Random memory: I forgot where I watched it, but there's an interview of the creators stating the Closer is shaped to look like a woman carrying shopping bags (which is why there's quite a lot of them in the mall). Suppose to represent greed/overspending, like they're being weighed down by materialism. This was a reeeeally long time ago so can't provide the source OTL
@Svetoslav Nikolov it doesn't have to be a representation of Heather, but how Heather sees other people, specifically shoppers at the mall. And the devs sometimes take inspiration from daily life. The lying figure was inspired by one of the designers seeing an officemate wearing a hoodie with his habds in his pockets.
Late but that could also tie in with the stereotype of girls/women being obsessed with malls, shopping for clothes, shoes, jewelry, makeup, the whole “using daddy/husband’s credit card” thing, further pushed and perpetuated by advertisers and sponsorships through media and content creators, where Andrew Tate copycat leeches call women materialistic and frivolous with money, those same dudes always flexing expensive designer clothing and luxury cars themselves. The bigger sexist idea that men make the money only so women can spend the money, leading Heather to view/associate women shopping and being at malls as a negative thing, like focus being taken away from capitalist consumerism by using gender as a distraction instead. Thanks for mentioning that, its crazy to think about
There's another reading for the Closer I see on top of everything you've said. Feeding into this cycle of rebirth, the Closer also represents Heather's fear that she will become just like her mother. The closer, like many of the other monsters, represents a symbol of womanhood for Heather, and for Heather, growing up into womanhood is tied to her mother figure who abused her. It seems to me the Closer represents in part Heathers fear of perpetuating the cycle of violence, abuse, and suffering that often happens with victims of abuse.
Nathan Ware yes it make sense my mom used to hit me when I was a kid I once told her that I hate her and I'll beat my children just like she did to me but deep inside I'm actually afraid that I'll repeat the sins that she Carried on from her parents I truly resent her ways she was a monster for me back then
This is just another proof on why the original 4 games of Silent Hill where so great: even more than 10 years later and you can still make a full analysis of the philosofical and psicological symbolsm from only one monster. ONE FRIGGIN MONSTER. That's how you make great games. Attention to detail , passion and clever design. Long live Team Silent, and Fuck Konami.
@@Boomblox5896 I'm in the minority but I thoroughly enjoyed Downpour. I also have a fondness for Origins and Shattered Memories. The only games I have mixed feelings about are Homecoming due to the combat and Book of Memories because it's a Silent Hill themed Diablo clone.
This kind of content is why I still have some hope in UA-cam. This is what deserves millions of views, not superficial teenage rants or pranks and "reactions". But as always, quality is in the minority.
***** I watch pranks and teen vlogs sometimes, but what makes UA-cam really worth to me it is listening to well written opinions on movies, politics, religion, literature etc. It depends on the mood of the moment though.
I think you've actually found the Pyramid Head's antithesis. Where Pyramid Head was meant to guide James out of his cycle of pain and sorrow, the Closer wanted to do the opposite with Heather. Their opposing natures could be reflected in how common the Closers are compared to the more bosslike arrivals of the Pyramid Heads, along with the surprising speed of the Closer contrasting with the sluggish pace of Pyramid Head. Even their heads could symbolize their dichotomy. The Closer's head is symbolically vaginal, where Pyramid Head's helmet can easily be seen as phallic, taking into account the symbolism seen in many upward pointing triangles throughout history. In fact the only real similarity between the two creatures was in their introductions: a cutscene in which the creature was violently attacking a victim (in one case a monster, in the other a human) and eventually subdued by the protagonist's gunfire.
Uh I disagree. Pyramids head is anything but phallic. It's a hard, solid, metal pyramid. A geometric structure that is anything but phallic or organic.
Pyramid head didnt do that to James. He was the punisher; judge, jury and executioner. He was meant to punish James much like James would like to punish himself.
No wonder why I have been picky of games ever since.. Silent Hill 3 was the first let's play I ever watched, as well as the first proper game franchise I came to know. After seeing what it had, for example RE was entertaining but not scary in a way SHs are. Complex characters, the sound design and the lore... Pure heroine.
So the Order and Claudia were kinda right when they say that they were bringing purification through suffering? They really believe that they were bringing paradise to manking by forcing sinners to physically battle their sins and fears. They were not wrong in the concept, but they were too much radical. By committing violence and forcing people to commit violence, they were creating more sins than purging.
Claudia says herself towards the end of SH3, "I know I'm going to Hell for what I've done." I can't help but feel remorse for her since she was raised in that awful cult she is compelled to represent. The horrific abuse she experienced at the hand of her father an unfortunate catalyst.
I've been obsessed with Silent Hill since I was 8 years old, completely fascinated, and I must say this is one of the best SH vids I've ever seen. Caught me off guard how good it was. Subscribed.
I always have been amazed about how deep the 4 SH games can be. But you know what ? Having quite deeply studied it myself, I thought I had nothing more to discover about it. I was wrong. God I love this series. Thanks so much !
SH5 you said ? How dare you ! Everybody knows there's no such thing ! ^^ Just trolling. Even if SH5 was one of my biggest disappointments, I agree about the fact that it is more enjoyable to play than SH4. Few games are more painful to play than SH4 (even heard somewhere it may have been carefully designed to be this way). But there's a major difference : SH4 feels like a SH, where SH5 (and 6) don't. It's almost undeniable to me. It just doesn't play like a SH, can't really be interpreted like every "real" SH. It's "just" weird monsters, blood and fog. And, you know, that's a matter of taste... ^^
SH 5 has good ost because it was still composed by Akira Yamaoka, the monsters on the other hand is just terrible, even one of the boss was ripped from the arcade shooter and other monsters are frankly generic as hell (humans are enemies...). The combat made no sense especially with the end of the story and is just repetitive, it was a chore to even do anything, also fucking QTE! Atmosphere consist of most of the time just plain grey or black or dull orange. But point for this game though for not trying to just copy and paste Silent Hill 2. But I can agree that Downshit is fucking garbage.
