BETTER THAN EVER

Too many red spider lilies in SILENT HILL F is not a good thing

- Elie Gould

Silent Hill fisn't some spin-off or experiment for Konami to indoctrinate its players into performing perfect dodges - it's the next step for the iconic horror series. Watching as the fog settled on Ebisugaoka, I felt the same pit in my stomach that I experienced back when I stumbled across Silent Hill as I searched for Cheryl. Silent Hill f may leave behind that old rural town, but it has more in common with previous games than just its title.

The new protagonist, Shimizu Hinako is at a crossroads in her life. Just finished with school, she faces pressure from her parents to settle down and get married like her older sister. But she's plagued by the fears of heading down a path that broke her mother and sent her sister off somewhere far away. Fears of what has happened, but crucially what may come to pass, is what haunts Hinako's journey through Silent Hill f. James Sunderland undoubtedly left big shoes to fill, so it's no small task taking on the mantle of Silent Hill protagonist, but Hinako does it effortlessly. Her character is vulnerable, strong, stubborn and caring throughout the game, making it easy to sympathise and like her.

VILLAGE PEOPLE