https://ift.tt/HXv4V7z It’s finally happened. We now have a fully fledged reveal trailer for the long-awaited Silent Hill: Townfall . If I’m...
It’s finally happened. We now have a fully fledged reveal trailer for the long-awaited Silent Hill: Townfall. If I’m being honest, I wasn’t expecting anything vaguely Silent Hill related at the 2026 State of Play, but here we are. And I am oh-so-happy about it.
Alongside the trailer, there was a fascinating Transmission video, which gives us a more in-depth look at the development process. From introducing the team behind the magic, Screen Burn, a Glasgow-based studio, to taking us on a trip to St. Monans in Fife. The latter is one of the major locations that Screen Burn has used to inspire the beautifully realistic fictional village of St. Amelia.
Welcome to St. Amelia
Whilst St. Amelia isn’t a real place, the footage we have so far strikes a chord with those of us who grew up in the United Kingdom. From street signs to winding roads and alleyways, there is something incredibly familiar yet surreal about the location of St. Amelia. Every day views, twisted into something horrifying, thanks to the Silent Hill effect.
And as we know (and love), there can’t be a Silent Hill game without fog. Luckily, coastal locations in the United Kingdom are renowned for murky waters, grey skies, and fog. We do have sunshine sometimes, but nothing quite beats the cold mist of Autumn and Winter on our little island.
Paul Abbott, the Art Director at Screen Burn, says that the environment looks like his daily commute to school, allowing him to reminisce and deepen the connection with the game itself. A Scottish game studio working on a title set in Scotland means Townfall is in good hands.
Familiar Surroundings
There’s a certain clip within the Transmission video which was extremely poignant for me. Simon walks into a kitchen, which looks eerily familiar to those I’ve grown up in. Of course, it’s not exactly the same, but there was a homely and intimate sense of familiarity when I laid my eyes upon it.
From the beaded string to pull the blinds down to the microwave at the edge of the countertop, seeing something like this in a Silent Hill title is purely magic. That feeling of realism is sure to make this entry hit harder than ever before.
The CRTV
The radio is a well-known feature in the Silent Hill franchise. Screen Burn wanted to take this idea and turn it into something new, leading them to create the CRTV. It suits Silent Hill to a tee, but this added functionality also feels innovative. Analogue technology has always had a place in Silent Hill. Even in Silent Hill F, there are radios that you can find and listen to as they emit loud static.
As players, we literally have to tune in with the CRTV to aid ourselves throughout the journey. There’s the static noise we all come to expect, but instead of just an audio cue, we now have visuals. The screen of the CRTV turns red, a curved line indicating the location of a nearby monster.
Suddenly, its silhouette appears, though it’s difficult to make out at first. It provides a glimpse into what’s lurking around the corner, but does not give you all the details. The fear of the unknown can induce anxiety even further.
First-person Perspective
The first-person perspective has been a bit of a controversial topic since the release of the trailer. At first, I was curious as to why this decision was made, not because I wasn’t happy about it, but because it’s not common practice in Silent Hill titles.
Then again, this isn’t the first time a first-person perspective has been featured in the franchise. In Silent Hill 4, each time Henry wakes up in his apartment, you’re forced into a first-person POV.
After watching the Transmission, I have a newfound respect for the somewhat unconventional choice. Graeme McKellan, the Lead Game Designer at Screen Burn, says, “As we know in horror, what happens off-screen is sometimes more scary than what happens right in front of you“.
This perspective forces us to only see what’s directly in front of us, narrowing our view, preventing us from seeing what might be beside us. It’s limiting, but that’s the entire point.
To add to this, Townfall implements a peek mechanic. While our view may be limited, we can utilise the environment to hide as we explore. As we know, not everything has to be fought in Silent Hill. Sometimes, being stealthy pays off.
Who is Simon?
Simon Ordell, the main protagonist of Silent Hill: Townfall, is a complete mystery to us. He’s introduced in the trailer as he picks up the aforementioned CRTV, listening to a crackly radio transmission.
We do not know whose voice it is, but it’s clear that this person means something to Simon. They mention ‘a room’, and as Simon lifts the CRTV, we see that he has medical tubes attached to his hand, winding around his arm. The voice then says, “Come back to me, Simon“.
Cue the introductory shots of St. Amelia, before Simon crawls out of the water onto the dock. We’re all asking the same questions: Why is he in the water? How did he get there? He says that he’s woken up in the water again, alluding to the fact that this isn’t an uncommon occurrence. However, this time, it’s different.
The Story of St. Amelia
From what I can gather, something terrible has happened in this village, which may seem like a no-brainer, but stick with me here. There’s a poster from the St. Amelia Police which has a handwritten note, reading “Nothing we can do until help arrives, please stay safe“.
Then, there’s The Heart of St. Amelia monument, decorated with banners and placards that say, “Whatever heart this town had has stopped“, “This town is ours“, and “Save our town“. Perhaps the locals were aware of something taking over, waiting for help that never came.
I’m most curious about the figure perched on a bed, breathing heavily, whilst what looks to be an IV needle and tube worms its way out of their chest. Is this faceless figure human? Or was it a human once upon a time?
The name Townfall itself may be a clue. The fall of a town; the fall of St. Amelia.
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