Silent Hill f Is a Beautifully Executed Horror Story That Suffers From Core Franchise Problems (Review)

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Silent Hill f is a welcome addition to the series. It doesn’t try to drastically change things, but instead cleverly updates the familiar formula. Setting the horror in 1960s Japan is a smart move, adding a uniquely unsettling and sometimes beautiful Japanese horror feel to the series’ already intense atmosphere. Following a period of disappointing entries and the cancellation of Silent Hills, the well-received remake of Silent Hill 2 has renewed fans’ excitement.

Konami has delivered on the promise of a great *Silent Hill* game, creating a truly chilling and emotionally resonant horror experience. While *Silent Hill f* retains some of the series’ traditional gameplay frustrations and moves away from familiar locations, its captivating story and terrifying atmosphere make it a standout title. Existing *Silent Hill* fans won’t be disappointed, and it could even win over those new to the series.

Rating: 4/5

Pros: Cons:
The atmosphere and world-building is pitch-perfect Silent Hill, creating a dread-inducing but strangely beautiful setting. An overreliance on straightforward combat can quickly become repetitive.
A strong story and cast of characters make for a compelling narrative that’s hard to put down Controls that benefit the exploration and horror don’t necessarily translate as well to dodges, combat, and movement
The graphics, art design, music, and overall presentation are fantastic and arguably a contender for best in the series. Silent Hill f can’t escape the typical trappings of the franchise as a whole.

Silent Hill f Is Horrifying, Beautiful, And Impossible To Escape

As a long-time Silent Hill fan, I have to say this new installment, *Silent Hill f*, really feels like it *gets* what makes the series special, while also doing some interesting new things. It definitely has that classic Silent Hill vibe, but it’s not afraid to try its own ideas. One of the biggest changes is the setting – most Silent Hill games take place in the US, blending Japanese horror with that Stephen King feel. But *f* moves the action to a small town in the Japanese countryside called Ebusigaoka. Even before things get spooky with the mist and monsters, the town is beautifully eerie. It’s where we meet Hinako Shimizu, and I’m already hooked!

Hinako, the main character, is a compelling protagonist – a teenager struggling with the decline of her hometown and family issues. Her backstory unfolds gradually, not only through traditional cutscenes and flashbacks, but also through personal journal entries and how she interacts with the world. It’s easy to connect with and even *feel* like Hinako, as her fear and anxiety are effectively integrated into the gameplay. When the game is at its peak, *Silent Hills* excels at creating a richly detailed and immersive world, from the terrifying, fog-filled streets of Ebusigakoa to the mysterious and atmospheric Dark Shrine.

The worlds in *Silent Hill f* are visually stunning, and the most enjoyable aspects of the game come from exploring them to solve mysteries, overcome obstacles, and avoid monsters. The story is intentionally unclear, leaving much open to interpretation and encouraging multiple playthroughs. Even finishing the game once is incredibly intense, but the captivating horror and beautiful world design – powerfully enhanced by Akira Yamaoka and Kensuke Inage’s unforgettable music – make it hard to resist playing again and again.

As Always, Combat Isn’t Silent Hill’s Strongpoint

What has always made *Silent Hill* great is its intense horror, which it prioritizes over action-packed combat. *Silent Hill f* changes this formula, letting the main character, Hinako, use weapons almost immediately. Throughout the game, from the town of Ebusigaoka to the Dark Shrine, you can always fight-and sometimes you have to. Unfortunately, the combat itself isn’t consistently well-designed.

This feature adds a new layer of strategy to the game, making players decide whether to fight or flee. It’s cleverly woven into the game’s story and world through a ‘Sanity’ meter, alongside health and stamina, which affects Hinako’s abilities as she faces mental and spiritual challenges.

Despite the action, combat in this game still feels tied to the older *Silent Hill* style, which prioritizes exploration and atmosphere. This can make fights feel awkward – attacks might miss, or dodges won’t quite work. Even more frustrating, the combat gets repetitive quickly, especially since there aren’t many different types of enemies (particularly in the easier ‘Story’ mode). The game truly shines when it focuses on puzzles and exploration, and those sections are much more engaging.

Some of the game’s puzzles are simple combination locks with a nice aesthetic, but the truly great ones make you explore and feel a sense of urgency. One early puzzle in the Dark Shrine is particularly memorable: Hinako has to carefully inspect many tiles, guided only by a riddle, all while hearing monsters closing in. Like much of the game, embracing the haunting atmosphere and unique world of *Silent Hill f* enhances the experience. However, newer elements like action-focused combat and a collectible upgrade system sometimes feel out of place and can disrupt the immersion.

Silent Hill f Is Everything Horror Fans Love (And Hate) About The Konami Series

Many of the same criticisms could apply to several games in the *Silent Hill* series, which actually highlights how well this new installment fits within the franchise while still feeling new. It maintains the core *Silent Hill* experience – prioritizing unsettling atmosphere and a compelling story over flawless gameplay. When it excels at creating those signature elements, as it does here, its shortcomings are easy to overlook. *Silent Hill f* is visually stunning, and the contrast between its realistic characters and the disturbing, grotesque imagery that defines *Silent Hill* is particularly effective.

The feeling of creeping through the foggy streets of Ebusigaoka, scavenging for items while uncovering strange clues and facing terrifying creatures, is what truly defines this iconic series. *Silent Hill f* delivers a compelling story that gets better and better, combining everything fans love about the games with stunning new visuals. The gameplay – including fighting, solving puzzles, and exploring – all work together to build a richly detailed world, deepen the story’s mysteries, and draw players into a truly horrifying experience, enhanced by a beautiful yet unsettling art style that blends wonder and fear.

Konami, NeoBards, and writer Ryukishi07 have created something truly special with *Silent Hill f*. It’s a game that stays with you long after you finish playing, sparking lots of thought and speculation. *Silent Hill f* captures everything that makes the series great, presenting it with a fresh, Japanese horror style that complements its classic feel. The gameplay focuses more on creating a chilling atmosphere and exploring meaningful themes than on fast-paced action, which perfectly suits the game’s tone. Ultimately, *Silent Hill f* is the beautiful, haunting, and deeply frightening game that fans have been hoping for.

ComicBook was provided a PS5 code for the purposes of this review.

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2025-09-22 20:45