hit. It is the only time the knife is good to use. And i don't think is a casuality. It is made to kill human being. It is made to make james a killer. To kill eddie has a great impact on james. Of course you can kill him with the gun, but use the great knife is almost a horrific easter egg
9:51 Actually, if you actively fight pyramid head the timer for the fight goes down. Bullets do have an effect on speeding up the fight, they just don't harm him.
Homie he is the guilt that comes from taking life, James did not feel lust/aggression towards Eddie yet him killing Eddie causes another ph to appear. He is the form of an executioner for a reason. You could look at it this way, if the mannequin represents lust and the red pyramid represents guilt, the red pyramid killing the mannequins is mentally what is happening, The feelings of lust James has are overtaken by the feelings of guilt. James gets Angelas bloody knife, a object of guilt a burden, PH gets is scissor blade, a heavy weapon, a burden.
As a matter of fact, Ito has said that none of the enemies were designed with sexual frustration interpretations as the intention. According to Ito himself, the mannequins represent Mary's loss of mobility, as she would eventually be unable to walk and had to be carried by James.
For me pyramid head is a red herring, for the true antagonist (in the sense of someone who posses Jame's any chance of healing) is maria, yet pyramid head is always reminding James to "purge the guilt" and when he does he doesn't have any reasong d'etre and goes stbby tabby with himself
I always thought the painting depicting Pyramid Head in the museum is, at least partly, James' halucination or a part of a rust world because its style feels kinda different from other paintings; maybe there's a real painting depicting execution but James sees Pyramid Head and cages instead
a hug thing i just noticed. rosewater is so often used to CALM yourself. roses are about LOVE , passionate soul bonding love. for the street to be called ROSEWATER is insane. water, is often used to show acceptance of fate , the coming and going of tidal emotions , the consistency of life by way of motion. rosewater is the most thematic thing you could name a street in this town , and the fact the hotel (im almost certain) sits on rosewater is even more potent. Mary , the passionate lover torn apart by illness, so humble , so in love, and so devoted to her lover that she even wholey understood his resentment of her. SHE IS SUCH A GOOD PERSON , SHE NOT ONLY UNDERSTOOD HIS FRUSTRATION BUT INDERSTOOD WHY HE KILLED HER AND DIDNT RESENT HIM FOR IT. Her name is mary , like the mother of christ , our most valued Saint. the more i learn about this game along side my own interest in psychology , the more i fucking learn about my own personality. its insane. i thought to myself , "if i was ill , could i mentally handle my husband using another woman for sexual desires ? do i have the love in my heart, and does he in his, to maintain a disctint love bond separate from a sexual one ? " and the more i thought of human nature, and everything around it , the more i realized that Mary might have been right to forgive James. The guilt he felt drove him to suicide before his wifes body was even 3 days old. imagine if the woman you loved was DYING , and you cant even give her the comfort of the sacred bond of lovers. and as a man you have no toosl in your mind to give her any other support. i think james is a product of men not being allowed to have emotional comfort in any way but sexual , and when he saw his wife suffering , and felt his own sexual desires as a means of comfort while frustrated from being loyal , the only thing his broken mind could do was ....save his wife a little siffering. silent hill is one of , if not the most, beautiful psychological horror ive ever had the joy of learning about in my youth. i am so blessed that stories like this were told in my lifetime , so that i can not only enjoy the artistry, but so that i can feel seen as a survivor of trauma. im glad so many people love these stories as much as i do
Pyramid Head is epitome of nightmare you hope to never have otherwise he will stay with you forever. Just look at how even if just in a movie we haven't forgotten about him.
I think the possibility of James never seeing that painting could explain how Pyramid Head could apper later in the series. If Pyramid Head is created by James's desire for pun =ishment and the town's history maybe Pyramid Head is the town's avatar of punishment.
You’re channel is awesome. I love how you cover characters from multiple games and look deeper into why they do what they do and why they are who they are :)
One of my favourite parts of the whole Pyramid Head character is that the second one only shows up after you've killed Eddie. One PH for each death on James' hands. And like you said, I'm glad to see PH back where he belongs, tormenting James Sunderland. The character is certainly irconic, but having him appear in other titles in the series - Homecoming, the Arcade game, and the movies - just diminishes his impact. He was created specifically for James, not others. It got to the point where Mashashiro Ito said he wished he could kill PH off, so he would stop turning up everywhere else he wasn't meant to. P.S. One more facet to the whole historical executioner thing: in the prison, at the gallows puzzle, there's a mural on the structure, and the executioners are of course depicted with long spears and wearing pyramid helmets. And elsewhere still, there's an image associated with the Order cult showing one of their rituals, and the priest leading said ritual wears a red, triangular hood. PH really is everywhere.
As you show how pyramid and James are kindred I can’t help but realize is the massive metal pyramid is to show the “heavy head” trope. A physical way to show how guilt pain and everything else weighs someone down
I always interpreted the two boss battles against Pyramid Head as trials. PH guides/pushes James along the path to the truth, but no amount of growth can ever come without first confronting yourself and overcoming the parts that no longer serve you. That’s why he just leaves or self terminates at the end of each battle: he’s either determined that James is ready to continue, or that he (PH) is no longer needed at all.
I think the versions of silent hill are more representative of different levels of James’s subconscious. Like the fog world is gloomy and abandoned but still mostly normal, perhaps in line with James’s more surface level emotions like sadness and confusion while the other world is dark, gritty, decayed, and twisted, and much more in line with James’s deeper emotions. Not to mention that every time we go into the other world and/or descend deeper into the other world it’s typically triggered by or immediately preceded by something related to Mary, her death, or James’s unresolved emotions. James going deeper and deeper into silent hill is in line with him going deeper into his own head and having to face his problems.
0:27 Well, given that James is shooting RIGHT AT the metal helmet, it's no surprise that the bullets are ineffective. He's at point-blank range. Why not aim for the knee? (I haven't played the remake of SH2, just the original on PS2 and the PS3 port, so I know it doesn't matter.)
In the og scene, PH also gouges open some hole in the front of the helmet, as if to see better, and I always assumed James was shooting into the fleshy hole which staggered PH.
Your series on villainy is so good. I listen to every video regardless of whether I indulge in the media of which the villain comes from or not. Excellent writing. Thank you!
I always feel that Pyramid is lonely. He has that helm that keeps his eyes cast down in guilt. He is always dragging heavy weight. He needs a hug. Nemesis scares me, Pyramid doesn't.
I personally find Pyramid Head frightening cause he forced James to do what most of us can find difficult and that's facing ourselves. He shoud've stayed iconic to Silent Hill 2. What a character. Subbed and looking forward to the breakdown on Maria.
Pyramid Head only appears as a Pursuer but hes actually in a sub class of his own. He is more of a guide. The closer you get to the final confrontation the closer you are led to the truth. Instead of killing James when they first met. He menaces him and opens the path forward.
Pyramid Head kills himself like The Executioner type character that comes out of a safe from nowhere and then wears the safe as a head, in "The Evil Within" game.
Also, being a therapist, piramid head is akin to a session in which you face your uncomfortable emotions, these things you don't want to remember/ be aware of, while for me maria can be a distraction and/or suppression of said feeling Wich doesn't let the person advance and only gets them "stuck" or "dull". Nightmares, death and PTSD on an industrial scale apart, !silent hill is the best therapy session you wish you would never have!
