This is a good article. Click here for more information.

Pyramid Head

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pyramid Head
Silent Hill character
A screenshot of a painting featured in a video game; a pale-skinned, spear-wielding, and muscular monster with a bloodstained, and rusty, triangular head stands in the center, surrounded by caged humanoids.
Pyramid Head as he appears in Silent Hill 2
First gameSilent Hill 2
Designed byMasahiro Ito
Portrayed byRoberto Campanella

Pyramid Head (also known as "Red Pyramid Thing" (赤い三角頭, Akai Sankakutō),[1] "Red Pyramid", Sankaku Atama (三角頭, lit. "Triangle Head"), and the Executioner)[2] is a fictional character from the Silent Hill series of survival horror video games published by Konami.

Introduced in the 2001 installment Silent Hill 2, they are a type of monster that serve as main antagonists as they stalk James Sunderland, the primary player character, who comes to the town of Silent Hill after receiving a letter from his deceased wife, Mary. The Silent Hill series, particularly the second installment, frequently utilizes psychology and symbolism: Pyramid Head represents James' wish to be punished for Mary's death. Masahiro Ito, the designer of Silent Hill 2's monsters, created the character because he wanted "a monster with a hidden face".[3] Known for its large triangular helmet that conceals his head, Pyramid Head lacks a voice, a visible face, and their appearance stems from the town's past as a place of execution.

It has since appeared in the 2006 film Silent Hill as "Red Pyramid", in the 2007 first-person shooter Silent Hill: The Arcade as a boss, and in the fifth installment of the series, Silent Hill: Homecoming, as the "Bogeyman". He has also made an appearance outside of the Silent Hill series as a selectable character in the 2008 Nintendo DS title New International Track & Field, Super Bomberman R, and was added as a playable character in 2020, in the video game Dead by Daylight. Positively received in Silent Hill 2 for his role as an element of James' psyche, he has been cited by reviewers as an iconic villain of the series and part of Silent Hill 2's appeal.

Concept and design[]

A monster with a concealed face was the concept behind Pyramid Head's design; Ito rejected his initial sketch (left), which resembled a masked human, and gave the creature a pyramid-shaped helmet (right).[3]

Ito wanted to create "a monster with a hidden face", but became unhappy with his designs, which resembled humans wearing masks. He then drew a monster with a pyramid-shaped helmet.[3] According to Ito, the triangle's sharp right and acute angles suggest the possibility of pain.[3] Of the creatures that appear in Silent Hill 2, only Pyramid Head features an "overtly masculine" appearance.[4] He resembles a pale, muscular man covered with a white, blood-soaked robe reminiscent of a butcher's smock. He does not speak, but grunts and moans painfully.[4] His most outstanding feature is his large red, triangular helmet.[note 1] His weapons consist of the deadly and heavy Great Knife,[6] which the player can find and use for the rest of the game,[7] and later a spear.[8] As a German World War II tank enthusiast, Ito was inspired by the lower hull of the King Tiger heavy tank when designing the edges of the character's helmet; other military vehicles from that region and era informed design elements as well.[9][10]

According to Konami's Lost Memories, his appearance was a variation of the outfits of the executioners from the fictional history of the town. They wore red hoods and ceremonial robes to make themselves similar to Valtiel,[11] a monster who appears in Silent Hill 3.[12] Like Valtiel, Pyramid Head dresses in gloves and stitched cloth and pursues the game's main protagonist.[11] According to Silent Hill 2's character designer Takayoshi Sato, he appears as a "distorted memory of the executioners" and of the town's past as a place of execution.[4][13]

Christophe Gans, the director of the film adaptation of Silent Hill, suggested that Pyramid Head "was one of the executioners in the original history of the town" and "there is not one particular or exclusive manifestation of him as an entity."[14]

Appearances[]

In video games[]

