{"id":66304,"date":"2025-08-01T16:00:04","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.xtremeservers.com\/blog\/silent-hill-f-hands-on-report\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T16:00:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T15:00:04","slug":"silent-hill-f-hands-on-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.xtremeservers.com\/blog\/silent-hill-f-hands-on-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Silent Hill f: hands-on report"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Silent Hill f<\/a>, a standalone spin-off of the Silent Hill series from developer NeoBards, comes to PlayStation 5 on September 25. We recently had the chance to play the game at its world premiere event in Tokyo, Japan.<\/p>\n

Psychological horror set in 1960s Japan<\/h2>\n

The story begins when Hinako leaves her home to escape from her upset father. Silent Hill f utilizes the same over-the-shoulder perspective as Bloober Team\u2019s 2024 Silent Hill 2 remake, allowing players to move the camera with the right analog stick. Sharing a similar perspective to Hinako adds to the immersion and tension of the game. When you look around the forest surrounding her, you become acutely aware of the danger closing in and feel the overwhelming sense of isolation and entrapment.<\/p>\n

Navigate the fog-enshrouded town and survive the deadly horrors from an over-the-shoulder perspective<\/em><\/p>\n

The sky darkens as Hinako approaches a row of houses along the forestline, and a mysterious fog descends. The authentic 1960s Japanese town, depicted in vivid 4K visuals, evokes a sense of beauty and nostalgia. However, things take a turn after you meet Hinako\u2019s childhood friends. The fog completely engulfs the town, and \u201chiganbana\u201d (red spider lilies) begin blooming from the ground. Worse yet, tentacle-like plants begin creeping and overflowing from the walls. The town\u2019s dramatic transformation enthralled me.<\/p>\n

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Navigating the maddening, twisting streets of Ebisugaoka<\/h2>\n

Ebisugaoka features an array of narrow streets intertwining between clustered houses. Blind corners and varying verticality create a complex, maze-like layout. Unlike Silent Hill 2, there are no radios or items to warn you of approaching enemies, so you must remain vigilant and alert to every sound.<\/p>\n

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Puzzles closely tied to the story<\/h2>\n

Puzzles are a defining feature of the Silent Hill series, and they feature prominently in this title. During our playthrough, we were able to try out a variety of puzzles inspired by Japanese culture, such as locating the correct \u201cema\u201d (small wooden prayer tablets) or finding scarecrows that matched certain criteria. Many of these puzzles are deeply connected to the story written by scriptwriter Ryukishi07, and it was intriguing to find out how they were linked to the characters\u2019 emotions and identity.<\/p>\n

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Close-range combat demands quick-thinking and strategy<\/h2>\n

Hinako is an average Japanese teenager, so unlike previous titles in the series firearms aren\u2019t an option here. Instead, Silent Hill f has a heavier focus on melee combat. During our demo we got our hands on an iron pipe, a sickle, a dagger, and a naginata polearm.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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Combat features a new Sanity mechanic and counterattacks to target vulnerable enemies. Pressing the R2 button during combat openings combat activates a counter. This doesn\u2019t consume stamina, and if successful, the enemy will get knocked down. You\u2019ll see a special effect appear on the enemy when you can execute the counter. Although Focus mode consumes Sanity, this state can slow down time and create a longer opening, making it easier to deliver a surprise counter. Also, when Hinako\u2019s Focus gauge fills up she can unleash a powerful Focus Attack with the R1 button, which inflicts significant damage. However, the current Max Sanity will decrease, making it harder to go into Focus mode, so you\u2019ll need to determine the prime moments to take advantage of this attack.<\/p>\n

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Keep an eye on weapon durability<\/h2>\n

Weapons in Silent Hill f have levels of durability and will break faster the more they\u2019re used. Make sure you carry spare weapons or toolkits to\u00a0 repair their durability. However, weapons like the dagger and naginata, which can only be used in the Otherworld, have no durability and can be used to your heart\u2019s content.<\/p>\n

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\u00a0Face-to-face with a formidable shrine maiden monster<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The demo concludes with an intense battle between Hinako and a grotesque monster dressed as a shrine maiden. Hinako calls this monster \u201cSakiko\u201d when she confronts it in the Otherworld.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The shrine maiden\u2019s attacks span a wide range and will keep you on your toes from long range. The monster launches a long-distance attack that makes Hinako flinch while it simultaneously vanishes to cut down her Sanity. However, if you\u2019re able to locate the monster right after it reappears you\u2019ll have a chance to dash and strike while it\u2019s vulnerable.<\/p>\n

I walked away from my time with Silent Hill f eager to confront more terrifying enemies and challenging puzzles, as well as explore new areas of the map when the game launches September 25 on PS5.<\/p>\n

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