Silent Hill 2 Remake: How to Unlock the Maria Ending

In the Silent Hill 2 Remake, one of the most iconic endings revolves around Maria. This finale, rich in emotional undertones, is one of the eight possible outcomes, and getting it requires players to make specific decisions throughout the game. The developers, Bloober Team, have painstakingly recreated this ending with some fresh twists to honour the original, while also adding new ways to trigger it.

A Quick Warning: Spoilers Ahead

Before we dive into the details, it’s important to note that this guide contains spoilers. If you want to uncover the Maria ending naturally, proceed with caution!

What Makes the Maria Ending Special?

In Silent Hill 2, the Maria ending signifies James Sunderland’s inability to come to terms with his actions regarding his late wife, Mary. Instead of confronting his guilt, he chooses to suppress it by aligning with Maria, a woman who mirrors Mary but is free from the burdens of sickness and sorrow. The ending suggests that James is trapped in a vicious cycle, where his unresolved grief and desires lead him toward a dark fate.

But how do you unlock this ending? Let’s explore.

Key Steps to Unlocking the Maria Ending

1. Stay Fully Healed at All Times One of the critical requirements to get the Maria ending is maintaining James’ health. Whenever James takes damage, you need to heal him immediately. Pay attention to any signs of injury, such as bloodstains on his jacket, and use health items as soon as possible. The game tracks James’ care for himself, which indirectly reflects his attachment to life and his care for Maria over Mary.
2. Avoid Examining Personal Items During the game, players can view various personal items, including Mary’s letter, her photo, and Angela’s knife. If you’re aiming for the Maria ending, avoid examining these items entirely. Interacting with Mary’s personal belongings could steer you toward alternative endings like “Leave” or “In Water.” By ignoring them, you signal to the game that James is detaching from memories of Mary.
3. Choose the Woman Coin in the Coin Box Puzzle In the Wood Side Apartments, there’s a Coin Box Puzzle that many players find confusing. For the Maria ending, select the Woman Coin as the final answer in the puzzle. While this is not confirmed to be essential, many players believe it ties into James’ mental state and how he absolves himself of guilt concerning Mary’s death. This subtle choice leans into James choosing Maria over his deceased wife.
4. Protect Maria at All Costs Once you encounter Maria in Rosewater Park, your job is to keep her safe. Make sure she doesn’t get injured by enemies and always stay close to her. The game tracks how attentive you are to her well-being. Failing to protect her or letting her get hurt could push you away from unlocking the Maria ending.
5. Interact with Maria at Jacks Inn and Baldwin Mansion As you progress through the game, there are a few opportunities to engage in optional dialogues with Maria. These dialogues further solidify James’ bond with her. At Jacks Inn, break the window of Room 108 and let Maria in. This triggers a conversation about her outfit, a nod to the original Silent Hill 2. Later, at Baldwin Mansion, interact with her again to unlock more optional dialogue. These moments help showcase James’ emotional investment in Maria.
6. Trigger Two Secret Maria Cutscenes in Brookhaven Hospital Once you reach Brookhaven Hospital, make sure to check on Maria twice in Room C5. The first cutscene occurs after acquiring any of the three bracelets needed for the Director’s Office Bracelet Puzzle. The second cutscene is triggered after solving the Rooftop Key puzzle. Both cutscenes help convey James’ care for Maria, another essential element for achieving this ending.
7. Solve the Lakeview Hotel’s Mirror Puzzle Using the Ripe Apple At Lakeview Hotel, when you encounter the Mirror Puzzle in Room 206, use the Ripe Apple to complete it. The apple symbolizes James’ longing for purity, which he finds in Maria instead of Mary. This further reinforces his emotional connection with Maria, inching you closer to the desired ending.
8. Choose the Scarlet Egg Door After Defeating the Pyramid Heads In the final stretch of the game, after defeating the two Pyramid Heads, you’ll find that they each drop an egg: the Scarlet Egg and the Rust-Coloured Egg. Place the Scarlet Egg in the door you wish to proceed through. The Scarlet Egg represents James’ desire for a fresh start, free from the decay that Mary represents.
9. Ignore Mary’s Final Speech After going through the Scarlet Egg door, you’ll reach a corridor where Mary’s voice starts narrating. For the Maria ending, do not listen to her speech. Run through the corridor and exit as soon as possible. Listening to Mary’s speech can steer you toward other endings, so avoid getting emotionally entangled in her words.

The Final Showdown: What Happens Next?

If you’ve followed all the steps correctly, when James finally meets Mary, she will be bedridden. The confrontation will unfold differently than in other endings. Instead of resolving his guilt, James will leave Silent Hill with Maria. However, the ending takes a dark twist when Maria starts coughing, hinting at the possibility that James is doomed to repeat the same mistakes he made with Mary.

This chilling conclusion shows that James has learned nothing from his journey. Instead of confronting his past and dealing with his grief, he chooses to suppress it by turning to a replacement figure Maria. The cycle of guilt, shame, and emotional distance continues.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What are the main triggers for the Maria ending in Silent Hill 2?

To trigger the Maria ending, you need to prioritize keeping James healthy, avoid interacting with Mary’s personal items, protect Maria, and follow specific puzzle and cutscene triggers. The steps mentioned above outline the key actions you need to take.

2. What happens if I examine Mary’s photo or letter?

Examining Mary’s photo, letter, or Angela’s knife will push you toward alternative endings like “Leave” or “In Water.” If you’re aiming for the Maria ending, avoid interacting with these items.

3. Does it matter if Maria gets hurt by enemies?

Yes, letting Maria get hurt or killed will negatively impact your chances of unlocking the Maria ending. You must protect her throughout the game to signal James’ care for her.

4. Do I need to solve the Coin Box Puzzle in a specific way?

Yes, for the Maria ending, place the Woman Coin in the top center of the Coin Box Puzzle. While not confirmed as essential, this step is believed to influence James’ relationship with Maria.

5. Is it important to trigger the optional dialogues with Maria?

Yes, triggering the optional dialogues at Jacks Inn and Baldwin Mansion can strengthen James’ connection with Maria, making it more likely to unlock her ending.