In Silent Hill 2, after receiving a letter from his deceased wife, Mary, and arriving in the foggy town of Silent Hill to search for her, the game's protagonist and primary player character, James Sunderland, encounters Pyramid Head several times over the course of the game. He first appears from behind a gate, making no attempt to attack James. Later, in an apartment, James walks in on Pyramid Head killing two Mannequins—creatures made of two sets of feminine hips and legs. Terrified, James hides in a closet and watches while Pyramid Head stands directly outside of it before leaving. When James asks another character, Eddie, about the monster, Eddie denies knowing about Pyramid Head.[15] Later, near a flooded stairway, James witnesses Pyramid Head choking out another monster, and Pyramid Head attempts to kill him, causing a boss fight. After a few minutes, sirens sound in the distance and Pyramid Head descends the stairway and disappears. James does not meet him again until in Brookhaven Hospital, where Pyramid Head knocks him through a safety railing and he falls, sustaining injuries. Pyramid Head does not pursue him or continue the attack. Later, he stalks James' companion Maria, who closely resembles his wife Mary, through a lengthy corridor. As James flees into an elevator, the doors shut before she can join him. He struggles to open the doors to save her, but Pyramid Head kills her.[16] However, in the labyrinth beneath Toluca Prison, James finds her alive and unharmed in a locked cell.[17] Before trying to seduce him, she reminisces about a trip that only he and Mary took to a hotel in Silent Hill. He leaves, promising to find a way to free her, and discovers that Pyramid Head walks a corridor nearby, now carrying a spear. Afterwards, James reaches Maria's side of the cell, but finds her dead. Pyramid Head makes his final appearance just before the final boss, where two Pyramid Heads take part in the encounter. They kill Maria yet again and, after pursuing James around the room for a while, both commit suicide.

Pyramid Head, under the new moniker "Bogeyman", makes a significant appearance in 2008 installment Silent Hill Homecoming, but his role is limited to non-interactive scenes,[18] appearing only twice to the game's main protagonist Alex Shepherd (once in the Grand Hotel in Silent Hill and, much later, in a church, where he executes Alex's father by splitting him in half).[19][20] His last appearance is in a possible ending to the game: Alex wakes up in a wheelchair as two Pyramid Heads appear, each with part of a helmet, which they use to turn Alex into one of them. After this ending is played, the player obtains the Bogeyman's costume for Alex to wear.[21] Mindful of Pyramid Head's role in Silent Hill 2, the developers chose to include him as "the embodiment of a myth [that] parents started to keep the children out of trouble" and "the accretion of the activities going on in the town of Shepherd’s Glen."[22]

Pyramid Head appears as a boss in the 2007 first-person shooter Silent Hill: The Arcade,[23] as well as Silent Hill: The Escape, but with a composite design with the Butcher, and as a super-deformed selectable character in the 2008 Nintendo DS title New International Track & Field, an installment of the Track & Field series, another spin-off Krazy Kart Racing alongside Robbie the Rabbit, and in 2017's Super Bomberman R as Pyramid Bomber, alongside Simon Belmont from the Castlevania series, and Gradius's Vic Viper.[24][25] The 2007 game Silent Hill Origins also included a similar monster named "The Butcher",[26][27] whom the protagonist occasionally encounters killing other monsters (unlike other versions of Pyramid Head, the Butcher can and must be fought and killed in combat) and a painting of Pyramid Head is seen in the burning house of Alessa.[28] In the 2012 installment Silent Hill: Downpour, Pyramid Head makes a cameo appearance in the "Surprise!" ending, along with various other characters from the franchise. Pyramid Head's most recent appearance was in 2012's Silent Hill: Book of Memories, where he is a monster that can spawn randomly to fight the player. Pyramid Head also appeared as a costume for the Playstation Home.

Pyramid Head was included as a purchasable killer for the survival horror game Dead by Daylight. His title is "The Executioner", a nod to his past as the executioner of Silent Hill.[29] Pyramid Head also makes a cameo appearance in the PlayStation 5 game Astro's Playroom.[30]

In other media[]

"The big change in Red Pyramid for me was not his head as much as his body. In the game, he has a very deformed body almost a hunchback. Instead we decided to make him a tall, powerful character a little like the Warrior God in Stargate that Patrick Tatopoulos created. Why? Because for me there is a little of Anibus [sic], the Egyptian God of Death in the Red Pyramid."

