SILENT HILL f

Silent Hill was never just “fog and trauma.” It was a specific spiritual place—a sacred ground twisted by The Order’s failed god ritual through Alessa, turning it into a pocket of reality that mirrors guilt and repression. Every real entry (1–4, Origins, Homecoming, Downpour) drew its power from that corrupted land, where the town itself judged the broken. There’s nothing wrong with setting a story in Japan—if it connects meaningfully to that mythology. But Silent Hill f doesn’t. It invents a new fox cult, a new curse, and severs the chain completely. No link to the Order, no echo of the town’s spiritual infection, no reason for its horrors to exist. If Silent Hill can happen anywhere, then it means nowhere. The haunting, Lynchian dread—the slow, artistic decay that defined the series—is gone. In its place: flashy combat, dodge rolls, floral monsters, and sterile shrines. No static, no darkness pressing in, no oppressive atmosphere that made you feel like you were losing your mind. Critics praise it as “beautiful,” but beauty was never Silent Hill’s language—dread was. Fog isn’t a franchise. Silent Hill f could’ve worked as its own horror story, but as a “Silent Hill,” it’s just branding without a soul.

Great graphics and atmosphere. Found the puzzles too obtuse and the gameplay, especially the melee combat, very clunky and dated. Didn't feel compelled to continue playing.

Quick tips for a first playthrough • Play on Story difficulty—the devs recommend it, and your sanity will thank you. • Use Japanese audio—there’s no real lip-sync and the performances fit better. • If a fight isn’t mandatory, run past. It’s melee-only and your tools won’t carry you through every encounter—save them for when it matters. Impressions The game flies by in two evenings and absolutely nails that Silent Hill mood. A couple moments genuinely scared me, but most of the dread comes from raw, stomach-turning cruelty rather than jump scares. It’s one of the goriest, most uncomfortable horror games I’ve played. The final twist works, though long-time SH fans might see it coming. So why 7/10? Combat. Hit detection is sloppy, the heroine swings anywhere but the target, dodges feel twitchy and disorienting, and enemy wind-ups are poorly telegraphed—more frustration than challenge. On the upside, the puzzles are good: smart, fair, and they make you think. Verdict A gripping story with a strong ending and relentless atmosphere, let down by rough combat but saved by solid puzzles. 7/10. I wouldn’t buy at full price—wait for a deep sale or a subscription.