14:40 Man i loved hearing "A Warm Place" as a soundtrack, your videos are very unique and have so damn good analysis depth. Keep up with the great work !
I'll admit, I kind of didn't catch onto the symbolism Silent Hill 3 was going for as an overall theme until around the point of Brookhaven Hospital, when I started to wonder about how the nurse enemies fit into the story when Silent Hill 1 and 2 both had clear reasons for them--and realized that their hair and faces made them resemble dolls somewhat, connecting them to the doll that Heather's invisible stalker kept trying to give her as a gift alongside his creepy messages. I was too wrapped up in the thrill of completing the game to think the game through any further than that until later on, since Silent Hill 3 has the best combat of the original 3 and I had really gotten into the groove of confronting and defeating nearly every enemy I came across (the exception being the annoying flying ones) and taking them down with as much melee focus as I could, at one point jokingly calling the character I was playing as "Heather Mason, Shadow Warrior" while tweeting about the game. I'm quite intrigued by the way the enemy designs serve as a counterpoint to Silent Hill 2's, though, in that it portrayed a lot of stereotypically negative masculine perceptions of women through James Sunderland's mental filters (it's debatable whether this says anything negative about him as a person, but I'm inclined to read much as it as being projections of his anxieties over what he sees his own motives as being, rather than projections of the actual motives), with Silent Hill 3 instead portraying both the conscious and subconscious mistrust and guarded suspicions a young woman in particular might have while still figuring out how they regard the other half of the species. The point about the monster-gate that obstructs your path just before the apartments is interesting because it brings to mind the sex education classes that one would be taking in school health class during the teenage years, with sex education itself presenting a daunting new (most of the time) concept that can be intimidating... and is often spun in a way that cautions young women to abstain, or if you like, close themselves off sexually. Opening this gate leads you to the Missionary boss, which has the characteristic of wielding a bunch of piercing blades while also being named after a religious missionary but also, perhaps, a stereotypically submissive feminine sexual position. ... How did all of this shit fly over my head until after I finished the game? God damn. I guess I just accepted too easily that Silent Hill 3 was less symbolically-inclined than Silent Hill 2 as something to take for granted.
I'm totally in love with being part of that phone call! excellent delivery of a complex analysis of this game. It definitely opened my eyes to all the nuances that many women feel daily and have subconsciously been my reason for resonating with this game the most. It was for me an amazing moment to play a strong female character that wasn't designed for the male gaze but to call out the perspective of the female who lives that life.
goddamn, i just found your channel and bingewatched all your vids, now its 4am in the morning i love the philosophical discutions that all these monsters bring from all the different cultures that influenced their creation instant sub, you gonna make it to the top buddy, dont give up :)
I wasn't going to watch this video but when i skipped to a random time in the video and heard "A Warm Place" i had to watch the full video and subscribe. That song was used very well in this video.
this is some DEEP stuff right here. Even after 15 years after its release, many years after playing the game multiple times and even speedrunning the HELL out of that game, I can't believe there are things still yet uncovered in the Silent Hill Universe! Thanks so much for this refreshing upload down memory lane!
Jenova Loz what do you think the fukuro lady represent? i read a theory that she's probably intended for Angela's personified guilt (same build, same hair, constantly depicted as helpless and bound) but the idea got scrapped off and turned into that... artful video. i think it's a plausible theory
Yeah I heard that too. It's just interesting to think that she was first designed to be in SH2 but then was later used in SH3. I wish Masahiro Ito would explain her design and intentions more 😋
Who knows? May be it was just an extra old asset that they don't want to waste, a lot of asset from SH2 was re-used, and Masahiro has an affinity for bondage so may be that is all there to it.
WFoong98 well that's true but it's more fun to analyse especially coming from Silent Hill, don't you think? Fukuro is not used in SH2 but it's intriguing to think what the creators originally wanted to portray with Fukuro lady
Silent Hill 2, and to a lesser extent 3, will always be my favorite games. It's been ten years or so since I last played any of them, or perhaps Origins, but I keep talking and reading and watching videos about them. Your video helped me finising a short story I started writing earlier, about a mother who creates a daughter with tree branches and dry leaves and the daughter becoming a twitching creature with no human traits at all. This video gave me the vocabulary I needed to describe the creature-child. Thanks.
An absolutely outstanding work RagnarFox! This is so far the best, most comprehensive and illustrative look, through hidden layers of Silent Hill complex psychology. Subscription well deserved.
Incidentally one of the finest introductions to Buddhism on UA-cam, with the exception of the unfortunate mischaracterization of karma as something to be acquired rather than stopped.
The design of the Closer monster: it was the first monster to really spook me just by looking at it and seeing it move. Great choice, Ragnar. Love your channel, as always.
The way you pronounce your “s”’ makes just the perfect whistle to sound like there’s something in the corner of my room and it’s freakin me out man I didn’t sign up for this 4d horror experience
This is one of the most excellent short-form documentaries relating to videogames, or really any subject-matter. I've already sent/reccomended this video to several of my friends, and their reaction was similar. Please pursue creating more videos of this nature in the future, especially relating to subjects in horror that relate to symbolism and symbology. Silent Hill itself has many candidates for this, some of which you have already covered, but any franchise that offers this kind of depth of analysis in the horror genre is something you do not typically see on UA-cam, which is why your video-series especially stands out.