—Christophe Gans[2]

Pyramid Head makes an appearance in the 2006 film adaptation of Silent Hill as "Red Pyramid", and is portrayed by Roberto Campanella. In the film, the psyches of the female characters shaped the character's physical appearance.[14] Gans claimed that replicating the character's head exactly and having the actor move while wearing it proved to be impractical; he noted that, despite the name, Pyramid Head actually wore "a basin" instead of a triangle-shaped helmet.[2] Red Pyramid's sword and helmet were constructed out of lightweight material painted to appear heavy.[31] For the role, Campanella wore a "five-part prosthetic"; it took two-and-a-half to three hours to get him into costume and make-up.[31] His boots had a hidden 15-inch (38 cm) sole which made him just under 7 feet (2.1 m) tall.[31] Patrick Tatopoulos, who worked on the make-up effects and monsters, enjoyed the project of designing the character. According to him, Red Pyramid serves as a symbol of the town's darkness and harbinger of its changed character.[32] Gans considered the monsters of the film "a mockery of human beings", and commented: "The real monsters are the people, the cultists who tortured Alessa. When I approached the film, I knew that it was impossible to represent the monsters as simply beasts that jump on you."[33]

In the 2012 film Silent Hill: Revelation, the Pyramid Head, once more portrayed by Roberto Campanella,[34] is both a monster and a guardian. More than once, it saves Sharon from the forces of Silent Hill. This is explained by its loyalty to Alessa: since Heather is the good half of Alessa's soul, it sees them as the same being and is thus bound to protect both from harm. Pyramid Head is also seen controlling the carousel where Heather and Alessa face off against each other, then it kills the cult leader Claudia Wolf after the amulet shows her inner, monstrous nature.

He also makes a cameo appearance in the 2008 Silent Hill comic book Sinner's Reward, published by IDW Publishing. The writer, Tom Waltz, later said he regretted the cameo, which only functioned as fan service.[35] To him, Pyramid Head is a psychological construct created for James; however, he stated that: "At the same time, I don't think that ruined the comic. Some people really liked it. To some people, Pyramid Head should be in all the stories because they do like him."[35] Additionally, the character was portrayed from October 2 to 31, 2009, in the haunted attraction Sinister Pointe, based on Silent Hill, in Orange County, California, United States.[36][37]

Analysis[]

"I was weak. That's why I needed you... Needed someone to punish me for my sins..."

—James Sunderland, Silent Hill 2

The Silent Hill series uses symbolism and psychology; the town of Silent Hill draws upon the psyche of its visitors, ultimately creating an "otherworld," a twisting of reality that manifests delusions and elements of their subconscious minds, varying from character to character.[38] Specifically, in the case of Silent Hill 2's primary player character James Sunderland, the version of the town he explores is influenced by him. Many of the monsters that roam the town symbolize his guilt, wish for punishment, for his wife's three-year-long illness,[38] and cease to exist after James comes to terms with the fact that he killed his wife Mary, partially to end her suffering and partially out of resentment and frustration.[38][39] James knew she had a terminal illness,[40] which has been speculated to be cancer,[41] and he often read medical textbooks, searching for something to help her.[42] During her last days alive, she became physically repulsive as a result of the illness and treated James abusively, ordering him to leave one moment and begging him to comfort her the next.[43] The knowledge of her terminal illness caused her to become angry and to hurt her loved ones, particularly James, and it pained him to visit her in the hospital.[44] Pyramid Head functions as an executioner of Maria, a delusion of James' who strongly resembles Mary.[45] Through Maria's repeated deaths, Pyramid Head reminds James of Mary's death and causes him to experience guilt and suffering.[16][46] His appearance as an executioner stems from a picture that James saw while visiting the town three years ago with Mary.[46]

