We played 'Silent Hill f': the return to the psychological horror that the saga needed

'Silent Hill' is synonymous with psychological horror . Since its debut in 1999, the series has made its mark with its oppressive atmosphere, disturbing creatures, and plots steeped in symbolism. With 'Silent Hill 2', Konami is opting for a new setting and a new creative team, taking the series to a 1960s Japan where horror lurks around every corner. After playing the game—it lasts 13 hours, but can be extended if you want more endings—at ABC we can say that the return is as disturbing as we expected, and despite not being on the same level as 'Silent Hill 2', a game that's in the video game hall of fame, the experience is enjoyable.

The title places us in the Japanese town of Ebisugaoka and puts us in the shoes of Hinako, a 16-year-old girl with several family traumas, an environment that labels her as not who she should be, and a peculiar relationship with her older sister, Junko, key to understanding a plot filled with emotional wounds, superstition, and mystery. The narrative is one of the great attractions of 'Silent Hill f'. The game constructs a story that blends social prejudices and supernatural elements, with several shocking scenes that leave their mark. The oppressive fog, the hallmark of the series, is back, but here the symbolism of the flowers, the Lycoris radiata or flower of death in Japan, stands out above it, which here are not decorative, but part of the horror itself. Their 'infection' throughout the town and how it shapes the settings—and the enemies we encounter—is one of the things we liked most about the title.

The sound design is another of this installment's great achievements. Every creak, every distant whisper, every sudden silence builds tension. It's a game that requires you to wear headphones to fully experience it. There are times when what's most terrifying isn't what you see, but what you suddenly stop hearing. That which lurks in the fog. The controller's haptic feedback also contributes to immersion: you can feel the wind, the movement of objects in cinematics, and even the trembling of Hinako's footsteps in the empty hallways.

Another highlight is the cinematics, photorealistic thanks to Unreal Engine 5, which immerse us in a story where the horror gradually grows, until it explodes in very disturbing sequences. However, despite the fact that the setting and environments are very well-crafted and the care taken to depict a 1960s Japan with all its pros and cons, it also occasionally feels undercooked. For example, when the fog disperses, the lighting and details of certain textures falter, and the result is a title that could have easily been released a couple of console generations ago.

The gameplay, meanwhile, maintains the series' signature exploration and puzzles, with two difficulty levels for general gameplay and three for puzzles, which in theory allows the experience to be tailored to the player, from those looking to enjoy the story to those looking for a real challenge. However, at ABC, we recommend playing on the highest possible difficulty, not because we're too experienced a player, but because the game can be absurdly easy in the other modes. This is another weak point: the resource balance: there are too many healing items and weapons, which saps the tension from some battles. We also didn't find these battles complex.

Despite the fact that Silent Hill F offers dodges, counterattacks, weapons that wear out, and various bars like energy or sanity to manage during encounters, the reality is that three hits take out practically everything, and if several monsters approach at once, pressing the dodge button twice can get you through the encounter unscathed. And many times we've decided to flee from enemies not out of fear or lack of resources, but because of how boring the combat can be. The hits, animations, and movements feel slow and heavy, poorly crafted in fact, which clashes with the excellent design of the creatures that hunt us. It's a shame, because it's clear they've tried to experiment with another, deeper style of gameplay, which is diluted by not tweaking a few things before launching the game.

'Silent Hill' is a return to the roots of the psychological horror that made the series famous. Its atmosphere, sound, and technical aspects make it one of the most immersive experiences of recent years. Although it lacks deeper gameplay and a more fine-tuned balance in difficulty, it remains a must-have for fans of the genre and an ideal entry point for those who have never ventured into a 'Silent Hill'.