Silent Hill: Townfall is the latest entry in the recent revival of the series, but it’s also the most different. As a first-person experience, Silent Hill: Townfall has a more cramped, claustrophobic vibe. I got to watch a short demo of an early part of the game, in which the protagonist, Simon, travels to the mysterious island of St. Amelia.
While the exact reason for his visit is unclear, Simon hasn’t been here before. He uses a handheld CRT to tap into a strange signal, replacing the traditional Silent Hill radio, and receives a message from a mysterious Zoe.
He finds her home, where she has left him an organ transplant box with something inside, and finds a framed photo of himself in the hall. While the reveals are being saved for the full release, we got a bit of information from Simon, who was creeped out to find his photo in a stranger’s home.
To keep with the creepy atmosphere and avoid cutting the tension with an overly talkative main character, Simon’s thoughts are displayed on screen, still providing commentary on the situation without him needing to constantly talk to himself.
The atmosphere of Silent Hill: Townfall is creepy and foggy, like others in the franchise, but the first-person perspective makes the environments feel more cramped, closer to real 1:1 spaces. While small, the town feels lived-in, using a very real-feeling space to crank up the tension.
As Simon encountered his first creature, the handheld CRT, combined with the perspective, came into play. Simon can peek around corners to check for safety, and the CRT can lock onto an enemy’s signal, letting him track their movements through the environment. This was key because during the demo, he didn’t find a melee weapon until a bit later.
The combat seems far more limited and frantic in this entry. Simon has a plank to fight the enemy, but he is quickly taken out in a few hits as the monster strikes. Simon can revive after dying thanks to the bloodpack on his arm, though it was unclear whether this is a consumable or a different kind of mechanic.
The demo cuts there, leaving the majority of the mystery completely shrouded for now. While I’m not sure if sneaking and avoiding enemies while fully unarmed will feel rewarding in a Silent Hill experience, the way the first-person perspective informs the gameplay experience makes me excited for another fresh take on the franchise.
Silent Hill: Townfall is coming to PS5 and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store on September 24 and will cost $50.
