Silent Hill f - Deluxe Edition - PC & Xbox Series X|S (Microsoft Store)

15min walksimulator then till end of game battle and sneak. Something new in Silent Hill universe.

Japanese tradition or i think so because i'm not asian. Very special.

I am so happy I gave this game a chance.

At first, I was put off because of complaints about the combat system — I even started playing with mods because of that. But I realized it just takes a little time to get into. I turned off the mods and I absolutely LOVE the game, combat included.

In my opinion, this game is awesome, and most criticism boils down to either "It's not your kind of game" or "You didn't give it the chance it deserves".

That said, there are some flaws worth mentioning. The game does not communicate how it is meant to be played. That is part of its charm, I get it — but it makes it harder to approach.

How I think most players should approach this game

Difficulty

If you are not explicitly looking for a challenge, start on one of the lower action difficulties. Even consider the lowest if you tend to get stressed easily — no shame in that. You will strengthen your character across playthroughs and can raise the action difficulty once you have a feel for the combat. Puzzle difficulty is less important in my opinion; some puzzles are just different on higher settings, and only rarely actually harder.

Combat

Do not play this like a hack-and-slash — that will only frustrate you. Be patient and learn each enemy's attack pattern. There is always a window where your attacks will land. Watch for counter opportunities, as they are very powerful. Combat is strategic and resource-based: when your stamina runs low, disengage and recover. Some weapon types suit certain enemies better — knives and sickles are fast and beginner-friendly, while heavy weapons shine in specific situations. Also, consider simply running past enemies; you do not always have to fight, and anything you miss can be found on a subsequent playthrough. Combat becomes much more comfortable as you unlock abilities: in-combat healing, reduced weapon durability loss, automatic counters, stronger attacks, shorter focus attack wait times, and more.

After your first playthrough

Head to the main menu and check the View Endings section — it will give you the guidance you need to continue. A word of caution: there are hidden rooms to discover, and looking them up online risks spoilers. It is better to ask someone who has already played, or even ask an AI for a spoiler-free hint. In my own case, I missed a secret room in my second playthrough and ended up locked out of an alternate ending.

Japanese voice-over

Absolutely worth it. Fair warning though: on higher difficulties, the subtitles can be hard to read during boss fights. :P

Is this game for you?

- Are you drawn to Japanese culture in some way?

- Do you enjoy psychological horror that slowly reveals its meaning piece by piece?

- Do you like a challenging combat system — maybe even souls-like games?

- Are you a Silent Hill fan who is open to a story unconnected from the previous games?