Anonymous edits have been disabled on the wiki. If you want to contribute please login or create an account.

Warning for game developers: PCGamingWiki staff members will only ever reach out to you using the official press@pcgamingwiki.com mail address.
Be aware of scammers claiming to be representatives or affiliates of PCGamingWiki who promise a PCGW page for a game key.

Difference between revisions of "Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
m (updated template usage)
(added SH2 Enhancements)
Line 18: Line 18:
  
 
'''Key points'''
 
'''Key points'''
−
{{++}} The PC version adds improved flashlight lighting, the ability to save at any time during the game, swap weapons without opening the menu, and a movie gallery.
+
{{ii}} [[#Essential improvements|Unofficial mods]] enhance the game and make it more playable on modern systems.
−
{{--}} Audio is compressed and lacks detail in comparison to the PlayStation 2 version.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E5Nt8ahZRk Silent Hill 2 Sound Comparison (PC vs PS2) - YouTube]</ref><ref>[http://enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/#installAudioEnhancementPack Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition installation guide]</ref> See [[#Silent Hill 2 Audio Enhancement Pack|Silent Hill 2 Audio Enhancement Pack]]
+
{{++}} ''Silent Hill 2 PC'' comes with improved flashlight lighting, a quick-save function, real-time weapon swapping, and a movie gallery.
−
{{ii}} Can only run stably on a single core: both the North American and European Director's Cut version are compatible to use with the [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix] and accompanied fix packages.  
+
{{--}} Frame rate is capped at 30 FPS; use [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]] to fix.
−
{{ii}} Atmospheric fog and the shadowing are much simpler and less refined than the PlayStation 2 version.<ref name=video>[http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=41496788&postcount=8 Differences between the original PS2 versions and the ported PC versions - NeoGAF]</ref> See [[#Silent_Hill_2_Fog_Fix|Fog Fix]]
 
−
{{ii}} FMVs suffer significantly in quality compared to the other versions.<ref>[http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=47730959&postcount=168 Silent Hill 2 FMV Widescreen Enhancement Pack - NeoGAF]</ref> See [[#Silent_Hill_2_FMV_Enhancement_Pack|FMV Enhacement Pack]]
 
−
{{ii}} Frame rate is capped at 30 FPS. See [[#High frame rate|High frame rate]] to raise frame rate cap.
 
  
 
'''General information'''
 
'''General information'''
 
{{mm}} [http://silenthill.wikia.com/wiki/Silent_Hill_2 Silent Hill Wiki - A wiki for the series]
 
{{mm}} [http://silenthill.wikia.com/wiki/Silent_Hill_2 Silent Hill Wiki - A wiki for the series]
 
{{mm}} [http://www.silenthillmemories.net/sh2/info_en.htm Silent Hill Memories - Informative site]
 
{{mm}} [http://www.silenthillmemories.net/sh2/info_en.htm Silent Hill Memories - Informative site]
−
{{mm}} [http://widescreenfix.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/ Silent Hill 2 PC Widescreen Fix Installation Guide]
+
{{mm}} [http://enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2 Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition Installation Guide]
  
 
==Availability==
 
==Availability==
Line 34: Line 31:
 
{{Availability/row| Retail | | CD | {{DRM|SecuROM|4}}. Patch 1.1 removes the DRM. <br> Released on 3 CDs. | | Windows }}
 
{{Availability/row| Retail | | CD | {{DRM|SecuROM|4}}. Patch 1.1 removes the DRM. <br> Released on 3 CDs. | | Windows }}
 
}}
 
}}
−
{{ii}} There are two versions, the North American version and European Director's Cut version. If the title screen lacks "Director's Cut" on it, it's the North American version. Both versions include the extra scenario ''Born from a Wish'' along with an extra UFO ending.
+
{{ii}} There are two versions: the North American version and the European Director's Cut version. If the title screen lacks "Director's Cut" on it, it's the North American version. Both versions include the extra scenario ''Born from a Wish'' along with an extra UFO ending.
  
 
==Essential improvements==
 
==Essential improvements==
 
{{Image|Silent Hill 2 PC upscaled.png|Silent Hill 2 running at 1920x1080}}
 
{{Image|Silent Hill 2 PC upscaled.png|Silent Hill 2 running at 1920x1080}}
 +
===[https://github.com/elishacloud/Silent-Hill-2-Enhancements/releases Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]===
 +
{{++}} ''Silent Hill 2 Enhancements'' is a collection of unofficial mods which implements widescreen resolution support, adds PlayStation 2 quality audio and fog that were missing from the PC version, improves controller support and much more.<ref>[http://enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/ Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition - Installation Guide]</ref>
 +
{{ii}} See also [http://enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/#installEssentialFiles Enhanced Edition Essential Files] and [http://enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/#installEnhancedEXE Enhanced EXE].
  
