Silent Hill is back – or rather Silent Hill f – and our critic Peter Hoskin is wondering: What does the ‘f’ stand for? Frightening? Flawed? Fraught? Take your pick…

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Silent Hill f (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £69.99)

Verdict: It’s not a place, it’s a state of mind. Terror.

Is it possible to capture the feeling of *Silent Hill* without actually *being* *Silent Hill*? The newest game in the series suggests the answer is yes, and it does so remarkably well.

Unlike previous Silent Hill games, Silent Hill F doesn’t take place in the familiar American town. Instead, it’s set in a remote Japanese village in the 1960s, and the ‘F’ in the title might hint at this location.

But Silent Hill never really was a place; it was always, quite literally, a state of mind.

We’re exploring the inner world of Hinako Shimizu, a young woman struggling with a difficult family life – an abusive father, a passive mother, and a distant sister. She’s also uncertain about her future after school.

Hinako is haunted by terrifying inner demons, and those demons begin to physically appear as the game progresses. A strange fog rolls into the village, and disturbing, tentacled plants grow everywhere. These monsters are among the most gruesome and unsettling we’ve encountered in the series – twisted, damaged, and covered in blood.

Fortunately, you can escape the monsters. Hinako, unlike characters in past Silent Hill games, isn’t equipped with a gun or strong fighting skills, so I found myself mostly avoiding attacks and running away.

Unfortunately, you can’t always avoid conflict in this game. Hinako has access to simple melee weapons like pipes and bats, and the game sometimes forces you to use them. However, these fights feel awkward and aren’t very fun.

Without the combat issues, Silent Hill F could be considered as good as Silent Hill 2. It boasts a fantastic, unsettling atmosphere, a likable and realistic main character, and some of the most clever puzzles in the series – but there’s one significant problem holding it back.

Hey, hang on a second — could that be what the ‘F’ stands for?

 

EA Sports FC 26 (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £59.99)

Verdict: Plus ça change

EA Sports FC is the latest installment in the long-running football series previously known as Fifa. Honestly, these games are becoming so familiar it’s hard to find new things to say about them, but I’ll do my best to give you a review.

Each new version builds on what came before, meaning the newest one is technically the best. However, these changes are usually minor and don’t feel particularly groundbreaking.

EA Sports FC 26 is very similar to the previous game, FC 25. The main new feature is the ability to switch between two gameplay styles in some modes: ‘competitive,’ which is faster-paced, and ‘authentic,’ which aims for a more realistic, gritty football experience. It’s an interesting addition, though not necessarily groundbreaking.

If you’re a big fan of EA Sports FC, these changes – even the small ones – could really impact how you enjoy the game.

If you’ve been playing this series for a while, you probably won’t notice too many changes. You might also be disappointed that some of the more unusual features from older games are gone. For example, the story-driven ‘The Journey’ mode, which was full of drama and character development, isn’t available in EA Sports FC 26.

Honestly, it feels like they’ve really simplified things, focusing heavily on modes like Ultimate Team. And it’s no secret why – that’s where EA makes a huge amount of its money, with all the player trading and buying. It’s a little hard to ignore, if you’re being honest!

I wish they would invest in completely new ideas for this series instead of just making small improvements to what already exists.

With the next EA Sports FC game (likely FC 27), it would be great to have virtual stadiums where players can connect and organize matches with each other beforehand.

Or masterclasses from some of the best in the game?

Honestly, I’m not even asking for a complete game overhaul anymore! I used to dream of radical changes, but now? I’d be thrilled with just a little something extra. Like, after all this time, it would be amazing to see some fun, celebratory animations when my team finally wins the championship. A small touch, but it would make all the difference!

Go on, EA, make football fun again.

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2025-09-29 13:04