Reviewers have suggested various interpretations. According to Christina González of The Escapist, Pyramid Head acts as "judgement personified, a dark butcher," and "James' masochistic delusion" which punishes him for Mary's death.[41] Ken Gagne of Computerworld suggested that the monster "represents James' anger and guilt."[8] A critic for IGN, Jesse Schedeen, considered Pyramid Head's role throughout the Silent Hill series to be "a manifestation of a person's guilt", commenting: "Pyramid Head is just there to help you serve your penance in the most painful and grotesque way possible."[47]

Reception[]

Critical reaction to Pyramid Head has been favorable because of his distinctive appearance and role as an element of James' psyche. Critics cite him as an iconic villain of the Silent Hill series,[48][49][50][51] a favorite among fans,[48] and part of the appeal of Silent Hill 2.[48][52][53] GameSpot compared Pyramid Head's appearance to Leatherface, the main antagonist of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre series of slasher films, and found him the most terrifying monster in Silent Hill 2.[54] Computerworld named Pyramid Head as one of the most terrifying villains in computer and video games.[8] GamesRadar interpreted the scene in which he kills the two other monsters as rape and called it unsettling, since the subject of rape is not often tackled in video games,[55] and disliked the final battle with him because of how anti-climactic it was, in comparison with his role throughout the rest of the game.[7] Red Bull called Pyramid Head as one of the nightmare in video game as it terrorized people at the Silent Hill franchise.[56] In 2011, Empire ranked him as the 41st-greatest video game character.[57] In 2021, Rachel Weber of GamesRadar ranked Pyramid Head as 31st of their "50 iconic video game characters."[58]

GameDaily ranked Pyramid Head first on their 2008 list of the scariest video game monsters.[59] GamesRadar listed him as one of the 25 best new characters of the decade and ranked him second on its 2009 list of the scariest video game villains, calling him the "most horrifying character ever to have a cult following".[60][48] In a 2009 retrospective on the survival horror genre, IGN noted that Silent Hill 2 incorporated "a 'stalker' element similar to Clock Tower and Resident Evil 3," and wrote: "To this day, Pyramid Head is remembered as one of gaming's most frightening villains."[61] IGN also described Pyramid Head as one of their favorite video game monsters of all time, stating that "Pyramid Head is no stranger to IGN Stars lately, having shown up in several recent character countdowns. There's just something about Halloween that makes us go all gushy for this horrific monster."[62] PlayStation Universe ranked him as the first on their 2009 list of the scariest monster "to infest a Sony platform", also noting his "prolific reputation as one of video game’s most fearsome monsters."[63] In 2010, Pyramid Head as named as the scariest character in video game history by Joystick Division, who added that "being chased by him in Silent Hill 2 ranks with all of the scariest moments in video gaming history."[64] UGO.com ranked him as number one on their 2011 list of the scariest characters in video games, commenting he is "too mainstream to be all that scary, except he's still really super scary."[65] In 2012, PlayStation Official Magazine included him on their lists of the biggest freaks and scariest characters in the PlayStation games, commenting: "Ol’ Metal Top is easily the best thing about Silent Hill – and maybe even survival horror in general – completely encapsulating that intoxicating dread of knowing that it’s not if you’ll fight him, but when."[66][67] That same year, FHM included him on their list of ten scariest game characters ever;[68] on the list of the "coolest" video game villains by Complex, Pyramid Head placed as 15th.[69] GamesRadar too praised Pyramid Head's role as an antagonist, putting him in their 2013 list of the best villains in video game history at number 18.[70] GamesRadar staff described Pyramid Head as the best villain in video games, stating that "Silent Hill 2 is ultimately an introspective journey about fighting personal demons, but you have a much more real threat in Pyramid Head."[71]

