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Red Pyramid Things, popularly known as Pyramid Heads, are monsters from the Silent Hill franchise by Konami, released as part of the Silent Hill DLC pack of Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals. As one of the most iconic entities of the Silent Hill series, the Red Pyramid Thing serves as the portal icon of "Silent Sacrifice", and two of them are summoned as the relentless bosses of that level.
Description[]
Created by James Sunderland's subconscious desire to be punished for his sins, Red Pyramid Things are the distorted memory of the executioners of Silent Hill's dark past. They are humanoids that wear torn butcher’s attire, white gloves, boots, and the striking headgear that gives them their name, massive, triangular, blood-red iron helmets that encase their entire heads. While occasionally seen wielding spears in the games they came from, they are more known for using "The Great Knife", a giant butcher's cleaver shaped like half of a scissors, with the back of the knife being more rusted than the front. Despite being capable of swinging and thrusting these blades with just one hand, Red Pyramid Things are mostly seen dragging their Great Knives along the ground due to their weight, only lifting their weapons when they are about to attack. Occasionally, the bottom-left corner of the front of their helmets would peel up in a paranormal manner, allowing them to protrude their long tongues to attack their victims, though the Red Pyramid Things have, at times, been erroneously depicted with a hole on the front of their helmets for their tongue to slither out of.
For Monsters & Mortals, the design of the Red Pyramid Things is mostly based off of their debut appearance in Silent Hill 2, though their more muscular form is based on later incarnations of the character, while the design of their knives and the hole in the front of their helmets reference the spin-off game, Silent Hill: Book of Memories.
Behavior[]
The behavior of the Red Pyramid Things in Monsters & Mortals is based on how they acted in the Silent Hill series. Powerful yet slow due to their literal and figurative burden, Red Pyramid Things relentlessly stalk their potential victims to trap and punish them via swift execution, apathetically moving from one sinner to the next.
When Boss Time in Silent Sacrifice is activated, two Red Pyramid Things spawn in, causing the entirety of Silent Hill to darken and transition into the Otherworld, a possibly parallel or nonparallel plane of existence dominated by blood, decaying organic matter, and rusted metal. Red Pyramid Things are hostile to all characters except for monsters in Maze Escape mode (completely ignoring them like other bosses in Monsters & Mortals), being quick to strike nearby players with slashes and stabs. Once they have decided who to attack, they slowly stalk their target, dragging their knives on the ground, before quickly lunging forward, thrusting their blades into the target if they continue to flee. All direct attacks from their knives deal 50 damage. Should there be no nearby players to attack, the Red Pyramid Things would teleport away in red energy particles and reappear close to a player, presumably the one nearest to their location.
Occasionally, the Red Pyramid Things would stab their knives into the ground, causing glowing red runes in the form of the "Halo of the Sun" to spread across the ground around the stabbed area. Anyone standing on the Halo of the Sun will receive 10 damage as a cage immediately rises from the grated floor underneath them, stunning and trapping them for five seconds, leaving them open to further attacks from the Red Pyramid Things as well as any nearby Air Screamers and other players. Once Boss Time ends, the Red Pyramid Things teleport out, causing the Otherworld to fade away, reverting Silent Hill to its normal state.
Unlike most bosses, the Red Pyramid Things can be attacked by players, but since this does not damage them or even make them flinch, it is completely pointless to do so, thus, they are to be considered as invincible as most of the bosses in Monsters & Mortals.
Tactics[]
Against Red Pyramid Things[]
- The stunning "Halo of the Sun" shockwave generated by the Red Pyramid Things whenever they stab the ground can only spread out on grated floors (the Halo of the Sun causes a cage to rise from the grated floor under the victim, and this simply cannot happen where the ground is not grated). Since only the streets are turned into grated floors when Silent Hill transitions to the Otherworld, the player can evade the stunning attack by standing on sidewalks or otherwise avoiding the streets entirely, though it is better to simply stay out of the reach of the Halo of the Sun shockwave.
- Those being pursued by the Red Pyramid Things must focus on escape and not risk engaging with any monsters that are closely following the bosses, as this could only lead to them being directly attacked by the Red Pyramid Things, or trapped in a cage then ganged up on by the monsters, the bosses, and any nearby Air Screamers. Ranged mortals may be able to fight the monsters accompanying the Red Pyramid Things with less risk, though the attempt can still prove deadly given how fast, far, and sudden the bosses can lunge forward.
Using Red Pyramid Things[]
- When playing as a monster in Maze Escape mode, the player can consider the summoned bosses of the game their allies. Whenever possible, monster players should stick close to the Red Pyramid Things (essentially following them around like underlings, or using them like a shield), as not only would most mortals (except Ranged characters) hesitate to attack them given the presence of the bosses, monsters can also immediately capitalize on players stunned and caged by the Red Pyramid Things.
