TheSilent Hillfranchise has lied dormant for years, but fan demand for a new game is very much alive and well. An attempt at reviving the franchise back in 2014 was very well-received—so much so thatP.T.is still considered a classic seven years later. While the cancelation ofSilent Hillswas a tragedy,P.T.proved that some of what madeSilent Hillgreat could transfer to new styles of gameplay. As rumors of a newSilent Hilltitle begin to circulate once more, it’s time to consider whatSilent Hillcould do with the mechanics of an entirely new genre.
Silent Hillwent down in history as one of the formative survival horror franchises back in 1999, when the series' core aspects were laid down. The base formula for aSilent Hillgame is relatively simple: a troubled protagonist stuck in an environment that is both familiar and unsettling, haunted by monsters that evoke dark parts of the human psyche, searching for a truth they’ll wish they hadn’t discovered by the end. In terms of mechanics, however, there’s a bit more flexibility. While the fourclassicSilent Hilltitlesall feature a third-person perspective, clunky combat, and a generally distant and cinematic camera, other installments have added motion controls, RPG mechanics, and even shooting mechanics. One thing that hasn’t been tried already, however, is aSilent Hilltactical RPG.
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Reinventing the Bloodstained Wheel
TurningSilent Hillinto a tactical RPG—a subgenre of RPG also known as SRPGs—would be a radical change to the existingSilent Hillformula, but so wasP.T.’s shift to first-person POV, no combat, and hardly any environmental exploration. And with the recent reveal ofSlitterheadas a seemingly action-focused horror titlefromSilent Hillcreator Keiichiro Toyama, it may be time forSilent Hillto reinvent itself. While a tactical RPG may not seem like a natural fit forSilent Hill, the truth is that the genre lends itself well to building a thick atmosphere and a setting intertwined with gameplay Games likeShin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivorhave proven that SPRGs can capture the frantic tension and dread of a horror title, and the genre’s mix of exploration and combat could open up all sorts of opportunities for players to explore—and lose themselves in—the town ofSilent Hill.
One important thing about tactical RPGs is that, although many levels focus on direct combat with enemy units, others feature different challenges. TheDisgaeaseries often incorporates puzzle elementsinto its level design, challenging players to find the best way to clear its maps, while its sister titleSoul Nomad and the World Eatersmakes use of unwinnable boss fights to convey the stakes of its apocalyptic narrative. Even Fire Emblem takes advantage of optional objectives and relationship values to encourage players to get invested in its world. It would be fascinating to see these twists on the tactical RPG genre applied to evoking tension and horror.
Tactical Helplessness
The best tactical RPGsoften focus on character growth, careful strategy, and resource management, all of which are equally important toSilent Hill. More than that, a good horror-SRPG can leave scars on the psyche just as strong as a good survival horror game. New players going throughShin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivorfor the first time may pick the wrong timed event and beat a level, only to find that a favorite character has been lynched while they were busy. That sense of seemingly casual decisions coming back to have deadly consequences would fitSilent Hillwell.
Tactical RPGs often deliberately place the player in difficult situations to challenge their ability to plan an escape. This, combined withSilent Hill’s trademark twisting maps and unpredictable monsters, could make for a very stressful experience. Level-specific mechanics such as requirements to protect NPCs, gather items, or solve puzzles while under attack could also be used to reflect the themes ofSilent Hill.Iconic monsters like Pyramid Headcould be made flat-out invincible to force players to plan under pressure, and revisiting the same levels as pathways and exits gradually close off would add to that.Silent Hillmight not translate perfectly into a straight RPG, but the added tactical element of an SRPG could make for a whole new kind of tension, especially as the stakes grow higher and the endgame approaches.