His appearances outside Silent Hill 2 have received mixed critical reaction. Critics generally agreed that Pyramid Head's appearance in Homecoming struck them as fan service, though Chris Hudak of GameRevolution called it "damned effectively-employed."[72][73][74] Masahiro Ito commented that Pyramid Head was designed specifically for James' story in Silent Hill 2, and that, if he were to make another Silent Hill game, he would either not use Pyramid Head again or kill him off entirely in the opening scene.[75] Film critics commented on his role in the film adaption, with several finding him disturbing.[76][77] DVD Reviews praised Campanella's portrayal of Pyramid Head and another monster, writing: "These are without a doubt some of the most striking bogeymen that I have seen on screen in a long time."[78] His appearance in New International Track & Field received mixed critical reaction. GameDaily disliked it, finding it awkward that a character like Pyramid Head was competing in sporting events with characters like Frogger and Sparkster,[24] while The Escapist called it enjoyable and "hilarious".[79]

See also[]

  • Scissorman, the identity of similar characters in the Clock Tower survival horror video game series
  • Nemesis, a similar character in the Resident Evil survival horror video game series

Notes[]

  1. ^ While Ito designed the monster to have a pyramid-shaped helmet,[3] one of the potential endings to Silent Hill Homecoming re-imagines it lined with spikes on the inside that is put on the player character to turn him into a Pyramid Head (or Bogeyman, as the monster is referred to in Homecoming).[5]

References[]

