Silent Hill is one of the most well-known survival-horror series, known for its dark atmospheres, twisted and creepy monsters, and psychological scares. Oh and fog.
With the massive success of the recent Silent Hill 2 Remake, many gamers (like me) are returning to older games in the series, one of which being Silent Hill: The Short Message, which is free on the Playstation Store.
Silent Hill: The Short Message presents a roughly 2-3 hour story-based experience with heavy themes based around mental health and the traditional psychological horror you’d expect from a Silent Hill game.
The Short Message was released in January 2024, before the Silent Hill 2 Remake. It was a sign of what Konami wanted to bring to the franchise. I don’t know if it was meant to be a preview of what was possible with the Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2 remake, but if so, I’d say it was decent rough draft of gameplay and design.
Live Action and CGI Cutscenes
There are both CGI and live-action cutscenes in the game, which is very unique. It’s not common to see live-action scenes in games. At first, both my wife and I thought it was amazingly realistic 3d modeling, but it becomes more obvious in the more extended scenes that it’s live-action video.
There was some confusion amongst the fans about whether it was live-action or CGI, but interviews with the cast and production team confirmed that it was live-action.
The live-action scenes have seemingly good acting (it’s dubbed) and are shot really well. But it gave me the feeling that it was done to speed up the game development process, like the result of a time or budget constraint. I don’t know if that’s true or not.
The “Silent Hill Phenomenom”
Despite bearing the “Silent Hill” name, the game is set in the fictitious town of Kettenstadt, Germany. A newspaper article found in the game explains that the “Silent Hill Phenomenon” is manifesting all over the world and causes those affected to see fog and lose consciousness. This leads you to believe that it may be the cause of the suicides in this town and also what’s happening to Anita.
Here’s the full text of the article:
The Silent Hill Phenomenon
The suicide rate has increased around the world, in large part due to the struggles brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, with countries still unsure how best to handle the issue.
These trying times have also given rise to a strange phenomenon in many areas: those affected suddenly claim to see fog – even on fair-weather days – and lose consciousness shortly after.
This has come to be known as the “Silent Hill Phenomenon,” named after a similar event that occurred in an eponymous U.S. town.
The first to propose a theory explaining why this could be happening is Dr. XXX, a social psychologist at XXX University, who had the following to say on the matter.
“To one who is psychologically unstable, fog represents uncertainty and sensory illusions. When in a state of high stress, one’s vision may become obscured or tunneled, as if one is wandering through a dense fog or mist.”
“Societal uncertainty or apprehension about the future manifests as fog, thus blurring the lines between illusion and reality.”
As time goes on, we are seeing more and more cases of the Silent Hill Phenomenon.
In response, Dr. XXX calls for a rapid rebuilding of society, as well as a stronger emphasis on counseling and mental health care for the young.
I haven’t made up my mind on whether or not the “Silent Hill Phenomenom” is either a clever, or lazy, explanation as to why the game isn’t actually set in Silent Hill.
The Story
You step into the role of Anita, who was sent a text from her friend Maya to meet her in the “Villa.” The Villa is an abandoned apartment complex, and is famous for being a popular hangout spot for graffiti artists. It also has a tragic history of teenage suicides.
While Anita is looking for Maya, Anita’s other friend, Amelie, offers emotional support through text messages. Anita struggles with feelings of inadequacy, self-doubt, and loneliness, and Amelie seems to notice this as well, and tries to be there for Anita through this rough period.
While traversing through the Villa, you come across various rooms of importance of Anita’s and her friends lives, such as the hallway where people bullied and teased Maya, or the old apartment where Anita grew up and suffered serious trauma as a child.
Themes of Suicide and Depression
Central to The Short Message are themes of suicide, bullying, mental health, and the negative effects of social media. The apartments’ dark past of multiple teenagers ending their lives by jumping from the rooftop fuses these themes with the building’s unsettling ambiance. The game also touches on how the COVID-19 pandemic contributes to heightened anxiety and stress. An interesting sign of the time when game was developed.
Warnings are scattered throughout the game to deliver messages about its sensitive subject matter, accompanied by resources for anyone dealing with depression or suicidal thoughts. While these cautionary messages could be valuable to players at any life stage, the storyline’s focus on teenage struggles may resonate more strongly with a younger audience. As someone in my 40s, I found it difficult to fully connect with the characters, but I remember the pressures and feelings of stigma that come at that age, so I can appreciate that the narrative might hold deep meaning for a younger audience.
Gameplay & Mechanics
Anyone expecting traditional Silent Hill combat or item-based puzzle-solving will find a different experience here. The gameplay leans heavily on exploration and evasion. There is no direct combat – your only real defenses are speed and a willingness to move through dimly lit hallways despite mounting tension.
An interesting gameplay mechanic introduced here is the use of Anita’s phone. You use the flashlight feature of her phone to see in dark areas, which is a nice modern addition. Also, in other Silent Hill games, you have a radio that creates static when an enemy is nearby. In The Short Message, Anita’s phone glitches and creates static. It works just as well too. When your screen starts to glitch, you hesitate on moving forward.
“Sakura Head,” a cherry blossom-themed monster, frequently pursues Anita in frantic chase sequences. Unfortunately, these scripted chases can become lengthy, repetitive, and frustrating. Getting lost in winding corridors and repeatedly retrying the same sequences is likely to test players’ patience.
The final chase, in particular, feels excessively long; it took me nearly an hour of dying and re-awakening. Truthfully, it might have been only 30 minutes, but it felt like an hour. Judging from online discussions, many players have tapped out at these sections out of frustration and never completed the game. I nearly quit too.
Nonetheless, the game manages to maintain a sense of dread. The mood in each corridor is tense enough to keep you on edge, despite the lack of direct combat. Creeping through the dark still delivers that signature Silent Hill discomfort.
Finishing the entire experience in about two hours also means it’s easy to complete in a single session, providing a nice brief horror fix if you’re in the mood.
Final Thoughts
For a free, two-hour horror experience, Silent Hill: The Short Message delivers a competent (if at times underwhelming) journey into teenage angst, suicide, and isolation. Its greatest strengths are the weighty thematic material and a fresh setting that cleverly integrates the “Silent Hill Phenomenon.” On the downside, the frustrating maze-like chase scenes, especially the relentless final pursuit, can sap the fun out of the experience.
If you’re a Silent Hill enthusiast or simply curious about a short, atmospheric horror title, it’s worth giving The Short Message a shot. Just be ready for a few annoyances along the way. It’s not the most polished or profound entry in the series, but for a two-hour investment (and at no cost), it remains an interesting little side quest in the world of Silent Hill.