Earlier this week, Silent Hill f launched to very positive reviews. However, players are now actively discussing their experiences on various online forums. These discussions have led to the emergence of a significant point of debate regarding the game’s perceived difficulty. In fact, is the combat system proving to be a major obstacle for many players?
For many longtime fans, the game’s mechanics have similarities to Soulslike titles, highlighting the heavy reliance on dodging and stamina management. Given this new approach, Silent Hill f‘s combat is significantly made more challenging than in previous series entries. Even struggling players aren’t offered adequate relief, as the designated Story difficulty setting is basically a failure.
One frustrated fan expressed love for every aspect of the game except the combat, which they described as stiff and clunky, on Reddit. To them, its perfect dodge system is particularly baffling because it seems to work against Silent Hill f‘s other elements. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only player whose had issues with the game’s combat. Another player started a thread stating they are starting to really dislike the game, complaining about the sheer number of enemies.
Specifically, this abundance of monsters is ruining the experience, especially because they’re so damage-spongey. They reported that when they reached the end of the game, they were constantly getting overwhelmed by large groups of enemies that required numerous hits to defeat. This player even claimed that Silent Hill f was more challenging than actual Souls games like Elden Ring. Additionally, another player echoed this sentiment, stating that the main issue is that the game is way too fight-focused.
Unstandably, the community isn’t a monolith, as some players disagree with the prevailing criticism regarding Silent Hill f‘s combat. One fan, in particular, questioned the popular approach by asking why people aren’t just running away from fights, since that’s an option to take. Moreover, this player stated that they were having fun by avoiding combat whenever possible.
He also offered a fresh perspective to curb this dislike, believing that its combat-heavy focus was intentionally designed for players to pick their battles carefully. In the end, they praised Silent Hill f for being survival horror at its core, creating fear through choice. Not only that he also reminded players that they should instinctively avoid combat, especially since fighting offers practically no rewards.
Fortunately, these conflicting opinions on gameplay have had little effect on Silent Hill f‘s acclaim, as it currently holds a solid score of 86 on Metacritic. With this score, the game now places it on par with the recent Silent Hill 2 remake from 2024. Therefore, has the game successfully impressed critics and fans overall? Despite these ongoing debates about its combat system, the game has undoubtedly made a strong impression on players.
Outside of its divisive combat system, fans have praised Silent Hill f‘s dark setting, eerie atmosphere, and suspenseful storytelling. Whether the developers consider adjusting the difficulty based on player feedback remains unknown. For now, however, players continue to navigate the challenging streets of this new horror adventure, each finding their own way to survive.
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