The survival horror genre has been home to some monumentally influential video games over the years, and Silent Hill 2 is certainly one of those. Released back in 2001 for the PlayStation 2, Silent Hill 2 redefined the psychological horror genre for the 3D age of gaming, with some of the most twisted visuals and scares anyone had ever seen from the medium of video games. But not all of Silent Hill 2 is quite so horrifying. In one infamous secret ending, the player discovers that an adorable little Shiba Inu dog is at the center of the mystery, controlling James Sunderland's nightmares, and now fans can buy the iconic scene in statue format.
Yesterday, Konami finally announced that it and developer Bloober Team are hard at work on a Silent Hill 2 remake. Along with that, Konami also announced a slew of other Silent Hill projects, including an interactive online series, a movie, and two new games titled Silent Hill Townfall, and Silent Hill F. Hidden away in the middle of the live presentation was the announcement that a range of new Silent Hill merch was going to be sold soon, including a reference to the infamous "Dog Ending" of Silent Hill 2, which could potentially cement its inclusion in the remake.
Merch Could Mean the Return of Silent Hill 2's Dog Ending
Named Mira, this iconic puppy debuted in Silent Hill 2 during the appropriately titled "Dog Ending," also known as the "Inu Ending." After players have jumped through a few hoops, they should be able to find the Dog Key item. Once obtained, players need to head to the observation room on the third floor. Opening the door will present the player with the adorable little dog tapping away at the buttons on a console, and pulling a series of levers. James Sunderland expresses his disbelief that a dog was in control of his nightmares, and he drops to the floor. Mira then casually strolls over, and licks him on the face. The credits roll, and Mira barks in harmony with the music.
While Silent Hill 2's "Dog Ending" clearly isn't canon, it's a well-needed breath of fresh, lighthearted air in an otherwise bleak, depressing game. This ending quickly became one of the most iconic secret endings of all time, and it lives on in infamy, even being referenced in future Silent Hill titles. Silent Hill: Origins sees Mira return on a UFO, accompanied by an alien, as does Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. Even much-maligned Silent Hill: Book of Memories references the ending, with Mira appearing as a hostage during Earth Dungeons and appearing in another joke ending where she's seen digging on a beach.
Along with an incredibly detailed statue of Pyramid Head, statues of Maria and James, and a statue of the Bubble Head Nurse, Konami has also announced that fans will soon be able to buy a statue of Mira sitting at her control panel, imitating the Dog Ending. What's even better is that this statue doubles as a coin bank, giving it some great practicality.
With Konami being so willing to embrace this goofier ending for merchandise purposes, it could hopefully mean that the Dog Ending could find its way into the Silent Hill 2 remake. While Konami and Bloober Team look to be going for as much realism as possible for the remake, that doesn't mean that such an iconic ending should be left out, even if its lighthearted tone is completely at odds with the art style and tone of the rest of the game. It was a huge juxtaposition back when Silent Hill 2 first released, but that's what made the ending cinematic so memorable, and it deserves a spot in the remake.
Silent Hill 2 is in development for PC and PS5.