Forbidden Siren 2

Platform: PlayStation 2
Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Japan
Release date: 09.02.2006 (Japan), 04.08.2006 (Europe)

Forbidden Siren 2 takes place on the small Japanese island of Yamijima.

A mysterious incident occurred there in the 1970s: in a single night, the entire island's population vanished without a trace. No one has ever understood why this happened or where they disappeared to.

Now, many years after the tragedy, several people come to the abandoned Yamijima. Each has his own reason for visiting. For some, this place is connected to their childhood. Some want to learn more about the mysterious events of the 1970s. And some got here by chance.

But suddenly, siren begin to wail over the skies, the seawater turns blood red, terrifying monsters appear—and the people who have arrived find themselves trapped on the deadly island.

Who of them will survive? And who is destined to die?

Improvements and New Ideas

Forbidden Siren 2 retains all the key features of the first Siren game.

A multitude of playable characters, stealth-based gameplay with hiding from monsters, a creepy atmosphere of despair, a carefully crafted story, a huge number of diaries and other archive items, and the unique "Sight-Jack" system—all these features have returned in the new game.

However, the developers have also added several interesting innovations that help diversify the gameplay:

New Enemies
In addition to the classic Shibito, the game introduces other types of monsters: Yamibito—"people of darkness" who fear sunlight; Shiryo—ghostly creatures that can possess the bodies of dead people; and the Yamirei—strange monsters resembling enormous worms.

New Locations
The environment in Forbidden Siren 2 has become more diverse. We'll visit a small fishing village, an abandoned ship, a dilapidated city, underground catacombs, a huge metal tower, a coal mine, and even an amusement park. Moreover, all locations are beautifully crafted and replete with interesting details.

Sumerian-Japanese Lovecraftianism

The creators of the game were inspired by ancient Sumerian legends, Japanese mythology, and the works of the famous writer H. P. Lovecraft. Ultimately, this strange mixture gave birth to one of the most unique lores among horror games.

First-Person Mode
In Forbidden Siren 2, we now have the option to play the game entirely in a first-person view mode. This feature not only adds variety to the gameplay but also helps enhance the atmosphere. Running and hiding from monsters becomes even more frightening when we see everything through the character's eyes and don't know what's happening behind us.

Different Playstyles

All characters have different abilities that influence gameplay. Each has its own balance between stealth and action. Some characters are completely defenseless and incapable of combat, and their episodes are hardcore stealth. Other characters are capable of putting up some resistance to monsters but lack firearms. However, two military men are also among the characters – they are armed with rifles, and their episodes will feature more action elements.

New Character Skills
The developers also gave some characters interesting skills that weren't present in the first game. For example, the psychic Akiko is able to see mysterious images invisible to other people. The young man Soji Abe has several hunting traps that can be used to temporarily immobilize the enemies. A girl named Ikuko Kifune possesses a special gift—she can influence the behavior of certain monsters with her mind.

Blind Character

One of the craziest and most unique ideas in Forbidden Siren 2 is the ability to play as a blind person. In some episodes, we'll take on the role of a writer named Shu Mikami, who is nearly blind and is forced to navigate with only his guide dog. This is an idea that has never been seen before in any other horror game.

Three Difficulty Levels
There are now three difficulty levels to choose from: Easy, Normal, and Hard. I recommend experienced gamers choose Hard — it's more challenging, scary, and exciting. A pure hardcore experience for true fans! But if this difficulty level proves too much for you, you can switch to Normal or Easy at any time.

Improved Graphics
The visuals in the second game have reached a new level – Siren 2 has become one of the most beautiful horror games on the PS2. Also, the developers retained their signature feature of projecting real actors' faces onto 3D character models (and in some scenes, this idea is used in a very unexpected way).

Voiceover Options
The European edition of the game features both English and Japanese voiceovers. You can now choose the voices you prefer through the options menu.

All about Forbidden Siren 2

>> Game Trailers <<

A collection of trailers and commercial videos for Forbidden Siren 2.

>> Archive Items <<

This section contains all 100 archive files with plot information from the game. Diaries, notes, journals, and other important documents.

>> 101th Archive Item <<

A secret archive file - a bloody letter from Ryuko Tagawa, which you can actually hold in your hands.

>> Atlantis Magazines <<

Mini-magazines with weird articles about unexplained phenomena that the developers published in 2005 before the game's release.

>> References and Easter Eggs <<

An analysis of more than 50 funny references found in the game.

>> Soundtracks <<

You can find the official Siren 2 soundtrack here, as well as an unofficial "game rip" with all the music from the game.

>> Song Lyrics <<

Original lyrics in Japanese and translations into English.

>> Developers and Actors <<

A photo album where you can see the developers and actors.

>> Keiichiro Toyama Interview <<

An interview with the game director about the creation of Forbidden Siren 2.

>> Naoko Sato Interview <<

An interesting talk with the game's scenario writer.

>> Siren Exhibition 2019 <<

Our report from the Forbidden Siren exhibition in Japan. This article is in Russian, but you can read it using google translate.

>> Siren Exhibition 2018 <<

Videos from another exhibition, which took place in 2018.

>> 20th Anniversary Event <<

In 2026, a special event was held on YouTube to commemorate the game's 20th Anniversary.

>> Forbidden Siren Quiz <<

Quiz with 40 questions about the Forbidden Siren series. In Russian language.

>> Siren 2 Typing Game <<

A fan-made Flash game similar to "Typing of the Dead", where you have to smash your keyboard to help Ichiko Yagura escape from monsters.

>> Fan Art Collection <<

Here you can find a huge collection with more than 1000 Forbidden Siren 2 fan-made pictures.

>> 200 Best Fan Arts <<

This section contains two hundred of the most beautiful fan art images.

Siren 2 Plot Analysis

Here's a book about Forbidden Siren 2, which I wrote in 2007. Inside you'll find answers to most of the game's mysteries, a detailed story of each character, information about monsters, reflections on mythology and symbolism, and other interesting things.

The book is in Russian language, but you can easily read it through Google Translate. Maybe someday I'll also make a proper translation.

>> Russian version <<

>> English auto-translated version <<

Siren 2 Maniacs

In 2014, an English translation of the huge Japanese guide "Siren 2 Maniacs" have appeared. It includes information on all the characters and monsters, concept art, details about the game's creation, a timeline of events, an analysis of archive files, and much more. So I highly recommend to check it out.

>> English Version of the Guide <<

Forbidden Siren 2 Manga

There are two different manga based on the game:

>> Eternal Siren <<

A large 200-page manga set on Yamijima Island. It presents an alternate version of the Siren 2's story with completely new characters.

>> Memory of the Mermaids <<

A short horror story about mermaids and lost memories from the famous Japanese manga artist Daijiro Morohoshi.

Forbidden Siren - 2006 Horror Movie cover

Forbidden Siren Movie

In 2006, a Siren movie premiered in Japan. It is partly based on the scenario of Forbidden Siren 2, and the story also takes place on Yamijima Island. However, the film does not repeat the events of the game - but tells a new story with different characters.

>> All About the Movie <<

Other interesting articles

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Author of the article: SilentPyramid

Date of publication: 23.09.2008

Article update: 21.02.2026