There’s two figures of pyramid head embossed in the gallows puzzle in the prison. They are definitely portrayed as executioners since there is a hanging figure between them.
Giving this video a chance despite my first thought being that Pyramid Head is not a villain, he is an antagonist. He is not there to make James look virtuous, he is there to be opposition in James’s story.
Worth noting that the fall down from the hospital roof DOES hurt James in the original. Always bringing you down to a single hit point in the games health system.
So masahiro ito said, "pyramid head abusing the 2 mannequins, that doesn't mean rape." we all thought it too, but remove sexual assault from pyramid head and he's still terrifying.
I do find it more likely the other executioner photo from the real world is something that stuck with james and was twisted into pyramid head.The fact that james can pick up his knife and it allows him to traverse the world easier. While cumbersome James uses the knife to walk through a sea of bodies as if when he carries the weight of his guilt he becomes able to walk through the world easier be he himself is slower.
Was gonna say masahiro ito, the top character designer if I’m not wrong mentioned that the first cutscene with pyramid head isn’t simulating grape. It was just general assault
I could actually use the great knife decently well in the original, it just had one hell of a windup so you really had to let the enemies come to while you're winding up the swing.
Pyramid Head is James' messed up guardian angel, he is messed up because James is messed up. James spawned a being to torment, judge and even potentially execute him, but it was a being spawned by the good side of James, the guilty parts that seek to repent and to be redeemed. Thus it helps James while appearing to torment him, and at times even it falls to James' self-destructive tendencies for short periods. Pyramid Head helps James more than anything during the game, he forces James to take the paths James needs to take, and he removes monsters James put in his own way. Pyramid Head fights James when James is at his lowest, when James is in danger of falling to the monsters inside him, like Maria, and in the end when James comes to face his ultimate inner demon, at this point the two Pyramid Heads, representing James' two great sins, act as guards to James' innermost secret and as a test of James' strength and ability to face that secret.
I should also point out that none of the stuff you used to describe Pyramid Head is entirely true. I don't expect it to be mainstream knowledge, though, so it doesn't matter too much. TEXTWALL AND SPOILERS FOR MULTIPLE SH TITLES AHEAD: Disclaimer: This information comes both from my own deductions on the series as a whole, and does not only use content from all of the games, but also from comics, movies, and the words of Masahiro Ito himself. Pyramid Head can be seen by others, and is also not a unique monster to James. His behavior and role is, but as a physical creature, he isn't. He has SOME backstory, and a lot you can assume based on other entries in the setting, not even counting the movies and SH:Homecoming. There are canonically other "Pyramid Heads", though they're specifically referred to as "Pyramid-Helmeted Men", created directly by Masahiro Ito himself, and he's actually stated that they both have nothing to do with James Sunderland, and that Pyramid Head is unique to him. From this, we can more or less understand that while Pyramid Head, the one from SH2, is unique to James, he is not a unique monster to him, and is more employed to test him rather than created based purely on James' own psyche. Likely, Pyramid-Helmeted Men are creatures native to the Otherworld, and from my own understanding of the setting(This isn't ever stated in canon, but seems to be the case based on provided evidence when read in to) it's very likely that they're actually people who were brought to Silent Hill much akin to James, but who had both failed to give in and end their own lives AND failed to overcome their traumas. Instead of these two options, much like Eddie, these individuals give in to their inner darkness and embrace it as a necessary suffering, and are forcefully transformed into the Pyramid-Helmeted Men. In Homecoming, if you choose the worst-possible ending, Alex Shepard gives in to the darkness, and for his guilt and murderous deeds, is transformed into one of the two, now three, Pyramid-Helmeted Men that are seen once or twice throughout the game as non-antagonistic observers. It can easily be read as a corporate move to include Pyramid Head in Homecoming, but personally I find it to actually be perfectly canon-following, as these are NOT Pyramid Head specifically, but just two more of the similarly appearing creatures in the world, especially since they went out of their way to fully design the alternative film design for him rather than using the original SH2 design, making it a clearly distinct creature from the OG triangle boy. In Downpour, if you similarly choose the worst-possible ending, Murphy is retroactively guilty of the murder of his own son. Giving in to his psychopathic mentality, Murphy actually BECOMES the Bogeyman- A figure not identical to, but filling a relatively similar role to Pyramid Head/Pyramid-Helmeted Men- and murders the officer he was working with to survive the town. People often overlook these titles due to their lower quality, but frankly they're okay at their worst and their content is as valid as any other besides the poor monster designs in Downpour(but personally, that wasn't what interested me in that game) and using them in combination with the countless other pieces of SH media, it paints a pretty clear picture of what the Pyramid-Helmeted Men actually are likely to be; The souls and warped bodies of those who give in to their evil natures rather than healing from trauma or giving in to dismay and choosing to end their lives. The Otherworld, displeased by their spite of its 'gift' of redemption or eternal peace, punishes them with the ultimate agony, and will never let them rest until they complete some sort of destined task. It's incredibly easy to read the Otherworld as a Death-Murder-Torture Hellscape that only wants to torture its inhabitants, but throughout the series, the only people who ever actually get put through true agony are those with fully evil souls like the Cultists and the very people the town creates to tease its targets. I think the reality is more complex, and that the Otherworld exists to put people through a trial of redemption or sacrifice to aid them to one of two inevitable outcomes. The Pyramid-Helmeted Men serve a vital role in these decisions, and I believe viewing them as actual people trapped by suffering of their own design gives the self-termination the two Pyramid Heads at the end of James' story significantly more weight. When James is freed from his suffering by his own grown and acknowledgement, regardless of which direction you go, he simultaneously frees the Pyramid Heads from their own suffering and torment.
Ironically, one of my favorite things that’s come out of Pyramid head in recent memory is that the man who created him voiced his regrets of what his character became with all the cameos. Which being a human embodiment of guilt, repressed emotions, and self hatred oddly just adds to its character. Since we all have our own pyramid head inside ourselves, which the only way to beat it isn’t by brute force (since that’s just proving it right) but rather mentally reevaluating so we don’t feel like we need them anymore.
Pyramid Head is more like a guide for James rather than an antagonist. He helps James by killing his desire or doubt or whatever negative emotion Maria is meant to represent several times. He breaks down James multiple times to make sure he will have what it takes to keep fighting and freeing himself. I dont see PH as a bad guy at all, more like a twisted guide meant to toughen up James. And with the latest confirmations about James time in Silent Hill is a constant loop to punish him for what he's done, it kinda raises the question if Silent Hill is even real, or some kind of hellscape different souls finds themselves stuck in.
Pyramid Head doesn't stab through Maria's heart. He impales her directly through the middle of her chest which is objectively worse and would have drawn out her death.
I actually loved using the great knife on boss fights, eddie, daddy, and pyramid heads, then usually would be the last weapon i used to beat Mary/Maria depending on my ending.
One of the things that I noticed about the pyramid head is that he compliments the nurses you interact in the hospital: if the nurses that attack you with scalpels were the nurses that took care of Angela, then Pyramid Head must be the head surgeon/docter. His clothing is quite similar to a doctor's operating scrubs and mask. Only he is wearing a butcher's apron, wears a torture device on his head (maybe a reference possibly to Angela's death??? But that's a big leap), and it carries a massive blade. Our main protagonist sees the head doctor as a butcher (he butchered my wife).
I’d really like for the next game to be based on the early comic setting for 1867 so we can see what the very beginning or one of the first victims of silent hill. It would be interesting seeing what the monsters themes an abilities for that time period would look like.