−
===[https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix]===
+
===[http://enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/#installAudioEnhancementPack Silent Hill 2 Audio Enhancement Pack]===
−
{{++}} A D3D8 wrapper for all releases of SH2PC, that adds some fixes and new features:
+
{{--}} The PC version's audio is compressed and lacks detail in comparison to the PlayStation 2 version.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8E5Nt8ahZRk Silent Hill 2 Sound Comparison (PC vs PS2) - YouTube]</ref>
−
*Widescreen support (With proper {{term|vert-}} scaling to hide off-screen characters in certain cutscenes)
+
{{++}} The ''Audio Enhancement Pack'' replaces the PC version's audio files with the original, higher quality PlayStation 2 ones.
−
*Disable cutscene letterboxing
 
−
*Steam controller support
 
−
*Native single core affinity
 
−
*Removes the 30 fps cap, has serious issues:
 
−
**Has minor sound issues
 
−
**The game will simply soft-lock on certain cutscenes
 
−
*Correct the UI/ HUD width in widescreen (Through pillar-boxing)
 
−
*Fixed slow camera speed (Just as fast as the PS2 version)
 
−
*Illumination Fix:
 
−
**Fixed a bug where the flashlight would illuminate objects behind it
 
−
**Fixed a bug where one of the endings had fog/ shadow problems
 
−
*Faster transitions (improves speed of switching to map/inventory/etc.)
 
−
*Allows to bind the same key to multiple actions (For both Gamepad and Keyboard)
 
  
−
===[http://ps2wide.net/pc.html#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Fog Fix]===
+
===[http://enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/#installFMVPack Silent Hill 2 FMV Enhancement Pack]===
−
{{++}} A fix that improves fog quality and allows for custom fog settings.
+
{{--}} The PC version's FMVs have a reduction in quality compared to the console versions.<ref>[http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=47730959&postcount=168 Silent Hill 2 FMV Widescreen Enhancement Pack - NeoGAF]</ref>
−
{{ii}} For Widescreen Fix compatibility, see [[#Use Fog Fix alongside Widescreen Fix|Use Fog Fix alongside Widescreen Fix]].
+
{{++}} The ''FMV Enhancement Pack'' improves the quality and upscales the resolution of the FMVs.
−
 
 
−
===[http://enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/index.htm#installAudioEnhancementPack Silent Hill 2 Audio Enhancement Pack]===
 
−
{{++}} Replaces the PC version's audio files with the original, higher quality PlayStation 2 ones.
 
−
 
 
−
===[https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/874-silent-hill-2-fmv-enhancement-pack/ Silent Hill 2 FMV Enhancement Pack]===
 
−
{{++}} A widescreen FMV enhancement pack with improved quality and upscaled resolution over the original PC version's FMVs.<ref name=video/>
 
  
 
==Game data==
 
==Game data==
Line 90: Line 71:
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 
|4k ultra hd wsgf award    = incomplete
 
|widescreen resolution      = hackable
 
|widescreen resolution      = hackable
−
|widescreen resolution notes= Use [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix].
+
|widescreen resolution notes= Use [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]].
 
|multimonitor              = unknown
 
|multimonitor              = unknown
 
|multimonitor notes        =  
 
|multimonitor notes        =  
 
|ultrawidescreen            = hackable
 
|ultrawidescreen            = hackable
−
|ultrawidescreen notes      = Use [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix].
+
|ultrawidescreen notes      = Use [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]].
 
|4k ultra hd                = hackable
 
|4k ultra hd                = hackable
−
|4k ultra hd notes          = Use [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix].
+
|4k ultra hd notes          = Use [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]].
 
|fov                        = false
 
|fov                        = false
 
|fov notes                  =  
 
|fov notes                  =  
 
|windowed                  = hackable
 
|windowed                  = hackable
−
|windowed notes            = See [[#Windowed|Windowed]].
+
|windowed notes            = Use [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]].
 
|borderless windowed        = hackable
 
|borderless windowed        = hackable
−
|borderless windowed notes  = See [[#Windowed|Windowed]].
+
|borderless windowed notes  = Use [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]].
 
