Intravenous frights

From the makers of Stories Untold and Observation comes SILENT HILL: Townfall which has an indie cinematic take on the horror franchise.

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I guess this town has fallen Welcome to St. Amelia

SILENT HILL: Townfall is definitely the most cinematic game in the series that I've played with its detailed visuals and jaw-dropping cutscenes that'll make you wonder just what the heck is going on until the very end. Now, I should warn you that there are a lot of gruesome scenes and frankly, a few of them felt unnecessary but I don't want to hold that against it as some folks have a stronger stomach for these sorts of things. Anyway, a lot of this imagery portrays analogies to medical treatment and that theme is strong throughout so I'm sure players will be dissecting scenes and subtle clues for years to come; it's really a lot to take in and this sense of mystery as seen through otherworldly sights really held my attention. You initially explore the island of St. Amelia as Simon but as the campaign forges ahead, you may find yourself in the shoes of other characters so be ready for some very clever twists and turns along the way. Overall, it's super-impressive stuff. 💉 v1d30chumz xzyzteywxtywze

Can I just hang out in this peaceful garden for now? Fight in first-person

One of the first things you'll notice when playing SILENT HILL: Townfall is that it's played in first-person which is new for the series. I must admit that even though I don't usually enjoy first-person games, it's so well-implemented here that I'm amazed at how immersive everything from rummaging through cupboards to running from monsters feels. Thankfully, the combat is simple yet visceral as it has you block while bashing monsters whenever you have an opening and doing so is quite challenging before you get in the groove. You'll also need to pick up replacement planks because they will wear out over time. Of course, you can usually avoid monsters but I'll talk about that later. 🩺

A core mechanic is that you can use a portable TV to track enemies as well as reveal clues for what to do next and this is handled impeccably well, especially as tracking enemies with it adds a ton of tension before each confrontation. 📺

Hey, what did I ever do to you? Solve puzzles

Most of your time with SILENT HILL: Townfall will be spent wandering the streets of St. Amelia as you figure out what to do next while solving puzzles which range from logical to downright frustrating so I imagine most folks will at least occasionally follow a guide as they play. Most of these puzzles are rewarding and some are absolutely awesome to figure out but the occasional one will make you feel like you're bashing your head against a brick wall until you stumble upon the solution by accident so I wish there was a better hint system in-place. You can enable highlighting clues in documents but doing so doesn't always help. At the same time, the map is intuitive to use, especially because points of interest are regularly circled or crossed off which generally points you in the right direction. Again, you'll still find yourself wandering around aimlessly, especially if you miss a little tiny prompt somewhere like being able to squeeze behind a distant shed; it can be annoying. 💊

I really hope this car alarm doesn't get triggered Hide from monsters

On the plus side, my 2nd favourite aspect of SILENT HILL: Townfall is its stealth and there are some incredibly grueling stretches in the campaign that'll really make your senses kick into overdrive as you try and evade monsters that seem to be lurking around every corner. These parts are so ridiculously intense and can verge on maddening which is actually awesome. The only negative thing I can say is that checkpoints are sometimes too far apart so going through lengthy stretches again after being caught can be a massive bummer. However, if you manage to sneak past these monsters while carefully hiding in spots, distracting them with loud noises, and running to a safe place just to close and lock the door behind you; wow! It's exhilarating stuff! I didn't think I'd love this part of the gameplay as much as I do so that's just awesome. 👩‍⚕️

Shouldn't this be Cairn's climbing gear?

SILENT HILL: Townfall is a great horror game with a gorgeously cinematic presentation and some of the most intense stealth you'll ever enjoy.

Watch A.J. play SILENT HILL: Townfall 7:25

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Filed under: Reviews › PlayStation 5.