![Blox Fruits Dragon Rework Update [Full Stream]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/EqDAp8udhm0/mqdefault.jpg)
Fun Fact: Pyramid Head starts wielding the Great Knife around the same time James acquires the Bloody Knife from Angela. Almost like the idea of self harm was seeded in his mind and manifested through Pyramid Head.
Wow ive never thought of that. Cool detail
Yeah I'm one of those people who thinks that the Pyramid head is James himself, or "the worst of James". He's also the embodiment of James's worst nightmares.
And he comes for Maria, which is to be expected. And he kills her on more than one occasion.
In a sense, he's also death, coming to separate him from the person he both loves, and resents.
he represents James want to harm himself.. He tries to escape the thought but its always there.. Thats what I think.
@@samf.s.7731 Id agree if only the original's assets datamined suggest otherwise being that pyramid has the giant knife before James meeting with Angela on the graveyard.
Fun Fact: It is James face under that Pyramid Helmet. His desire to be punished and his selfhatred manifested pyramid head as an relentless prosecutor, who knows of every of james missdeeds. The original Developer and the artist disclosed that.
I like the idea of pyramid head just up and leaving when he's done what he needs to, like he's clocking out of a nine to five then wandering off to his other silent hill appearances
He doesn't want to do extra hours
"Ah shit, peace out, gotta go bash Jon Snow around for half an hour now."
Edit: you just know SH2 is the main gig and the rest of the shit is just random appearances he does to round out the month.
And his real name is Jim 😆
@@_DeadEnd_ Accepted.
@@_DeadEnd_ what do you suppose he eats
14:58 PH killing Maria is his way of telling James "She's not Mary. Mary's dead and you killed her. Accept it."
He really is just an incredibly aggressive shock therapist when you think about it. Constantly forcing James to face up and remember why he's there and making rounds and killing all the monsters in the town because their existence clouds his mind and keeps him from focusing on what he should (as confirmed by Masahiro himself).
In a weird spin of the idea of the monster chaser, PH almost seems like the only other thing in the town trying to point James towards the proper conclusion. As much a major adversary as he is weirdly in your corner too.
I think it also add to the "this is what you wanted, you manifested her and you seem to be willing to cheat on an ideal version of her" so he takes her out
@@OsnosisBones
He even appears on the stairs, forcing James to evade him, pushing James to the correct path
I love that, but how do you explain him trying to kill James? I guess because he's also his need to be punishedso he's forced to be a walking contradiction@@OsnosisBones
@@anthonyf616 It very much seems the most logical reason why is probably due to his dual nature of being a punisher born from James' own wishes, and potentially a test of sorts for James to see if he can overcome what drew him to the town in the first place.
It also could come down to the fact his own mind can't decide whether he wants to die for what he did or try to go on living and redeem himself.
It's only when he stops being indecisive, stating out loud he doesn't need Pyramid Head anymore and proves that to be the truth that Pyramid Heads(s) kill themselves, their role finished.
4:11 The artist who designed him for the original Silent Hill 2 hates the overuse of him after it. And I don't blame him because Pyramid Head only makes sense in 2 being the embodiment of James's guilt and wanting to be punished for killing Mary.
Konami kinda try to make similar themed enemy on "Downpour". But, like many other element in that game, it failed
The fanbase feels the same way, at least those who understood what he represents.
@@hafirenggayudaits sad because i think the boogeyman design was cool. Its a giant in a trench coat with a gas mask and a gavel representing a judge in a sense and the game is about a prisoner. Its also like the only one since 2 that tried a concept unrelated to the cult as a whole and related more to personal trauma. But they missed the mark hard on execution and at times it was just goofy. I think one of the best moments that said there was something there that almost made it acceptable was the final bit at the end where the prison transport officer at the end reveals she sees the player character as the boogeyman this whole time and for good reasons. But its a shitty unremarkable fight you can easily lose as that antagonistic force if you dont know you have more than one attack option which leads to its own ending and takes a long time, but the main point is they had led they could transmute to gold or pyrite at least and instead their poor decisions transmuted it to shit.
@@daysand123 yea, it got potential, but almost everything have bad implementation. I can't describe how fail it was, but basically "Not Silent Hill". I do think it's somewhat feel better than Homecoming (I refuse playing/seeing shattered memories, can't compare)
@@daysand123 it was just the Raincoat Killer from Deadly Premonition lol
Something else I would like to add is that to me: the pyramid on his head represents the heavy guilt he cannot bear to look at because that metal pyramid on his head looks so heavy and how you can't see his face.
Pyramids were built by slaves and the dollar symbol is weird
He should also be blind
So basically Pyramid head is just James too often we can’t accept the truth blaming others when in fact we are the ones at fault, In this case James.
@@beginnereasyMostly by laborers payed for in Alkohol and other eaten goods.
Like wheat and bread.
After the harvest season where there was not much to do.
@@comradecameron3726 they fed their slaves
I feel that too many people have tried to focus on what Pyramid Head looks like under the helmet. To me, that was never the point. It what he does that’s so terrifying and important. He never speaks, he doesn’t give many clues as to what his true purpose is. He’s meant to be mysterious.
I love mysterious men
Pretty sure he probably looks like James since he’s just a manifestation of his guilt and whatever else.
@@TheSpartanBlues Yeah but he's also specifically made to be someone else who can punish James for the things he feels he deserves punishment for so it's debatable if that notion loses its strengths if James internalizes it as just himself under there. It feels like he specifically wants someone else that can hold him accountable other than himself. Plus technically his physical appearance was born from James' memory of a painting depicting old Silent Hill customs with an executioner surrounded by his criminal victims so it really amounts to what he envisioned was beyond the mask, if anything at all I feel.
There was an old small statue of Pyramid Head (or was it a toy?) and there was just a massive "tumor" inside although not probably what they had in mind when they developed Silent Hill 2
I think he just has the same face as James but with a guilt ridden look on him.
Pyramid head is one of the very few monsters I still get nervous over, there’s something so wrong about him to me. I projected all my fears onto him and he soaked it like a sponge
Dude I think we can all collectively agree that we piss ourselves if we encountered him in person.
He doesn't act human but has a human body. Even his movement is like a puppet more than a man
He seems like a nice fella
Sadly I find him super cool, despite of him looking encumbered there is something powerful about him. You can sort of plop him into any setting and he will be the same thing. Like Michael Myers does not function in a medieval setting. You could plop pyramid head into Game of thrones or idk Bleach, he just works.
Cringe
The 3rd encounter with pyramid head where you're in the small room was ingenious at the time. This was back before you could just whip out a smart phone and look up how to beat a particular part of a game. Nowadays we know you can just run around and avoid him until the siren goes off, but back when it first came out we ran around trying our best to figure out how to beat this boss and blasting all of our ammo panicking.
It really made you feel hopeless against pyramid head. And the relief when that siren goes off is a feeling you can't replicate when you know in advance what to expect. That encounter the very first time I played SH2 was the single most helpless I've ever felt in a video game before or since.
I had an experience similar to that with one of my favorite games of all time, Signalis. I went in without spoilers, and boy did that encounter fuck me up.
No spoilers, if you like Silent Hill, play Signalis.
I have never played Silent Hill 2 or even silent hill 1. I use to react really bad to monsters in games like the necromorphs in dead space but nowadays even Pyramid Head feels not that bad to me. But who knows. If i get the remake i may eat those words.