  1. ^ "Silent Hill 2 Creature Commentary". Silent Hill 3 公式完全攻略ガイド/失われた記憶 サイレントヒル・クロニクル [Silent Hill 3 Official Strategy Guide / Lost Memories: Silent Hill Chronicle] (in Japanese). Japan: NTT Publishing Co., Ltd. July 31, 2003. p. 49. ISBN 4-7571-8145-0.
  2. ^ a b c Gans, Christophe (March 15, 2006). "On Adapting Silent Hill Lore, The Red Pyramid, and Using "Centralia" as a Temp Film Title". Sony Pictures Digital Inc. Archived from the original on February 13, 2010. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c d e Konami Corporation. The Making of Silent Hill 2 DVD. Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc, 2002.
  4. ^ a b c González, Christina (August 28, 2007). "The Escapist: Seeing Red: The Repulsive Allure of Pyramid Head". The Escapist. Themis Group. p. 1. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  5. ^ Double Helix Games (September 30, 2008). Silent Hill Homecoming. Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. Level/area: Boogeyman ending.
  6. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (September 21, 2001). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. On-screen text: Massive weapon wielded by Pyramid Head. Hard to use, but lethal.
  7. ^ a b "The 7 least-scary moments in scary games". GamesRadar. Future US, Inc. November 2006. Retrieved January 5, 2010.
  8. ^ a b c Gagne, Ken (September 16, 2008). "You can run, but you'll only die tired: Gaming's 'baddest' villains". Computerworld. Computerworld Inc. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2008.
  9. ^ Ito, Masahiro [@adsk4] (May 24, 2017). "Edges of Pyramid Head's helmet is inspired by skirt of lower hull of German tank 'King Tiger' in WW2. Yes, I'm WW2 German tank enthusiast" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019 – via Twitter.
  10. ^ Ito, Masahiro [@adsk4] (May 24, 2017). "The design of Pyramid Head is influenced by an avant‐garde like this. It's a German experimental ramjet-powered interceptor designed in 1944" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019 – via Twitter.
  11. ^ a b "I: The Magician - Valtiel". Silent Hill 3 公式完全攻略ガイド/失われた記憶 サイレントヒル・クロニクル [Silent Hill 3 Official Strategy Guide / Lost Memories: Silent Hill Chronicle] (in Japanese). Japan: NTT Publishing Co., Ltd. July 31, 2003. p. 85. ISBN 4-7571-8145-0.
  12. ^ "Silent Hill 3 Guide/Walkthrough – Enemies". IGN. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Archived from the original on March 12, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  13. ^ Dieubussy (May 15, 2009). "Interview with Takayoshi Sato: Seizing New Creations". Core Gamers. CoreGamer. Archived from the original on January 6, 2011. Retrieved January 6, 2011.
  14. ^ a b Gans, Christophe (April 6, 2006). "Silent Hill: On The Red Pyramid, Carol Spier as Production Designer, and Exploring Society in Horror Films". Sony Pictures Digital Inc. Archived from the original on April 8, 2006. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  15. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (September 21, 2001). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. James: You're not friends with that red pyramid thing, are you? / Eddie: Red pyramid thing? I don't know what yer talkin' about. Honest.
  16. ^ a b Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (September 21, 2001). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. James: Maria’s dead. I couldn’t protect her. Once again, I couldn’t do anything to help. [...] Mary... What... What should I do? Are you... really waiting somewhere for me? Or is this your way of taking...
  17. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (September 21, 2001). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. James: You're alive! Maria...! I thought that thing killed you...! Are you hurt bad? / Maria: Not at all, silly. / James: ...Maria? That thing... it stabbed you. There was blood everywhere. / Maria: Stabbed me? What do you mean?
  18. ^ Rybicki, Joe (December 2008). "Review of Silent Hill: Homecoming". PlayStation: The Official Magazine. Future US, Inc (13): 64.
  19. ^ "Silent Hill Homecoming Guide/ Walkthrough". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. p. 9. Archived from the original on June 19, 2010. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  20. ^ "Silent Hill Homecoming Guide/ Walkthrough". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. p. 29. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  21. ^ "Silent Hill Homecoming Guide/ Walkthrough". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. p. 10. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  22. ^ Klepek, Patrick (November 11, 2008). "Double Helix Reflects On The Good, Bad And Scary Of Making 'Silent Hill: Homecoming'". MTV. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  23. ^ Epperson, Justin (February 17, 2007). "Previews: Silent Hill: Arcade". 1UP.com. News Corporation. Retrieved August 22, 2007.
  24. ^ a b Workman, Robert (January 27, 2009). "Bad Career Move: Video Game Characters' Worst Moments". GameDaily. AOL Inc. Retrieved March 14, 2010.
  25. ^ Byrd, Matthew (April 21, 2017). "Silent Hill's Pyramid Head Is Coming to Super Bomberman R". Den of Geek. Dennis Publishing. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
