Konami held a Silent Hill Transmission event to showcase their upcoming new entry to the Silent Hill franchise, entitled Silent Hill f. During this, it was confirmed that claimed visual novelist Ryukisshi07, best known for Higurashi and Umineko, is the lead writer on the project. Silent Hill f was first announced three years ago during a similar Silent Hill Transmission where we were promised a major resurgence in Silent Hill, something we saw last year in full force with Silent Hill 2 Remake, helmed by Bloober Team.
Silent Hill f will see some drastic changes from previous entries, seeing the series ditch the traditional setting in America for a rural Japanese town in the 1960s. The game will see players take the role of a young schoolgirl by the name of Shimizu Hinkao, who will “find the beauty in terror” as they are faced with a choice they must make. While that choice will remain a mystery, I assume until release, Konami did outline some of the story. They stated in the game’s official description:
Shimizu Hinkao was living her life as an ordinary teenager. That is, until her town is suddenly shrouded in fog and begins to change in a horrific way. Now, she must explore a town she no longer recognizes while solving puzzles, fighting strange enemies, and doing everything she can to survive… in order to face the ultimate decision that she must make. This is a tale about a beautiful yet terrifying choice.
This game will serve as a great entry point for new players as it features a new story with little in the way of connection to previous entries. This being said, it will feature easter eggs for returning and long-time fans, possibly even a few returning endings fans might expect.
Monster designer Kera also spoke during the event about the horrors players will face, stating:
I love the Silent Hill series, and it’s been a big influence on me. In particular, I am constantly remembering Silent Hill 2, and the messages on the walls, the music, and the monster designs. So, when it came to Silent Hill f, and bringing the setting to Japan, we had to come up with something that felt just a little different, and I had to really think about how to get that feeling.
The monster designs were the hardest. I had to consider everything that’s come in Silent Hill before, and figure out how to take this game in a different direction, but still be Silent Hill. It might not be the exact same blood-smeared, rusting scenery, but I sincerely hope you’ll enjoy our vision and the world we’ve created.
Silent Hill long-time composer Akira Yamaoka, as well as Dynasty Warriors composer Kensuke Inage will be teaming up to compose the soundtrack for f, making music to bring all the layers of Silent Hill together. Inage Spoke, stating:
I have composed music for an unsettling yet beautiful world that uses imagery from shrines, blending ancient Japanese court music with ambient echoes. I wove in various techniques that will connect the player to the protagonist’s agony, internal conflict, fear, and other emotions.
The only information we did not learn during the event, unfortunately, was the release date for the game, though it appears to be well into development. With the Silent Hill 2 Remake released, this appears to be the focus of Konami moving forward. Konami recently praised the sales of Silent Hill 2 Remake, which passed the 2 million copies sold mark. Additionally, both Konami and Bloober team have announced on the back of this plans to develop a new game together.
Remember to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up to date on everything we have going on!