It's an interpretation that's out there. I initially went briefly into that but cut it from the script for pacing. Basically, I don't buy into that hypothesis because there's no other instance of consumer criticism in the game or in any of the games. Also doesn't fit Heather - why would the Closer mock brainless consumerism? Heather's room is very spartan and she's never depicted as a shopaholic in any way. But that's the beauty of metaphors: If that's what it means to you, than that's what it means. :)
I've also heard that, and that the huge club arms/fists were a deliberate choice in the monster design because of that, the manifestation of an abused child's perception of their abusers.
I don't know. I really can't see the sexual implications of the closer. Heather's most trusted figures throughout the games are men where-as the ones who have always caused her the most harm were women (save for Lisa Garland at least whom she liked). Michael Kauffman is really the only male figure we know of that she may have a hate for and he died in the first one. Honestly, the Closer seems much more like a reference to gluttony and the over-consumption of today's culture for products like food and clothing. As people have said before I'm sure, their arms look like people holding heavy shopping bags full of products of whatever kind you want to imagine while their mouth-faces could easily represent gluttony when it comes to food as it's the only facial feature they have is a mouth and we see it chomping down on a corpse ravenously like it's starving. Not to mention this happens inside of a clothing store, set inside a shopping mall where we see the Closer for the first time (the dream at the beginning not-withstanding since that's technically a vision of the future events). It's true there's sexual references to things like rape/molestation in SH, specifically with Pyramid Head and Angela but the Closer really doesn't come off that way, to me at least.
Nothing in SH3 alludes to over spending or materialism because SH3 is the continuation of the alessa storyline. Ragnarox explain the symbolism very well not to mention the games provide plenty of evidence against this theory as well.
The brillant inclution of "Closer" in the introduction of the monster, plus of "A Warm Place" for the same album of Nine Inch Nails "Downward Spiral", which is the most Silent Hill like industrial concept album of all, was fantastic. Amazing editing, phasing and narrative man! Looking foward to the next video.
Glad you enjoyed these bits of my unbridled NIN-fanboyism. :) I recommend checking out this video by Evan Slead which I had the pleasure of co-writing and -narrating and cutting the opening music video part. It talks about how Trent Reznor (esp. Downward Spiral) influenced Yamaoka in the score of Silent Hill 2. ua-cam.com/video/IJDlnhSTErY/v-deo.html
Hahahahaha! Anytime man! Anytime... I can safely say that we shared the say fanboyism for Trent Reznor music. Even if I don't hear all of his work, I think it is brilliant of what I hear so far; Especially The Fragile. Great! Thanks Ragnar. I had no idea that Yamaoka draw inspiration for NIN to compose his music, which make sense, but I think is awesome think that this two composer are more closer that I think... Not pun intended. I will checked that out. Again. Great job on your videos! I really enjoy it. It really show that you put a lot of afford and love making these. The Baba Yaga and the Solaris videos were the Highlights for me. Take care man and keep that hard work. You're do in it great.
The Silent Hill series delivers a very powerful message among many others ones; which is the quest for inner peace. But I have never realized that until I saw your video so good job, man. I will always love your content.
seriously dude. even tho it takes a while for you to put a video up. theyre all great. good writing, well edited. you are even a great talker. love every single one of your videos and the silent hill videos got my friends to play those games :D so thank you alot, i sadly cant support you on patreon. but im really glad to see that so many others can, as you really have talent.
I've been a fan ever since Ragnar. It's your unconventional insights on gaming subjects, manga and the horror culture in general is what keeps me watching every single upload. Also you're one, if not the only one, of the few UA-camrs who uses voice and grammar to captivate your audience and subscribers. Sure there are channels out there who have the voice to captivate, but it is only you who have done it well. To put it simply you have a very unique channel in a platform who's filled with annoying, clichéd and down right stupid (sorry but it's the truth for those UA-camrs who might get offended with this) channels. Don't change Ragnar please, even if success comes your way. I will continue to support you here and on Patreon (after I created an account haha) also I would love to see your insights on Twin Peaks.
Man, all your analyses are amazing. I love SH and always tried to interpret the references. Most of them matches yours, some don't and some I've never noticed. This is very satisfying, because I've never met someone to talk about this, and IMO the original SH games are such rich art pieces. I miss games like this, that makes you think, feel anease and learn so much through cultural and phylosophical references.
Yes. SH3proxy. Makes widescreen and 4k resolutions available, improves shadow and lighting quality and a few other things. github.com/07151129/sh3proxy/releases
Woah, that close at the end was brilliant. What can I say, the editing was seasmless, it was funny, and your take on that particular scene really caught me off guard. Great job. Seriously, I sincerely mean that.
The way you speak your script amazing. You're so engrossing to listen to you, you make it engaging. I've loved listening to your videos because of how well you describe places and things. Please please please keep this up.
This is very well done! I am addicted to the Silent Hill series, have played them all so many times! Thank you for making these videos! I'll be watching them all!
Did you just compare the design of the closer's face to a fleshlight? An item that I'm pretty sure didn't exist at the time the game was made? I can't think of any hard-shelled onaholes prior to fleshlights (not that I've ever cared to check). I'll double-check this statement when I get home. I agree the vertical lips look like a vagina, but take the design into the context of the time it was made.
I actually did look into the context of the time when writing this. Sex toys like this existed for a long time before the game came out. I wouldn't just shoot that out on a whim.
RagnarRox First video of yours I've watched and I've seen lots of people make anachronistic comments in videos. Nothing personal. Always thought the neck and head were penis symbolism myself. Thanks for saving me the time looking into the subject.
