The Last of Us and Silent Hill 2 Taught Me There’s No Right Way to Grieve

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Creative expression manifests itself in various shapes, affecting individuals differently. Throughout my lifetime, I’ve solely utilized video games for amusement, given my upbringing only exposed me to this form of entertainment. However, things changed when I shielded an immune girl from zombies and confronted my own fears within that town.

Initially, I experienced “Silent Hill 2” on the PS3 HD Collection Edition, and it was the subtle eeriness, heavy ambiance, and chilling fog that captivated me. In that thick mist, we all harbor our personal torments; some are more hidden than others. However, my age at the time influenced my perspective of “The Last of Us” and “Silent Hill”. I was 14 when I played these games in 2013, and I was astonished by their complex narratives, but I didn’t connect to them beyond feeling sympathetic towards the characters. As a typical teenager grappling with identity issues, I hadn’t yet faced significant loss.

As a gamer, I conquered The Last of Us Part II when it dropped in 2020, an experience that was downright heart-wrenching, making the journey even more grueling amidst the global pandemic. Leaving behind the desolate streets of Seattle, I found myself awestruck by what I’d just witnessed, but then a freight train struck me – hard. My dear nan departed in 2021, and it was at that moment that the weight of life’s fragility, our fleeting existence on Earth, and the unavoidable reality of death truly smacked me. Four years later, and time seems frozen, like I’m stuck in a still frame of that fateful day.

In this scenario, distractions play a significant role. You see, life is teeming with them, and they serve as a shield, preventing us from scrutinizing the larger picture for too long, as it could burst our bubble of tranquility and security. The transformation towards a more solitary world, devoid of connection and community, has led to a quest for something, anything, to momentarily fill that insatiable void within. However, everything around me is a distraction, and it’s costly to experience even fleeting happiness. Therefore, I find myself revisiting my own ‘Silent Hill’ once a month, aimlessly wandering in what was once a serene place now shrouded in fog.

After gaining a fresh viewpoint that I’m not particularly fond of, I dived back into “The Last of Us Part II” and also played “Silent Hill 2 Remake”, experiencing these games in a completely new light this time. The content resonated with me more deeply than before. The eerie atmosphere of Fog World feels strangely familiar to me, making it easy for me to empathize with James. I can identify with Ellie as well, sharing her feelings of frustration and anger towards the world’s current state. What was once a welcome break from my retail job, now fills me with resentment, as I blame the pandemic for the sudden disappearance of my family.

In the games The Last of Us and Silent Hill, there are fearsome monsters, but their narratives delve into the complexities of losing loved ones. How one copes with grief is largely a matter of perspective. For instance, Ellie harbored anger towards the world for taking away her time with Joel, her father figure, while James buried his guilt so deeply that he forgot the circumstances surrounding his wife Mary’s death. Both characters sought resolution, encountering their inner demons and creating new challenges in the process. These tales of acceptance poignantly illustrate the different stages of grief; The Last of Us Part II and Silent Hill 2 helped me understand it’s alright to not be at peace immediately.

It seems that I’ve become overly sensitive towards death, causing strong emotions even from the smallest signs like flickering lights going out. The swiftness of it all is chilling, much like the creatures in James Sunderland’s Fog World. I find myself trapped, burdened by guilt for things beyond my grasp, as time slips away while I hold back on fully living and pursuing what I desire. I recognize aspects of myself in Ellie’s loss of control and James’ feelings of being lost; I can relate to both, and it brings me comfort knowing that my emotions are shared by others, whether they be real or fictional.

In many cases, folks don’t get the opportunity for a farewell. Fortunately, Ellie and James managed to move forward, acknowledging their actions and understanding they couldn’t alter the past. By the end, they had come to terms with their loss. Abby’s narrative too, demonstrated that seeking revenge doesn’t restore what was lost (as Ellie discovered), instead, she eventually finds a fresh motivation for life, much like Joel did with Ellie. Love and sorrow are intertwined, so one must be ready to embrace the happiness love brings, knowing it also brings the certainty of heartache.

The games such as The Last of Us (TLOU) and Silent Hill 2 (SH2) have taught me that loss is a reality that impacts everyone, yet it doesn’t mean I should ever accept or get used to it. Life goes on, but everything eventually ends, however, these horror games remind me that there are no strict guidelines for grieving a lost loved one and no fixed timeline to move past it. I am grateful for them because they provide a platform for reflection and learning, while leaving an indelible impression, helping me navigate my own personal struggles. Without such impactful games that serve as stepping stones for self-discovery, I would still be trapped in my own realm of fogginess.

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2025-07-10 00:41