The Silent Hill series has long been the gold standard for psychological horror, defined by its trademark third-person camera, stifling fog, and unrelenting dread. But when the announcement hit that the series would pivot to a first-person perspective, it was hard to tell if this would be a stroke of genius or a complete disaster. After all, perspective is everything when it comes to immersion. I sat down at a hands-on session in Tokyo to find out if Silent Hill: Townfall actually pulls it off.

Set in 1996 in Scotland, Silent Hill: Townfall drops you onto the desolate, isolated island of Saint Amelia. You play as Simon Odel, tasked with unearthing the dark secrets buried within the island’s past. You arrive by boat, barely hauling yourself onto the shore as a thick, suffocating fog rolls in—a classic Silent Hill welcome, if ever there was one.

The initial atmosphere of Saint Amelia is undeniably 'quaint' in that unsettling, deserted-European-village kind of way. But as you realise there is absolutely no one around, that charm curdles into pure, unadulterated dread. The layout is a nightmare of narrow, unforgiving alleys and winding paths, leaving almost no open spaces to catch your breath or get your bearings.

When something isn't right—or worse, when an enemy is lurking—the game blasts you with ear-splitting, foghorn-like sound effects that dial up the tension to eleven. These audio cues, combined with the limited field of vision inherent in a first-person perspective, keep you in a constant state of fight-or-flight. Distances feel deceptive in the fog, and random debris like abandoned medical supplies and signs only fuel the suspicion that something truly horrific happened here.

To keep you from wandering aimlessly, the game introduces the CRTV. During my session, I found it served two vital roles: a visual aid for environmental awareness and a guiding hand for the narrative. When the device picks up a signal, it emits a sharp, piercing static—a sound that’s hard to miss and tells you exactly when you need to be paying attention to your surroundings.

The static only triggers when enemies or clues are nearby, forcing you to constantly fiddle with the frequency. If it’s an enemy, the screen turns a jarring black-and-red, revealing silhouettes of whatever is hunting you. If it’s a clue, it plays back visual fragments or puzzle hints. It’s a clever bit of kit that makes navigating the labyrinthine streets feel much more manageable.

The CRTV even plays into the puzzles themselves. You have to physically tilt your DualSense controller to tune in those stubborn frequencies. That physical interaction, combined with the constant fear that an enemy might hear your tinkering, keeps the tension sky-high. It’s a piece of gear that feels essential, not just a gimmick.

Combat feels significantly more punishing than in the previous Silent Hill f. Weapons break far too easily, and finding anything to defend yourself with is a rarity. Being in first-person means that getting hit causes a jarring camera shake that can easily disorient you. Given the system’s emphasis on the CRTV for detection, the game practically begs you to prioritise stealth and evasion over a straight-up fight.

Of course, if you do get caught and find yourself on the ropes with no health to spare, there’s a safety net. If you scavenge enough empty vials and fluids, you can craft a makeshift revive, granting you a second chance at life right where you fell. It’s a thoughtful touch that offers a bit of mercy to those of us who aren't quite masters of the stealth genre yet.

My time with the demo was gripping, but there are a few snags. Occasionally, the lighting becomes so intensely saturated that it completely kills your visibility. Being in first-person, if you get hit and lose your orientation, it’s remarkably easy to lose track of where you are in the environment. Prolonged exposure to that harsh, primary-coloured lighting was a bit of a strain on the eyes, and I hope the developers refine that before the final build.

That said, the enemy design and the overall 'experimental' narrative vibe are compelling enough to keep you guessing. Every puzzle and enemy encounter feels like a piece of a larger, darker mystery. I finally understand why the developers chose a first-person perspective: it makes the frequent use of the CRTV feel seamless, keeping the player in the zone without constant camera cuts.

On a final note, the localisation is surprisingly good. Seeing the Korean text integrated directly into the UI of the vintage electronics, rather than just slapped on as subtitles, is a fantastic detail. Everything was clean and typo-free, which will no doubt please fans who have been starving for quality localisations. I’m genuinely curious to see what other secrets Silent Hill: Townfall has hiding in the fog when it arrives this September. Adieu for now.