NERDAGES
Silent Hill f: Review in Progress
Eric Poole Updated: 9/25/2025 | Posted: 9/25/2025
(Credit: Konami | Topics Page)
I’m spending my weekend in Silent Hill f, and after a few hours of exploring its twisted foggy streets, I wanted to share my first impressions. This isn’t a full review just yet—think of it more as a “review in progress” as I slowly unravel what this new chapter in the legendary horror series has to offer.
My Settings: Starting Out on Hard Mode
For context, I’m playing on Hard Combat (the highest difficulty available on a first playthrough) and Hard Puzzle (which the game labels as medium for newcomers). I usually dive into horror games on higher settings because I think it adds to the tension, and Silent Hill f feels like it was made to be unsettling from the jump.
1960s Japan: A Setting That Feels Both New and Familiar
The shift to 1960s Japan and a female protagonist might not be for everyone, but personally, I’m here for it. The eerie streets, fog-drenched alleys, and decaying architecture capture that classic Silent Hill vibe, while the setting keeps it fresh. It feels different from the series we know, but at the same time it feels right at home in the Silent Hill universe.
Combat… Or Lack of It (So Far)
Here’s where things get interesting. In my first 30 minutes, I hadn’t found a weapon yet. No pipe. No handgun. Nothing. Instead, I stumbled across a surprising number of health pickups, which made me even more anxious about what the game was preparing me for.
Once combat did show up, it leaned heavily on dodging and dashing away from enemies. The dodge range is generous, making it clear that survival here is about smart movement, not brute force. This feels like a big shift for Silent Hill, leaning more toward melee encounters and evasive gameplay rather than filling your inventory with firearms.
The Sanity Meter: Eternal Darkness Vibes
One of the tutorial hints that caught my attention was a mention of a sanity meter. For anyone who played Eternal Darkness back on the GameCube, you know how exciting (and terrifying) that mechanic can be.
I haven’t yet seen what “losing your sanity” actually means in Silent Hill f, but the very idea of it has me hooked. If done right, this could be the feature that makes the game stand out in a big way.
First Impressions
So far, Silent Hill f feels like a confident step forward for the franchise. The atmosphere is spot-on, the setting is unique, and the mechanics hint at a deeper psychological experience than we’ve had in past entries. I’m only scratching the surface, but I’m excited to see where this journey takes me—especially once I find a weapon and test how melee combat really plays out.
Stay tuned for my full review once I’ve spent more time in the fog. For now, consider me intrigued.