IV : The Emperor

Visual Concept

The mist and darkness that blur the line between dream and reality

   Mist and darkness have become symbols of the Silent Hill series. It is not the case that these elements are present merely to frighten the player. Mist and darkness obstruct the horizon by creating a condition in which visibility is limited. In other words, the boundary between heaven and earth is obscured, which suggests a blurring of the line between dream and reality.
 

The mist is a symbol of Silent Hill. It can also be interpreted as the thoughts of the dead rising up from the lake and settling over the town.
 


 

Mist

In the first game, the production used hardware limitations to an advantage.

Darkness

The darkness that deprives one of one's field of vision evokes an instinctual terror.
 
Noise and camerawork that represent mental distortion and blur

   While on one hand elements such as mist and darkness are plainly visible,
when these elements are presented production design is included even in the
technical effects. For example, the noise that produces a sense of reality
and atmosphere expresses the grittiness of the psychological aspect involved
and heightens the intensity in accordance with the progression of the story.
Additionally, if one pays attention to the camerawork, one might notice that
the way it shifts to the protagonist's point of view at times expresses a
sense of confusion and anxiety.
 

In the first game, from the outset the camera position moves freely and draws in the player.
 
Noise

The purpose of this effect is to eliminate any "CGishness," but it also manages to disturb the player's psyche.

Framing

A demo scene from Silent Hill 2 that makes use of a particularly slanted point of view. It indicates the mental state of the characters that appear in the scene.

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