|anisotropic                = false
 
|anisotropic                = false
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
 
|anisotropic notes          =  
−
|antialiasing              = hackable
+
|antialiasing              = false
−
|antialiasing notes        = See [[#Anti-aliasing (AA)|Anti-aliasing (AA)]].
+
|antialiasing notes        =  
−
|vsync                      = hackable
+
|vsync                      = false
−
|vsync notes                = Enabled by default. Can be forced off.
+
|vsync notes                =  
 
|60 fps                    = hackable
 
|60 fps                    = hackable
−
|60 fps notes              = Frame rate is capped at 30 FPS. See [[#High frame rate|High frame rate]].
+
|60 fps notes              = Use [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]].
 
|120 fps                    = false
 
|120 fps                    = false
−
|120 fps notes              = Too high frame rate breaks the game.
+
|120 fps notes              =  
 
|hdr                        = unknown
 
|hdr                        = unknown
 
|hdr notes                  =  
 
|hdr notes                  =  
Line 119: Line 100:
 
}}
 
}}
  
−
===[[Glossary:Windowed|Windowed]]===
+
===Increase noise effect resolution===
−
{{Fixbox|description=Force windowed mode|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Change IncreaseNoiseEffectRes|ref=<ref>[http://enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/config.htm#IncreaseNoiseEffectRes Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition - Configuration Examples]</ref>|fix=
−
# Install [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix].
+
# Install [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]].
−
# Go to the installation folder.
+
# Open <code>d3d8.ini</code>.
−
# Create <code>wndmode.ini</code> and start the game.
+
# Increase the <code>IncreaseNoiseEffectRes</code> value to <code>1024</code>, <code>2048</code>, or <code>4096</code>.
−
# Border can be toggled in <code>wndmode.ini</code>.
 
−
}}
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Glossary:Anti-aliasing (AA)|Anti-aliasing (AA)]]===
 
−
{{ii}} MSAA is not compatible with the [[#Fixing most major issues|WineD3D fix]]; another option is to force SMAA instead.
 
−
 
 
−
{{Fixbox|description=Force MSAA|ref={{cn|date=October 2016}}|fix=
 
−
# Install [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix].
 
−
# Start the game to automatically create <code>local.fix</code> to support driver-level AA.
 
−
# Force AA in the graphics card control panel.
 
−
}}
 
−
 
 
−
{{Fixbox|description=Force SMAA (with WineD3D)|ref={{cn|date=October 2017}}|fix=
 
−
# Apply the full [[#Fixing most major issues|WineD3D fix]] below.
 
−
# Download and open [https://reshade.me/ ReShade].
 
−
# Select <code>sh2pc.exe</code> and the OpenGL rendering API.
 
−
# Download the effects and install only <code>SMAA.fx</code>.
 
−
# Start the game and press {{key|Shift|F2}} to setup SMAA.
 
−
}}
 
−
 
 
−
===[[Glossary:Frame rate (FPS)|High frame rate]]===
 
−
{{--}} Changing the frame rate causes audio bugs when firing and reloading some weapons.
 
−
 
 
−
{{Fixbox|description=Change frame rate cap|ref={{cn|date=July 2016}}|fix=
 
−
# Install [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix].
 
−
# Open <code>SilentHill2.WidescreenFix.ini</code>.
 
−
# Change <code>FPSLimit = 30</code> to <code>FPSLimit = 60</code> or your desired value.
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 172: Line 126:
 
|full controller notes    =  
 
|full controller notes    =  
 
|controller remap          = true
 
|controller remap          = true
−
|controller remap notes    = Use [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix] to assign multiple actions to any button.
+
|controller remap notes    = Use [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]] to assign multiple actions to any button.
 
|controller sensitivity    = false
 
|controller sensitivity    = false
 
|controller sensitivity notes=  
 
|controller sensitivity notes=  
Line 211: Line 165:
 
===[[Glossary:Controller|Controller support]]===
 
===[[Glossary:Controller|Controller support]]===
 
{{ii}} A fix is required for the game to recognize XInput LT/RT and D-pad when assigning controls.
 
{{ii}} A fix is required for the game to recognize XInput LT/RT and D-pad when assigning controls.
−
{{--}} Force feedback cannot be enabled for XInput controllers.
 
  
 
{{Fixbox|description=Add XInput support|ref={{cn|date=October 2016}}|fix=
 
{{Fixbox|description=Add XInput support|ref={{cn|date=October 2016}}|fix=
−
# If using [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix], rename {{file|dinput8.dll}} to {{file|d3d8.dll}}.
 
