Versions

Version History

Silent Hill 2 was first released for PlayStation 2 in Autumn 2001. Original version had only the main "Letter from Silent Heaven" scenario and 5 different endings.

Expanded edition of Silent Hill 2 was initially released exclusively on Xbox in December 2001 (North America) and 2002 (Japan, Europe) adding the bonus "Born From a Wish" sub-scenario and the "UFO" ending as well as other improvements. This version was later also released on PS2 and PC and had numerous subtitles on various systems confusing players who might be wondering what's the difference (in fact, next to none as the only differences are probably the title screen and language selection). Here's the short list of all major Silent Hill 2 releases in different regions:

North America
2001.09.24 - Silent Hill 2 (PS2)
2001.12.21 - Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams (Xbox)
2002.11.17 - Silent Hill 2 (Greatest Hits) (PS2 – expanded edition, no subtitle)
2002.12.02 - Silent Hill 2 (PC – expanded edition, no subtitle)

Japan
2001.09.27 - Silent Hill 2 (PS2)
2002.02.22 - Silent Hill 2: Saigo No Uta (Xbox)
2002.07.04 - Silent Hill 2: Saigo No Uta (PS2)

Europe
2001.11.23 - Silent Hill 2
2002.10.04 - Silent Hill 2: Inner Fears (Xbox)
2003.02.28 - Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut (PS2 and PC)

Here's also a great video by Digital Foundry overviewing visuals of the game's original PS2 version as well as its ports on Xbox and PC, and the infamous Silent Hill HD Collection. Note though that this video was released back in 2016 and therefore doesn't review the Enhanced Edition of the game, first released in 2018 – this would be the best way today to enjoy Silent Hill 2 in its full visual glory.

Silent Hill 2 was also included in two PS2 collection sets:

Finally, Silent Hill 2 was re-mastered for Silent Hill HD Collection released on PS3 and Xbox 360 in March 2013, but this release is hard to recommend to anyone. As the game was remastered by a third party using an incomplete source, it boasts a number of various glitches and bugs and overall is not a very faithfull rendition of the original (at the very least it still has original voiceover, what cannot be said about Silent Hill 3 HD). Again, PC Enhanced Edition is the best way to play Silent Hill 2 on modern systems. Alternatively, you could try and find a functioning PlayStation 2, an old compatible TV and experience the game as it once meant to be.

Contents

PlayStation 2

Silent Hill 2

Region: North America
Release date: 2001.09.24
Serial number: SLUS-20228
Rating: ESRB – M

Manual (scans)
Manual (digital)
Original RAW scans by Bigmanjapan

Silent Hill 2 (Greatest Hits)

Region: North America
Release date: 2002.11.17
Serial number: SLUS-20228GH
Rating: ESRB – M

Budget rerelease with additional content.

Manual (scans) by Jonathan Grimm

Silent Hill 2

Region: Japan
Release date: 2001.09.27
Serial number: SLPM-65051 VW047-J1
Rating: CERO – 15

Original RAW scans by Bigmanjapan

Silent Hill 2: Saigo No Uta

Region: Japan
Release date: 2002.07.04
Serial number: SLPM-65098 VW084-J1
Rating: CERO – 15

Budget rerelease with additional content.

Original RAW scans by Bigmanjapan

Silent Hill 2

Region: South Korea
Release date: 2002
Serial number: SLKA-25001 VW084-K1
Rating: KMRB – 18

Images:
The Playstation Datacenter (1-2)

Silent Hill 2: Saigo No Uta (Konami The Best)

Region: Japan
Release date: 2003.08.07
Serial number: SLPM-65341 VW084-J2
Rating: CERO – 15

Budget rerelease with additional content.

Original RAW scans by Bigmanjapan

Silent Hill 2: Saigo No Uta (Konami Dendou Collection)

Region: Japan
Release date: 2004.07.15
Serial number: SLPM-65631 VW084-J4
Rating: CERO – 15

Budget rerelease with additional content.

Original RAW scans by Bigmanjapan

Silent Hill 2 (Special 2 Disc Set)

Region: Europe
Release date: 2001.11.23
Serial numbers:
• SLES-50382 7021101 (Special 2 Disc Set) – UK
• SLES-50382 7021118 (Inklusive Making-Of-DVD) – Germany
• SLES-50382 7021125 (Edition Speciale Double DVD Collector) – France
• SLES-50382 7021132 (Paquete Especial Con 2 Discos) – Spain
• SLES-50382 7021149 (Een Speciale Set Met 2 Disks) – Netherlands
• SLES-50382 7021156 (Speciale Set Di 2 Dischi) – Italy
Rating: BBFC – 15, USK – 18, ANS – 16, ELSPA – 15+, aDeSe – 18+

Includes The Making of Silent Hill 2 DVD as well as one random sticker out of four in each box. The package is a digipack instead of a standard PS2 case.

