Characters that have changed the most

Important takeaways

• Remakes update older games with modern technology.
• The character designs in Silent Hill 2 Remake have changed noticeably.
• Most character personalities stay true to the original game.

Remakes have become a popular aspect of video games, allowing older games to be remade with modern and updated technology. They can create a more accessible experience for those who don't want to go back and play a title with potentially more awkward gameplay or older graphics. Remakes can make it possible to make changes to the older game, sometimes for the better and sometimes not.

The characters in each remake will most likely go through design changes, sometimes quite drastically. The Silent Hill 2 Remake remained loyal to the original, but introduced differences, and the character designs really changed. Although most characters had their physical appearance altered in some way, some had only minor changes, or none at all.

7 Pyramid head

The same as he was back in 2001

• Met in Wood Side Apartments

James' journey to Silent Hill to face the sins of his past leads him to meet Pyramid head. This monster was specifically created from James' unconscious desire for punishment, and antagonizes him throughout the game. Pyramid Head hasn't changed much, but still has the same look as in the original game. His purpose for the story is also much the same.

There is a slight upgrade to his antagonistic nature, granted Silent Hill 2 remake availability to provide cutscenes to make Pyramid Head more menacing. Given his popular reputation, Bloober has put a little more emphasis on making him menacing, but not to the point of going overboard.

6 Mary Shepard-Sunderland

Appears briefly, but remains similar to the original

• Met at the end of the game.

Mary is the catalyst for the story of Silent Hill 2. Without her and her relationship with James, he wouldn't have ventured into the city in an attempt to find her. Mary remains mostly the same as in the original, but with an updated look, and is present in the new endings.

Given the improved visual image of Silent Hill 2 RemakeMary's appearance is different, but remains in line with how she was represented in the original. The remake's design feels like a natural update. Her character and personality are no different, as she is shown to be a gentle and loving wife on the videotape, and then a scared and terrified dying woman in her final bedridden monologue to James.

5 Angela Orosco

A slightly different face, but the same character

James' venture into Silent Hill leads him to meet several characters. The first of these is Angelafound very early at Toluca Graveyard. Angela appears throughout the game and hasn't changed much. She is the same character and has an important role in the story, especially considering that her knife can affect an ending.

The biggest change comes with her appearance. While her clothes are similar to what she wore in the original, her face is different. It's not the biggest change, as she still looks like she did in the original, but there's still a difference nonetheless.

4 James Sunderland

Some differences, but remains essentially the same

• Met at the beginning of the match

As the main character in Silent Hill 2, James' design is the most obvious for showing small differences as well as notable changes. His character is very much the same as it was in the original, but there are some differences in his personality associated with experiencing the horrors of Silent Hill, as well as in his appearance.

He looks like he did in the original, except now in upgraded graphics. His clothes appear to be the same as what his self wore in 2001. The changes in voice acting also help show his kinder side when talking to Angela, Eddie and Laura, and portray his conflict when interacting with Maria. It also helps to show how terrified he is, with screams of panic as he attacks enemies, or scared breathing in shallow breaths.

3 Maria

Another set of clothes

As one of the main characters in Silent Hill 2's story, Mary's the character didn't exactly change, staying similar to what she was like the original. What did change was her outfit, as she wears different clothes compared to her 2001 counterpart.

After players make their way through the Blue Creek Apartments and solve the various puzzles within, Maria will be found at Rosewater Park. This time she wears a black dress and a red jacket, compared to her red top and pink and black spotted skirt in the original. Her face hasn't changed too much, looks like she did in the original, but with improved image.

2 Eddie Dombrowski

A scarier look

• Met in Wood Side Apartments

The characters in Silent Hill 2 Remake don't change too much in terms of their personalities compared to the original, but their appearance may differ. Eddie is a prime candidate for such a performance. His character remains the same, but his appearance has changed more than most.

In the remake, Eddie looks much scarier and seems deeply unsettling. Usually surrounded by darkness, the players never really get to see him in full view in light. This makes his appearance even more unnerving, especially given his murderous tendencies. The scene at the theater shows how disturbing his new look is, with Eddie covered in grease while eating popcorn. The improved graphics allow for more disturbing visuals compared to the original game.

1 Laura

A different facial expression

• Met in Wood Side Apartments

Laura is arguably the most unique character in the Silent Hill 2's story. She is the only innocent person in the town, who thus sees a normal town and not the horrors that James, Angela and Eddie are exposed to. Her personality has remained the same: an initially bratty girl who warms up to James in the later hours of the story, after chasing her through the game's various episodes.

What has changed is Laura's face, which seems completely different from how she looked in the original game. This time, her face fits more with her goofy personality, but it also shows more of the youthful innocence of an eight-year-old girl. Her clothes are no different, but the remake of Laura's face can pass as a separate character to someone who has never played Silent Hill before.