 
# Download and run [https://sites.google.com/site/0dd14lab/xinput-plus XInput Plus].
 
# Download and run [https://sites.google.com/site/0dd14lab/xinput-plus XInput Plus].
 
# Set the Target Program to <code>sh2pc.exe</code>.
 
# Set the Target Program to <code>sh2pc.exe</code>.
Line 323: Line 275:
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 
}}
 +
 +
==Issues unresolved==
 +
===Side effects playing the game at 60 FPS===
 +
{{--}} Some of the game's elements play too quickly or bug out.<ref name="60fpsBugs">[https://github.com/elishacloud/Silent-Hill-2-Enhancements/issues/28 https://github.com/elishacloud/Silent-Hill-2-Enhancements/issues/28 Side effects playing the game at 60 FPS · Issue #28 · elishacloud/Silent-Hill-2-Enhancements]</ref>
 +
{{--}} The handgun and shotgun bullet casing sound effects don't play correctly.<ref name="60fpsBugs"/>
 +
 +
===No soft shadows===
 +
{{--}} The PC version lacks soft shadows present in the PlayStation 2 version.
  
 
==Issues fixed==
 
==Issues fixed==
−
===Fixing most major issues===
+
===Music fades randomly and sound loops===
−
{{ii}} Issues: white textures, music fades randomly and sound loops, missing fog at the beginning of the game, missing graphical overlays, slow transitions, black lines appearing on faces, flashlight illuminates objects behind James, crashes, slow camera speed, "Maria" ending has buggy shadows and no fog, and chunks of environments missing when a camera is fixed close to a wall.
+
{{ii}} The game can only run stably on a single core.
  
−
{{Fixbox|description=Fix issues|ref=<ref>[http://widescreenfix.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/ Silent Hill 2 PC Widescreen Fix Installation Guide]</ref>|fix=
+
{{Fixbox|description=Limit the game to one CPU core|ref={{cn|date=August 2018}}|fix=
−
# Download [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix].
+
# Install [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]].
−
# Copy <code>dinput8.dll</code> and the <code>scripts</code> folder to the installation folder.
+
# Open <code>d3d8.ini</code> and ensure <code>SingleCoreAffinity = 1</code> is set.
−
# Rename <code>dinput8.dll</code> to <code>d3d8.dll</code>.
 
−
# Download [https://fdossena.com/?p=wined3d/index.frag WineD3D for Windows].
 
−
# Copy <code>d3d9.dll</code>, <code>libwine.dll</code>, and <code>wined3d.dll</code> to <code>{{p|game}}\scripts\</code>.
 
−
# Download [https://github.com/elishacloud/LoadWineD3D-ASI/releases LoadWineD3D ASI].
 
−
# Copy <code>LoadWineD3D.asi</code> to <code>{{p|game}}\scripts\</code>.
 
−
# Create a file named <code>global.ini</code> in <code>{{p|game}}\scripts\</code> with the following content.
 
−
<pre>[GlobalSets]
 
−
UseD3D8to9=1</pre>
 
 
}}
 
}}
  
 
===Game hangs at startup===
 
===Game hangs at startup===
−
{{ii}} On Windows 7, having single core affinity enabled through the [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix] may prevent the game from running.
+
{{ii}} On Windows 7, having single core affinity enabled through [[#Silent Hill 2 Enhancements|Silent Hill 2 Enhancements]] may prevent the game from running.
  
 
{{Fixbox|description=Disable SingleCoreAffinity on Windows 7|ref=<ref>[https://github.com/AeroWidescreen/NFS-SH-WidescreenFixWiki/wiki/3.-Troubleshooting#silent-hill-2 Troubleshooting · AeroWidescreen/NFS-SH-WidescreenFixWiki Wiki]</ref>|fix=
 
{{Fixbox|description=Disable SingleCoreAffinity on Windows 7|ref=<ref>[https://github.com/AeroWidescreen/NFS-SH-WidescreenFixWiki/wiki/3.-Troubleshooting#silent-hill-2 Troubleshooting · AeroWidescreen/NFS-SH-WidescreenFixWiki Wiki]</ref>|fix=
−
# Go to <code>{{p|game}}\scripts\</code>.
+
# Go to the installation folder.
−
# Open <code>SilentHill2.WidescreenFix.ini</code>.
+
# Open <code>d3d8.ini</code>.
 
