As a longtime fan of the series, I must say that from the very first trailer, I had a feeling this game would be disappointing. However, I still wanted to believe in the creative vision of the development team. Unfortunately, my fears turned out to be accurate.
The first thing you need to know is that the game completely diverges from the series and the phenomenal lore that nearly all Silent Hill titles have meticulously developed. Judging by various YouTube comments, I must also regrettably say the same here: this game could easily bear a completely different title and still perform adequately, without any issues. There is no indication or explanation of how the esoteric, occult, and mystical Silent Hill universe fits into a small Japanese town 60 years ago, nor is there any mention of the famous order or cults that are central to the Silent Hill series. There is literally no trace of them, as if the developers decided to disregard everything established and start anew.
The story is told in a notably immature manner, and once you grasp the premise, you will realize how superficial and almost childish it is. On top of that, to add insult to injury, the main protagonist begins to acquire supernatural powers, which slowly turns the game into a style reminiscent of God of War, Black Myth Wukong, and similar titles. This represents a profound disappointment and a significant departure from the themes and identity of the Silent Hill series.
It is simply unfair, and fans of the series like myself, as well as newcomers who have gradually begun to explore the lore of Silent Hill, can feel deceived by this game. This sense of betrayal and disappointment permeates the entire narrative of the game.
In the end, I must conclude that the developers completely missed the mark in terms of the expectations for the game, and I sincerely hope they will not repeat such an approach in the future.
I also strongly recommend to all new fans, for whom this might be their very first encounter with the rich Silent Hill world and franchise, to first play through Silent Hill 1–4. If that is not possible, then at least watch detailed videos that cover these four entries to their very core, including all the esoteric aspects. Only then come back and play this, and you will absolutely understand my review and the score I gave to Silent Hill f.
