SILENT HILL f: A Haunting Symphony of Horror and Hiccups

When Japanese folklore meets teenage angst in a dance of dread

Launch Day Larry

Welcome to the eerie world of SILENT HILL f, where the line between reality and nightmare blurs like a poorly optimized texture. This latest installment in the Silent Hill franchise takes us on a journey through a Japanese rural village, where the adults have mysteriously vanished, leaving behind a haunting atmosphere and a teenage girl named Hinako to unravel the mystery. But does this game live up to its chilling legacy, or does it stumble like a protagonist in a horror movie? Let’s dive in.

Gameplay: A Dance of Delight and Despair

The gameplay of SILENT HILL f is a mixed bag of engaging combat mechanics and frustrating design choices. The melee combat system, reminiscent of the “Souls” games, offers a satisfying challenge that requires players to learn enemy movesets and master the art of parrying and dodging. It’s a fast-paced affair that keeps you on your toes, much like trying to dodge spoilers on the internet. However, the combat is described as a “weird suboptimal mishmash” of systems from other games, leaving some players feeling like they’re in a horror-themed buffet with too many options and not enough focus.

The game offers two difficulty levels: Story and Hard. Unfortunately, the balance between these is as harmonious as a cat and a vacuum cleaner. Story mode is too easy, while Hard mode is frustratingly difficult, leaving players caught between a rock and a hard place. The stamina system adds to the frustration, as running out of stamina leaves you vulnerable to fast-moving enemies, creating an artificial difficulty that feels more like a cheap jump scare than a genuine challenge.

On the brighter side, the puzzles are well-designed, offering a challenge without causing players to rage-quit. The inclusion of psychological elements adds depth, encouraging players to engage beyond combat. The desire to replay in New Game Plus suggests these elements are well-received, even if the combat areas are tighter than a pair of skinny jeans.

Graphics: A Visual Feast with a Side of Glitches

Visually, SILENT HILL f is a tale of two cities. On one hand, the game boasts stunning visuals and excellent optimization, with smooth performance and stable frame rates on high-end systems. The atmosphere is immersive, drawing players into its haunting world with polished graphics that make you feel like you’re walking through a beautifully rendered nightmare.

However, the game is not without its graphical gremlins. Performance issues plague some players, even those with high-end hardware, leading to frame rate drops and screen artifacts that can make the game feel like a haunted slideshow. The lack of an FOV slider and the locking of cutscenes at 30 FPS are notable drawbacks, affecting immersion and gameplay fluidity. It’s like being served a gourmet meal with a side of cold fries—disappointing, to say the least.

Story: A Compelling Tale with a Few Loose Threads

The story of SILENT HILL f is a captivating blend of horror and folklore, set against the backdrop of a Japanese rural village. The narrative begins with a strong premise involving Hinako, a teenage girl dealing with an abusive family dynamic. This setup promises deep, emotional storytelling, but the narrative quickly shifts into predictable manga tropes and teen melodrama, leaving some players yearning for the nuanced storytelling of earlier Silent Hill titles.

Despite these criticisms, the story is praised for its engaging nature and hidden elements that keep players eager to uncover more. Hinako is a likable and sympathetic protagonist, and her journey from a regular schoolgirl to a survivor adds a layer of realism and relatability. The narrative style, while lacking the subtlety of its predecessors, encourages repeat playthroughs to uncover more context and answer lingering questions, much like a Yoko Taro game.

Final Verdict

SILENT HILL f is a game that dances between brilliance and frustration. Its engaging combat, atmospheric design, and compelling story are marred by performance issues, frustrating mechanics, and a narrative that occasionally loses its way. For fans of Japanese horror and folklore, it offers a haunting experience worth exploring, but be prepared for a few bumps along the way.

Score: 7.0/10