- Alternatively, if those playing as a monster are confident that they can survive potential fights, they can stand opposite of the Red Pyramid Things so they can trap targeted mortals between themselves and the bosses, potentially confusing their victims into making bad decisions, like running right into the range of a Halo of the Sun shockwave, or focusing on the monster player to the point that they forgot that the Red Pyramid Things can ambush them from behind with a quick lunge. In distracting and trapping them, the monsters can also deliberately try to prevent the mortals from leaving the street so that they can be caught by the bosses' Halo of the Sun shockwave (which, as outlined above, can only spread on grated areas).
Themes[]
- This is for the boss character. For the themes of the town of Silent Hill itself, see Silent Sacrifice.
Symbolism[]
| “ | I was weak. That's why I needed you... needed someone to punish me for my sins... but that's all over now... I know the truth. Now it's time to end this. | ” |
– James Sunderland, declaring that he no longer needs the Red Pyramid Things to haunt his conscience | ||
In the past, the town of Silent Hill was made for the sole purpose of being a place of execution. Most of the villagers were executioners, wearing white robes as well as red hoods to honor the likeness of their lord Valtiel, as well as to obscure their own actions from themselves. Over time, all that was remembered of the town were the executions, with Red Pyramid Things serving as the distorted memory of Silent Hill's executioners, immortalized by the various paintings and artifacts preserved in the Silent Hill Historical Society. One of these paintings, "Misty Day, Remains of the Judgement", has a stylized portrayal of an executioner with a spear, standing amongst corpses in hanging cages. This image ended up lingering in the mind of James Sunderland, the protagonist of Silent Hill 2.
Just as how most of the monsters in Dark Deception are meant to reflect Doug's sins, the Red Pyramid Things were meant to symbolize the wish of James Sunderland. Having repressed the memory of fatally suffocating Mary, his terminally-ill wife, James subconsciously longed to be punished for his sins. This lingering desire took the form of the stylized executioner he saw in "Misty Day, Remains of the Judgement", constantly appearing before James to expose his flaws and remind him of his forgotten guilt. The monster sent this message through his own violent actions, from abusing and slaughtering monsters with feminine qualities and murdering Maria, a woman who resembles Mary (and is likely also a mental construct imagined by James), to attacking and fighting James directly. When James killed the insane Eddie Dombrowski in self-defense, his guilt for taking yet another life manifested in the form of a second Red Pyramid Thing. Upon seeing Maria held and slain by them yet again, James realized their purpose, finally waking up from his delusions and declaring that he does not need them to fulfill his desire for punishment anymore. After fighting James for one last time to ensure the firmness of his resolve (as opposed to denying and burying the memory of his actions as he did before), the two Red Pyramid Things fatally impaled themselves on their spears, having finished their purpose of reminding James of what he did.
Since then, Red Pyramid Things, more popularly-known as Pyramid Heads, have gained a larger, more muscular build (they originally resembled James in physique in order to mirror him, at times even sharing his exact same grunts of pain), are depicted with more superhuman or otherwise more supernatural aspects, and served multiple roles as guardians, protectors, bogeymen, punishers of sinners, supervisors of trials, servants of Valtiel, and other general purposes, to the dismay of the creature's designer, Masahiro Ito, who has since regretted designing the monster despite it being one of his greatest creations. When he conceptualized the creature, Masahiro Ito intended the Red Pyramid Things to be for James and only for James, and now sees that, because of how Pyramid Head has essentially become the figurehead of the series, he has strayed far from his original purpose as a personal manifestation of one specific man's psyche, constantly reminding him of his humanity, his guilt.
Inspirations and Parallels[]
The Red Pyramid Things take inspiration from several concepts. Masahiro Ito wanted a monster that did not look human, that is, not merely resembling a human with a mask. As a tank enthusiast, he based the monster's helmet off of the lower hull of a World War 2 German "King Tiger" tank and other vehicles from that time period. The Red Pyramid Thing's role in Silent Hill 2 was inspired by a quote from Jacob's Ladder, while the Red Pyramid Thing's tongue (which occasionally slithers out of its helmet) was inspired by a sleeping man in the subway scene of that film. The hangmen from the movie Braveheart served as an inspiration for Silent Hill's executioners, which were remembered as a distorted memory in the form of the Red Pyramid Things.
While occasionally depicted as once being a man (like in one ending of Silent Hill: Homecoming, where two of them force a helmet on Alex Shepherd, making him one of them), Masahiro Ito said "He is not a man, but a creature",[1] a statement supported by the fact that he intended Red Pyramid Things to just be entities that James manifested out of guilt and desire to be punished. This is in sharp contrast to many of the monsters in Monsters & Mortals (Dark Deception-based or otherwise), most of which used to be humans who became monsters that reflect the greatest sin in their lives. In that regard, the Red Pyramid Things are more like the members of the Joy Joy Gang (Lucky, Hangry, Penny, Joy Kill), as they do not have human souls.