***** Yes, but that doesn't mean they're going to go to sex toys for inspiration. And I didn't think that particular type of toy existed at the time of the game's creation. I was wrong.
The Closers bothered me so much when I first saw them in SH3, I remember screaming out loud _as_ _I_ _was_ _still_ _playing_ the game. I already had an aversion to the Mandarins of SH2, so these...things were basically an unexpected and inescapable walking version of those. Easily the scariest enemy in the game for me.
Few people have asked me about it. I wouldn't say 'no' per se, but it's not planned for the near future and with the time each video takes and the topics piling up it could be quite a while until I get there.
RagnarRox I really like your videos mate! It helps me go through my life. Tbh every time I watch your videos it feels like I'm feeding my soul. So thanks a lot! Also a video about Lovecraft's Cthulu would be great! Love to see what you have to say about that. I'd give you money if I have any, but I'm broke arse right now. lol
This was absolutely wonderful. I played Silent Hill 3 as teenager on the PS2. And I could never fully understand the monsters. Thank you for clearing this up for me.
Silent Hill as a place of catharsis rather than a place of punishment...I really, really like how you put that and is making look at things entirely differently. Love your SH videos! They are very thoughtful and eloquent
Angela's Character model was just a reused asset since SH3 and 4 were in development at the same time after SH2 ended. They needed a female body to serve the symbolism you pointed out. It was just a coincidence, but a very convenient one.
Nine Inch Nails' "Closer" playing in the background as the monster is introduced. I see what you did there.
Given that they're both sepia colored it makes sense.
it also really fits its overall aesthetic as well.
Ikr
He put "A Warm Place" in there as well around 15:00
As a 9IN fan, I appreciate you pointing this out.
Random memory: I forgot where I watched it, but there's an interview of the creators stating the Closer is shaped to look like a woman carrying shopping bags (which is why there's quite a lot of them in the mall). Suppose to represent greed/overspending, like they're being weighed down by materialism.
This was a reeeeally long time ago so can't provide the source OTL
Why not represent both
@Svetoslav Nikolov it doesn't have to be a representation of Heather, but how Heather sees other people, specifically shoppers at the mall. And the devs sometimes take inspiration from daily life. The lying figure was inspired by one of the designers seeing an officemate wearing a hoodie with his habds in his pockets.
Late but that could also tie in with the stereotype of girls/women being obsessed with malls, shopping for clothes, shoes, jewelry, makeup, the whole “using daddy/husband’s credit card” thing, further pushed and perpetuated by advertisers and sponsorships through media and content creators, where Andrew Tate copycat leeches call women materialistic and frivolous with money, those same dudes always flexing expensive designer clothing and luxury cars themselves. The bigger sexist idea that men make the money only so women can spend the money, leading Heather to view/associate women shopping and being at malls as a negative thing, like focus being taken away from capitalist consumerism by using gender as a distraction instead. Thanks for mentioning that, its crazy to think about
There's another reading for the Closer I see on top of everything you've said. Feeding into this cycle of rebirth, the Closer also represents Heather's fear that she will become just like her mother. The closer, like many of the other monsters, represents a symbol of womanhood for Heather, and for Heather, growing up into womanhood is tied to her mother figure who abused her. It seems to me the Closer represents in part Heathers fear of perpetuating the cycle of violence, abuse, and suffering that often happens with victims of abuse.
Nathan Ware yes it make sense my mom used to hit me when I was a kid I once told her that I hate her and I'll beat my children just like she did to me but deep inside I'm actually afraid that I'll repeat the sins that she Carried on from her parents I truly resent her ways she was a monster for me back then
I can't believe this is showing up in my "recommended" just now. This video is beautifully made. That ending had me rolling.
Really creative way to end the video, many kudos to you sir.
This is just another proof on why the original 4 games of Silent Hill where so great: even more than 10 years later and you can still make a full analysis of the philosofical and psicological symbolsm from only one monster. ONE FRIGGIN MONSTER. That's how you make great games. Attention to detail , passion and clever design. Long live Team Silent, and Fuck Konami.
I agree on the first three games.
@@gamingbitchface6823 yeah everything after sh3 sucks in comparison
I aggree on fucking Konami
How about Downpour?
@@Boomblox5896
I'm in the minority but I thoroughly enjoyed Downpour. I also have a fondness for Origins and Shattered Memories. The only games I have mixed feelings about are Homecoming due to the combat and Book of Memories because it's a Silent Hill themed Diablo clone.
You have a really good understanding of feminine fears.
Actually he has a seriously distorted mindset of the female psyche.
@@lancechristian1210 how he's just talking about the point silent hill is getting across
@@lancechristian1210 How do you mean?
@@lancechristian1210 huh?
@@adamdevlin649 flabby wenis.
Extra points for the Nine Inch Nails reference ;)
I just couldn't resist. ;)
RagnarRox This is one of the reasons why I am subscribed
there's also A Warm Place in the part where he talks about the rebirth culture
The lyrics of that song paired with the creature and how it attacks is...Pretty hilarious.
makes sense too, because silent hill 3's enamy and boss design is tied around birth and rape
That was the best Patreon credit scrolls I've ever seen, made me smile.
*Plays Closer by Nine Inch Nails as soon as you mention the Closer.*
Well played, sir. Well played.
Awesome video as always but damn that outro was smart as fuck.
Scrolled down to say the same. That outro really was clever. Well done Sensei!
omg dat ending
youre an egotistical bitch btw
@@ourevilone im gonna need some contex for that
to be honest fuck you talking bout
@@ourevilone yeah I need some context too
to be honest lol
This kind of content is why I still have some hope in UA-cam. This is what deserves millions of views, not superficial teenage rants or pranks and "reactions".
