Silent Hill f Review

Silent Hill f is a survival horror title from Konami and Neobards Entertainment that reimagines the iconic franchise by stepping away from its traditional urban setting. Departing from the series’ familiar contemporary backdrop, this installment transports players to 1960s rural Japan, embracing a hauntingly atmospheric period setting.

The narrative centers on Shimizu Hinako, who, after going out to meet her friends, becomes trapped in a mysterious fog teeming with nameless horrors. Alongside her companions Shu, Sakuko, and Rinko, Hinako witnesses their once-idyllic town slowly consumed by unexplainable crimson blossoms and grotesque creatures.

Can Hinako and her friends uncover the truth behind the nightmare engulfing their town? Explore at your own risk in Silent Hill f!

Folk Horror

From the outset, Silent Hill f captures the essence of what makes the franchise iconic, immediately distinguishing itself from its contemporaries. Even before the horror fully unfolds, the serene town of Ebisugaoka sets a deceptively tranquil stage for the nightmares to come. A sense of unease lingers throughout exploration, and an eerie tension that evokes isolation and discomfort is always present.

Tension is finally released when the fog sets in and the town is covered with the crimson flowers that signify the arrival of the nightmarish creatures that you face. It’s a masterclass in environmental horror, where dread stems not from sudden jump scares, but from the oppressive anxiety of what might lie ahead.

True to the series’ legacy, Silent Hill f weaves a disturbing narrative rooted in trauma. Hinako’s troubled past, her strained relationships with her so-called friends, and the dysfunction within her family unfold through codex entries, flashbacks, and immersive storytelling. These elements are seamlessly integrated into gameplay, enriching the emotional weight of the journey.

Ebisugaoka itself is richly detailed, with lore embedded in its neighborhoods, mountain paths, and interiors, including the middle school once attended by Hinako and her peers. As is tradition in Silent Hill, appearances are deceiving, as characters reveal deeper complexities as the story progresses, and truth is rarely what it seems.

Culturally, the game excels in its portrayal of Showa-era Japan. Social dynamics, gender interactions, and familial tensions are depicted with raw authenticity, unfiltered and emotionally resonant. It’s a bold representation that may unsettle some players, but its honesty is commendable. For full immersion, the original Japanese voice track is highly recommended.

While the narrative slows in the latter half, this pacing serves a purpose of building toward a powerful climax. The meditative tone and repeated traversal through familiar areas may slow down pacing unnecessarily, but the payoff is worth the wait.

Upon completing Silent Hill f, I found myself with more questions than answers, which is something I appreciated. Many pivotal moments are left intentionally ambiguous, inviting players to create their own understanding and interpretation. However, those who aren’t attentive may miss key plot points, leading to confusion.

One notable drawback is the limited scope of exploration. Earlier Silent Hill titles offered expansive environments that heightened suspense through discovery. In contrast, Silent Hill f leans heavily on corridor-style design reminiscent of the PS3 era. While not a dealbreaker, this constraint can impact immersion and occasionally frustrate during gameplay.

Behind The Mist

Combat in Silent Hill f is exclusively melee-based, drawing comparisons (whether warranted or not) to Soulslike titles, particularly on higher difficulty settings. Players can execute quick and heavy attacks, dodge incoming strikes, counterattack, and perform essential actions such as sprinting to escape or using healing items to recover. Due to Hinako’s deliberately sluggish and awkward movement, engaging enemies one-on-one is often the safest approach because facing multiple foes simultaneously can quickly become overwhelming.

In this game, precision is key, and timing attacks and dodges are more important than ever, especially for a Silent Hill game. Perfectly timed dodges not only avoid damage but also replenish your stamina bar, encouraging a reactive playstyle. The “Focus” mechanic allows players to anticipate enemy movements and time counterattacks effectively by slowing down time to widen the window of reaction. Focus attacks, which consume sanity, deliver powerful blows but must be used strategically to avoid getting caught in a bad spot.

Combat becomes especially challenging within the game’s corridor-heavy environments. These tight spaces limit maneuverability, making precision even more critical, particularly on higher difficulties. Enemies do not often flinch or react visually to hits outside of attacks that will stun them, so it is sometimes hard to react. Without mastering counterattacks, focus strikes, or perfect dodges, Hinako’s heavier attacks can feel cumbersome and leave her very vulnerable.