Images:
Collector's Edition Cat (14-16)

Original RAW scans (UK) by Bigmanjapan

Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut (Platinum)

Region: Europe
Release date: 2003.02.28
Serial numbers:
• SLES-51156 7022498 – UK
• SLES-51156 7022504 – Germany
• SLES-51156 7022511 – France
• SLES-51156 7022528 – Spain
• SLES-51156 7022535 – Netherlands
• SLES-51156 7022542 – Italy
Rating: BBFC – 15, USK – 18, aDeSe – 18+

Budget rerelease with additional content.

Original RAW scans (UK) by Bigmanjapan
Original RAW scans - manual (Spain) by AlMagno

Silent Hill 2

Region: Europe
Release date: 2009.10.21
Serial numbers:
• SLES-50382 7122167 – UK
• SLES-50382 7122174 – Germany
• SLES-50382 7122914 – Europe
Rating: BBFC – 15, USK – 18, PEGI – 16

European 2009 rerelease. Copy of the original European release which means no additional content. Package is a standard blue-coloured PS2 case.

Original RAW scans (UK) by Bigmanjapan

Silent Hill 2

Region: Europe
Release date: 2011
Serial numbers:
• SLES-50382 7124345 – UK
• SLES-50382 7124352 – Germany
• SLES-50382 7124376 – Spain
• SLES-50382 7124413 – Europe
Rating: BBFC – 15, USK – 18, PEGI – 16

European 2011 rerelease. Copy of the original European release which means no additional content. Package is a standard blue-coloured PS2 case.

Original RAW scans (Europe) by Bigmanjapan

Xbox

All Xbox releases of Silent Hill 2 have additional content – UFO ending and Born From a Wish scenario.

Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams

Region: North America
Release date: 2001.12.21
Serial number: 30003
Disc serial number: KN-004
Rating: ESRB – M

Manual

Silent Hill 2: Restless Dreams (Platinum Hits)

Region: North America
Release date: 2003.02.19
Serial number: 30021
Disc serial number: KN-004
Rating: ESRB – M

Budget re-release.

Silent Hill 2: Saigo No Uta

Region: Japan
Release date: 2002.02.22
Serial number: EK5-00001 VM005-J1
Disc serial number: KT-001
Rating: CERO – 15

Original RAW scans by Bigmanjapan

Silent Hill 2: Inner Fears

Region: Europe
Release date: 2002.10.04
Serial numbers:
• SH2/INLAY/E-196 – UK
• SH2/INLAY/G-202 – Germany
• SH2/INLAY/F-219 – France
• SH2/INLAY/S-226 – Spain
• SH2/INLAY/H-233 – Netherlands
• SH2/INLAY/I-240 – Italy
Disc serial number: KN-004
Rating: BBFC – 15, USK – 18, ANS – 16, ELSPA – 15+, aDeSe – 18+

PC

All PC releases of Silent Hill 2 have additional content – UFO ending and Born From a Wish scenario. Published on 3 CD discs.

Minimum system requirements
Windows XP/ME/2000/98
700 MHz Pentium or Athlon processor (or equivalent)
64 MB RAM
DirectX 8.1 compliant 3D accelerator card w/32 MB VRAM
DirectX 8.1 compliant sound card
DirectX 8.1 or higher (included)
4X CD-ROM drive
1.8 GB free hard disk space

Recommended system requirements
1 GHz Pentium or Athlon processor
128 MB RAM
3D accelerator card w/64 MB VRAM
8X CD-ROM drive
Gamepad controller

Silent Hill 2

Region: North America
Release date: 2002.12.02
Serial numbers:
• 23429 – Small box edition
• 23435 – Big box edition
Disc serial numbers: 23429/23435
Rating: ESRB – M

Manual (scans) by Alchemilla Hospital
Manual (digital)

Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut

Region: Europe
Release date: 2003.02.28
Serial numbers:
• SH2/INLAY/E-253 – UK
• SH2/INLAY/G-260 – Germany
• SH2/INLAY/F-277 – France
• SH2/INLAY/S-284 – Spain
• SH2/INLAY/H-291 – Netherlands
• SH2/INLAY/I-307 – Italy
• ? – Poland (big box edition published by CD Projekt)
Disc serial numbers: SH2/CD/E, F, G, I, S
Rating: BBFC – 15, USK – 18, ANS – 16, aDeSe – 18+
Images from MobyGames and OGDB