Summary
- The Silent Hill series is making a long-awaited return with new gaming titles, a remake, and a movie. However, the first release, Silent Hill: Ascension, has left fans disappointed, as it feels more like an interactive movie rather than a proper horror game.
- Recent years have seen the Silent Hill franchise licensed out to random projects, causing concern among fans. The announcement of the series' return to its roots brought excitement, but that excitement is dwindling due to the lack of news about the Silent Hill 2 Remake and the underwhelming nature of Ascension.
- To truly revive the franchise, the upcoming original titles, Silent Hill: Townfall and Silent Hill f, need to focus on delivering a terrifying survival-horror experience that aligns with the series' classic titles.
Silent Hill has been long-revered as one of the most influential series in horror media. The franchise has appeared in video games, movies, novels, comics, and more, each offering a deeper dive into its terrifying setting. Despite this, the Silent Hill series has not released an original gaming title in over a decade, after internal issues at developer Konami led to the cancelation of 2015's Silent Hills. In October 2022, the series made headlines with the Silent Hill Transmission, during which multiple brand-new gaming titles, a Silent Hill 2 Remake, and a movie were announced, elating fans. One year later, the first of those new titles, Silent Hill: Ascension, already has fans disappointed, as it offers little more than an interactive movie. If Silent Hill really hopes to make a return, it needs proper horror games, not just interactive experiences.
Silent Hill's classic titles stand atop many of the industry's all-time scariest lists, with their focus on psychological slow-burn horror leaving a lasting impression decades later. Despite this, recent years have seen the IP licensed out to random projects, such as Bomberman R, Monsters and Mortals, and a line of Silent Hill-themed slot machines. Fans were therefore shocked and overwhelmingly excited when the Silent Hill Transmission suddenly announced the series' return to its roots. That excitement is beginning to wane, however, due to the upcoming Ascension and the lack of news surrounding the Silent Hill 2 Remake.
Silent Hill's Return is Off to a Rough Start
Silent Hill is set to usher in its return with Silent Hill: Ascension this Halloween, but the project's unique approach to interactive storytelling already has some fans worried about the franchise's future. Silent Hill: Ascension sees fans interact with a live experience, working together to shape its narrative over the span of multiple episodes. The experience's developers promise that each episode will be fully shaped by fan interaction, with not even the game's makers sure of where the narrative will go. While the concept behind Ascension could prove promising, a recent announcement has revealed that fans are limited in how they participate.
Silent Hill: Ascension's official website revealed that the experience will skip consoles, allowing fans to participate through mobile apps and the official site. This reveal disappointed fans even further, as Silent Hill's first new "title" was not only reduced to an interactive film but also appeared to be a mobile experience. This is far from the promised return that Konami had promised in 2022, leading many fans to curb their expectations moving forward. However, the last week has seen a small light in the darkness, as Sony announced that the completed Silent Hill: Ascension will be watchable on the PS4 and PS5 via the Sony Pictures Core app.
Silent Hill's Upcoming Original Titles Need to Double Down on Horror
Alongside Silent Hill: Ascension, Konami announced two additional original titles, Silent Hill: Townfall and Silent Hill f. While Townfall remains shrouded in mystery, Silent Hill f will transport fans to 1960s Japan in the series' first mainline title in over 11 years. Following Ascension's disappointing format, it's on Silent Hill f to truly usher in the franchise's return. To do so, it needs to deliver a tight and truly terrifying survival-horror experience, in line with the series' celebrated past. With Silent Hill: Ascension's interactive experience failing to make good on Konami's promise, Silent Hill f and Townfall must offer fans a true third-person horror experience if the franchise hopes to make an impact.
It remains to be seen whether Silent Hill f and Silent Hill: Townfall will be true survival horror experiences. The details surrounding Silent Hill f appear to hint at a return to the series' early formula, but over one year after its announcement, there have been no details confirming this to be the case. Silent Hill fans have been waiting for the series to make its full return since 2012, and, with so many projects in development, there appears to be plenty of new experiences ahead. That being said, fans remain hesitant with their excitement, eagerly awaiting more news about the series' proper titles while the shadow of Silent Hill: Ascension looms.