# Change <code>SingleCoreAffinity = 1</code> to <code>SingleCoreAffinity = 0</code>.
 
# Change <code>SingleCoreAffinity = 1</code> to <code>SingleCoreAffinity = 0</code>.
 
# Doing this will require [http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/change-the-processor-affinity-setting-in-windows-7-to-gain-a-performance-edge/ manually changing] the single core affinity from Task Manager every time you run the game.
 
# Doing this will require [http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/windows-and-office/change-the-processor-affinity-setting-in-windows-7-to-gain-a-performance-edge/ manually changing] the single core affinity from Task Manager every time you run the game.
 +
}}
 +
 +
===Clicking or popping sound effects===
 +
{{Fixbox|description=Use IndirectSound|ref=<ref>[http://enhanced.townofsilenthill.com/SH2/index.htm#installIndirectSound Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition - Installation Guide]</ref>|fix=
 +
# Download [http://www.indirectsound.com/downloads.html IndirectSound].
 +
# Copy <code>dsound.dll</code> and <code>dsound.ini</code> to the installation folder.
 +
# Open <code>dsound.ini</code>.
 +
# Change <code>earlyStopFadeOutTime = 0</code> to <code>earlyStopFadeOutTime = 0.002</code>.
 
}}
 
}}
  
Line 382: Line 342:
 
|64-bit executable      = false
 
|64-bit executable      = false
 
|64-bit executable notes=  
 
|64-bit executable notes=  
−
}}
 
−
 
−
===Use Fog Fix alongside Widescreen Fix===
 
−
{{Fixbox|description=Use both fixes together|ref={{cn|date=October 2016}}|fix=
 
−
# Install [https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Widescreen Fix] to the installation folder.
 
−
# Download [http://ps2wide.net/pc.html#sh2 Silent Hill 2 Fog Fix].
 
−
# Copy {{file|sh2.dll}} and {{file|sh2fog.ini}} to <code>{{p|game}}\scripts\</code> (password: sh2).
 
−
# Rename {{file|sh2.dll}} to {{file|sh2.asi}} and start the game.
 
 
}}
 
}}
  

Revision as of 02:43, 1 September 2018

Template:Infobox game/row/winporter
Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut
Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut cover
Developers
Team Silent
Publishers
Konami
Release dates
Windows December 2, 2002
Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut guide on StrategyWiki
Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut on Wikipedia
Icon overlay.png
Silent Hill
Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut 2002
Silent Hill 3 2003
Silent Hill 4: The Room 2004
Silent Hill: Homecoming 2008
Silent Hill 2 2024

Key points

Unofficial mods enhance the game and make it more playable on modern systems.
Silent Hill 2 PC comes with improved flashlight lighting, a quick-save function, real-time weapon swapping, and a movie gallery.
Frame rate is capped at 30 FPS; use Silent Hill 2 Enhancements to fix.

General information

Silent Hill Wiki - A wiki for the series
Silent Hill Memories - Informative site
Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition Installation Guide

Availability

Source DRM Notes Keys OS
Retail
Disc check (requires the CD/DVD in the drive to play)
 SecuROM 4 DRM. Patch 1.1 removes the DRM.
Released on 3 CDs.
Windows
There are two versions: the North American version and the European Director's Cut version. If the title screen lacks "Director's Cut" on it, it's the North American version. Both versions include the extra scenario Born from a Wish along with an extra UFO ending.

Essential improvements

Silent Hill 2 running at 1920x1080
Silent Hill 2 running at 1920x1080

Silent Hill 2 Enhancements

Silent Hill 2 Enhancements is a collection of unofficial mods which implements widescreen resolution support, adds PlayStation 2 quality audio and fog that were missing from the PC version, improves controller support and much more.[1]
See also Enhanced Edition Essential Files and Enhanced EXE.

Silent Hill 2 Audio Enhancement Pack

The PC version's audio is compressed and lacks detail in comparison to the PlayStation 2 version.[2]
The Audio Enhancement Pack replaces the PC version's audio files with the original, higher quality PlayStation 2 ones.

Silent Hill 2 FMV Enhancement Pack

The PC version's FMVs have a reduction in quality compared to the console versions.[3]
The FMV Enhancement Pack improves the quality and upscales the resolution of the FMVs.

Game data

Configuration file(s) location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\[Note 1]
keyconf.dat stores input bindings.
language.ini stores language settings.
options.ini stores gameplay and volume settings.
settings.ini stores video and audio settings.