Hinako has three gauges that help with combat in Silent Hill f. Health determines her overall vitality, stamina determines the number of actions she can perform in combat, and sanity acts as her focus bar for stronger attacks. While the sanity system introduces an intriguing layer where depletion gradually reduces health, it could benefit from expanded mechanics, such as additional status effects like slowed movement or attack restrictions, deepening the strategic challenge. The idea that monsters can directly assault Hinako’s sanity is clever, but underutilized.

Stat progression is tied to altars scattered throughout Ebisugaoka. By offering items, ranging from bandages and first aid kits to unique trinkets, players can increase their Faith, which in turn enhances Hinako’s abilities through Emas. Exploration also yields omamori (charms) that boost attributes such as health, speed, and attack power. These can be drawn randomly at altars using Faith, and the number of equipable charms expands with Ema upgrades.

Various weapons can be equipped, each with different attack speed and stamina usage. Knives and sickles are quick attacks that can work on fast enemies; standard melee weapons, such as the lead pipe, baseball bat, and crowbar, are cumbersome but do the job. Finally, heavy weapons such as a sledgehammer and axes can deal devastating attacks with your focus, but can leave you without any stamina.

However, durability is a factor as weapons degrade over time and eventually break. Certain weapons, such as the baseball bat, become a stabbing weapon as they accumulate damage, which is a nice touch. Tool kits allow for repairs, preserving key gear when replacements are scarce.

Despite its relatively short runtime, Silent Hill f offers a diverse array of enemy types. Early encounters may feel repetitive, but the variety expands as the game progresses. Expect everything from fast-moving mannequin-like creatures reminiscent of classic nurse enemies to hulking monstrosities that demand a tactical mindset.

Bosses or Formidable Foes present significant challenges to players who do not take them seriously, locking them into combat until the enemy is defeated. Bosses hit harder, often summon lesser enemies, and lack visible health bars, heightening the tension. While intimidating, they follow patterns, so patience and persistence are key to victory.

Monsters In Your Head

The town of Ebisugaoka and the Dark Temple serve as dual realms of exploration in Silent Hill f, each offering distinct puzzle challenges. While not strictly defined, the Dark Temple functions as a sprawling puzzle-centric level that Hinako must navigate to escape. However, puzzles are present throughout both worlds, and progression hinges on your ability to solve them.

Clues are scattered across documents and environmental cues, with puzzle complexity scaling based on your chosen difficulty setting. Players must rely on keen observation, logic, and deductive reasoning to overcome obstacles. Puzzle design ranges from intuitive and straightforward to deeply cryptic, demanding full mental engagement.

Some standout puzzles include word-based challenges in the Middle School, requiring deciphering through a key, and more abstract emblem-based mechanisms used to unlock doors. On higher difficulties, these puzzles can become genuinely taxing, while their solutions on easier settings may feel overly generous by comparison.

For players primarily interested in the story, Silent Hill f offers a welcoming experience. Story Mode allows for a smoother experience through Hinako’s haunting tale, and while this easier mode dampens the tension, the story remains compelling across multiple endings. However, increasing the difficulty significantly intensifies both combat and puzzle complexity. The jump from Story to Hard is substantial, and the unlockable “Lost in Fog” mode post-completion presents a punishing challenge.

Replayability in Silent Hill f is a strong suit as it features a New Game+ mode and multiple endings, counting to five in total. Upon completing the game once, conditions for unlocking alternate endings are revealed on the Ending screen, encouraging further exploration. Progress from your initial playthrough carries over, streamlining future runs.

Depending on skill level, a first playthrough in Silent Hill f typically spans 12–15 hours. The option to skip previously viewed cutscenes in later runs helps reduce playtime, allowing players to focus on uncovering secrets and exploring every hidden corner of Ebisugaoka at their own pace.

Verdict: Buy It!

Despite its departure from the familiar urban landscapes of previous entries, Silent Hill f is a compelling and worthy addition to the franchise’s storied legacy. From its hauntingly atmospheric opening to its emotionally charged and unsettling finale, Hinako’s journey offers a memorable experience that will spark discussion long after the credits roll.

The game is remarkably accessible, catering to both narrative-driven players and those seeking a deeper challenge. Whether you’re here for the story or eager to test your skills with elevated puzzle and combat difficulty, Silent Hill f delivers a layered horror experience that adapts to your playstyle. While some minor issues may arise depending on personal preferences, the overall package offers something for every fan of psychological horror.

With the recent revival of the series, from the Silent Hill 2 Remake to the bold direction of this latest installment, Silent Hill f is truly a must-play for horror fans.

*Silent Hill f was reviewed on a PS5 with a review code provided by the publisher.