  26. ^ Rice, Brad (November 18, 2007). "Silent Hill Origins". Destructoid. modernmethod. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  27. ^ Croshaw, Ben (January 9, 2008). "Silent Hill Origins". The Escapist. Themis Group. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  28. ^ Climax Studios (November 6, 2007). Silent Hill: Origins (PlayStation Portable). Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc.
  29. ^ McWhertor, Michael (May 26, 2020). "Silent Hill's Pyramid Head comes to Dead by Daylight". Polygon. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  30. ^ "Every cameraman reference in Astro's Playroom". Gamepur. Retrieved November 12, 2020.
  31. ^ a b c Making Silent Hill – Path of Darkness. TriStar Pictures, Inc. 2006.
  32. ^ Carroll, Larry (April 17, 2006). "No Green Screen Here – 'Silent Hill' Baddies Report To Set". MTV Networks. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  33. ^ Bettenhausen, Shane (February 23, 2006). "Silent Hill Movie Interview: The Director's Cut". 1UP.com. News Corporation. Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  34. ^ "New York ComicCon Report on Silent Hill Revelation 3D". Best-horror-movies.com. October 14, 2012. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  35. ^ a b North, Dale (July 28, 2010). "Interview: Tom Waltz: From comics to Silent Hill 8". Destructoid. modernmethod. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  36. ^ "Silent Hill Haunted Maze to Debut at Sinister Pointe in Orange County, California". IGN (Press release). IGN Entertainment, Inc. September 22, 2009. Archived from the original on August 31, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
  37. ^ Cavalli, Ernest (September 22, 2009). "The Escapist: News: Pyramid Head Gets Real In Silent Hill Haunted Maze". The Escapist. Themis Group. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  38. ^ a b c "XXI: The World - Another World". Silent Hill 3 公式完全攻略ガイド/失われた記憶 サイレントヒル・クロニクル [Silent Hill 3 Official Strategy Guide / Lost Memories: Silent Hill Chronicle] (in Japanese). Japan: NTT Publishing Co., Ltd. July 31, 2003. p. 111. ISBN 4-7571-8145-0.
  39. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (September 21, 2001). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. James: Forgive me... / Mary: I told you that I wanted to die, James. I wanted the pain to end. / James: That’s why I did it, honey. I just couldn’t watch you suffer. No! That’s not true... You also said that you didn’t want to die. The truth is I hated you. I wanted you out of the way. I wanted my life back.... / Mary: James... if that were true, then why do you look so sad?
  40. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (September 21, 2001). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. James: Mary's going to die...? You... you must be joking! / Doctor: I'm very sorry. [...] As her doctor, I promise that I'll do what I can. But... there's still no effective treatment for her condition. / James: How long does she have? / Doctor: I'm afraid I'm not sure. 3 years at most... Perhaps 6 months...
  41. ^ a b González, Christina (August 28, 2007). "The Escapist: Seeing Red: The Repulsive Allure of Pyramid Head". The Escapist. Themis Group. p. 2. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  42. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (September 21, 2001). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. James: I've already read enough medical books. None of them ever did any good.
  43. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (September 21, 2001). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. Mary: Between the disease and the drugs, I look like a monster. Well what are you looking at? Get the hell out of here. Leave me alone already! [...] Are you still here? I told you to go! Are you deaf?! Don't come back! James... Wait... Please, don't go... Stay with me. Don't leave me alone. I didn't mean what I said. Please, James... Tell me I'll be okay. Tell me I'm not going to die. Help me...
  44. ^ Konami Computer Entertainment Tokyo, Inc (September 21, 2001). Silent Hill 2 (PlayStation 2). Konami of America, Inc. Mary's letter: Whenever you come see me, I can tell how hard it is on you...I don't know if you hate me or pity me... Or maybe I just disgust you... I'm sorry about that. When I first learned that I was going to die, I just didn't want to accept it. I was so angry all the time and I struck out at everyone I loved most. Especially you, James.
  45. ^ "Silent Hill 2 Character Commentary". Silent Hill 3 公式完全攻略ガイド/失われた記憶 サイレントヒル・クロニクル [Silent Hill 3 Official Strategy Guide / Lost Memories: Silent Hill Chronicle] (in Japanese). Japan: NTT Publishing Co., Ltd. July 31, 2003. p. 46. ISBN 4-7571-8145-0.
  46. ^ a b "XX: Judgement - Red Pyramid Thing". Silent Hill 3 公式完全攻略ガイド/失われた記憶 サイレントヒル・クロニクル [Silent Hill 3 Official Strategy Guide / Lost Memories: Silent Hill Chronicle] (in Japanese). Japan: NTT Publishing Co., Ltd. July 31, 2003. p. 110. ISBN 4-7571-8145-0.
  47. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (October 31, 2008). "The Monsters of Gaming". ign.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. p. 2. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  48. ^ a b c d "The scariest villains ever". GamesRadar. Future US, Inc. June 16, 2008. Retrieved January 5, 2009.
  49. ^ IGN staff (October 14, 2009). "Cheers & Tears: Horror Games". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Archived from the original on October 18, 2009. Retrieved September 22, 2010. Besides, Silent Hill 2 provided the series with its iconic villain, Pyramid Head, a figure designed to haunt both monsters and characters alike.
