So, you’re standing in a rusty, blood-stained elevator in Brookhaven Hospital. The air is thick with the smell of decay. Suddenly, a cheery, game-show host voice blares through the speakers, welcoming you to "Trick or Treat!"
It’s jarring. It’s weird. Honestly, it’s one of the most surreal moments in the Silent Hill 2 remake.
James Sunderland just stands there, probably as confused as you are, while this disembodied voice grills him on local history. If you've played the original 2001 classic, you might think you have the answers memorized. You'd be wrong. Bloober Team changed the questions—and the answers—for the remake.
If you mess this up, you don't just lose out on loot. You literally take damage. The game punishes you for being a "bad contestant."
The Trick or Treat Elevator Quiz Explained
You can't actually answer the questions while you're in the elevator. The game expects you to listen, remember the numbers associated with the multiple-choice options, and then find a specific "Decorative Box" later.
Most people panic because James doesn't write these questions down in his memo pad. Unlike every other puzzle in Silent Hill, you are totally on your own here. If you didn't have a pen and paper handy, you're likely guessing.
Question 1: The Plague Victims
The host asks about a gruesome disease that hit Silent Hill in the 1800s. Bodies were dumped into Toluca Lake to "save" the town from the stench of death.
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- The Options: 1: 42, 2: 67, 3: 85.
- The Answer: 2 (67).
If you spent any time wandering around Rosewater Park earlier in the game, you might have seen a monument dedicated to these victims. It's a tiny detail most players run right past while dodging Lying Figures.
Question 2: The Road to the Lumber Yard
This one is a total memory test of the game’s opening 10 minutes. The host asks for the name of the road that leads from Sanders Street, past the lumber yard and cemetery, to the edge of town.
- The Options: 1: Bachman Road, 2: Munson Street, 3: Wiltse Road.
- The Answer: 3 (Wiltse Road).
You actually walked this road at the very start of the game after James leaves his car at the observation deck.
Question 3: The Locane Twins
This is the darkest question. It refers to the "Billy and Miriam Locane" murders, a lore point that connects directly to Walter Sullivan (the antagonist of Silent Hill 4: The Room). The host mentions Billy and asks for his sister's name.
- The Options: 1: Miriam, 2: Heather, 3: Julia.
- The Answer: 1 (Miriam).
You can find a scrap of a newspaper detailing this murder in the Wood Side Apartments, specifically in Room 112.
Where to Find the Decorative Box
You’ve heard the questions. You’ve got the numbers 2, 3, and 1 burned into your brain. Now what?
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You won’t find the box until you finish the basement segment of the hospital. Once you get the -1 elevator button and deal with the horrors down there, you’ll eventually make your way back up to the 1st Floor (1F).
The box is sitting in the Pharmacy.
It’s an ornate, white chest covered in jewels. It looks way too fancy for a decaying hospital. On the lid, you’ll see three rows of buttons labeled Q1, Q2, and Q3.
The Decorative Box Code
To open it, you need to input the numbers in order:
- Row 1 (Q1): Press the 2nd button.
- Row 2 (Q2): Press the 3rd button.
- Row 3 (Q3): Press the 1st button.
Basically, the code is 2-3-1.
What Happens if You Get It Wrong?
Silent Hill isn't known for being "fair." If you input the wrong code and try to open the box, James doesn't just say "it's locked."
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A puff of toxic gas sprays out of the box.
It hits James hard. On higher difficulties, this can put you into the "red" health state instantly. Even worse, if you fail the quiz, the box locks permanently for that playthrough. You get one shot. If you miss it, those resources are gone forever.
Is the Reward Worth It?
Honestly? Yeah.
In the remake, opening the box usually nets you 2 Syringes and 5 Shotgun Shells (this can vary slightly based on your resource difficulty). In a game where every bullet feels like a precious heirloom, getting a stack of shotgun ammo and two full heals is a massive win.
The Difference Between the Remake and the 2001 Original
If you’re a series veteran, you probably remember the answers being different. In the original PS2 version, the code was 3-1-3.
The questions back then were about Lakeside Amusement Park and the name of the murderer (Walter Sullivan). Bloober Team kept the spirit of the "Trick or Treat" show but updated the trivia to force even old-school fans to pay attention to the environment.
It's a clever way to reward players who actually read the plaques and newspapers instead of just rushing to the next boss fight.
Final Tips for Success
If you're currently in the hospital, don't rush the elevator ride. Listen to the audio cues. The music actually changes slightly during the "murder" question, becoming deeper and more distorted. It's a nice touch that makes the quiz feel like a genuine part of James's fracturing psyche rather than just a random mini-game.
- Check your health: Before you touch that box in the Pharmacy, make sure James isn't already limping. If you accidentally hit the wrong button, the gas could kill you.
- Don't skip the Pharmacy: It’s easy to get tunnel vision when Maria is following you and you're trying to escape. The Pharmacy is right near the 1F elevator; don't leave the building without stopping in.
- Note the difficulty: While the answers (2-3-1) remain consistent, the amount of damage you take for a wrong answer scales up significantly on Hard combat difficulty.
To get the most out of your run, make sure you've cleared the rest of the 1F area first. Once you open the box and grab the loot, you'll be much better prepared for the nightmare-fueled chase sequences that usually follow the hospital section. If you've already missed your chance, you'll have to wait until New Game Plus to claim those syringes.
Next Steps for Your Playthrough
- Double-check your map: Ensure the Pharmacy is marked as "searched" so you don't backtrack unnecessarily.
- Manage your inventory: Use those syringes immediately if you're low on health to free up space for the shotgun shells.
- Check the basement: If you haven't found the -1 button yet, go back to the Chained Box puzzle on the 2nd floor; you can't trigger the quiz without it.