What would Silent Hill look like if it were set in Japan? There's one answer to this compelling question: exactly the same.
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| Silent Hill f (PS5) |
Silent Hill f brings the familiar psychological horror to a different setting, giving seasoned veterans and newcomers a terrifying new challenge that sets it apart from the entire franchise.
Set in Japan in the 1960s, the story revolves around a teenage schoolgirl named Hinako Shimizu who faces paranormal threats spreading across the quiet village of Ebisugaoka. It's about one girl, two worlds. The Hinako Shimizu in the living world is plunged into a living hell, and the Hinako Shimizu in the spirit world is vying for power.
The Japanese setting distinguishes Silent Hill f from the rest of the Silent Hill franchise, promising to engage players with its compelling characters and a narrative that captures the intensity characteristic of traditional Japanese horror stories.
How these worlds revolve around her provides various challenges you would expect in this different kind of Silent Hill. One such aspect is the critical melee-focused combat system, where players must be mindful of their health, stamina, and sanity while battling creatures. At the right timing, you can execute either a perfect evasion, which fully recovers stamina, or a powerful counter, dealing huge damage to enemies.
In the living world, weapons ranging from the steel pipe to the powerful sledgehammer will lose durability, and soon, they'll break unless you find a repair kit to fix them. In the spirit world, however, weapons such as the ceremonial dagger and the naginata won't break.
The enemy creatures you'll face in Silent Hill f come in all shapes and sizes. In the living world, when these creatures are killed, that's it. In the spirit world, however, defeating them is only temporary, so make use of their downtime to escape before they reanimate.
True to the Silent Hill lineage are the unforgiving puzzles that require your wits to move forward. Depending on the difficulty setting, puzzles can get more complex than before.
One unique feature of this game is its currency system. At save points, you can sell food and other valuable items in exchange for Faith, which allows you to randomly pull omamori that will be useful on your journey. Additionally, with enough ema, you can spend them on upgrades.
Silent Hill f is a unique entry in the Silent Hill franchise. What stands out the most is its Japanese setting, which adds a distinct charm to the horror experience. The game features a challenging battle system, intricate puzzles, and more. This truly embodies the essence of a proper Japanese horror game. A must-play of the autumn season.