Filled with promise and looking delightfully disturbing,Silent Hill fhas garnered quite a bit of excitement since its official reveal this year. The goodwill Konami established with theSilent Hill 2remake has helped with this positive buzz, of course, butSilent Hill fis appealingfor a number of other reasons as well, such as its radical pivot to a rural Japanese setting, and its decidedly terrifying visuals.
But perhaps more than anything, hardcore horror fans are excited aboutSilent Hill fbecause of the involvement of Ryukishi07, one of Japan’s most iconic horror authors. A self-proclaimed longtime fan of theSilent Hillfranchise, Ryukishi07 is well-known for his unique and evocative writing style that, while perhaps not a direct sibling ofSilent Hill’s, is at least a close cousin. Ryukishi07’s most prominent work is theWhen They Cryseries, a visual novel franchise that the writer built from the ground-up after becoming disillusioned with his job as a Japanese civil servant. For those seeking a taste of what they might expect fromSilent Hill f,When They Cryis required reading, not just because it’s a sneak peek at Ryukishi07’s skills, but also because it’s a truly brilliant piece of horror literature.
Thefirst entry in theWhen They Cryseries,Higurashi When They CryCh. 1: Onikakushi, is available for free on Steam.
When They Cry Is a Horror Masterpiece
It’s very hard to discussWhen They Crywithout spoiling it, but perhaps the best way to think about it would be as aprecursor toDoki Doki Literature Club, in the sense that it subverts the expectations of the visual novel genre to create a discomfiting, uncanny experience. But even that elevator-pitch description is a bit of a disservice, asWhen They Cryis far more subtle and effective with its various twists and turns thanDDLC, which should be taken as high praise.
Be forewarned:When They Cryis a slow burn. The games lean heavily into the slice-of-slice elements of most romance VNs or casual anime franchises, making the reader as comfortable as possible before ripping that comfort away in tragically impactful fashion. The subversion itself is a key part ofWhen They Cry, but the specifics of the story, the personalities of each character, the pacing, and Ryukishi07’s strong, simple prose also play invaluable roles in making the series so effective. It is uncomfortable, eerie, and disturbing in both explicit and nuanced ways.
When They Cryalso makes one of the strongest argumentsfor visual novels being respected pieces of mainstream art. The genre is often criticized by both gamers and readers, with the former lamenting its intentional and complete lack of gameplay and the former arguing that it’s merely an adulterated form of traditional literature. In reality, visual novels, when done right, leverage atmosphere, sound, visual stimuli, and POV for affecting storytelling, and this is exemplified byWhen They Cry.
Why When They Cry Is Perfect for Silent Hill Fans
As previously noted,When They Cryshares some similarities withSilent Hill, and perhaps the most significant parallel between the two stories is their focus on subjectivity and emotional tumult. InHigurashi When They Cry, protagonist Keiichi isn’t portrayed as a stalwart hero: he is a vulnerable young man who goes through a great deal of complex emotions throughout the narrative, doubting others and himself, making excuses, and generally navigating messy battles of the heart. This character-centric approach, and the sensitivity with which it is handled, is quite akin to the psychological deep dives of manySilent Hillgames. Both franchises are bold, clever, and emotionally generous in spite of their disturbing subject matter, and that’s what makes them both so uniquely special.
Silent Hill f
WHERE TO PLAY
In 1960s Japan, Shimizu Hinako’s secluded town of Ebisugaoka is consumed by a sudden fog, transforming her home into a haunting nightmare.As the town falls silent and the fog thickens, Hinako must navigate the twisted paths of Ebisugaoka, solving complex puzzles and confronting grotesque monsters to survive.Immerse yourself into Hinako’s world imagined by renowned author Ryukishi07, with entrancing music, including pieces by Akira Yamaoka, and beautiful visuals in a gripping tale of doubt, regret, and inescapable choices. Will Hinako embrace the beauty hidden within terror, or succumb to the madness that lies ahead?Discover a new chapter in the SILENT HILL series, blending psychological horror with a haunting Japanese setting.