Yeah, I absolutely lost my shit playing the "boss fight" for the first time because I had no idea it was a timed event. 😅
@Justmemyguy I just got to that last night. I had no clue that it was a timed event, so when he just effed off I got so mad I wasted that much ammo, I reloaded my checkpoint lol.
Pyramid Head is not punishing James for his sins. He's violently stripping his sins away until he confesses them.
He looks and acts like a punisher because that's what James wants. But Pyramid Head isn't actually doing that. He's actually killing all the monsters that are his sins made manifest.
Why does Pyramid Head keep killing Maria? Because Maria is one of James' monsters, and his most powerful one. Even Pyramid Head is unable to keep her from coming back- only James can do that.
Now that is something his creator can get behind, he described something similar when asked if ph raped the mannequins
I really like this interpretation actually.
It's the best supported interpretation.
Pyramid Head is also only actively hostile to James when James is at his lowest, when all parts of James' mind turns in on itself.
At other times Pyramid Head actively helps James get on the path to self-discovery and healing, even if it looks violent.
This is why Pyramid Head goes between fighting James and just tossing him into holes, dragging him places or "chasing" (more like herding) him in some direction.
Pyramid Head is James' "guardian angel," he is just a messed up guardian angel because James is so messed up.
Correct. From Masahiro Ito's own twitter, from a tweet in May 20th, 2020:
"I wanted to depict that Pyramid Head is trying to remove the visions from James' mind. Those mean L-Figure, BHNurse, etc. PH trys to make him face to the fact by that. This means his conflict in his mind. He still afraid to face to it at that time so he shoots a gun in the closet"
Oooo I like that interpretation a lot.
Something interesting that happens during the game, once James learns the truth, other than Pyramid Head, the monsters no longer attacks him, they either back away in fear or die in shock, almost as if they've realized that he is a monster, James has become Pyramid Head, and it makes them afraid.
The Executioner painting might be a way to explain how Pyramid Head was or could be able to come back in another game. In fact, the nurses did appear multiple times, especially in the first trilogy. But i think there is purpose to it, the nurses in the Silent Hill 2 was because of James psyche. 1 and 3 are so tied together that they pretty much serve the same purpose and they were very different from 2 so they had a new meaning. Pyramid Head in Homecoming however was only there because he was popular and the film adaptations were because the director loved him. If Pyramid Head comes back, he needs to have a reason for being here, a purpose to exist, a meaning to whatever that story will be. Honestly i don't care if he comes back and even if he does, he wouldn't have the huge impact that he had in Silent Hill 2.
Exactly. Hence why _Downpour_ used the Boogeyman instead. B)
Well said! I also feel like Pyramid Head is a special antagonist in Silent Hill 2, because he is basically a violent therapist, who's only goal it was to pursue James and bring him to a point of confession. But it felt sort of inconsistent, after Pyramid Head appeared in multiple sequels, losing not only it's individuality, but also the original reason to even exist.
I actually really loved this in the remake. Seeing all the monsters you faced previously in the game cower away from the player, or die when you get close, was super interesting.
I like the idea of James guilt and violence manifestation being so strong that even after the endings where triangle prism face dies he just comes back no matter what- and going off the 'PH acts as James guardian angel theory' where it is taking out a chunk of the other monsters so James doesn't have to fight them Silent hill repurposes PH if it needs something to scare monsters out of an area.
However every time he's used it's been for fan service, and I think a lot of the later silent hills that bring back previous monsters just don't really care for the symbolism, just that sexy nurse/PH makes people go nuts.
I think I've seen a concept from the devs that pyramid head is just james under there. I think its extremely fascinating. My favorite take on it is that under it is this tumourus like growth of james' face. It was DISGUSTING. I loved it lol
Something very cool I noticed is that pyramid head triggers the sound of the radio even if the radio itself is turned off. Very neat detail.
Is there a way to turn it off?
No it auto plays when you see him behind the bars no matter if the radio is off@@pedro.alcatra
@@pedro.alcatraYes, you can turn it off for the rest of the monsters. Search for the radio on the items menu and you can choose the off option
Pyramid Head is kind of like an angel, in the strictest sense: A punisher of the sinful. Relentless. Powerful. Brutal.
And I disagree with Brett that he doesn’t want what is best for James. If I remember correctly, one of the inspirations for SH2 was the movie Jacob’s Ladder in which (spoilers) the “demons” that have been haunting the protagonist throughout the film were in fact trying to help him let go of his pain in life and accept his own death. Just because something looks scary doesn’t mean it can’t have a positive effect on you.
Saint Apostle.
@@Garrus1995In a way I agree. Though I can't say that pyramid head would have that as his intention...I believe that PH is like a tool. But that PH himself isn't voluntarily trying to push James. James is the writer of the story in his case. Don't mean to discredit your thoughts on the subject.
@@theders8590 he doesn't need to voluntarily push james to have his best interest. that's what negative emotions do, they push you.
Exactly
Fun fact: in the OG game you can find PH’s great knife as a weapon and if you equip it, turn off the radio and flashlight, the monsters will run from you.
Is this possible in the remake or no? Missed opportunity if not
@ as far as I know, no you can’t wield the Great Knife, it’s only used to solve a single puzzle, which makes sense since the remake is going for a more realistic menu system, but is also a missed opportunity.
Pyramid Head is a true badass. Hell yeah! ⚔️
By the way, if you plan on doing a no-radio run you'll still hear static when approaching him for the first time. Just to let you know how strong of an influence Pyramid Head is.
You ever have a moment where you remember an instance of shame or embarrassment from your past? And it causes a physical reaction of revoltion & cringe in your body? *That* is what Pyramid Head causes the player. The truth can be ugly, and he has the freakish form to match. He forces James to own up to all of his wrongdoings, & the depraved nature of his past actions. Pyramid head is beyond being a simple stalker like Mr X. Atonement & making amends is often the only way to overcome & make peace with these moments of shame. Pyramid head is no different. By accepting what he has done, James frees himself of his guilt, and by extension this horrifying monster.
We're reaching levels of cringe that shouldn't be possible.
This is every day for me
freakish? that is a sexy man with a mask
Personally, I disagree with something here -- James is not the only one to become aware of the truth behind Silent Hill and its environments. Both Eddie and Angela are clearly aware of it by the end of their respective storylines.
Eddie's comments to James (paraphrased) "Don't get high and mighty on me, James. You were called here, too."
This implies a certain level of understanding of his predicament, even leading him to deduce James is here for a similar reason.
Angela seems to be aware that her monster represents her father, as she breaks down crying about her past after we kill it. Then during her staircase scene, Angela asks "You see it too? For me, it's always like this" as she's taken aback by James' ability to perceive the room as hot (or on fire) -- ergo she understands that not everyone sees the same thing she does.
Neither of them were able to face and surpass their demons, however. Eddie's failure leads him to be shot and killed (as punishment for being a trigger-happy maniac) and Angela can't find it in herself to let go of her abusive family (or what remains of it), and supposedly dies off-screen burning in her own guilt-ridden hatred.
James is the only one that overcomes his nightmare in the end, but he's not the only one "aware" of the nightmare.
In the newest Puss In Boots, Puss is literally pursued by death, who concedes defeat once Puss outgrows him.
Just an example of the archetype being given characterization, AND disappearing once the needed lesson is learned.
It really puts the game in a different light when you realize that Pyramid Head is not a villain, but a guide.