But as always, quality is in the minority.
Mirror of society in a way.
(Thanks btw :))
***** I watch pranks and teen vlogs sometimes, but what makes UA-cam really worth to me it is listening to well written opinions on movies, politics, religion, literature etc. It depends on the mood of the moment though.
I think you've actually found the Pyramid Head's antithesis. Where Pyramid Head was meant to guide James out of his cycle of pain and sorrow, the Closer wanted to do the opposite with Heather. Their opposing natures could be reflected in how common the Closers are compared to the more bosslike arrivals of the Pyramid Heads, along with the surprising speed of the Closer contrasting with the sluggish pace of Pyramid Head.
Even their heads could symbolize their dichotomy. The Closer's head is symbolically vaginal, where Pyramid Head's helmet can easily be seen as phallic, taking into account the symbolism seen in many upward pointing triangles throughout history. In fact the only real similarity between the two creatures was in their introductions: a cutscene in which the creature was violently attacking a victim (in one case a monster, in the other a human) and eventually subdued by the protagonist's gunfire.
Uh I disagree. Pyramids head is anything but phallic. It's a hard, solid, metal pyramid. A geometric structure that is anything but phallic or organic.
@@tabulaaaa I'd tap that.
Pyramid head didnt do that to James. He was the punisher; judge, jury and executioner.
He was meant to punish James much like James would like to punish himself.
Lol the closer looks like a walking penis, you are wrong
Pyramid Head is 'phallic shaped' 😂😂😂 what kind of wee do you have mate
What, hidden references to reincarnation on the back of the monster? That level of detail!
No wonder why I have been picky of games ever since.. Silent Hill 3 was the first let's play I ever watched, as well as the first proper game franchise I came to know. After seeing what it had, for example RE was entertaining but not scary in a way SHs are. Complex characters, the sound design and the lore... Pure heroine.
So the Order and Claudia were kinda right when they say that they were bringing purification through suffering? They really believe that they were bringing paradise to manking by forcing sinners to physically battle their sins and fears. They were not wrong in the concept, but they were too much radical. By committing violence and forcing people to commit violence, they were creating more sins than purging.
Claudia says herself towards the end of SH3, "I know I'm going to Hell for what I've done."
I can't help but feel remorse for her since she was raised in that awful cult she is compelled to represent. The horrific abuse she experienced at the hand of her father an unfortunate catalyst.
What I love about your videos is, that I always learn something new about the world besides the theme of the videos itself.
Ha, the ending is brilliant. Great video as always!
I've been obsessed with Silent Hill since I was 8 years old, completely fascinated, and I must say this is one of the best SH vids I've ever seen. Caught me off guard how good it was.
Subscribed.
also make more looong videos!
Thanks, glad you like it. Well, they also take a loooong time to make.
I always have been amazed about how deep the 4 SH games can be. But you know what ? Having quite deeply studied it myself, I thought I had nothing more to discover about it. I was wrong. God I love this series. Thanks so much !
SH5 you said ? How dare you ! Everybody knows there's no such thing ! ^^
Just trolling.
Even if SH5 was one of my biggest disappointments, I agree about the fact that it is more enjoyable to play than SH4. Few games are more painful to play than SH4 (even heard somewhere it may have been carefully designed to be this way).
But there's a major difference : SH4 feels like a SH, where SH5 (and 6) don't. It's almost undeniable to me. It just doesn't play like a SH, can't really be interpreted like every "real" SH. It's "just" weird monsters, blood and fog.
And, you know, that's a matter of taste... ^^
SH5? Don't you mean SH"s"? (nudge nudge wink wink) It's dead Jim.
SH 5 has good ost because it was still composed by Akira Yamaoka, the monsters on the other hand is just terrible, even one of the boss was ripped from the arcade shooter and other monsters are frankly generic as hell (humans are enemies...). The combat made no sense especially with the end of the story and is just repetitive, it was a chore to even do anything, also fucking QTE! Atmosphere consist of most of the time just plain grey or black or dull orange. But point for this game though for not trying to just copy and paste Silent Hill 2.
But I can agree that Downshit is fucking garbage.
Enjoy your orange and blue color tone then.
Then stop thumbs upping yourself, pfftttt...
I love how NIN was played during the Closer's introduction. Great Video!
Heard that Nine Inch Nails - Closer in the background! Good choice!
Darragh Mol
.Trent is an amazing human being.
Amazing video, I like to see my little contribution in the Patreon. keep up the good work!
Oh! Mi furro favorito
The editing in this was stellar, good job.
JandJandJandJandJ
???Right???
I imagine it's literally godlike on DMT lmao
Not even two minutes in, but: you use Ginger Snaps when talking about teenage angst and stuff!!!!!! I'm glad our discussions aren't going to waste.
I'm accusing you of thought inception for this!
Playing Closer and A Warm Place on this video really made me happy. Nine Inch Nails and Silent Hill are a dynamic duo.
14:40 Man i loved hearing "A Warm Place" as a soundtrack, your videos are very unique and have so damn good analysis depth.
Keep up with the great work !
Yessssss, I've been waiting for another one of your videos dude.
Hyannah amen. Especially of this series
Happy birthday RagnarRox!
But you're wrong. It's not my birthday...
RagnarRox Could you talk about Mass Effects lovecraftian elements,please?
dude, your videos are top notch and I can't help but sit through each one
"The nightmare...has become self-aware."
Getting goosebumps.
Thank you ragnarox, always happy to have more Silent hill in my life!
