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Upon discovering that Silent Hill f would be set in a fictional Japanese town rather than the familiar U.S. location the series is known for, I felt some apprehension. However these worries about the game not having that distinct Silent Hill vibe vanished the moment I stepped into the Dark Shrine, which acts as Silent Hill f's version of the series' cursed Otherworld. Armed only with a glowing paper light, I began my journey and was struck by a strong feeling of familiarity. I knew this place, but I couldn't recall the source.

Recalling a Forgotten Game

After a moment for foggy recollections of a game I once rented from Blockbuster to resurface. At first, I struggled to recall the title, wondering if I was confusing it with a Fatal Frame entry or if I had just imagined it. However, following some quick research, I finally identified it: Kuon, FromSoftware's overlooked J-horror masterpiece from 2004.

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

Shared Elements

Set in Heian-period Japan, Kuon shares many traits with Silent Hill f. The narrative centers on a pair of siblings (though there are three playable characters), and players explore the endless halls of the massive Fujiwaya estate and creep through a eerie local temple. Each title revolve around an old ceremony and feature a relatively weak teenage girl who is oblivious to the true evil she faces, deciphering mysteries and scraping through run-ins with horrific monsters hiding in the shadows.

Notable Contrasts

The main distinction between Silent Hill f and Kuon lies in the combat system. Silent Hill f is far more forgiving and more accessible (perhaps a bit too easy), while Kuon is bound to make you frustrated. The combat is a genuine shame, and it's likely a key reason the game didn't gain traction in the US. This isn't the challenging-yet-rewarding signature FromSoftware style fans love today. Kuon's battles are frustrating for all the wrong reasons, and at times it's so frustrating that you might want to quit. Hitting enemies is very hard, and while the game has some unique features (such as special combat cards and self-healing abilities), the controls are quite clunky, even for its release year.

A Haunting Legacy

Even with its issues, Kuon remains one of my favorite classic horror games, and experiencing Silent Hill f is like returning to my favorite haunted house. If you're lucky enough to own a original copy of Kuon (released in Japan in 2004, but not arriving to the US and Europe in 2006), it's worth checking out. But if you're in the mood for a great J-horror game that won't leave you frustrated, Silent Hill f will definitely deliver. It feels like a contemporary take of Kuon, that I can suggest to others without the warning about the difficult fights.

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