7:45 There was an old tweet by Masahiro Ito saying that the scene of Pyramid Head abusing the 2 mannequins doesn't mean rape but rather:
"I wanted to depict that Pyramid Head is trying to remove the visions from James' mind. Those mean L-Figure, BHNurse, etc. PH trys to make him face to the fact by that. This means his conflict in his mind. He still afraid to face to it at that time so he shoots a gun in the closet"
(words by Masahiro Ito)
The creation has outgrown its master
That doesn't make any sense, the scene before his bossfight in the original also shows pyramid head abusing a monster. I wouldn't be surprised if he said to avoid controversy.
@@mr.redhands8390Nah, Ito has said that for many years and has even given the direct reference he used to design Pyramid Head and his actions, that reference being a dialogue that occurs in Jacob's Ladder.
It also wouldn't make sense for there to be 2 PHs after James kills Eddie if the PH was meant to represent something sexual.
i didnt see it as anything sexual when i saw it either, to me it felt more like a representation of james' inclination towards violence (against mary, and later eddie)
Gotta disagree with the idea that Maria represents a second chance. She isn't capable of being a fulfilling person, she seems to represent James fully buying into his own denial, and choosing sensory balm over truth
I think she represents the very desires that drove him to kill Mary, which is why she serves as an antagonist in the story
13:49
This is actually one area i was disappointed in with SH2re. OG Pyramid Pursuit is terrifying. You're wandering the same narrow corridors, but all you hear is a disturbing OST that feels distant and quiet. After wandering for so long you start to hear a third set of footsteps and it's only much later you realize Pyramid Head has started tailing you. No fanfare, no big reveal, just a wall with a barred window and one hallway with a mirror.
True! I like the remake but the original did it much better on this scene, especially with the inverted camera
Spoilers for Silent Hill 2
The main reason why 2 Pyramid Heads appear when only one has been stalking you throughout the whole game is because the second one appears after James felt guilty for killing Eddie, and now that he killed 2 people he felt so ashamed to kill (Mary and Eddie) 2 of them appear to try and punish him
I think there are 2 contradictions in your theory.
1. The Pyramid Head we see in the hospital elevator chase scene has a spear instead of a sword, even though we saw Pyramid Head having his Big Sword in the appartements. Then afterwards we saw Pyramid Head with the sword in the Maze, it wouldn't make sense that he switched weapons for no reason, so the one in the hospital had to be the second one.
2.Why then the Nouse Puzzle in The Prison Section had 2 Pyramid Head Drawings in craved into them? So The Second Pyramid head existence was already hinted at, before Eddit died.
@@sanchezsaysno6858 The Pyramid Head on the drawing is not James' Pyramid Head, its the Pyramid Head executioners that James based his imaginary Pyramid Head on, like the painting in the museum.
The Great Knife usage by Pyramid Head is tied to shared feelings James have with Angela (which RUclips doesn't like named), the spear using Pyramid Heads are tied to other feelings in James. The one in the hospital isn't after James, its after Maria, and in a way the two at the end are also after Maria, in that they are testing whether James have become strong enough to face the ultimate inner demon he is carrying around.
There are two Pyramid Heads in the end because James committed the ultimate sin twice, not because the mural shows two. All Pyramid Heads not depicted on art pieces are born inside James and appear the way they do and act the way they do entirely based on how James feel at the moment.
The confirmation of 2 Pyramid Heads = 2 sins is the eggs they carry. Rusty Egg for the old sin, Scarlet Egg for the new, they each unlock a door. Both doors lead the same place in the end, it matters not which path you take, both sins must be dealt with just the same.
Interesting. I never put that together.
@@sanchezsaysno6858 there IS no theory, it's backed up by the source material. Pyramid Head is not an executioner. it's a monster tied directly to James' nightmare
very interesting @@NATIK001
11:54 I'm convinced the foggy town is the dream, and the nightmare world is the true face of Silent Hill. The fog is it's 'mask', which is why there's no fog in the nightmare.
Pyramid Head fits so nicely as the "main villain" of Silent Hill 2 because of what he is to James. Its established through Eddie that the characters are forced to confront their sins, but also their own inner turmoil. Thus each person's experience is largely unique to them.
For Eddie it was his deep insecurities and emotional instability that made everyone around him an enemy.
But you know those moments where you remember doing something you're genuinely ashamed of? The almost physical reaction of disgust you have at yourself?
That's what Pyramid Head is to James, it is the personification of the simple fact that he *wants to be punished.* The monster's namesake even plays into this, the iconic helmet it wears is cumbersome, impractical and hides its face entirely. A visual representation of the weight James attributes to his sin; namely the murder of his wife.
Hell, when a second Pyramid Head appears, its because by the end of the game he feels guilty for killing Mary *and* Eddie (even if the latter was self defense)
However, the way Pyramid Head constantly pushes James forward is also important. The deaths of Maria are most important because its him literally removing her from James's path, because it knows she is keeping him from moving forward. She is the most powerfull demon of his mind and only James can make her finally go away.
And after James re-learns and accepts the truth, the monsters are seemingly scared of him. Almost like he has *truly become* the visage of Pyramid Head, just like how the game hints at, by accepting what he had done and that no amount of self-loathing or trying to forget will ever make him feel better.
Its also why Silent Hill 2 *has no canon ending*
What James does after the events of the game is intentionally left up to player choice. As its up to the player to decide if James deserves death, a shot at redemption or if he will simply repeat his mistakes.
I like how the remake portrays Pyramid Head as a force that aggressively confronts James until he sees the truth of what he did. The way they did PH's twitching when James was hiding makes it look like he is being a puppet controlled by the town. He could of killed James in the closet, but is being withheld.
FatBrett: He is not an executioner
Dead By Daylight: Are you sure about that?
Yea.. I couldn't help but think about our old pal The Executioner.
Pyramid head is one of the coolest and most terrifying enemies in horror game history
The pyramid head scene does not imply sexual assault that’s a headcanon people think is canon. It’s actually pyramid head trying to hide the evidence of the monsters from James. This was confirmed by the original director of silent hill 2
Came here to say this. Ito has been very vocal that it isn't SA.
@@HannyaBoi yea he’s not a fan of things he created losing their original intention. The guys very vocal about hating Konami for throwing pyramid head in everything
also that was just a general design choice for the game when it first was developed, that things should be 1. scary 2. unfamiliar and 3. sexy, because and I am paraphrasing, in the directors words sexuality, fear and the unknown are some of the biggest factors in a humans psyche or something along those lines. So they just made most things have a little of all of those aspects the monsters, the characters, the environment, noises the monsters make and so on.
I mean sure but that's definitely on them if basically everybody interprets it that way. You can say it means something else but it clearly gives a different idea
@@BeanMachineu3u the only reason everyone says it’s sexual assault is because of one person saying their headcanon years ago and people running with it as canon and spreading it.
If you go up to a car's window at the start of the game, Jame's reflection seems to have a large object shaped like a pyramid.
One of the most iconic horror game monsters has made it to Brett's channel!
Me: feeling guilty after stealing a balloon on free balloon day.
Pyramid Head: "Allow me to introduce myself.."
My god! 😂😂😂😂😂
One aspect of the visual design I always like about Pyramid Head was the crudely welded, homemade, and handmade look to the pyramid helmet itself...
Its 2024 and i STILL see him show up in Conventions, just a testament to how iconic PH is.
