If you’re hungry for Silent Hill f (as are many fans), several outlets have released their thoughts on the initial five-hour preview of the game. Among them, IGN and Gamesradar released videos featuring the game in action, while PlayStation Blog stuck to the written word. Regardless, all dropped new details on the upcoming standalone entry, including new mechanics not seen in previous Silent Hill entries.
The demo for Silent Hill f begins with the game’s protagonist Hinako leaving her home after a fight with her father. Soon, the town of Ebisugaoka is enveloped in fog, and the expected horrors come out to play. Hinako is eventually armed with a pipe, staring down narrow alleyways which become a labyrinth.
The previews focus on the game’s combat, which is exclusively melee-based. Hinako won’t be stuck with just a pipe throughout the game, but you’ll obviously be getting up close and personal with the various monsters you’ll encounter throughout the game. Combat relies on you utilizing counterattacks. You’ll have a Stamina meter similar to Dark Souls, which can be refilled by successfully dodging.
Players will be able to use a new Focus mode to slow down time in order to counterattack after a dodge. Filling up your Focus gauge will allow you to unleash a powerful Focus Attack to inflict serious damage. However, your Sanity drains whenever you focus on an enemy in combat, which is a trade-off when trying to gauge enemy movement. If your Sanity drains too much, Hinako will take damage.
You’ll also need to be aware of weapon durability, as they can break after extended use. You can, however, find repair kits to patch up your weapons.
Silent Hill f also features a progression system, where you can exchange offerings such as food at small Shinto shrines for status enhancements. However, the trade-off is that you can use that food to restore your health, requiring you to weigh your options before committing to either giving Hinako a health boost, or a boost to her combat abilities.
And seeing as it’s Silent Hill, there are plenty of puzzles for players to solve, with many of them inspired by Japanese culture. Many of the puzzles were also tied directly to the story by Ryukishi07.
Silent Hill f will launch September 25 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.