Tuesday 1 November 2016

Video Game Character of the Month - November 2016 - Pyramid Head - Silent Hill

Video Game Character of the Month
November 2016
Pyramid Head
Silent Hill


Overview:
It's Halloween as I write this and I've been asked to do a Halloween inspired Video Game Character of the Month. Great. *shudder*. It's marketing I guess, but still. *shudder*, I can't speak to this guy either just like last month. At least I've got no guilty regrets it can use. Right? *shudder* *shudder* *crash* *gulp*. Maybe I'll do this part running.
And now for a bit of information on *gulp* Pyramid Head.


Originated in Silent Hill 2
Is the incarnation of James's (the main protagonist) wish to be punished for his wife, Mary's, death
Also known as the Red Pyramid Thing, Red Pyramid, Bogeyman and Sankaku Atama (Triangle Head)
Does not speak
Grunts and moans in pain
Has a pyramid as a head
Holds a Great Knife and a spear
Wears a robe reminiscent of a butcher's smock
Is a sort of grotesque penance for Mary's death 
Dabbles in sports and kart racing outside of Silent Hill
Appearance stems from a picture of an executioner James saw and due to the history of the place as a place of execution
The triangle points could represent the possibility of pain
Is presented as overly masculine compared to the other creatures of Silent Hill
Is an executioner of Maria - James' imaginary representation of Mary
Is seen by many as being one of the scariest monsters in Silent Hill and survival horror games in general

Origin of Pyramid Head:
In real life, Pyramid Head is the creation of Masahiro Ito, the designer of Silent Hill 2's monsters. His design is a monster with a hidden face. Ito originally drew him as a man with a mask but turned the design into a monster with a pyramid head as he was unhappy with the original designs. The triangles acute and right angles can be seen as points of pain. Takayoshi Sato (the character designer for Silent Hill 2) believes that Pyramid Head is a distorted memory of the executioners. In the game, Pyramid Head is a realisation of James' wish to be punished for his sins. 

Evolution of Pyramid Head:
Pyramid Head becomes the Bogeyman in Silent Hill: Homecoming although only appears in non-interactive scenes. He is, in this game, the embodiment of a myth parents would tell their children to keep them out of trouble. He appears as well in Silent Hill: The Arcade as a boss and Silent Hill: The Escape but with a composite design as the Butcher. Another monster, similar to the Butcher is seen in Silent Hill: Origins (where he can actually be fought and killed). His most terrifying realisation is an unlockable character in New International Track & Field in super-deformed or Chibi style (a look he reprises in Krazy Kart Racing).

Games:
Silent Hill 2 released (North America) on September 24th, 2001/(Japan) on September 27th, 2001/(Europe) on November 23rd, 2001 on PlayStation 2
Silent Hill 2: Director's Cut: released (North America) on December 19th, 2001/(Japan) on February 22, 2002/(Europe) on October 4th, 2002 on Xbox/(Japan) on July 4th, 2002/(North America) on November 17th, 2002/(Europe) on February 28th, 2003 on PlayStation 2/(North America) on December 2, 2002/(Europe) on February 28th, 2003 on PC
Silent Hill: The Arcade released (Japan) on July 25th, 2007/(Europe) on 2008 in the arcade
Silent Hill: Origins released (North America) on November 6th, 2007/(Europe) on November 16th, 2007/(Australia) on November 30th, 2007/(Japan) on December 6th, 2007 on PSP/(North America) on March 4th, 2008/(Europe) on May 16th, 2008/(Australia) on May 23rd, 2008 on PlayStation 2
Silent Hill: The Escape: released (Japan) on December 19th, 2007 on FOMA/(World Wide) on January 22nd, 2009 on iPhone
New International Track & Field released (Europe) on June 20th, 2008/(North America) on July 22nd, 2008/(Japan) on July 24th, 2008 on Nintendo DS
Silent Hill: Homecoming: released (North America) on September 30th, 2008/(Europe) on February 27th, 2009/(Australia) on March 19th, 2009 (PS3) and on May 12th, 2009 (Xbox 360) on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360/(North America) on November 6th, 2008/(Europe) on February 27th, 2009/(Australia) March 26th, 2009 on PC
Krazy Kart Racers released (North America) on August 31st, 2009 on iOS/(North America) on August 17th, 2011 on Android
Silent Hill HD Collection (Silent Hill 2 part) released (North America) on March 20th, 2012/(Japan) on March 29th, 2012/(Europe) on March 30th, 2012/(Australia) on April 5th, 2012 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
Silent Hill: Downpour released (North America) on March 13th, 2012/(Europe) on March 30th, 2012/(Australia) on April 5th, 2012/(Japan) on November 8th, 2012 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360
Silent Hill: Book of Memories released (North America) on October 16th, 2012/(Europe) on November 2nd, 2012/(Australia) on November 8th, 2012/(Japan) on February 14th, 2013 on PlayStation Vita

Well, that's all on Pyramid Head but, as always, if I've missed something/made a mistake then please don't hesitate to comment! Also, if you have a suggestion for a future winner of the prestigious VGCOTM award then please comment that as well! Can I stop running yet?

Thanks for reading, Satamer.

Sources: 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyramid_Head
The Wikipedia pages of the respective games listed

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