For anyone interested from reading this old post - I ended up taking the advice and playing it on PS2 (I got the director's cut version) and started on the 1st Jan 2018 and finished on the 11th Jan 2018. I played on Action Normal and Riddle Easy, it took me roughly 8 hours and my ending was 'In Water'.
I really liked the dynamics between the characters and loved the overall story. Quite alot of the symbolism I feel I got alright, though I can imagine all the other aspects and layers that flew over my head. I kinda wish I didn't see the 'twist' coming, but I do appreciate what the game did in terms of its endings. My take was 'In Water' is the ending for which James is punished for his sins (which is what he set out to do initially by coming to the town, so in a way he achieves his ultimate goal, tragically). 'Leave' is James finding atonement for his sins. And 'Maria' is James not fully owning up to his sins - instead choosing to live through a grasp at happiness that is mostly false.
Anyway, this has probably all been said before lol. The game has been out for 16 years. But I just thought I'd share. Happy New Year! SH3 is up next for me
