Silent Hill: Townfall is the spooky series’ foray into first-person survival horror, but is this reimagining of a classic franchise worth your time?
Okay, you’ve seen the headline, so you already know what we’re going to compare Silent Hill: Townfall to, but if we’re being honest, we’re stoked about the game’s similarities to the first-person horror craze that’s gradually petered out in recent years. Of course, after games like Resident Evil: Requiem, Cronos: The New Dawn and even Silent Hill f, survival horror is doing just fine, but it feels like games like Outlast, Alien Isolation and Amnesia aren’t as relevant as they used to be.
This is funny, as P.T., a game that was originally going to be Hideo Kojima’s cancelled Silent Hills, was one of the titles that sparked this trend. Other legendary horror games like Resident Evil 7, Visage, and many more were emulating this approach, so it feels like Silent Hill has come full circle with Townfall. This isn’t the Silent Hills we were promised, but it may as well be.
Silent Hill fans are eating well right now, as Townfall comes after the stellar remake of Silent Hill 2 and the delectable spin-off/sequel/prequel Silent Hill f. There’s also a remake of the original game on the way, and Konami has said they’d like to make the series an annual release. We’re not sure we’re on board with that idea (true art takes time), but if we get more games like 2, f, and Townfall, we’re happy to consider it.
Image credit: Konami
Silent Hill games are becoming more experimental in the sense that they’re no longer sticking to the same template. While Silent Hill 2 was a traditional Silent Hill experience, Silent Hill f was more action-focused and even flirted with Soulslike mechanics a little bit. It was also the first game to see the horror spill out of the titular town into into a new location. Of course, f was set before the original game, but the point stands.
Townfall does something similar, setting the action during the 1990s and in Scotland. Whether this means it’s a prequel, or that Konami has just decided that Silent Hill is now more of an idea than a place is open to debate, but that’s where it’s similarities to Silent Hill f end. Sure, you’ll still be able to bludgeon hellish humanoid monsters to death with blunt objects like you could in f, but Townfall isn’t really about action; it’s about quivering in the corner praying you remain undetected while something horrible and undead lurches past your hiding spot.
So anyone who’s played games like Outlast and Alien Isolation will be right at home, and Silent Hill: Townfall is all the scarier for it. While SH games are full of dark concepts and ideas, Townfall is the first game in the series to truly unsettle us since Silent Hill 2, and that’s quite an achievement. Townfall feels like Silent Hill’s Resident Evil 7 moment, and all horror fans who know their stuff should be here for it.
That being said, the game isn’t perfect. As creepy and effective as the sneaking around is, it can become tiresome once you’ve been doing it for 8 hours. You do get more proficient in combat, but this doesn’t serve you when you’re being hunted by an insta-kill stalker enemy. Also, as resource management is important in Townfall, it often makes sense to avoid combat. Those looking for Condemned: Criminal Origins levels of violence will be disappointed, but if your favorite part of Resident Evil Requiem was avoiding the Girl, you’re going to enjoy Townfall.
Image credit: Konami
Those who grew up in the 90s with VHS, floppy disks and antiquated operating systems will get a kick out of some of the tech our protagonist, Simon, has to use. The game builds many of the puzzles around these devices and we got a nostalgia pop from each one. However, if you grew up after the turn of the Millennium, this old gear will likely be of little interest, but it’s a nice touch and really helps give Townfall some character. The game’s pacing between puzzles, stealth, combat and story content is just right, and that stops Townfall from feeling like one of the many “walking simulators” that popped up around the time games like Outlast, Alien Isolation and P.T. made their mark.
Simon even gets to carry around an old portable TV that essentially works like the scanner in Alien Isolation, letting you see where enemies are before they pounce. You’ll come to rely on it heavily, and when the game takes it away for a section you’ll likely bite your fingernails to nubs. The device makes stealth easier and helps the game pay tribute to horror games that came before. It works, but is it a bit derivative? Yes, absolutely.
While it feels odd to play a Silent Hill game in first person, and once again to not have it set in the actual town, Silent Hill: Townfall is an excellent addition to the series and a must-play for those who love really scary survival horror games that are light on action, but heavy on scares. Silent Hill f didn’t scratch that itch for everyone, so it’s nice to see the series cater to old-school horror fans as well as experimenting with new ideas.
We’re also fascinated to see where the series goes from here. If the horror from the town of Silent Hill can end up in any place, and during any time period, then that’s a terrifying idea for Konami to explore.