Those scarecrows suddenly moving get me every time.
Silent Hill f left a much stronger impression as an immersive action-adventure built around the story of a girl, Hinako, than as the “reliving of terror” the series name might suggest.
On the higher difficulties especially, the action is so prominent you start asking “is this even a horror game?” — dodging, parrying and build-crafting (Soulslike elements) suddenly take center stage.
On the flip side, there are genuine snags: system troubles like the diary bug, and the fiddliness of resource management.
Even so, before I knew it I’d done 5, then 6 playthroughs — it has a strange pull that makes replaying it painless. Hinako as a character, the quietly encroaching atmosphere, the occasional sentimental beats — they deepen the more you loop. A curious experience.
Whether you play for the platinum or for the story, it’s a game where you genuinely think “glad I played that.” Personally I’d recommend it to series veterans and newcomers alike.
◆ My Overall Score
8.2 / 10
(Big points for Hinako’s character and the addictive replay loop. The bug-related stuff was a shame.)
1. Platinum Difficulty Summary
Spoilers below — skip if you haven’t played.
- Playtime: 38 hours (measured)
- Perceived platinum difficulty: 3 / 10
- Stress level: 3 / 10
- Sense of achievement: 6 / 10
◆ What I Liked
- Careful character writing centered on Hinako; strong story immersion
- Clever “hidden-element play” like the Spirit Blade and PP-8001
- Charm (omamori) skill builds are surprisingly deep — a Soulslike-leaning build feel
- On the hardest difficulty “Lost in the Fog,” the game’s completeness as an action game jumps sharply
◆ What Fell Short
- A bug where Sakuko’s diary couldn’t be collected risked a permanently blocked trophy (fixed in a later patch)
- The “Lost in the Fog” puzzles swing wildly in difficulty — there are moments you genuinely get stuck
- Charm purchases and stat upgrades share the same resource, so management is a bit tedious
Overall: “a game you end up progressing through for its action and characters rather than its horror.”
Boss fights lean action-heavy too.
2. Trophy List Characteristics
The trophy set centers on three axes: collection, replays, and high-difficulty clears. Technical demands aren’t that high, and you can complete it in as few as 4 playthroughs (maybe 3 if you split save data). That said, I struggled with collectibles and adjusted difficulties, so I ended up doing 6 playthroughs (including the UFO ending).
3. The Toughest Trophies
① Kami-Kakari no Miko — collect Sakuko’s diary
At launch, a bug made this uncollectable — I searched for 4 playthroughs and still couldn’t get it (a dead end). Mentally, this was the hardest part. After a patch it finally became collectable and I got it. I’ll never forget the emptiness of running each loop believing “surely I’ll get it next time.”
Advice: no problem post-patch. Still, keep a checklist as you go, just in case.
② Thanks and Respect to the Fog-Cutter — clear on “Lost in the Fog”
The real peak of the platinum. Clearing via the normal ending route is easier, because red capsules (healing) become more plentiful.
To take on this difficulty, I first collected each ending and secured the hidden weapons (Spirit Blade, PP-8001), and cleared the collectible hotspots and other trophies along the route below. My flow:
First, clear the normal ending (story-focused). On playthrough 2, tackle the two added alternate endings (on the hard route). After getting the Spirit Blade, save-split before purifying to grab both ending trophies.
Then start playthrough 3 on any difficulty for the UFO ending route. Playthrough 4: start the hidden ending route (story-focused). I didn’t trust myself to reach the hidden ending on Lost in the Fog, so I added a loop. Since one trophy requires beating the final boss within 10 minutes, if you’re not going for the fastest route, trying it on story-focused is easier.
The PP-8001 is like a lightsaber — I love it.
Finally, playthrough 5 on Lost in the Fog, clearing the normal ending route. On this route you can use red capsules for healing, so it’s a fair bit easier.
The final Shiromuku (White Robe) fight honestly felt like playing a Soulslike. By the way, the trophy “Peerless Fledgling” (beat it without dying once) — I missed the shot for it on my first loop, but here I just beat it normally and got it (no revives this loop).
Moves like a master samurai.
I dodged the ferocious flurries with parry-dodges — dodge, dodge, DODGE!! — then landed the Rabbit charm’s parry-counter with a heavy attack, over and over. This was less horror and more a high-level action game. (Hinako was in the track club, so high-speed dodging is possible. I regret not joining track myself.)
◆ My Charm Build (the setup I actually cleared with)
- Tanuki: take damage as mind/spirit instead → you can restore mind at shrines, which saves HP
- Rabbit: after a parry-dodge, a heavy attack triggers a parry-counter
- Lily of the Valley: raises parry-dodge success rate (if you’re used to it, drop this for an offensive charm like Swallow)
- For Hinako segments I used Otter, handy for maintaining weapon durability
Weapons: Spirit Blade + PP-8001 + Kitchen Knife was a stable combo.
5. Stress Points During the Run
- The “Lost in the Fog” puzzles spike hard in difficulty
- Charm buying and upgrading share one resource: for trophies, “save → hoard money → buy charms → get trophy → reset” is the most efficient in the end
- Some stages’ camera flails in tight spaces
- The atmosphere is great, but there were more “startle placements” than actual dread — the horror direction felt uneven
7. For Anyone Going for the Platinum
◆ Watch Out For
- Learn the hidden weapons’ acquisition routes early
- Play “Lost in the Fog” as a build-crafting game for stability
- Don’t force puzzles — organize your info early
◆ Prep That Makes Life Easier
- Templatize your charm build
- Manage saves for the ending branches
- Sort out your healing-item usage early
◆ Who It’s For
- People who like Soulslikes
- People who don’t mind replaying
- People who want to follow the character and story closely
- Also great for those who want an “uncanny world” more than straight horror
8. Closing — My Personal Take
I didn’t feel the same level of fear as Silent Hill 2, but this game is oddly well-made as “a Soulslike with a schoolgirl protagonist.” Before I knew it, 5 loops, ultimately 6. It’s been a while since I looped the same game this hard in one go — you can call it straight-up addictive.
Hinako is a compelling protagonist, and you naturally want to see where her story lands. It’s that kind of game. It’s a notable release — you owe yourself a look. That “fog” will quietly part before you, too.
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