Silent Hill f assessment — A shocking comeback for the sequence

Silent Hill f had so much to show.

After 15 years with no new recreation within the acclaimed horror sequence and only a single remake in that point, it felt just like the sequence was lifeless and buried. Silent Hill f not solely proves that improper, it is likely to be one of the best recreation within the sequence up to now.

Silent Hill f sees gamers moving into the sneakers of Hinako Shimizu, a highschool woman in rural Nineteen Sixties Japan who will get pulled into the thick, acquainted fog of Silent Hill. Hinako’s father is abusive, her mom is simply too submissive and lets the abuse occur, and her sister Junko, the one barrier between her and her dad and mom, married and moved away. Her overbearing dad and mom management each facet of her life, and her solely escape is within the consolation of her childhood buddies.

When the fog rolls in, everybody besides Hinako and her buddies disappears, and of their place are grotesque, savage monsters hell-bent on destroying Hinako ought to she get too shut.

It’s these monsters that present a lot of Silent Hill f’s stress. Monsters are skilfully positioned across the map in key areas, and the sport revels in placing them the place you do not count on them to be. Any nook turned might be met with a monster, nevertheless it’s while you flip a nook, see nothing, after which flip round to discover a monster speeding from behind you that you simply actually begin to respect the horror expertise developer Neobards has crafted right here.

It all takes place in a city custom-built to place you on the sting of your seat, too. A mixture of dense residential streets and open, winding farmland makes for a labyrinth, and a thick fog overlaying a lot of the city means you possibly can hardly ever see past just a few ft forward of you. While you do have a map that will help you navigate, most navigation comes right down to trusting your intestine and hoping it would not lead you into hazard.

When you do get into hazard, you will have two choices: run or struggle. Combat is serviceable sufficient, with simply sufficient friction to maintain you in your toes with out getting too irritating, nevertheless it’s not at all times the most suitable choice. All of your weapons can break after continued use, and when you select to face your floor each time you see a monster, you will run out of weapons lengthy earlier than you discover replacements. Running means preserving earlier assets, however the monster will nonetheless be there, ready while you move again via.

Where Silent Hill f actually shines is in its storytelling. The story, written by veteran Japanese horror author Ryukishi07, is completely chilling, exploring themes of femininity, altering id, and self-preservation within the face of circumstances outdoors of Hinako’s management. It’s darkish and miserable, with moments of gory disgust and oppressive hopelessness scattered all through — however Hinako is not a pushover, and she or he fights again with every part she’s acquired. It’s expertly advised, and the right story for a horror recreation and for Silent Hill.

Its puzzles, each environmental and targeted, are implausible too, with some very intelligent options that may have you ever utilizing each final mind cell to determine them out. Almost none of them are overly troublesome or obtuse, and when you cease to settle down and give it some thought you possibly can normally get via them fairly shortly, however they add to the expertise and rival and even surpass a number of the sequence’ finest and most iconic puzzles.

Silent Hill f is an exceptional comeback for a sequence that was left on ice for a lot too lengthy. It has every part a longtime fan might ever ask for in a brand new Silent Hill recreation, whereas additionally being an ideal leaping in level for gamers new to the sequence. With any luck, it will likely be the primary of many new Silent Hill video games that preserve the sequence’ identify held in excessive regard.