No, you can use any aspect ratio you'd like.

Option 1: SSAA (Render Resolution)

• Go to the game's Options > Advanced Options menu and increase the Render Resolution above 1.0.

Our project allows you to scale the render resolution from the game's display resolution. Render scaling involves adjusting the internal rendering resolution of the game without changing the output resolution of the display. A factor of 1.0 is default, or no scaling.

When scaled above 1.0, the game will render its image larger than the output resolution and then downsample (shrink) the image to fit. This is known as SSAA, or supersampling anti-aliasing, and is one of the best forms of anti-aliasing but can cost a lot of system resources to perform, depending on your computer hardware and how high the scaling factor is set.

When scaled below 1.0, the game will render its image smaller than the output resolution and upsample (enlarge) the image to fit the output resolution. This may increase performance but will create a blurry, pixelated, "low res" game image as a result.

Option 2: SMAA (DirectX 9 Shader)

• Ensure DisplayDirectXRun the game in DirectX 9 is enabled through the Configuration Tool (SH2EEconfig.exe) found at <path-to-game>.
• Enable DisplayShadersSMAA (anti-aliasing) through the Configuration Tool (SH2EEconfig.exe) found at <path-to-game>.

Our project includes a built-in SMAA shader. Subpixel morphological anti-aliasing (SMAA) is a post-process filter that provides decent anti-aliasing but will slightly blur text and HUD elements. In regards to performance, SMAA is a low impact anti-aliasing solution, which makes it an ideal use for weaker or older computers that are wanting to use anti-aliasing.

The sh2e folder is used to hold our custom, modified game files. Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition will check and use files in the sh2e folder, rather than the data folder, whenever possible. This way, we never replace/overwrite the original game files, which are found in the data folder.

Any game files which we have not modified will still be read from the data folder like normal, so you must keep the data folder and leave it untouched.

(The Enhanced Edition Essential Files, Image Enhancement Pack, FMV Enhancement Pack, and Audio Enhancement Pack files are all stored within the sh2e folder.)

To play Silent Hill 2 in a language not offered by the game, you must download a fan-made translation pack, which will replace a preexisting language in the game's Options menu.

The lang folder is used to hold a translation pack's language files. Silent Hill 2: Enhanced Edition will check and use language files in the lang folder, rather than the data or sh2e folder. This way, a translation pack's files will not replace/overwrite the original language files found in the data folder, and are not themselves at risk of being replaced/overwritten from a project update that may affect the sh2e folder.

(You will only see the lang folder if you downloaded a fan-made translation pack.)

Yes. Simply press Print Screen on your keyboard while playing to take a screenshot. Images will save to <path-to-game>\imgs\ in PNG format at the current resolution the game is using.

You will need to enable your computer to show known file type extensions, which is disabled by default for Windows. Use this guide to show known file type extensions for Windows 10, 8, and 7.

No. You must fully exit the game, adjust settings through the Configuration Tool (SH2EEconfig.exe) found at <path-to-game>, then re-launch the game to see your adjusted settings take effect.

The Setup Tool (SH2EEsetup.exe) might be erroneously flagged as malware by your antivirus software (also known as a "false positive"). Create an exception through your antivirus software to download and run the Setup Tool. For your safety, the Setup Tool should only ever be downloaded by you from this website. Do not download the Setup Tool from another source—this is a safe practice for using the Internet in general.

Wait up to 60 seconds after launching the game.

Ensure your antivirus software is not preventing the game from running.

Do not use other files/packages that are not a part of our project. Using outside files/packages will likely create conflicts and errors with our project. Refer to the Directory Tree of New Files to ensure you only have our project files installed.

Windows may automatically change your audio output source to your controller's built-in speaker (such as for the DualShock 4 or DualSense controller) upon connecting your controller to your PC. If this happens, the game may freeze/crash on launch. Ensure Windows is set to use the correct audio output source. This must be done prior to launching Silent Hill 2 PC.

This can be a result from setting the game's resolution to a size that's different than your display's native resolution when playing in fullscreen windowed or fullscreen mode. There are a few options to fix this:

Easy method

Choose either of the options below:

• Set the game's resolution to match your display's native resolution.
• Play in windowed mode. This will allow you to use different resolutions without issue.

Advanced method

• Set your GPU to handle image scaling with its scaling mode set to aspect ratio. This will allow you to play in fullscreen windowed or fullscreen mode using different resolutions while preserving the game's visuals/aspect ratio. More information on this process can be found here.

Play in fullscreen mode to help mitigate this issue. When playing in windowed or fullscreen windowed mode, Windows is still computing and managing all other applications on screen, even the ones that cannot be seen. When playing in fullscreen mode, Windows reduces the processing time these other applications get, which can increase performance for the game.

This may be caused by the restored fog visuals, which is one of the most resource-demanding features of the game.