  50. ^ Concelmo, Chad (December 4, 2009). "Top 50 Videogames of the Decade (#20–11)". Destructoid. modernmethod. Retrieved September 22, 2010. ...Silent Hill 2 is most memorable for its introduction of iconic videogame character Pyramid Head.
  51. ^ Xu, Samantha (June 21, 2009). "The Escapist: Love Triangle". The Escapist. Themis Group. p. 3. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
  52. ^ GamePro staff (September 9, 2009). "The 40 Best PS2 Games: 2009 Edition". GamePro. GamePro Media, Inc. p. 2. Archived from the original on October 17, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  53. ^ IGN staff (August 10, 2009). "The Top 25 PS2 Games of All Time". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. p. 2. Retrieved January 5, 2011.
  54. ^ Dulin, Ron (December 4, 2002). "PC - Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut - Reviews". GameSpot. CBS Interactive Inc. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved January 21, 2007.
  55. ^ GamesRadar staff (December 29, 2009). "The 10 most shocking game moments of the decade". GamesRadar. Future US, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2010. The emotionally-loaded subject of rape has never really been dealt with in games before or since Konami’s survival horror....Still, even though it’s a hugely disquieting moment, there’s no question it further adds to Pyramid Head’s mystique as one of the most terrifying video game villains ever.
  56. ^ Red Bull MEA (October 28, 2020). "Scariest Games' Villains of All Time". Red Bull. Retrieved September 17, 2021.
  57. ^ Dyer, James; McComb, David; Plumb, Alastair; Scarborough, David (May 26, 2010). "The 50 Greatest Video Game Characters – 41. Pyramid Head". Empire. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
  58. ^ Weber, Rachel (November 8, 2021). "50 iconic video game characters". gamesradar.
  59. ^ Workman, Robert. "Top 25 Scariest Video Game Monsters". GameDaily. AOL. Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
  60. ^ "The 25 best new characters of the decade". GamesRadar. Future US, Inc. December 29, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2010.
  61. ^ Fahs, Travis. "IGN Presents the History of Survival Horror". ign.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. p. 6. Retrieved August 5, 2011.
  62. ^ Schedeen, Jesse (2008-10-31). Monsters in Gaming. IGN. Retrieved on 2008-12-26
  63. ^ "The top ten scariest monsters to infest a Sony platform - PlayStation Universe". Psu.com. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  64. ^ James Hawkins, Top Ten Scariest Characters in Video Game History, Joystick Division, April 1, 2010
  65. ^ Marissa Meli, Pee Your Pants At The Scariest Characters In Video Games Archived August 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, UGO, June 21, 2011
  66. ^ "The biggest freaks on PlayStation - Page 8 of 10 | PS3 Features". Official PlayStation Magazine. June 22, 2012. Archived from the original on May 5, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  67. ^ "10 of PlayStation's scariest characters - Page 4 of 10 | Features". Official PlayStation Magazine. July 2, 2012. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
  68. ^ Gelo Gonzales, 10 Scariest Game Characters Ever, fhm.com.ph, November 2, 2012
  69. ^ "15. Pyramid Head — The 50 Coolest Video Game Villains of All Time". Complex. November 1, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  70. ^ GamesRadar Staff (May 17, 2013). "100 best villains in video games". GamesRadar. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
  71. ^ "The best villains in video games". February 10, 2018.
  72. ^ Hudak, Chris (October 3, 2008). "Silent Hill: Homecoming - PS3 Review". Game Revolution. AtomicOnline, LLC. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved April 17, 2010. ...even Pyramid Head’s appearances feel more like fan service (albeit damned effectively-employed fan service).
  73. ^ Croshaw, Ben (October 22, 2008). "The Escapist : Zero Punctuation: Silent Hill Homecoming". The Escapist. Themis Group. Retrieved August 9, 2010. Pyramid Head also makes his contractual appearance for no better reason than fan service.
  74. ^ Haynes, Jeff (September 30, 2008). "Silent Hill: Homecoming Review". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment, Inc. Retrieved August 9, 2010. ...even the few sequences where Pyramid Head pops up are more like brief guest appearances for fans, although he does have a great scene towards the end of the game.
  75. ^ Ito, Masahiro [@adsk4] (May 24, 2017). "If I should make a new Silent Hill, I would not use Pyramid Head or kill him in its opening" (Tweet). Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019 – via Twitter.
  76. ^ Harvey, Dennis (April 21, 2006). "Silent Hill - Film Reviews". Variety. Reed Business Information. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  77. ^ Lemire, Christy (April 21, 2006). "'Silent Hill' starts creepy but quickly turns silly". Today.com. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  78. ^ "DVD Review - Silent Hill". DVD Review. August 21, 2006. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved July 22, 2011.
  79. ^ Stoklasa, Thaddeus (August 14, 2008). "The Escapist: Review: New International Track and Field". The Escapist. Themis Group. Retrieved August 30, 2010.

Further reading[]

External links[]

Retrieved from ""