Save game data location

System Location
Windows <path-to-game>\data\save\[Note 1]

Video settings

Video settings
Video settings

Template:Video settings

Increase noise effect resolution

Change IncreaseNoiseEffectRes[4]
  1. Install Silent Hill 2 Enhancements.
  2. Open d3d8.ini.
  3. Increase the IncreaseNoiseEffectRes value to 1024, 2048, or 4096.

Input settings

Template:Input settings

Controller support

A fix is required for the game to recognize XInput LT/RT and D-pad when assigning controls.
Add XInput support[citation needed]
  1. Download and run XInput Plus.
  2. Set the Target Program to sh2pc.exe.
  3. Go to DirectInput and check Enable DirectInput Output.
  4. Assign LT/RT to Button 11/12.
  5. Assign DPAD to Button 13-16.
  6. Click Apply and OK.

Audio settings

Template:Audio settings

May require DirectSound3D restoration software to restore hardware-accelerated 3D sound functionality on Windows Vista and later.

Localizations

Language UI Audio Sub Notes
English
French
German
Italian
Polish
Brazilian Portuguese
Russian
Arabic
Spanish

Issues unresolved

Side effects playing the game at 60 FPS

Some of the game's elements play too quickly or bug out.[5]
The handgun and shotgun bullet casing sound effects don't play correctly.[5]

No soft shadows

The PC version lacks soft shadows present in the PlayStation 2 version.

Issues fixed

Music fades randomly and sound loops

The game can only run stably on a single core.
Limit the game to one CPU core[citation needed]
  1. Install Silent Hill 2 Enhancements.
  2. Open d3d8.ini and ensure SingleCoreAffinity = 1 is set.

Game hangs at startup

On Windows 7, having single core affinity enabled through Silent Hill 2 Enhancements may prevent the game from running.
Disable SingleCoreAffinity on Windows 7[6]
  1. Go to the installation folder.
  2. Open d3d8.ini.
  3. Change SingleCoreAffinity = 1 to SingleCoreAffinity = 0.
  4. Doing this will require manually changing the single core affinity from Task Manager every time you run the game.

Clicking or popping sound effects

Use IndirectSound[7]
  1. Download IndirectSound.
  2. Copy dsound.dll and dsound.ini to the installation folder.
  3. Open dsound.ini.
  4. Change earlyStopFadeOutTime = 0 to earlyStopFadeOutTime = 0.002.

"Insert a disc" message in the ending

Rename ending.bik[8]
  1. Go to <path-to-game>\data\movie\.
  2. Rename ending.bik to end.bik.

Other information

API

Technical specs Supported Notes
Direct3D 8
Executable 32-bit 64-bit Notes
Windows

Make James run without slowing down

Apply unlimited stamina hack[9]
  1. Open sh2pc.exe with a hex editor such as HxD.
  2. Press Ctrl+G and go to the address 001356D1.
  3. Change the value CF to C8 and save the changes.

Disable background fog

Disable fogging[10]
  1. Download and run DxWnd.
  2. Click on Edit, then Add.
  3. Set the path to <path-to-game>\sh2pc.exe
  4. Disable Run in Window.
  5. Click on the Direct3D tab and enable Disable Fogging.
  6. Click OK, File, Save, and start the game with DxWnd running.

Add icon to executable file

sh2pc.exe may have no icon set by default.
Set icon with Rcedit[11]
  1. Download Rcedit depending on your OS bitness, and copy it to <path-to-game>.
  2. Download sh2_newicon.zip and extract sh2_new.ico to <path-to-game>.
  3. Open a Command Prompt.
  4. Type in and enter cd <path-to-game>.
    • Replace <path-to-game> with the actual path; e.g. cd C:\Games\Silent Hill 2.
  5. Type in and enter rcedit-x64.exe sh2pc.exe --set-icon sh2_new.ico.
    • If you use the 32-bit version, replace rcedit-x64.exe with rcedit-x86.exe above.

System requirements

Windows
Minimum Recommended
Operating system (OS) 98, 2000, ME, XP
Processor (CPU) AMD Athlon - 700 MHz
Intel Pentium - 700 MHz		 AMD Athlon - 1 GHz
Intel Pentium - 1 GHz
System memory (RAM) 64 MB 128 MB
Hard disk drive (HDD) 1.8 GB 2.3 GB
Video card (GPU) 32 MB of VRAM
DirectX 8.1 compatible 		64 MB of VRAM

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 When running this game without elevated privileges (Run as administrator option), write operations against a location below %PROGRAMFILES%, %PROGRAMDATA%, or %WINDIR% might be redirected to %LOCALAPPDATA%\VirtualStore on Windows Vista and later (more details).

References