Beyond the Fog
Speculation has been rife in our house about what the ‘f’ in SILENT HILL f might stand for: frightening, flipping scary or indeed *expletive deleted* scary?
Well, having played the game all the way through, I’m no closer to an answer, but each and every one of those guesses are pretty close.
Coming from Konami and NeoBards Entertainment this is the latest in a long series of games to bear the SILENT HILL moniker. I have to say, things have come a long way from when I first played SILENT HILL on the PlayStation: this latest version certainly has massive ambitions. So, can it cash the cheques its mouth is writing, or is this another SILENT HILL 4: The Room?
Well, let’s step into the fog and find out, shall we?
The Red Flower of Death: Narrative and Dread
The story is – quite obviously – a big part of any and all SILENT HILL games, and it appears that the devs here have pushed the boat right out.
The narrative revolves around a girl called Hinako, who as the game opens is having problems with her father. Running from the house, she meets up with some of her friends just as the town they live in is engulfed in fog. This time, the fog comes with red flowers built in, and turns out that the flowers are lethal, and the creature that lives in the fog even more so! Running for their lives, the friends soon find themselves split, and from there the story starts to unfurl: who is a true friend, can boys and girls ever just be friends, and can they all survive to end?
Well, luckily we only have to keep Hinako alive, and forget about the rest of them! No spoilers here, but I will include a warning: a later section is weirder, grimmer and bloodier than anything else I remember from a SILENT HILL game (or indeed any other game), so that 18 rating is there for a reason, folks.
Palpable Fear
In terms of presentation, SILENT HILL f is simply gob smacking. The graphics are fantastic, especially in regards to the enemies. See, the creatures of SILENT HILL have always been a weird bunch, but from the dancing doll-like foes with blades for legs (that remind of the creepy nurses from Silent Hill 2) through to the giant bosses, the art direction and design is absolutely amazing.
The various locations we find ourselves in have also been meticulously designed, and look brilliant. Even the fog plays a part, keeping the draw distance just far enough that you can make out enemies in the distance, but not so far that you can run about with freedom. The design of Hinako and her friends is also very good, from the dead eyed stare of Rinko through to the fear and pain that shows on Hinako’s face. In a few words, it all looks amazing.
Dynamic Soundscapes and Jump Scares
Sound is, if anything, even better. The dynamic music that ramps up when an enemy appears makes the tension almost unbearable, especially when it begins and you don’t have eyes on the foe in question. And further to that, the voice acting is also superb, and if you have the voiceovers in Japanese as I did, the acting is very good indeed.
Sounds of the enemies, with skittering footsteps to the thumping tread of the big guys all add to the tension. Throw in the odd jump scare and the fear is palpable. The presentation really does make SILENT HILL f what it is: superb.
Souls-like Combat Meets Classic Puzzles
Now, one of the things that sets this version of SILENT HILL apart from the ones that I have played previously is the combat system. In the early games, combat was something to be avoided if at all possible however this time around, it’s like Dark Souls up in here. And that comparison is not just lazy journalism: the combat system revolves around using weapons, dodging, counter attacking, and managing a stamina bar. Sounds pretty Soulsy to me!
Speaking of weapons, they are a varied bunch, and all have a durability gauge. When you use them, they break down and will eventually break, leaving you defenceless, potentially. Different weapons last for different amounts of time, and should you be lucky enough to find a toolkit, they can also be repaired. Saving heavy weapons for big enemies makes sense, but quite often you’ll find yourself tickling foes with whatever comes to hand! And of course, achievements are tied to the bosses too, for defeating them in certain ways. No spoilers here either!
Dodging, Durability, and the Camera’s Achilles Heel
Going in this new direction, the camera is going to be absolutely vital, and luckily it is largely up to the task. The exception is when you are locked on to an enemy and trying to fight in narrow corridors, which shows up the camera’s Achilles heel. It is all too easy to find yourself trapped in a corner, especially with the larger creatures, and the camera simply cannot cope in this situation. Knowing this, and leading foes to more open areas before engaging makes it a bit of a non problem, but you do need to bear it in mind.
Of course the combat in a SILENT HILL game is always an accompaniment to the puzzles that abound, and the same is true in SHf. In an interesting move, the combat and puzzles have separate difficulty settings: you can have the hardest puzzles with the easiest combat, for instance, depending on where your skills lie.
The puzzles are a mixed bunch, and the solutions are not always as obvious as you may think. I can’t go into the details for fear of spoilers, but I’ll say this: think laterally, think inside out, then think again. A lot of the most complex puzzles have an achievement attached to them for not making mistakes, so be sure that you know the right answer…
A Superb and Necessary Return for SILENT HILL
SILENT HILL f is absolutely brilliant, 90% of the time. The tension, as well as the atmosphere that the graphics and sound create is amazing, really drawing you in; play this game in the dark with headphones on and you’ll understand what I mean.
The only fly in the SILENT HILL f ointment is the camera, and this is only an issue in some of the game until you learn to manage it. Sadly, it does make things harder at certain stages.
On the whole though, SILENT HILL f is absolutely amazing and needs to played, especially if you like a scary game. But bear in mind the graphic content warning.
Important Links
A Fog Descends on Japan: SILENT HILL f Unveiled – Release Date Confirmed – https://www.thexboxhub.com/a-fog-descends-on-japan-silent-hill-f-unveiled/
The Legendary Horror Series Returns as SILENT HILL f Descends on Xbox, PS5 & PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-legendary-horror-series-returns-as-silent-hill-f-descends-on-xbox-ps5-pc/
Buy SILENT HILL f on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/silent-hill-f/9N5NFRQV2HQQ/0010
Take home a Deluxe Edition – http://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/silent-hill-f-deluxe-edition/9NSLL5HCLH23/0010