The detail i find most interesting about his design is the use of the pyramid. Wild take i know, but in most interpretations, I've read the heavy pyramid being a visual representation of James' shame and guilt. But more than that, the pyramid resembles some of the helmets worn at the time of the inquisition, this stylistic choice seen again in Bloodborne worn by Alfred. The Pyramid Head is more than an executioner, but an agent of guilt meant to draw out a confession. The symbolism goes further when James sees him on the other side of the closet door, the leuvers resembling a confession booth. Pyramid Head does not try to attack James but waits patiently for admission of guilt. It is only after James responds with a gun that the Pyramid starts to use other methods to draw it out, much how inquisitors employeed torture and psychological stress on their victims to force a confession.
Something I noticed is when, James finds a handkerchief that reminds him of Mary, it bricgs back all the guilt, lust and shame, and then PH appears in all it´s power.
Pyramid Head: "Oh, feeling guilty again, are we? Alright, time to whoop your ass."
😂😂😂😂😂
14:40 - The answer is not “simple.” Her murder can be interpreted as saving him, leading him away from temptation, rather than punishing him.
Agree. In my playthrough, I took it that James found comfort and distraction through drinking at the strip club, where he met Maria in real life. She became obsessed with him, doing anything and everything he wanted, including pretending to be Mary. She wanted him to love her, but he only loved Mary. This would explain her transformation into the final boss and also why PH kept trying to kill her. The guilt you would feel for trying to move on while your wife is dying while also using someone for that purpose with no care for their feelings, led to the double PH fight.
The different characters are seemingly represented by certain aspects. Angela is fire, Eddie is cold and James is water. Everywhere he goes in the game there are puddles, rain, fog, broken water pipes and flooded areas. And the worst ending is the in water ending. He's drowning in his guilt.
Fun fact: the "knife" that pyramid head wields looks like one of the 2 blades of a scissor, it seems like James wants to be hurt/punished by his other half
How I like to describe the SH series to new comers is SH is a town with the Eldritch ability to manifest your emotions into tangible creatures. But while the monsters are real, it distorts how each individual sees the creature. Another example is the Abstract Daddy, which is the main antagonist of Angela's psyche, while James is able to interact with him, the Abstract Daddy probably looks very different to James and Angela.
Off-tangent: you would also excuse Laura a lot more when you understand this concept. To us, she is a bratty kid who puts James in danger deliberately. But to Laura, SH is most probably a pleasant place due to her 8 year old innocence, and trapping James with a monster through her eyes is just a harmless prank where he probably has to follow a few bunnies to escape.
PS: this probably applies to SH2 exclusively though, cuz SH1 and 3 is a whole new can of worms when you are related to the death worshipping cult in SH
I absolutely love the sound design they did for him in the remake. That weird mechanical/alien trill is so cool. It’s like…what is even making that sound? It’s just his aura being made audible lol
One of my favorite theories regarding Pyramid Head is Ragnarox's; he theorized that Pyramid Head not only represented judgement, but also forgiveness.
James did what he did because he was frustrated; frustrated sexually, frustrated mentally, frustrated with life, and frustrated with himself. He loves Mary, and to watch her slowly waste away without any way to help her get better... he snaps. He regrets doing what he did, but he also prevented Mary from continuing to suffer.
In this way, Pyramid Head is essentially Silent Hill trying to tell James that he doesn't need to continue to torture himself. That while he acted rashly (and the town punished him for it by shifting forms and forcing him on his journey in SH2), he acted out of love, and that by continuing to indulge in that gloom, James is destroying himself
I watched something that had another monster borne of a charcters psyche as a desire to punish themselves for a past sin and could only be overcome when they forgive themselves.
The idea of discovering that the main character was the architect of their own is a common theme in fiction is because it's relatable.
How many of us have had to come to terms with the fact that we are the ones responsible for screwing up our own lives having to forgive ourselves and make amends before we can rebuild
22:58 "His psyche transforms; he gains a command over himself that he did not have at the start of the game." It seems that for most people, In Water is the definitive ending for the game, but this statement summarizes why, for me, it's Leave. In Water sees James succumbing to his guilt and letting it destroy him, but that's just not what the two Pyramid Heads scene is communicating to me. I see it as showing that he has gained some control over himself
Are we sure it was really Pyramid Head in the Historical Society painting? Maybe James's mind superimposed PH onto the punisher in the painting, same is with everything else?
I’ve thought that as a possibility as well. I think it’s vague enough for you to come to your own conclusion! I think all three versions are interesting.
I think piramid head is supposed to be a distortion of those ancient executioners. The original probably did not have a literal metal casing on their head but rather would have had some kind of hood in the same shape but silent hill takes these figurative monsters and mold them into literal ones.
Im soo happy to see content about a new silent hill game! I think I should mention that sexual assault doesn’t have to involve genitals or sexual organs and that it is very often carried out to assert power or humiliate the victim, with sexual gratification being either a byproduct or entirely absent for the assailant
Just one thing:
In the original the great knife is useless except for one thing. During the fight against eddie you can hide behind the meat, wait for him to empty the gun and, when he reloads, you have the exact time to wield the knife, charge it and kill eddie with a single hit. It is the only time the knife is good to use. And i don't think is a casuality. It is made to kill human being. It is made to make james a killer. To kill eddie has a great impact on james. Of course you can kill him with the gun, but use the great knife is almost a horrific easter egg
9:51 Actually, if you actively fight pyramid head the timer for the fight goes down. Bullets do have an effect on speeding up the fight, they just don't harm him.
All i know about him is that he's a manifestation of James & his guilt, aggression. Excited for this deep dive.
Homie he is the guilt that comes from taking life, James did not feel lust/aggression towards Eddie yet him killing Eddie causes another ph to appear. He is the form of an executioner for a reason. You could look at it this way, if the mannequin represents lust and the red pyramid represents guilt, the red pyramid killing the mannequins is mentally what is happening, The feelings of lust James has are overtaken by the feelings of guilt. James gets Angelas bloody knife, a object of guilt a burden, PH gets is scissor blade, a heavy weapon, a burden.
As a matter of fact, Ito has said that none of the enemies were designed with sexual frustration interpretations as the intention.
According to Ito himself, the mannequins represent Mary's loss of mobility, as she would eventually be unable to walk and had to be carried by James.
@@niropaxum958 Ohh... That makes sense. Thanks.
For me pyramid head is a red herring, for the true antagonist (in the sense of someone who posses Jame's any chance of healing) is maria, yet pyramid head is always reminding James to "purge the guilt" and when he does he doesn't have any reasong d'etre and goes stbby tabby with himself
5:16 gave me flashbacks to the thirst he summoned from the Internet after the dead by daylight release...not enough people where unsettled
I'd argue that Pyramidhead is not even evil.
As a manifestation of James' guilt and desire for punishment he is as evil as James thinks he himself is.
Pyramid head is what a Therapist would look like if it was manifested from the darkest depths of our negative imagination.