I'll admit, I kind of didn't catch onto the symbolism Silent Hill 3 was going for as an overall theme until around the point of Brookhaven Hospital, when I started to wonder about how the nurse enemies fit into the story when Silent Hill 1 and 2 both had clear reasons for them--and realized that their hair and faces made them resemble dolls somewhat, connecting them to the doll that Heather's invisible stalker kept trying to give her as a gift alongside his creepy messages. I was too wrapped up in the thrill of completing the game to think the game through any further than that until later on, since Silent Hill 3 has the best combat of the original 3 and I had really gotten into the groove of confronting and defeating nearly every enemy I came across (the exception being the annoying flying ones) and taking them down with as much melee focus as I could, at one point jokingly calling the character I was playing as "Heather Mason, Shadow Warrior" while tweeting about the game. I'm quite intrigued by the way the enemy designs serve as a counterpoint to Silent Hill 2's, though, in that it portrayed a lot of stereotypically negative masculine perceptions of women through James Sunderland's mental filters (it's debatable whether this says anything negative about him as a person, but I'm inclined to read much as it as being projections of his anxieties over what he sees his own motives as being, rather than projections of the actual motives), with Silent Hill 3 instead portraying both the conscious and subconscious mistrust and guarded suspicions a young woman in particular might have while still figuring out how they regard the other half of the species.
The point about the monster-gate that obstructs your path just before the apartments is interesting because it brings to mind the sex education classes that one would be taking in school health class during the teenage years, with sex education itself presenting a daunting new (most of the time) concept that can be intimidating... and is often spun in a way that cautions young women to abstain, or if you like, close themselves off sexually. Opening this gate leads you to the Missionary boss, which has the characteristic of wielding a bunch of piercing blades while also being named after a religious missionary but also, perhaps, a stereotypically submissive feminine sexual position.
...
How did all of this shit fly over my head until after I finished the game? God damn. I guess I just accepted too easily that Silent Hill 3 was less symbolically-inclined than Silent Hill 2 as something to take for granted.
Love these monster breakdown videos you do, especially when they involve Silent Hill. Your voice suits it.
I'm totally in love with being part of that phone call! excellent delivery of a complex analysis of this game. It definitely opened my eyes to all the nuances that many women feel daily and have subconsciously been my reason for resonating with this game the most. It was for me an amazing moment to play a strong female character that wasn't designed for the male gaze but to call out the perspective of the female who lives that life.
I'm glad you enjoyed it!
(and especially the credit sequence :>)
Lol
I was not expecting this from a video about a Silent Hill monster. Those games truly were something special.
I find it interesting that no one ever has mentioned that in Alessa's room also has the shroud of turin on the wall
goddamn, i just found your channel and bingewatched all your vids, now its 4am in the morning
i love the philosophical discutions that all these monsters bring from all the different cultures that influenced their creation
instant sub, you gonna make it to the top buddy, dont give up :)
"The Closer!" NIN- Closer tunes in. I'm still laughing
I wasn't going to watch this video but when i skipped to a random time in the video and heard "A Warm Place" i had to watch the full video and subscribe. That song was used very well in this video.
Thank you! I actually recorded that cover-version myself. One of my favorite songs.
this is one of the greatest videos ive seen
this is some DEEP stuff right here. Even after 15 years after its release, many years after playing the game multiple times and even speedrunning the HELL out of that game, I can't believe there are things still yet uncovered in the Silent Hill Universe! Thanks so much for this refreshing upload down memory lane!
SO glad I stumbled upon your channel, PLEASE do upload more stuff, I'm addicted to your eerie, clever and well researched content!
Once again, a fantastic video full of analyzation I was blown away by. Huge props to that phone call ending.
A Sillent Hill video from Ragnar!! The wait was worth it!
Damn the freaking details and research must take your whole life experience...
As a Psychology Student myself, this channel is like a whole Symbolism class itself. Wonderful!
Silent Hill 3 has always been my personal favorite of the series for these reasons. Excellent video. We need people like you in the gaming industry.
Oh please analyze the Fukuro Lady and Brookhaven nurse. They're really interesting and actually not the same being!
Jenova Loz what do you think the fukuro lady represent? i read a theory that she's probably intended for Angela's personified guilt (same build, same hair, constantly depicted as helpless and bound) but the idea got scrapped off and turned into that... artful video. i think it's a plausible theory
Yeah I heard that too. It's just interesting to think that she was first designed to be in SH2 but then was later used in SH3. I wish Masahiro Ito would explain her design and intentions more 😋
Who knows? May be it was just an extra old asset that they don't want to waste, a lot of asset from SH2 was re-used, and Masahiro has an affinity for bondage so may be that is all there to it.
WFoong98 well that's true but it's more fun to analyse especially coming from Silent Hill, don't you think? Fukuro is not used in SH2 but it's intriguing to think what the creators originally wanted to portray with Fukuro lady
I've read that she is, supposedly, a Lisa Garland representation but like, sexually charged
Silent Hill 2, and to a lesser extent 3, will always be my favorite games. It's been ten years or so since I last played any of them, or perhaps Origins, but I keep talking and reading and watching videos about them.
Your video helped me finising a short story I started writing earlier, about a mother who creates a daughter with tree branches and dry leaves and the daughter becoming a twitching creature with no human traits at all. This video gave me the vocabulary I needed to describe the creature-child. Thanks.
nice work incorporating the oroborous(forgot how its spelled) aka the serpent biting its own tail
An absolutely outstanding work RagnarFox! This is so far the best, most comprehensive and illustrative look, through hidden layers of Silent Hill complex psychology. Subscription well deserved.
Incidentally one of the finest introductions to Buddhism on UA-cam, with the exception of the unfortunate mischaracterization of karma as something to be acquired rather than stopped.