Disable GraphicsFogRestore 3D fog levels through the Configuration Tool (SH2EEconfig.exe) found at <path-to-game>. Disabling this feature will revert the fog effects back to their original, lower values.

Close any software on your computer that is using a lot of system resources.

If your computer uses both an integrated graphics processor and a dedicated graphics card, ensure Silent Hill 2 PC is set to run using your dedicated graphics card. More information on this process can be found here.

Play the game at a lower resolution. You can change the resolution by going to the game's Options > Advanced Options menu.

Reduce or set Render Resolution scaling to a factor of 1.0 or lower. You can change the Render Resolution by going to the game's Options > Advanced Options menu.

Disable your anti-aliasing solution for the game, if you are using any.

If Silent Hill 2 PC is installed to an admin-protected directory, such as Program Files (x86), you must run the game as an administrator in order to save your game progress.

Ensure AdvancedAdvancedAdmin privilege checker is enabled through the Configuration Tool (SH2EEconfig.exe) found at <path-to-game> to have the game run as administrator if it detects it's installed within an admin-protected directory.

Your save folder might be corrupted. Go to <path-to-game>\data\save\ and delete the Folder 01 folder. Do not create a new Folder 01 folder. Launch the game, and you should then be able to save your progress. (The game will create a new Folder 01 for you.)

For Windows 10/11

When using DSOAL, you will need to disable Windows spatial sound, Windows audio enhancements, and allowing applications to take exclusive control of your audio device.

• Go to the Sound Settings app screen.
• Select the audio output device you wish to play the game's audio through under the Choose your output device dropdown list.
• Click the Device properties link under your selected audio output device. This will take you to a new screen.
• Under the Spatial sound format section, choose Off in the dropdown list.
• Click the Additional device properties link to the right of this window. This will open a new window.
• Click the Enhancements tab (if applicable) and check/enable the Disable all enhancements option.
• Click the Advanced tab and uncheck/disable the Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device option.
• Apply all changes.

Ensure the volume levels are turned up in the game's Options menu.

Windows may automatically change your audio output source to your controller's built-in speaker (such as the DualShock 4 or DualSense controller) once connected. Ensure Windows is set to use the correct audio output source. This must be done prior to launching Silent Hill 2 PC.

Make sure your sample rates within alsoft.ini match your speaker's sample rate. You can determine your speaker's sample rate by going to the Additional speaker properties window of your audio device and clicking the Advanced tab.

By default, DSOAL uses 44100Hz for its sample rate. If you want to use 48000Hz, for example, set frequency=48000 and default-hrtf=Built-In 48000hz in the alsoft.ini file.

Silent Hill 2 PC detects and uses the first controller you connect to your computer. Disconnect any other controllers that are connected to your PC prior to launching the game. This may include wireless dongles, receivers, or non-gamepad peripherals that are detected as controllers by your PC. You may need to then disconnect and reconnect the controller you wish to use. This is the most common reason why the game does not detect the gamepad.

If you're using a wireless controller, try plugging the controller directly into to your PC for a wired connection. This is typically done by connecting the controller to your PC via the controller's USB port.

Ensure you've installed all necessary drivers for Windows to detect your controller. This is typically done for you automatically by Windows when you first connect the controller to your PC and let Windows auto-search for the necessary drivers online.

You can also visit the manufacturer's website of your controller to see if they provide Windows drivers for the controller on their site.

If using an XInput controller, install Xidi.

Vibration is not guaranteed to work with DirectInput controllers.

Ensure InputVibrationRestore vibration is enabled through the Configuration Tool (SH2EEconfig.exe) found at <path-to-game>.

Ensure you've enabled vibration in the game's Options menu.

If using a wireless controller, ensure its battery levels are not too low. Some wireless controllers will disable vibration when the battery levels are too low.

Ensure you've selected the correct controller type for InputControllerController type for search cam movement through the Configuration Tool (SH2EEconfig.exe) found at <path-to-game>.

Ensure the following options are enabled through the Configuration Tool (SH2EEconfig.exe) found at <path-to-game>:

• InputMouseEnhance mouse input
• InputMouseEnable mouse weapon swap

Rotational (3D) movement style—also known as "tank controls"—must be used in order to control the character with the mouse. Character movement with the mouse is disabled when using Directional (2D) movement style. You can set movement style in the game's Options menu.

In order for mouse clicks and its scroll wheel to work with the game, you must assign the functions listed below to keyboard inputs through the game's Options > Control Options menu. Once assigned to keyboard inputs, the mouse will function as follows:

• Action/Confirm: Left click
• Ready Weapon: Right click during regular gameplay
• Cancel: Right click during text prompts and menus
• Next Weapon: Scroll wheel up
• Previous Weapon: Scroll wheel down