Silent Hill f Confirms 5 Endings, Multiple Playthroughs Required

During a recent Media Premiere for Silent Hill f, key members of the development team, like Series Producer Motoi Okamoto, Writer Ryukishi07, Composer Akira Yamaoka, and NeoBards Game Director Al Yang and Game Producer Albert Lee answered our burning questions about the game, revealing several essential details about the latest installment in the long-running series.

Silent Hill f Interview

The 1960s Setting

The latest installment in Konami’s iconic horror franchise takes on a bold new vision, and renowned writer Ryukishi07 sheds light on how Silent Hill f came to be. Set in 1960s Japan, the backdrop alone is quite intriguing and begs the question of why the team went back to the past to tell this story.

Ryukishi07 chose the 1960s as the game’s setting due to its nature, making it stand out from other eras. “There is no room for imagination in the modern world, but if we set the story background in a time too far away from now, the players will feel detached,” he explains. “For me, the time where people are familiar with while still have room for imagination for Silent Hill f, will fall in the 1960s.”

In particular, 1960s Japan is also a time when society is ripe for discussion due to its prevailing themes. “In the game, the social structure of 1960s Japan—where patriarchy remained deeply rooted—is reflected.”

The Beauty and Horror of Silent Hill

The core concepts of beauty and horror did not come by accident, and the team decided to take this direction after designer Kera joined development. “We consent on the concept ‘Horror & Beauty’, and the studio who made the first trailer added a lot of floral elements to the video, the concept of Silent Hill f became even more clearly defined.”

Rising above the horror is Hinako, along with the appearance of the floral theme, which ties nicely into the game. Flowers symbolize the beauty of women, after all, and Hinako is a woman who is strong enough to resist the societal pressures at the time, setting her apart from other female characters in the series.

“She is not simply portrayed as a woman who suffers misfortune, but as a character who makes her own choices and possesses the strength to resist external pressures.”

Ryukishi07 approached the creation of the world and its characters with the mindset that the series is rooted in its nature as a specific type of horror.

“Based on the understanding that Silent Hill is a psychological horror, he began building Hinako’s psychological fears, inner conflicts, and her relationships with family and friends.”

Tension and the Pressure on the Players

Silent Hill f takes a new approach to combat, but its melee-centric style might prove too controversial for fans of the series. The development team says that combat is designed to deliver constant fear and anxiety as players roam the streets of Ebisugaoka.

NeoBards Game Director Al Yang mentions that “Horror is tension” and “the key to horror is keeping the player constantly tense, and he explained that situations where one doesn’t know when their ‘flame of life’ might be extinguished are what create that tension.”

“To evoke this sense of tension, he has put a lot of thought into the combat system. Players need to pay attention to weapon durability, health, and stamina.”

Resource management between these four is crucial, especially when paired with the ongoing combat against approaching enemies, which requires players to concentrate and lock in, adding to the tension.

Hinako is not entirely helpless, though, and mechanics such as perfect dodge and counters have been added to even out the playing field against the many horrors of the game.

Silent Hill f Endings and Replayability

Series Producer Motoi Okamoto also reveals that replayability is quite high for Silent Hill f, anchored by multiple endings and a more difficult mode for players who want a challenge.

Okamoto confirms that Silent Hill f will have five endings, including the series’ signature “UFO” ending. While the first playthrough will end in the same way for all players, subsequent playthroughs will unlock the other endings and different bosses, along with story developments, depending on Hinako’s actions and choices.

The team also made sure to craft these multiple endings with care, leaving players to decide if the ending is good or bad due to its lack of a clear distinction between the two.

“A high-difficulty mode is unlocked after clearing the game once,” Okamoto also confirms.