So underrated channel... wish I had money and ways to support you man, you truly make serious work, AND MY DAYS!!!
I just want to say: thank you for your work. Your videos are really interesting.
You're welcome, David!
Glad you're enjoying them :)
The way you explain things in your video, the visuals, all the way to even shouting out patreons is so creative!! Keep up the amazing work.
Hearing Ragnar's voice equals to me being moister than an oyster
Get out. The door is right there.
The steamy Spy my moist is dry pls refill it daddy
pfft
The design of the Closer monster: it was the first monster to really spook me just by looking at it and seeing it move. Great choice, Ragnar. Love your channel, as always.
TFW "A Warm Place" plays and I start crying
Not only closer, but also A warm place
Man those songs hurt so much.
Thank you for another great video
The way you pronounce your “s”’ makes just the perfect whistle to sound like there’s something in the corner of my room and it’s freakin me out man I didn’t sign up for this 4d horror experience
This is one of the most excellent short-form documentaries relating to videogames, or really any subject-matter. I've already sent/reccomended this video to several of my friends, and their reaction was similar. Please pursue creating more videos of this nature in the future, especially relating to subjects in horror that relate to symbolism and symbology. Silent Hill itself has many candidates for this, some of which you have already covered, but any franchise that offers this kind of depth of analysis in the horror genre is something you do not typically see on UA-cam, which is why your video-series especially stands out.
I thought the arms were supposed to be a reference to massive shopping bags and our need for more and more.
It's an interpretation that's out there. I initially went briefly into that but cut it from the script for pacing. Basically, I don't buy into that hypothesis because there's no other instance of consumer criticism in the game or in any of the games. Also doesn't fit Heather - why would the Closer mock brainless consumerism? Heather's room is very spartan and she's never depicted as a shopaholic in any way.
But that's the beauty of metaphors: If that's what it means to you, than that's what it means. :)
RagnarRox I just thought of that because you first find it a mall to be honest.
Battered children sometimes draw disproportionate limbs of the abuser.
Madriguerasv2 Exactly.
I've also heard that, and that the huge club arms/fists were a deliberate choice in the monster design because of that, the manifestation of an abused child's perception of their abusers.
Silent Hill, Journey and Jacob's ladder. Plus I learned interesting things framed within context and with depth. Job well done, thanks .
Great video, as always! :D
I've been a fan of Silent Hill since the first and your videos are top notch man :) there was a hole here once...its gone now
I don't know. I really can't see the sexual implications of the closer. Heather's most trusted figures throughout the games are men where-as the ones who have always caused her the most harm were women (save for Lisa Garland at least whom she liked). Michael Kauffman is really the only male figure we know of that she may have a hate for and he died in the first one. Honestly, the Closer seems much more like a reference to gluttony and the over-consumption of today's culture for products like food and clothing. As people have said before I'm sure, their arms look like people holding heavy shopping bags full of products of whatever kind you want to imagine while their mouth-faces could easily represent gluttony when it comes to food as it's the only facial feature they have is a mouth and we see it chomping down on a corpse ravenously like it's starving. Not to mention this happens inside of a clothing store, set inside a shopping mall where we see the Closer for the first time (the dream at the beginning not-withstanding since that's technically a vision of the future events). It's true there's sexual references to things like rape/molestation in SH, specifically with Pyramid Head and Angela but the Closer really doesn't come off that way, to me at least.
Lol I know right. I hate over-analytical fans misinterpreting media. Like those stupid Link is Dead theories in Zelda Majoras Mask.
Nothing in SH3 alludes to over spending or materialism because SH3 is the continuation of the alessa storyline. Ragnarox explain the symbolism very well not to mention the games provide plenty of evidence against this theory as well.
The brillant inclution of "Closer" in the introduction of the monster, plus of "A Warm Place" for the same album of Nine Inch Nails "Downward Spiral", which is the most Silent Hill like industrial concept album of all, was fantastic. Amazing editing, phasing and narrative man! Looking foward to the next video.
Glad you enjoyed these bits of my unbridled NIN-fanboyism. :)
I recommend checking out this video by Evan Slead which I had the pleasure of co-writing and -narrating and cutting the opening music video part. It talks about how Trent Reznor (esp. Downward Spiral) influenced Yamaoka in the score of Silent Hill 2.
ua-cam.com/video/IJDlnhSTErY/v-deo.html
Hahahahaha! Anytime man! Anytime... I can safely say that we shared the say fanboyism for Trent Reznor music. Even if I don't hear all of his work, I think it is brilliant of what I hear so far; Especially The Fragile.
Great! Thanks Ragnar. I had no idea that Yamaoka draw inspiration for NIN to compose his music, which make sense, but I think is awesome think that this two composer are more closer that I think... Not pun intended. I will checked that out.
Again. Great job on your videos! I really enjoy it. It really show that you put a lot of afford and love making these. The Baba Yaga and the Solaris videos were the Highlights for me.
Take care man and keep that hard work. You're do in it great.
I always did thought the monster is some kind of NIN reference 😂😂😂
The Silent Hill series delivers a very powerful message among many others ones; which is the quest for inner peace. But I have never realized that until I saw your video so good job, man. I will always love your content.
I knew I heard Closer by NIN playing in the background. Excellent choice.
seriously dude. even tho it takes a while for you to put a video up.
theyre all great. good writing, well edited. you are even a great talker.
love every single one of your videos and the silent hill videos got my friends to play those games :D
so thank you alot, i sadly cant support you on patreon.
but im really glad to see that so many others can, as you really have talent.
