Silent Hill f has become a fight-loving horror game, prioritizing combat over scares. The demo at Gamescom showcased the game’s combat mechanics, but unfortunately, they fell short of expectations. Hinako, the protagonist, struggles with sluggish and unskilled attacks, making combat feel clunky.
The biggest issue lies in Hinako’s defensive skills, particularly her dodge-dash mechanic, which feels too generous and breaks the tension of the horror experience. This leads to an unfortunate loss of scares, as the player can easily bypass most enemies or dance around danger. The demo also lacked intense moments of fear, instead opting for a more action-oriented approach.
While the game’s setting, rural Ebisugaoka, is a great fit for chases and ambushes, and its Japanese folklore and custom elements are well-implemented, the combat mechanics need significant improvement. Even the simplest melee swings can be frustratingly inconsistent, with too many missed hits and delayed stun animations.
The demo showed glimpses of what Silent Hill f could be, such as a memorable farm field set-piece that requires puzzle-solving and exploration. However, the struggles to balance action and horror may hinder the game’s overall experience. With a September 25th launch just around the corner, it remains to be seen if the developers can polish the combat mechanics enough to save the game from its current flaws.
Source: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/silent-hill-f-loves-combat-so-much-it-feels-like-its-fighting-itself