SILENT HILL f BTS #2 – Exploring the Nature of Horror Through Beauty and Unease
On Friday, October 10, Konami Digital Entertainment’s (KONAMI) YouTube channel released the latest SILENT HILL f video, Behind the Scenes #2: Embodying Horror.
SILENT HILL f is centered on the core concept of “coexistence between beauty and horror” and marks the first time the series is set in Japan. For NeoBards, the team needed to redefine the classic franchise’s soul by balancing the familiar and unfamiliar. Every detail, from the world’s setting, art style, level structure, and animations had to be centered around a single crucial proposition: How to make players truly feel “horror.”
NeoBards Game Director – Al Yang
Game Director Al Yang stated that compared to other titles in the series, SILENT HILL f’s Japanese setting brought creative challenges and a brand new cultural atmosphere for the game. While preserving the core spirit of the franchise, the team also focused on recreating the game’s unique psychological horror and eerie atmosphere, carefully navigating the boundary between “reality” and “fantasy” to ensure the game’s overall atmosphere was not broken.
NeoBards Lead Level Designer Kaiyu Chang
Lead Level Designer Kaiyu Chang highlighted that scenes are more than just in-game environments, but an important medium for driving the narrative. The structure and pacing of each level was carefully designed around the protagonist’s mental state – whether it’s confusion, feeling oppression, or terror. Through cleverly arranging spaces, lighting rhythm, and flow of exploration, the levels guide players and subtly influence their emotions, gradually immersing them in the unique and oppressive atmosphere of SILENT HILL f.
NeoBards Art Director Box Shih
Art Director Box Shih stated that in SILENT HILL f, the team fused Japanese aesthetics and psychological horror using elements such as exquisite masks, endless corridors, or torii gates to craft a mysterious and oppressive atmosphere that leaves players with a sense of unease and loneliness. The iconic “fog” also makes a reappearance – it limits the player’s vision, creating a sense of disorientation and isolation, further heightening the layers of horror. Monster designs keep with the series tradition of representing the subconscious stress, guilt, and trauma of characters, becoming the manifestations of their psychological horror. Box emphasized the “coexistence of beauty and terror” as the core spirit of SILENT HILL f. The title forgoes jump scares in pursuit of an artistic expression with morbid elegance – maintaining a fragile balance between beauty and danger to evoke an ineffable emotional resonance deep within players.
NeoBards Lead Concept Artist Ant Hsu
Looking back at the development process, Lead Concept Artist Ant Hsu remembers the brainstorming session where they quickly reached a consensus on choosing a “school” as one of the main stages. Schools are both a familiar environment and a place that carries memories of oppression, making them perfect for resonating emotionally with players. In order to recreate the atmosphere of that era, the team visited multiple abandoned schools, thoroughly studying the architectural structure and furnishings of the time, and incorporated them into the game’s environments. Posters on the wall, student drawings, and old photos in the hallways contain clues to the world and character backstories. Each of these details allow the player to explore and gradually piece together the secrets of Ebisugaoka.
NeoBards Associate Design Director Capra Shih
Character animation design is a key component of the game experience. As an ordinary person, Hinako’s animations need to be authentic and consistent with the image of a normal person. This sense of realism allows players to feel her fears and struggles more profoundly. Associate Design Director Capra Shih noted that renowned author Ryukishi07 designed Hinako with a specific background: she enjoys playing with boys, was a member of the track and field club, and is confident in her stamina; while she has quick reaction time, real combat still overwhelms her at times and that’s when her clumsy side slips through. These traits became the core principles of her animation design, allowing players to capture her inner tension and anxiety through subtle movements, thereby forming a deep emotional connection with her.
Critically acclaimed SILENT HILL f is available on PlayStation 5, XBOX X|S, Steam, Epic Games, Microsoft Store (Windows), and GOG
©Konami Digital Entertainment
About Us
NeoBards Entertainment was founded in 2017 by a group of industry pioneers with over 20 years of experience from various Eastern and Western cultural backgrounds. Our portfolio includes collaborations with Capcom on Dead Rising Deluxe Remaster, Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection, Resident Evil Re:Verse, and Resident Evil: Resistance. We also developed Dynasty Warrior M, a mobile game licensed by Koei and published by Nexon, and participated in the development of Square Enix’s Marvel’s Avengers and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth by Square Enix. Stay tuned for future news as the studio also has several titles currently in development.
We take pride in integrating international talent and resources to deliver high-quality, premium game products for established IPs and original properties alike. Committed to development, we embrace both the challenges and joys of the creative process.