I always thought the painting depicting Pyramid Head in the museum is, at least partly, James' halucination or a part of a rust world because its style feels kinda different from other paintings; maybe there's a real painting depicting execution but James sees Pyramid Head and cages instead
a hug thing i just noticed. rosewater is so often used to CALM yourself. roses are about LOVE , passionate soul bonding love. for the street to be called ROSEWATER is insane. water, is often used to show acceptance of fate , the coming and going of tidal emotions , the consistency of life by way of motion. rosewater is the most thematic thing you could name a street in this town , and the fact the hotel (im almost certain) sits on rosewater is even more potent. Mary , the passionate lover torn apart by illness, so humble , so in love, and so devoted to her lover that she even wholey understood his resentment of her. SHE IS SUCH A GOOD PERSON , SHE NOT ONLY UNDERSTOOD HIS FRUSTRATION BUT INDERSTOOD WHY HE KILLED HER AND DIDNT RESENT HIM FOR IT. Her name is mary , like the mother of christ , our most valued Saint. the more i learn about this game along side my own interest in psychology , the more i fucking learn about my own personality. its insane. i thought to myself , "if i was ill , could i mentally handle my husband using another woman for sexual desires ? do i have the love in my heart, and does he in his, to maintain a disctint love bond separate from a sexual one ? " and the more i thought of human nature, and everything around it , the more i realized that Mary might have been right to forgive James. The guilt he felt drove him to suicide before his wifes body was even 3 days old. imagine if the woman you loved was DYING , and you cant even give her the comfort of the sacred bond of lovers. and as a man you have no toosl in your mind to give her any other support. i think james is a product of men not being allowed to have emotional comfort in any way but sexual , and when he saw his wife suffering , and felt his own sexual desires as a means of comfort while frustrated from being loyal , the only thing his broken mind could do was ....save his wife a little siffering. silent hill is one of , if not the most, beautiful psychological horror ive ever had the joy of learning about in my youth. i am so blessed that stories like this were told in my lifetime , so that i can not only enjoy the artistry, but so that i can feel seen as a survivor of trauma. im glad so many people love these stories as much as i do
Too bad they decide to just use him in any games cause his design is just cool.
Pyramid Head is epitome of nightmare you hope to never have otherwise he will stay with you forever. Just look at how even if just in a movie we haven't forgotten about him.
I think the possibility of James never seeing that painting could explain how Pyramid Head could apper later in the series. If Pyramid Head is created by James's desire for pun =ishment and the town's history maybe Pyramid Head is the town's avatar of punishment.
You’re channel is awesome. I love how you cover characters from multiple games and look deeper into why they do what they do and why they are who they are :)
One of my favourite parts of the whole Pyramid Head character is that the second one only shows up after you've killed Eddie. One PH for each death on James' hands.
And like you said, I'm glad to see PH back where he belongs, tormenting James Sunderland. The character is certainly irconic, but having him appear in other titles in the series - Homecoming, the Arcade game, and the movies - just diminishes his impact. He was created specifically for James, not others. It got to the point where Mashashiro Ito said he wished he could kill PH off, so he would stop turning up everywhere else he wasn't meant to.
P.S. One more facet to the whole historical executioner thing: in the prison, at the gallows puzzle, there's a mural on the structure, and the executioners are of course depicted with long spears and wearing pyramid helmets. And elsewhere still, there's an image associated with the Order cult showing one of their rituals, and the priest leading said ritual wears a red, triangular hood.
PH really is everywhere.
As you show how pyramid and James are kindred I can’t help but realize is the massive metal pyramid is to show the “heavy head” trope. A physical way to show how guilt pain and everything else weighs someone down
Brilliant video, looking forward to the follow ups
Such a tragic and enthralling tale
I always interpreted the two boss battles against Pyramid Head as trials. PH guides/pushes James along the path to the truth, but no amount of growth can ever come without first confronting yourself and overcoming the parts that no longer serve you. That’s why he just leaves or self terminates at the end of each battle: he’s either determined that James is ready to continue, or that he (PH) is no longer needed at all.
Human: Does a Sin
Pyramid Head: I’M GOING TO **** YOU!
James: It's... **** you "up".
Pyramid Head: Wait, what'd I say?
@@DreadnoughtDT Pyramid Head: I know what I said, bro.
Goddamn it! 😂😂😂
I think the versions of silent hill are more representative of different levels of James’s subconscious. Like the fog world is gloomy and abandoned but still mostly normal, perhaps in line with James’s more surface level emotions like sadness and confusion while the other world is dark, gritty, decayed, and twisted, and much more in line with James’s deeper emotions. Not to mention that every time we go into the other world and/or descend deeper into the other world it’s typically triggered by or immediately preceded by something related to Mary, her death, or James’s unresolved emotions.
James going deeper and deeper into silent hill is in line with him going deeper into his own head and having to face his problems.
0:27 Well, given that James is shooting RIGHT AT the metal helmet, it's no surprise that the bullets are ineffective. He's at point-blank range. Why not aim for the knee? (I haven't played the remake of SH2, just the original on PS2 and the PS3 port, so I know it doesn't matter.)
In the og scene, PH also gouges open some hole in the front of the helmet, as if to see better, and I always assumed James was shooting into the fleshy hole which staggered PH.
Your series on villainy is so good. I listen to every video regardless of whether I indulge in the media of which the villain comes from or not. Excellent writing. Thank you!
I always feel that Pyramid is lonely. He has that helm that keeps his eyes cast down in guilt. He is always dragging heavy weight. He needs a hug. Nemesis scares me, Pyramid doesn't.
I personally find Pyramid Head frightening cause he forced James to do what most of us can find difficult and that's facing ourselves. He shoud've stayed iconic to Silent Hill 2. What a character. Subbed and looking forward to the breakdown on Maria.
I’ve always believed the reason there are two Pyramid Heads in the final encounter is because James has now killed Eddie. Two murders, two punishers.
If James had to fight and end Angela, there would be a third Pyramid Head.
21:51 look at Angela's left hand
Wtfffffff what's thaaaaat
Can I just say I love how you show the differences between the Og and the remake I only played the remake so it’s cool to see
Konami: "Hey, would you like to play a game where a man gets tortured by physical manifestations of his own guilt and anger?"
Me: "Yes"
"And you can find them outside of the horror genre as well-"
Proceeds to name one of the most terrifying horror titles Nintendo has actually ever made
Pyramid Head only appears as a Pursuer but hes actually in a sub class of his own. He is more of a guide. The closer you get to the final confrontation the closer you are led to the truth. Instead of killing James when they first met. He menaces him and opens the path forward.
The first time I saw Pyramid head I thought he was just a red light at the end of the hallway. It was terrifying when I actually realized what it was.
Pyramid Head kills himself like The Executioner type character that comes out of a safe from nowhere and then wears the safe as a head, in "The Evil Within" game.
Also, being a therapist, piramid head is akin to a session in which you face your uncomfortable emotions, these things you don't want to remember/ be aware of, while for me maria can be a distraction and/or suppression of said feeling Wich doesn't let the person advance and only gets them "stuck" or "dull". Nightmares, death and PTSD on an industrial scale apart, !silent hill is the best therapy session you wish you would never have!
There’s two figures of pyramid head embossed in the gallows puzzle in the prison. They are definitely portrayed as executioners since there is a hanging figure between them.
Giving this video a chance despite my first thought being that Pyramid Head is not a villain, he is an antagonist. He is not there to make James look virtuous, he is there to be opposition in James’s story.
Worth noting that the fall down from the hospital roof DOES hurt James in the original. Always bringing you down to a single hit point in the games health system.
So masahiro ito said, "pyramid head abusing the 2 mannequins, that doesn't mean rape."
we all thought it too, but remove sexual assault from pyramid head and he's still terrifying.
