It’s been a decade since the lastSilent Hillrelease of any kind, and fans have been desperate for a new entry in their favorite survival horror franchise. Thankfully, back in late October, Konami finally gave in, announcing a slew of newSilent Hillprojects. ASilent Hill 2 Remakeby Bloober Team, a new Annapurna title calledSilent Hill: Townfall, an interactive show titledSilent Hill: Ascension, and a brand new movie, namedReturn to Silent Hillwere all announced during the same showcase. But by far the most exciting reveal wasSilent Hill f, the next mainline installment in the series.
Beingwritten by Ryukishi07, the author behind the belovedWhen They Cryvisual novel series,Silent Hill flooks set to be a return to form for the long-lasting survival horror franchise. Right now,Silent Hill fis shrouded in mystery, with Konami revealing practically nothing about the game aside from its 1960s rural Japan setting. EvenSilent Hill f’s very name is mysterious, with fans still unsure of what the ‘f’ could stand for.
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What the ‘f’ Might Stand for in Silent Hill f
TheSilent Hillfranchise is no stranger to having some slightly obtuse titles, butSilent Hill freally takes first prize in this category. WhileSilent Hill: DownpourandSilent Hill: Homecomingdon’t immediately tell the player about the contents of the game or its themes, they’re not overly confusing.Silent Hill fis another matter, and the internet seems divided on what it could mean.
There are a vast number of theories circulating aroundSilent Hill f’s title, with fans having some wildly different takes on what it could mean. Some fans believe that the ‘f’ inSilent Hill fcould refer to the number five, while some believe it could refer to flora, since the teaser trailer shows a girl covered in flowers. Yet other fans believe that it could stand for ‘first,’ with it being set in the 1960s long before the rest of the series. But by far the most accepted theory is that the ‘f’ stands for “forte,” the musical symbol.
There are a few big indications that this theory could be correct. The biggest indicator is that the ‘f’ inSilent Hill f’s teaser trailer announcementdepicts the letter in both lower-case, and in slight italics. This is similar to the musical notation for ‘forte,’ and a lower-case, italicized ‘f’ rarely means something else. In musical terms, a forte symbol indicates that the music should be getting louder, or stronger. If this is in factSilent Hill f’s true meaning, then it has some interesting implications for the upcoming game.
One thing thatSilent Hill f’s title could mean is simply that music has a predominant role in the game somehow. This could simply be a greater emphasis on the game’s score and atmospheric audio design, or it could refer to the plot directly, with music perhaps being a key part of the narrative in some way. Alternatively,Silent Hill f’s title could be more thematic, instead of a direct, tangible thing. For example, with ‘forte’ referring to something getting louder or stronger, it could refer to a gradual rise in tension, perhaps implying that the scares in the game will continue to ramp up throughout it. This musical symbolism could even referencetheSilent Hillseries as a whole, with Konami being able to make its games scarier over time due to evolving technology.
Silent Hill fis currently in development.
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