I keep having these vivid dreams about this town, and it’s just… haunting. I see the foggy hills, the abandoned buildings, those empty streets and the people who look like they’ve lost all hope. It’s not the same Silent Hill that trapped Harry, Heather, and James, though it’s clearly connected to that same terrifying world that created such an amazing horror game series. But Ebisugaoka, this town in particular, really gets under your skin. Once you’ve been there, even in a dream, it feels like it stays with you – it doesn’t let go.
Silent Hill f is just as captivating as earlier games in the series, even though it takes a different approach. It moves away from the familiar, eerie American towns and surreal, nightmarish imagery of past titles, opting for a more subtle, atmospheric Japanese horror style set in the lush hills of Honshu. However, this isn’t just a simple continuation – it’s a step forward, with refined gameplay and a fresh direction. Thanks to its compelling story, thoughtfully crafted gameplay, exciting combat, and stunning graphics, Silent Hill f is a truly exceptional psychological horror experience and ranks among the very best in the Silent Hill franchise.
Silent Hill f’s town isn’t just a backdrop – it feels like a character itself. The story focuses on Hinako Shimizu, a high school student suddenly caught in a frightening, distorted version of her home. From the beginning, the game shows that Hinako has difficult relationships. Growing up in the late 1960s, much of the conflict comes from her refusal to conform to traditional expectations, which upsets her parents. She describes her father as controlling and harsh, and her mother as timid. For a long time, Hinako’s older sister, Junko, was her only source of comfort and support. But after Junko got married and moved away, Hinako was left feeling isolated and full of bitterness.
Okay, so the game starts right after a big fight at home. I’m playing as Hinako, and she just needs to get out and find someone to talk to, anyone really. As I’m walking through this super creepy, quiet town called Ebisugaoka, I meet her three best friends – Sakuko, Rinko, and Shu. Honestly, things feel a little off with them, like there’s some hidden tension, but you don’t know why at first. But forget teenage drama, because things get *way* scarier fast. This foggy monster starts chasing me, and it leaves this trail of messed-up flowers and gross, rotting stuff everywhere. It’s seriously disturbing!
Hinako must carefully make her way through the tight alleys and deserted buildings of Ebisugaoka while trying to escape a dangerous infestation and the terrifying creatures it brings. But that’s only part of what she goes through. At times, the game transports Hinako to a spirit world, where a seemingly friendly young man wearing a fox mask helps her navigate mysterious temples and face difficult challenges.
Okay, so the story is definitely weird, but honestly, Silent Hill f felt a little more direct than other Silent Hill games… at least at first. It wasn’t quite as unsettlingly *off* right away. Instead of meeting totally random, cryptic people, this one messes with your head by focusing on people Hinako actually knows – which is way more disturbing, honestly. Previous Silent Hill games always felt like something David Lynch and Hieronymus Bosch made together – really alien, dreamlike, and terrifying. But Silent Hill f? It felt like Satoshi Kon and Junji Ito teamed up. I wouldn’t even try to say which style is better – I lean towards the Ito vibe myself – but Silent Hill f really got to me. It moved me, unsettled me, and honestly, blew me away more than most games I’ve played.
Whether Hinako is walking through rice paddies, exploring her old school, or journeying with Fox Mask in the spirit world, the world of Silent Hill f is beautifully immersive and atmospheric. Though I’ve never visited Kanayama-the Japanese town that inspired the game’s setting of Ebisugaoka-I was really impressed by how well Konami recreated a rural Japanese town. I’m no expert on authenticity, but as I explored the alleys and watched the scenery change from concrete to old wooden homes and dirt paths, it reminded me of places I’ve been near Nagano and south of Osaka-where nature and culture blend together in a strangely beautiful way. Being in Ebisugaoka felt incredibly real; I could almost taste the humidity and smell the forest.
The spirit world feels genuinely mysterious and respectful of its history. Walking through its temples, you expect an unsettling silence, which makes the sounds of enemies – rattling chains, chattering dolls – and Akira Yamaoka’s incredible music even more powerful. Yamaoka is back as the composer for Silent Hill f, and he still excels at creating tension. But this game also showcases the beauty and depth of his work. I was particularly impressed with how he captured the essence of Silent Hill while still giving this new installment its own unique sound, blending traditional Japanese instruments, intense vocals, and eerie choirs with his signature industrial style.
Beyond excellent graphics and sound, *Silent Hill f* is artistically powerful thanks to its disturbing yet fascinating visuals and creatures. The game brilliantly blends beauty and horror, and its boss designs are particularly impressive, drawing inspiration from Japanese culture and mythology. Even the common enemies – like broken mannequins and terrifying, distorted figures – are deeply unsettling. Players can expect to see graphic imagery, including exposed flesh and broken bones, alongside otherworldly cutscenes that contribute to the game’s haunting atmosphere.
While striking visuals and sound are important, the true strength of Silent Hill f lies in how its locations deepen the game’s story and themes. Konami has described Silent Hill as a mental state, not just a place, which explains why some games-including Silent Hill f-aren’t set in the familiar town. Considering these locations as representations of the characters’ inner worlds, it’s hard to envision a more fitting or evocative setting.
The narrow streets of Ebisugaoka wind through the town like the pathways of a brain – twisting and turning, linking up, and suddenly stopping. Both the town itself and the spirit world it connects to are beautiful but unsettling, creating a feeling of confusion and being lost. Everything is full of contrasts. Throughout the game, you’ll see stunningly beautiful, yet disturbing imagery – flowers growing alongside blood, holy places that feel corrupted, and the supernatural blending with nature. Like the character Hinako and the game Silent Hill, this world isn’t meant to be fully explained or understood.
