Silent Hill f confidently revives Konami’s iconic survival horror series, delivering the chilling atmosphere, disturbing story, and terrifying creatures fans expect – even surpassing the fear factor of classic monsters like Pyramid Head. It’s clear: Silent Hill is back and demanding attention.
It’s been 13 years since a brand new Silent Hill game was released, not counting the impressive Silent Hill 2 remake by Bloober Team. Creating a sequel to such a beloved and influential game is a tough challenge, especially with the lasting impact of characters like James and Pyramid Head.
However, the game’s developer, NeoBards, is taking a risk. “Silent Hill f” will focus more on action and fighting, a style not seen in the series since the 2008 game, Homecoming.
For the first time, the game moves away from the United States, taking players to a mysterious, traditional mountain town in 1960s Japan, shrouded in fog.
I know a lot of us were worried about whether NeoBards could really pull off their new take on Silent Hill, but honestly, Silent Hill f totally nails the creepy, unsettling feeling that makes the series so great. It’s genuinely terrifying and really gets into your head!
Silent Hill f screenshots
What is Silent Hill f about?
You take on the role of Hinako Shimizu, a teenager living in the town of Ebisugaoka, which has suddenly been covered in a strange fog. After a fight with her parents, Hinako goes into town hoping to calm down.
As she descended the mountain, she discovered almost everyone she knew was gone, replaced by terrifying creatures determined to kill her. Only a handful of her childhood friends had survived.
Hinako suffers from increasingly severe headaches that sometimes cause her to lose consciousness and experience visions of a man wearing a fox mask. This figure is strangely both reassuring and frightening. To stay safe, Hinako must unravel the secrets of her town and confront her personal struggles.
A compelling story shrouded in mysticism
What makes Silent Hill f truly stand out is its compelling story. Hinako’s journey explores themes of growing up as a woman, the lasting impact of an abusive father, and a profound fear of men – a story as captivating and disturbing as the one told in James Sunderland’s past.
Similar to Silent Hill 2, the game ‘f’ features unsettling psychological elements that make it both memorable and emotionally impactful. It’s set in a time when gender roles were very strict, and everyday life was heavily influenced by traditional expectations. The story delves into the mental strain of both accepting and fighting against these expectations.
NeoBards has created something truly special by skillfully blending relatable fears with supernatural terrors. I was completely captivated after my initial ten-hour experience and immediately wanted to play again to learn more about Hinako’s story. I still find myself wanting to return to the mountain town of Ebisugaoka on my PS5 and search for every hidden detail in the journals.
Okay, so the game has five different endings, which is awesome – I managed to see two of them while I was playing. Each one has new scenes, different things characters say, and even an extra boss fight, plus some secrets to find. But, like other Silent Hill games, don’t expect the environments or puzzles to change a ton each time you replay. You’ll recognize a lot of stuff, even on a new playthrough.
I was a little frustrated by one particular puzzle. Although a scarecrow puzzle initially gave me a good fright, it quickly became tedious and I found myself wanting to skip it. A later puzzle that let me use items I’d already collected was a welcome change, and it’s too bad that feature wasn’t used throughout the game.
Chillingly beautiful environments & grotesque enemies
The creators of Silent Hill f aim to evoke a sense of beauty even within the game’s horror, and they’ve succeeded remarkably well. The incredibly realistic environments are both stunning and unsettling, and I found myself constantly taking screenshots. Despite being a truly frightening game, it’s also one of the most visually impressive I’ve ever experienced.
The remote town of Ebisugaoka is shrouded in thick fog, reminiscent of the classic game *Silent Hill*. However, its traditional Japanese setting creates a different kind of fear, similar to the atmosphere found in PlayStation 2 horror games like *Fatal Frame 2* and *Kuon*. This old-school feeling extends to the game’s menus, which are decorated with lovely, hand-drawn illustrations of characters, monsters, and Hinako’s companions.
You’ll find yourself exploring a world of winding streets and simple homes with tin roofs, passing through muddy rice paddies guarded by scarecrows, and hiking up rocky paths to ancient, mossy shrines hidden in the mountains.
While very different from the city environment of Silent Hill 2, this game is just as frightening. NeoBards has brilliantly created a truly immersive atmosphere, making you feel the dampness and see the disturbing, fleshy red grime that covers everything.
It’s easy to see why Hinako feels so alone, scared, and overwhelmed. What’s even more disturbing than the creepy places in Ebisugaoka are the monsters themselves – they look like they’ve jumped right out of a Junji Ito horror comic.
Compared to enemies like Pyramid Head, these creatures are truly terrifying. One of the worst is a four-legged, human-shaped monster completely covered in bulging, swollen bellies. These bellies burst with fleshy pouches that release even more horrifying creatures, all while emitting agonizing cries.
The game also features creepy, stitched-together monsters that look like mannequins. These enemies move in disturbing, unnatural ways and attack with sharp knives, which genuinely startled me several times during gameplay.
Brutal & bloody combat
The Silent Hill series often gives its characters weapons to fight monsters, but Silent Hill f really amps up the action and combat.
Even with impressive weapons, a challenging parry system inspired by Dark Souls, and quick dodges to recover stamina, Silent Hill f still maintains the core feeling of a classic Silent Hill game.
No matter how you fight them – whether with heavy, powerful blows from a sledgehammer or fast, nimble attacks with a naginata – these monstrous creatures are still truly frightening.
Hinako is well-equipped to defeat her enemies, but avoiding combat and running is often the smartest strategy. The real challenge in Silent Hill f isn’t the monsters themselves, but managing the limited durability of your weapons.
Simply attacking every monster isn’t usually the best strategy. Silent Hill encourages a more careful approach to fighting, where you need to think through each situation. There’s nothing worse than being trapped with just a weak weapon and no escape route.
Unlike the main characters in other Silent Hill games, Hinako has a unique ability: she can exchange items she doesn’t need at shrines for helpful charms. She can also use these shrines to improve her health, stamina, and mental stability.
This ability lets you temporarily slow down time during fights, helping you see enemy attacks more clearly and giving you a better chance to block or use powerful special moves.
The battles in Silent Hill f become much more challenging during the boss fights, which take inspiration from games like Dark Souls. I especially remember one boss near the end where I had to dodge fire on the ground and quickly avoid attacks from a flaming whip. Though they weren’t as difficult as those in Dark Souls or Elden Ring, you can quickly use up all your healing items if you’re not careful.
Similar to games like Resident Evil, I spent a lot of time managing my inventory, carefully choosing what to carry, and trying to fit in as many healing supplies, repair tools, and offerings as possible.
The game truly shines because it successfully combines the item management of Resident Evil, challenging boss battles inspired by Souls-like games, and the intensely suspenseful atmosphere of Silent Hill.
Verdict
Silent Hill f represents a fresh and daring take on Konami’s classic survival horror franchise. Though it features more action, the developers at NeoBards have created a truly terrifying experience, filled with disturbing creatures, strikingly unsettling scenery, and intense psychological horror that rivals, and potentially surpasses, the quality of Silent Hill 2.
I was completely drawn into Hinako’s unsettling world, and I’m eager to explore the eerie town of Ebisugaoka and discover all the different outcomes. If future Silent Hill games are this good, I’m incredibly excited for what’s to come.
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2025-09-22 10:20