Silent Hill f Marks a New Direction for the Classic Horror Series

Right from the outset, Konami has made it clear that Silent Hill f is going to feel like a new direction for the beloved horror series, taking players to rural '60s Japan and placing them in the shoes of a brand new hero, high school student Shimizu Hinako. Although the recent Silent Hill 2 Remake served as a nostalgic return for many longtime fans, the lead developers of Silent Hill f want to assure series diehards that the future may not always look familiar. In a conversation with PC Gamer, game director Al-Yang and series producer Motoi Okamoto discussed this shift, emphasizing that Silent Hill f will be more combat-focused than previous entries. "This entry in the Silent Hill series is more action-focused than previous ones," Yang stated, while noting the game’s difficulty has been tuned to accommodate both classic Silent Hill fans and newcomers.

The developers have been vocal about the strong emphasis on action, but they have also pushed back against comparisons to the Dark Souls series, stating that they "disagree" with the label of a Soulslike game. Nevertheless, Yang and Okamoto are aiming to strike a balance between the nostalgic feel of old-school Silent Hill and a more modern gameplay approach that they hope will attract a new audience. "We want to give old fans, the classic fans, kind of like, 'Ah, this is what I came here for, a succulent Silent Hill meal,'" Yang explained. At the same time, they seek to offer something fresh for those wanting to explore new gameplay experiences.

Yang highlighted the current wave of interest in the Silent Hill franchise, noting that Silent Hill f follows closely on the heels of the Silent Hill 2 Remake and precedes announcements for a Silent Hill 1 remake, as well as other upcoming titles like Townfall. He expressed excitement about exploring new territories and characters within the series, despite some apprehension regarding the execution of Silent Hill f. The collaboration with various developers may introduce variation in tone and quality, but there seems to be a shared reverence for the Silent Hill name that could inspire compelling contributions to the series. Okamoto summarized this sentiment by stating, "Future titles will probably carry their own flavor, depending on who we will be working with," encouraging players to embrace new interpretations of one of the best horror series to date.

Source: Silent Hill f director says, alright, you got your Silent Hill 2 remake, which was "basically for the classic fans," but moving forward things are going to look different: "Future titles will probably carry their own flavour"