The mysterious atmosphere of Silent Hill naturally makes its puzzles even more engaging. In Silent Hill f, you’ll encounter about a dozen puzzles, including one massive puzzle that unfolds throughout the entire game and can’t be started until you’ve played through it once. The others are more self-contained, challenging you to decode messages, locate and position medallions, or solve maze-like hallways by manipulating levers and doors.
Generally, the puzzles are fun and challenging on the game’s standard Hard mode. Once you beat the game, you unlock a harder ‘Lost in the Fog’ mode, but I didn’t find it significantly more difficult. However, a couple of puzzles weren’t as enjoyable – they felt overly complicated, went on for too long, and involved frustratingly large groups of enemies.
I was honestly a little worried about the combat in Silent Hill f, but it totally surprised me! It’s way more action-packed than previous games, and it’s actually really fun. You have to time your dodges and parries just right to get the upper hand, and while the developers don’t want to call it a ‘soulslike,’ it definitely *feels* a bit like those games – trading light and heavy attacks, dodging at the last second, and so on. What’s great is that, unlike some horror games, all that action doesn’t ruin the atmosphere. Instead, it makes the gameplay really smooth and keeps you engaged, actually adding to the experience instead of taking away from it!
While the game is strong overall, it does have a few flaws. Sometimes enemy reactions to attacks felt a little slow or unclear. There were also moments where the narrow spaces, limited stamina, and slightly awkward controls trapped me in frustrating situations where I couldn’t defend myself. However, this didn’t happen frequently, and it’s understandable – most horror games don’t prioritize polished combat. It actually reinforced the idea that you’re playing as a normal teenager, not a highly-trained soldier like in games such as Resident Evil 3.
The combat system is smoother and more dynamic than in previous games, but that doesn’t make it simple, and you shouldn’t fight every enemy. Like older Silent Hill titles, you won’t get any rewards – like items or experience points – for defeating optional enemies. In fact, taking on unnecessary fights can actually hurt you, as battles are tough and will always use up more of your resources, including weapon durability, than you gain.
Besides managing your health, energy, and mental state, you’ll also need to keep an eye on how durable your weapons are – they can wear down and break. This might seem like a lot to track, but it actually works really well, making the game more intense and emphasizing how crucial Hinako’s survival is.
Beyond making weapons wear down, Silent Hill f features a system where you can permanently improve Hinako’s abilities, adding more depth to how you manage your resources. Throughout the game, Hinako can find shrines where she can offer certain items – even those used for healing – to gain Faith. This Faith lets you either draw a random beneficial talisman called an omamori, or permanently boost one of Hinako’s stats. This creates a strategic choice: do you save your healing items for battles, or convert them into Faith for lasting improvements?
It’s even more appealing to trade items for upgrades because when you start a New Game Plus, Hinako’s improvements and your omamoris stay with you, making future playthroughs much easier. Even if you don’t usually replay games, Silent Hill f offers a really good reason to try New Game Plus.
Silent Hill f takes about 10 hours to finish, but it’s much more than just a 10-hour game. It has five different endings, and the first time you play, you’re limited to one. I didn’t really start to understand the story of Hinako and her town until I unlocked a couple of endings. It made me realize that each playthrough isn’t a standalone experience, but rather a piece of a larger, connected narrative.
To truly appreciate Silent Hill f, playing it several times is highly recommended. Fans of writer Ryukishi07 will likely expect this, as his stories often leave you with more questions than answers in the initial playthrough. Silent Hill f follows this pattern. Luckily, the game is enjoyable to replay thanks to its strong gameplay, the option to skip previously seen scenes, fresh content with each new run, and significantly different endings – including unique boss battles – making multiple playthroughs a compelling experience.
The main reason to play Silent Hill f is its incredible story – it’s brilliant, terrifying, and surprisingly emotional. I won’t spoil the details, but the game powerfully explores themes like gender, identity, relationships, and what it means to be a woman. It handles these complex ideas with a rare level of sensitivity and insight, balancing clarity with thoughtful ambiguity to create a truly profound experience. Few major games are brave enough to tackle such subjects, and even fewer do so with the same grace and conviction as NeoBards Entertainment.
It’s no surprise that Silent Hill f is so well-made, considering the incredible detail put into every aspect of the game. However, that doesn’t diminish how impressive NeoBards’ work truly is. Silent Hill f isn’t just a welcome return to the series’ roots; it’s a significant step forward, offering stunning visuals, expertly crafted psychological horror, a brilliant story, and setting a new standard for future Silent Hill games.
Read More
- Creation of Hollow Knight: Silksong’s Pharloom map reveals cut areas & major changes
- Shape of Dreams Best Builds Guide – Aurena, Shell, Bismuth & Nachia
- LINK PREDICTION. LINK cryptocurrency
- Ray Tracing in Dying Light The Beast? Yes! And no… It’s complicated!
- Can’t guess “When the Sun rises this appear” in Cookie Jam? Here’s the correct answer
- Skate Players Find Flopping Is Faster Than Actual Skateboarding
- Do you experience crashes in Dying Light The Beast? Developers know about the issue
- Destiny Rising fishing guide
- Will we play Ananta on PS5, Xbox or Switch? Let’s look at console release of Project Mugen
- Gold Rate Forecast
2025-09-22 10:42