Silent Hill F: How's the Review So Far About the Horror Video Game?

Konami ambitiously wanted Silent Hill f to be "100% Japanese horror," a vision that emphasizes the essence of Japanese culture at the core of the story.

While the Silent Hill series is typically set in the United States, this shift to the 1960s town of Ebisugaoka provides a fresh take.

The game is both a new mainline entry and a standalone spin-off story, yet still incorporates references to previous Silent Hill games.

Writer Ryukishi07, best known for his visual novel Higurashi When They Cry, is responsible for the immersive narrative.

Composer Akira Yamaoka, a Silent Hill series icon, returns to create the haunting soundscapes, while monster designer Kera brings terrifying creatures inspired by Silent Hill 2.

They strove to depict the characters' struggles with their own inner evils, such as sin, dissatisfaction, and inner conflict.

The puzzle design is also designed with the concept of "virtual tourism" in mind, allowing players to feel both familiar and slightly "out of time and place" in the Silent Hill f experience.

The meaning of the letter "f" in the title was intentionally ambiguous by producer Motoi Okamoto.

Early reviews for Silent Hill f show a mixed reception, though most tend to be positive.

GameSpot and Game Rant gave it high marks, 9/10 and 10/10, respectively.

GameSpot praised the game as a "masterpiece of psychological horror" and a "new benchmark" for the series, highlighting the brilliant writing, haunting atmosphere, well-designed gameplay, and spectacular visuals.

Game Rant even called it a "true survival horror classic" with challenging puzzles and terrifying monsters.

IGN gave it a score of 7/10, recognizing the fresh new setting and engaging dark story, but criticizing the melee combat for feeling clunky and inconsistent.

Despite this, IGN still considered Silent Hill f one of the strongest new entries since the PlayStation 2 era.

Rock Paper Shotgun also highlighted the significant changes in the series, but praised the game's ability to deliver powerful scares and provoke deep thought.

CNET, on the other hand, gave a more critical review, stating that the combat in Silent Hill f felt tedious and outdated.

They also complained about the frustrating UI and puzzles, and felt the game lacked the signature "Silent Hill vibe."

Eurogamer.net praised the ghoulish monster designs and eerie ambient sounds, though they didn't find it as scary as Silent Hill 2 Remake, but it was still disturbing.

PC Gamer saw Silent Hill f as a step forward for the series, with its emotional story and eerie sound design.

Silent Hill f's gameplay focuses primarily on melee combat, with no firearms, a significant change from previous entries.

Players will use a variety of melee weapons such as pipes, axes, and knives to confront threats.

Hinako, the protagonist, has light and heavy attacks, as well as a Focus ability that drains a sanity meter.

The sanity meter can be depleted by certain attacks or exposure to horror elements in the game, adding psychological pressure to the player.

Sanity management is key to survival in the mysterious and terrifying town of Ebisugaoka.

The game also features challenging puzzles, some inspired by Japanese folklore, adding cultural depth to the experience.

Players are given the option to adjust the puzzle difficulty, allowing for a more personalized experience.

Exploring the fog-shrouded town of Ebisugaoka forms the core of the gameplay, where players must solve puzzles and battle terrifying monsters.

Silent Hill f received an 18+ rating in Japan, making it the first Silent Hill game to receive such a rating.

This is not surprising considering the game contains depictions of gender discrimination, child abuse, bullying, drug-induced hallucinations, torture, and graphic violence.