Omg yes!! Thank you for covering this ❤
I do find it more likely the other executioner photo from the real world is something that stuck with james and was twisted into pyramid head.The fact that james can pick up his knife and it allows him to traverse the world easier. While cumbersome James uses the knife to walk through a sea of bodies as if when he carries the weight of his guilt he becomes able to walk through the world easier be he himself is slower.
So Silent Hill is a place to help you get a better understanding of your trauma and help you heal?
100/10 must visit place.
Was gonna say masahiro ito, the top character designer if I’m not wrong mentioned that the first cutscene with pyramid head isn’t simulating grape. It was just general assault
I could actually use the great knife decently well in the original, it just had one hell of a windup so you really had to let the enemies come to while you're winding up the swing.
Pyramid Head is James' messed up guardian angel, he is messed up because James is messed up. James spawned a being to torment, judge and even potentially execute him, but it was a being spawned by the good side of James, the guilty parts that seek to repent and to be redeemed. Thus it helps James while appearing to torment him, and at times even it falls to James' self-destructive tendencies for short periods.
Pyramid Head helps James more than anything during the game, he forces James to take the paths James needs to take, and he removes monsters James put in his own way.
Pyramid Head fights James when James is at his lowest, when James is in danger of falling to the monsters inside him, like Maria, and in the end when James comes to face his ultimate inner demon, at this point the two Pyramid Heads, representing James' two great sins, act as guards to James' innermost secret and as a test of James' strength and ability to face that secret.
I should also point out that none of the stuff you used to describe Pyramid Head is entirely true. I don't expect it to be mainstream knowledge, though, so it doesn't matter too much.
TEXTWALL AND SPOILERS FOR MULTIPLE SH TITLES AHEAD:
Disclaimer: This information comes both from my own deductions on the series as a whole, and does not only use content from all of the games, but also from comics, movies, and the words of Masahiro Ito himself.
Pyramid Head can be seen by others, and is also not a unique monster to James. His behavior and role is, but as a physical creature, he isn't. He has SOME backstory, and a lot you can assume based on other entries in the setting, not even counting the movies and SH:Homecoming. There are canonically other "Pyramid Heads", though they're specifically referred to as "Pyramid-Helmeted Men", created directly by Masahiro Ito himself, and he's actually stated that they both have nothing to do with James Sunderland, and that Pyramid Head is unique to him. From this, we can more or less understand that while Pyramid Head, the one from SH2, is unique to James, he is not a unique monster to him, and is more employed to test him rather than created based purely on James' own psyche. Likely, Pyramid-Helmeted Men are creatures native to the Otherworld, and from my own understanding of the setting(This isn't ever stated in canon, but seems to be the case based on provided evidence when read in to) it's very likely that they're actually people who were brought to Silent Hill much akin to James, but who had both failed to give in and end their own lives AND failed to overcome their traumas. Instead of these two options, much like Eddie, these individuals give in to their inner darkness and embrace it as a necessary suffering, and are forcefully transformed into the Pyramid-Helmeted Men.
In Homecoming, if you choose the worst-possible ending, Alex Shepard gives in to the darkness, and for his guilt and murderous deeds, is transformed into one of the two, now three, Pyramid-Helmeted Men that are seen once or twice throughout the game as non-antagonistic observers. It can easily be read as a corporate move to include Pyramid Head in Homecoming, but personally I find it to actually be perfectly canon-following, as these are NOT Pyramid Head specifically, but just two more of the similarly appearing creatures in the world, especially since they went out of their way to fully design the alternative film design for him rather than using the original SH2 design, making it a clearly distinct creature from the OG triangle boy.
In Downpour, if you similarly choose the worst-possible ending, Murphy is retroactively guilty of the murder of his own son. Giving in to his psychopathic mentality, Murphy actually BECOMES the Bogeyman- A figure not identical to, but filling a relatively similar role to Pyramid Head/Pyramid-Helmeted Men- and murders the officer he was working with to survive the town.
People often overlook these titles due to their lower quality, but frankly they're okay at their worst and their content is as valid as any other besides the poor monster designs in Downpour(but personally, that wasn't what interested me in that game) and using them in combination with the countless other pieces of SH media, it paints a pretty clear picture of what the Pyramid-Helmeted Men actually are likely to be; The souls and warped bodies of those who give in to their evil natures rather than healing from trauma or giving in to dismay and choosing to end their lives. The Otherworld, displeased by their spite of its 'gift' of redemption or eternal peace, punishes them with the ultimate agony, and will never let them rest until they complete some sort of destined task. It's incredibly easy to read the Otherworld as a Death-Murder-Torture Hellscape that only wants to torture its inhabitants, but throughout the series, the only people who ever actually get put through true agony are those with fully evil souls like the Cultists and the very people the town creates to tease its targets. I think the reality is more complex, and that the Otherworld exists to put people through a trial of redemption or sacrifice to aid them to one of two inevitable outcomes. The Pyramid-Helmeted Men serve a vital role in these decisions, and I believe viewing them as actual people trapped by suffering of their own design gives the self-termination the two Pyramid Heads at the end of James' story significantly more weight. When James is freed from his suffering by his own grown and acknowledgement, regardless of which direction you go, he simultaneously frees the Pyramid Heads from their own suffering and torment.
Ironically, one of my favorite things that’s come out of Pyramid head in recent memory is that the man who created him voiced his regrets of what his character became with all the cameos. Which being a human embodiment of guilt, repressed emotions, and self hatred oddly just adds to its character. Since we all have our own pyramid head inside ourselves, which the only way to beat it isn’t by brute force (since that’s just proving it right) but rather mentally reevaluating so we don’t feel like we need them anymore.
I always saw Pyramid Head as James’ psychological shadow like shadows in the Persona series.
Pyramid Head is more like a guide for James rather than an antagonist. He helps James by killing his desire or doubt or whatever negative emotion Maria is meant to represent several times. He breaks down James multiple times to make sure he will have what it takes to keep fighting and freeing himself. I dont see PH as a bad guy at all, more like a twisted guide meant to toughen up James.
And with the latest confirmations about James time in Silent Hill is a constant loop to punish him for what he's done, it kinda raises the question if Silent Hill is even real, or some kind of hellscape different souls finds themselves stuck in.
Sounds a lot like Corpse Party.
Oh, I've been waiting for this one! :D
Man, I want to be built like Pyramid Head. That man tosses that cleaver around like nothing- he must be SHREDDED!!!
Pyramid Head doesn't stab through Maria's heart. He impales her directly through the middle of her chest which is objectively worse and would have drawn out her death.
I actually loved using the great knife on boss fights, eddie, daddy, and pyramid heads, then usually would be the last weapon i used to beat Mary/Maria depending on my ending.
Pyramid head ain't no antagonist, he's James' personal therapist 👍
One of the things that I noticed about the pyramid head is that he compliments the nurses you interact in the hospital: if the nurses that attack you with scalpels were the nurses that took care of Angela, then Pyramid Head must be the head surgeon/docter. His clothing is quite similar to a doctor's operating scrubs and mask. Only he is wearing a butcher's apron, wears a torture device on his head (maybe a reference possibly to Angela's death??? But that's a big leap), and it carries a massive blade. Our main protagonist sees the head doctor as a butcher (he butchered my wife).
I love that pyramid head literally had aura in their introduction
guilt lust and punishment sounds like a fun tuesday night
I’d really like for the next game to be based on the early comic setting for 1867 so we can see what the very beginning or one of the first victims of silent hill. It would be interesting seeing what the monsters themes an abilities for that time period would look like.