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Upon discovering that Silent Hill f would be taking place in a made-up Japanese locale rather than the iconic American setting the series is known for, I felt a wave of concern. But these worries about the game not having that distinct Silent Hill vibe vanished the moment I stepped into the Dark Shrine, which serves as Silent Hill f's version of the series' haunted alternate dimension. Equipped with just a paper lantern, I began my journey and was struck by a strong feeling of familiarity. I knew this place, but I couldn't place the source.

A Blast from the Past

After a moment for foggy recollections of a game I once rented from a video rental store to come back to me. At first, I couldn't remember the title, thinking maybe I was mixing it up with a Project Zero installment or if I had dreamt it up. However, following a bit of searching, I found the answer: Kuon, FromSoft's forgotten J-horror masterpiece from 2004.

The game's awkward fighting mechanics holds back an otherwise wonderfully haunting experience.

Striking Similarities

Taking place during Heian-period Japan, Kuon has numerous parallels with Silent Hill f. The narrative primarily follows a pair of siblings (although there are multiple protagonists), and players explore the endless halls of the sprawling Fujiwaya Manor and sneak around a mysterious nearby shrine. Both games focus on an old ceremony and let you play as a relatively weak young female protagonist who is unaware of the full horror she confronts, solving puzzles and barely surviving run-ins with terrifying creatures hiding in the shadows.

Notable Contrasts

The main distinction between Silent Hill f and Kuon is the fighting mechanics. Silent Hill f is far more forgiving and user-friendly (maybe even too much so), while Kuon is bound to test your patience. The battle system is unfortunate, and this is probably why the game wasn't more popular in the US. This isn't the challenging-yet-rewarding FromSoft combat that's popular now. Kuon's enemy encounters are nightmarish for the worst reasons, and at times it's so irritating that you might want to quit. Hitting enemies is incredibly difficult, and while the game has some unique features (like special combat cards and self-healing abilities), the controls are quite clunky, even for its release year.

An Enduring Impact

Despite its flaws, Kuon remains a top pick for classic horror games, and playing Silent Hill f is like revisiting my favorite haunted house. Should you happen to have access to a original copy of Kuon (launched in Japan first, but only coming to the US and Europe in 2006), it's worth checking out. However, if you're in the mood for a great Japanese horror experience that won't leave you annoyed, Silent Hill f will definitely deliver. It feels like a modern version of Kuon, one I can suggest to friends without the warning about its brutal combat.

Nevertheless, it's a good idea to see a let's play of Kuon just to witness the main menu's deeply creepy winky face, which still haunts me to this day.