Phobias[]
As with most monsters in Dark Deception, Red Pyramid Things can be seen as a representation of various phobias.
| Phobia | Relevance |
|---|---|
| Aichmophobia Fear of Sharp Objects |
The iconic blood-red helmet of the Red Pyramid Things is meant to suggest pain given the sharp edges and corners of triangles. They are also known for wielding either the Great Knife or the Great Spear, the latter of which is a reference to one method of execution in Silent Hill's past. The town would offer the convicted one last choice of freedom, death by hanging, or death by skewering. This is what is known as a Morton's Fork, as both choices are equally unpleasant paths that lead to the same conclusion. This dilemma can be observed in Monsters & Mortals, as players can choose to either flee from the Red Pyramid Things or hit them, but since they do not take damage from anything, it is pointless all the same. Additionally, players can choose to fight other players and lose sight of the fact that they can easily be targeted by the Red Pyramid Things in the process, or they can instead fully focus on fleeing and risk being freely assaulted by the bosses, nearby Air Screamers, and other players. |
| Decidophobia Fear of Making Decisions | |
| Autophobia Fear of Oneself/Isolation |
The Red Pyramid Things are meant to not only be constant reminders of what James has done, but also reflections of James himself and his inner thoughts of self-punishment. Their original form had a physique much like James (as opposed to their more heavily-built appearances in later Silent Hill games and Monsters & Mortals), their Great Knife (which resembles half of a scissors) represents how James is no different from them (James can use their own knife in the game, but he was originally supposed to pick up a knife that mirrored what the Red Pyramid Things used), and, when attacking with a spear in Silent Hill 2, they sound exactly like James when he is hit by an enemy. |
| Cleithrophobia Fear of Being Trapped |
One painting depicting Silent Hill's dark past, "Misty Day, Remains of the Judgement", features a stylized portrayal of an executioner standing amidst dead people enclosed in hanging cages. This ended up influencing James, who envisioned his own demons in this form, hence, the Red Pyramid Things can be easily associated with cages. In Monsters & Mortals, the Red Pyramid Things may potentially stun a player by stabbing the ground and causing a cage to trap them for five seconds, leaving them at the mercy of the Red Pyramid Things, nearby Air Screamers, or other players. |
| Erotophobia Fear of Sexual Abuse |
Silent Hill 2 is full of feminine themes, showcasing the view of women as objects. The Red Pyramid Things, by contrast, are very masculine, and are shown dragging, abusing, attacking, and killing female figures, embodying sexual frustration and violence. Furthermore, twice in the game, the Red Pyramid Things kill Maria, just as how James ended the life of his wife for being a burden to him. The Red Pyramid Things stunning, caging, and mercilessly beating up players in Monsters & Mortals could be interpreted as a reflection (be it intentional or not) of their sexual abuse overtones in Silent Hill 2. |
| Megalophobia Fear of Large Objects and Entities |
Despite their tremendous size and power, Red Pyramid Things are sometimes seen and heard moaning, grabbing at their helmets, and laboriously dragging their Great Knives, symbolizing the weight and constant torment of sin, further reminding James of the burden of his actions, namely, the murder of his wife, and the killing of Eddie (even though it was in self-defense). |
| Thanatophobia Fear of Dying |
Red Pyramid Things, like all monsters in Dark Deception, can be seen as a symbol of death. However, while most monsters simply represented death with their murderous intent and capabilities, Red Pyramid Things are special in that they are indeed meant to be a distorted memory of actual executioners. Ironically, the Red Pyramid Things were subconsciously created by James, not out of fear of death, but rather, desire for it. The Red Pyramid Things were originally conceptualized for the "In Water" ending, where James killed himself by driving into Toluca Lake. |
Trivia[]
- As explained in the Silent Hill DLC showcase hosted by SuperHorrorBro, Glowstick Entertainment chose to use the name "Red Pyramid Thing" over "Pyramid Head" to remain faithful to the intended Japanese name.[2]
- Even so, Masahiro Ito referred to the monster as "Pyramid Head" during development, and Silent Hill 2 also refers to the monster by this name at certain points.[3]
- The Halo of the Sun generated by the Red Pyramid Things whenever they stab the ground may be a possible inspiration for the similar-looking portals of Dark Deception.
- Because of how the town of Silent Hill shifts into the Otherworld whenever they are present, Red Pyramid Things are the first bosses in Monsters & Mortals to impart a visual effect on the map, followed by Fun Girls.
Voicelines[]
Red Pyramid Things do not have a voice actor.
| Voiceline | Used | Audio File |
|---|---|---|
| *growls* | When attacking. |
|
| *growls* | While stunning the players. | |
| *growls* | While chasing players. |
|
Gallery[]
In-game[]
Miscellaneous[]
References[]
- ↑ Masahiro Ito states that Red Pyramid Things are not men, but creatures.
- ↑ Dark Deception: Monsters & Mortals DLC Showcase 02 - SILENT HILL | Hosted by SuperHorrorBro
- ↑ Masahiro Ito confirmed that he referred to the monster as Pyramid Head on five separate occasions (#1, #2, #3, #4, #5).
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