Waiting for You: The Story and Symbolism of Silent Hill 2

Silent Hill Symbolism #2

by A.J. Thompson

The game that defined the series and a generation of horror games, Silent Hill 2 is a masterpiece of storytelling, and Waiting for You explores its narrative in detail, offering possible answers to questions such as: Why do Roman coins appear in the apartment puzzle? Why are Aztec gods involved in the prison level? Why are there two Pyramid Heads in the final fight instead of one? Exploring the mythical and literary roots of the game's story, Waiting for You is a love letter to one of the gaming world's greatest masterpieces.

98 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 5, 2019

Reviews

[Colton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is insightful and easy to read. It's refreshing to find an analysis so deep and yet so unpretentious. I also like how often the facts and observations are just plainly pointed out while you as the reader gather the symbolic significance for yourself. I can tell AJ Thompson is a minimalist with her words — and as a result, her writing takes on a humble "this is just what I think" approach while demonstrating enough knowledge to persuade us of her legitimacy as a scholar on the subject, too. Sure, she may say some things fans will disagree with, or leave out some stuff that others would point out in their own analysis, but overall, this book is precisely the discussion that Silent Hill 2 deserves.

[Rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

AJ is always so thorough! They go so deep into everything - the significance of names, maps, buildings, objects, dialogue, cutscenes - it really helps create a more cohesive view of the meaning behind Silent Hill 2, and for me this kind of analysis takes a hard-hitting game and makes it hit even harder.

[Blake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful. Simply Beautiful. This book breaks down everything from the game of Silent Hill 2, all of the themes, characters, and the philosophy behind it all.