I've been a fan ever since Ragnar. It's your unconventional insights on gaming subjects, manga and the horror culture in general is what keeps me watching every single upload. Also you're one, if not the only one, of the few UA-camrs who uses voice and grammar to captivate your audience and subscribers. Sure there are channels out there who have the voice to captivate, but it is only you who have done it well. To put it simply you have a very unique channel in a platform who's filled with annoying, clichéd and down right stupid (sorry but it's the truth for those UA-camrs who might get offended with this) channels.
Don't change Ragnar please, even if success comes your way.
I will continue to support you here and on Patreon (after I created an account haha) also I would love to see your insights on Twin Peaks.
Thank you so much Ken!
This is one of the best video essays i`ve seen on youtube...Well done.
Amazing video script man
it is impressive the level of work and detail that these videos have
Everyone is pointing out Closer, but y'all ain't pointing out A Warm Place. Smh.
I love NIN far too much oh god
I like how you use psychological terms and concepts with silent hill. Very cool video! 😁
A video about lovecraft mythos..ctuhullu!?
Man, all your analyses are amazing. I love SH and always tried to interpret the references. Most of them matches yours, some don't and some I've never noticed. This is very satisfying, because I've never met someone to talk about this, and IMO the original SH games are such rich art pieces. I miss games like this, that makes you think, feel anease and learn so much through cultural and phylosophical references.
dude, you've used the hd collection to record the footage? Harry's face can be seen when he's dead
No, not HD collection. Just the PC release of the original.
oh, cool. did you use any mods?
Yes. SH3proxy. Makes widescreen and 4k resolutions available, improves shadow and lighting quality and a few other things.
github.com/07151129/sh3proxy/releases
thanks man, keep putting high quality stuff online
Woah, that close at the end was brilliant. What can I say, the editing was seasmless, it was funny, and your take on that particular scene really caught me off guard. Great job. Seriously, I sincerely mean that.
I want Silent Hill to save my mind.
The way you speak your script amazing. You're so engrossing to listen to you, you make it engaging. I've loved listening to your videos because of how well you describe places and things. Please please please keep this up.
Thank you so much! What a wonderful comment. :3
this monster is actually in silent hill 2. its well hidden and its called the manderin. have a look at it
This video was insanely well done. Good job sir.
7:32 Is that sexual harassment?
No, its Hugh Mungus. It's my name....
No it's Hugh Mungus
man your videos are thought provoking. please keep up the amazing content :D
Hold on...the song that starts playing around 4 minutes.. literally in my sex playlist.
This is very well done! I am addicted to the Silent Hill series, have played them all so many times! Thank you for making these videos! I'll be watching them all!
Did you just compare the design of the closer's face to a fleshlight? An item that I'm pretty sure didn't exist at the time the game was made? I can't think of any hard-shelled onaholes prior to fleshlights (not that I've ever cared to check). I'll double-check this statement when I get home. I agree the vertical lips look like a vagina, but take the design into the context of the time it was made.
I actually did look into the context of the time when writing this. Sex toys like this existed for a long time before the game came out. I wouldn't just shoot that out on a whim.
RagnarRox
First video of yours I've watched and I've seen lots of people make anachronistic comments in videos. Nothing personal. Always thought the neck and head were penis symbolism myself.
Thanks for saving me the time looking into the subject.
Very flaccid penis-analogy then the way it's slobbering around.
RagnarRox
HAH! Yes. Honestly, the Closer is one of the most perplexing monsters to me in the series as far as its psychological design is concerned.
*****
Yes, but that doesn't mean they're going to go to sex toys for inspiration. And I didn't think that particular type of toy existed at the time of the game's creation. I was wrong.
The Closers bothered me so much when I first saw them in SH3, I remember screaming out loud _as_ _I_ _was_ _still_ _playing_ the game.
I already had an aversion to the Mandarins of SH2, so these...things were basically an unexpected and inescapable walking version of those. Easily the scariest enemy in the game for me.
btw can you make a video about dead space
holy space cow, YES!!
Few people have asked me about it.
I wouldn't say 'no' per se, but it's not planned for the near future and with the time each video takes and the topics piling up it could be quite a while until I get there.
RagnarRox I really like your videos mate! It helps me go through my life. Tbh every time I watch your videos it feels like I'm feeding my soul. So thanks a lot! Also a video about Lovecraft's Cthulu would be great! Love to see what you have to say about that. I'd give you money if I have any, but I'm broke arse right now. lol
PIXISU 21 agree Same thing
This was absolutely wonderful. I played Silent Hill 3 as teenager on the PS2. And I could never fully understand the monsters. Thank you for clearing this up for me.
You really need to do a collaboration with NightMind I feel like you'll work great together. Does anyone agree like this if you do.
Silent Hill as a place of catharsis rather than a place of punishment...I really, really like how you put that and is making look at things entirely differently. Love your SH videos! They are very thoughtful and eloquent
Angela's Character model was just a reused asset since SH3 and 4 were in development at the same time after SH2 ended. They needed a female body to serve the symbolism you pointed out. It was just a coincidence, but a very convenient one.
After that bit of depression, that patrion announcement left through a loop. KEep doing that, love what you did there.
what do the wheelchairs in the silent hill games mean ?
Mr RockZtarR Wasn't Alessa confined to a wheelchair after she got severe burns all over her body?
OcelotSensei ah okay.. could be. it's a long time since i played the games 😅
It's also one of the more direct references to Jacob's Ladder, where Jacob would see his dead son's wrecked bike.
Nothing beats an SH4 wheelchair though, ahhh the horror!!!
I know in Downpour, it represents a character that became paralyzed (vegitable state) that was the fault of the main character.
Ragnar you take the UA-cam analysis videos to another level. This is amazing