Silent Hill f May Be Hiding a Fun Reveal in Plain Sight

It's felt like an eternity for some long-time fans, but a brand-new, mainline Silent Hill game, Silent Hill f, is finally at their doorsteps. Konami and its various partners have been working to revive the Silent Hill franchise for the last couple of years, releasing games like Silent Hill: Ascension, Silent Hill: The Short Message, and the Silent Hill 2 remake, and Silent Hill f will act as a continuation of that effort. More projects, like a Silent Hill 2 movie and Silent Hill 1 remake, are also in production, but Silent Hill f represents a step forward for the series, and that's a big deal.

While Silent Hill games have previously flirted with the idea of the American town’s foggy phenomenon spreading to other locations, Silent Hill f is dragging it through time and space to the fictional 1960’s town of Ebisugaoka. Centered on the young protagonist Hinako, Silent Hill f aims to breathe new life into this beloved survival horror franchise, while also reinforcing the series’ psychological aspects. Silent Hill f is taking plenty of wild swings on its way to re-establishing Silent Hill as a household horror name, and one of the wildest may be sitting where everyone can see it.

Silent Hill f Was Almost Set in the Real 'Silent Hill'

The upcoming Silent Hill f, the highly anticipated next entry in the iconic franchise, almost had the real ‘Silent Hill’ as its setting.

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By Pam K Ferdinand

Silent Hill f’s Title Is More Than Meets The Eye

Ever since Silent Hill f was announced, the Silent Hill community has been speculating about what the “f” in its title means. “Flower,” “fungus,” “family,” and “female” are among the many suggestions that have been put forth, though there may not be a consensus until Silent Hill f's release date arrives, and the game finally reveals what it's been hiding. Silent Hill f’s marketing has been cryptic so far, maintaining a focus on the supernatural, and only out-of-context dialogue has hinted at anything more. However, one meaning of the "f" may not be derived from the game's content, but from the context of the title itself.

Given that Silent Hill f is meant to return the franchise to its roots as a Japanese-led horror project, as per statements by the developer, this game may be more important than its marketing suggests. This charade could continue all the way to Silent Hill f’s credits, at which point it could be revealed that the “f” stands for “five.” Indeed, Silent Hill f could be the long-awaited Silent Hill 5 and finally succeed Silent Hill 4 as the next “primary” title after over two decades of Silent Hill spin-offs and divisive entries. This would be an impressive meta-twist, and Silent Hill f has every reason to pursue it.

screenshot14 — Silent Hill f Tokyo Hands On

Secretly Being Silent Hill 5 Would Fit Silent Hill f

Besides just being a fun rug pull, Silent Hill f revealing itself to be Silent Hill 5 would finally deliver on an unfulfilled promise. Hideo Kojima and Guillermo del Toro’s PT would have led to Silent Hills if it wasn't canceled, and the “s” in “Hills” was commonly assumed to be a nod to the game, essentially, being the fifth mainline Silent Hill. While it will never be known if Silent Hills would have been awarded that title by players and its developers, Silent Hill f has the chance to nab the title in its place.

While The Throne Is Empty, Silent Hill f Can’t Be SH5 For Free

Silent Hill f Can't Pull Its Punches Like the Series Has Before

This is all speculation, but there will probably be multiple meanings for the "f," and even a brief acknowledgment of this interpretation would be enough. Silent Hill f needs to prove to fans that it can live up to being Silent Hill 5 if that’s its angle, though, so keeping official confirmation on the down-low may be the best idea. SHf's setting may be a hard sell, and its emphasis on melee combat might be as well. However, bold moves, like hiding its true role in the series, could help endear Silent Hill f to fans in the long run.

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