Uncovering the Intricate Combat System of Silent Hill f
Silent Hill f stands out for its complex combat mechanics, arguably the most sophisticated within the Silent Hill series. While some may liken it to soulslike gameplay, it simply represents the deepest exploration of combat dynamics the franchise has ever achieved. In previous titles, combat often felt secondary; however, this installment places a greater emphasis on strategic engagement.
To enhance your combat experience, it’s essential to monitor your health, stamina, and sanity meters. Fortunately, these metrics aren’t fixed; players can augment them by discovering Ema Plates scattered across the game world. These plates can be hidden in containers, behind concealed doors, or even in plain sight. Collecting all of them is crucial for maximizing your upgrades.
Completing this collection will earn you the trophy Close to the Sun, though players should note that this achievement cannot be unlocked during a first run. In fact, accessing all Ema Plates requires completing the game at least three times, obtaining distinct endings along the way.
For your initial playthrough, prioritizing upgrades in stamina and health over sanity is advisable, especially unless you’re opting for the Hard or Lost in the Fog difficulties.
First Playthrough Insights
During the first playthrough, accessing Ema Plates concealed behind sealed boxes and doors isn’t an option. Nevertheless, you will find a total of 12 Ema Plates accessible from the start. The remaining 10 will be available exclusively in New Game+ and subsequent playthroughs.
Your objective is to thoroughly explore each map area, as most Ema Plates will only be locatable through careful investigation. Here’s a list of the first twelve Ema Plates to guide you through your journey:
Ema Plate 1/22
Locate the first Ema Plate just before reaching the Field Puzzle. You can find it after evading a significant monster and acquiring the key from a well. Once you escape out the window and reach Shu, head to a side area just beyond him, where you’ll discover the first Ema resting atop a wooden trough.
Ema Plate 2/22
The second Ema Plate lies in the Otherworld, and it’s crucial to collect it before acquiring the Naginata, as you cannot backtrack afterwards. This plate can be spotted near an Inari door on top of some boxes.
Ema Plate 3/22
On your way to Ebisugaoka Middle School, revisit the House encountered at the game’s start. Just after departing, you’ll find the third Ema on a rocky half-wall down an alleyway.
Ema Plate 4/22
At Ebisugaoka Middle School, during the Stairwell Puzzle, venture to the leftmost section of the courtyard to find the fourth Ema Plate within a fenced area, but be cautious of lurking enemies.
Ema Plate 5/22
Return to Shu’s section in the Worship Hall during your next trip to the Otherworld. Prepare for a battle, as an enemy guards this Ema Plate located on a shelf where the adversary was positioned.
Ema Plate 6/22
While on your way to the Mountain Refuge, look for the sixth Ema Plate on a trunk near a dormant monster. Be quick; proximity may awaken the creature, urging you to grab the Ema Plate swiftly.
Ema Plate 7/22
Your next expedition to the Otherworld will unveil unsettling cutscenes revealing Hinako’s rites. These scenes, while disturbing, grant you new abilities like the Fox Mask, which enables passage through certain walls and leads you to the seventh Ema.
Ema Plate 8/22
To retrieve the eighth Ema, embark on a side quest towards Shimizu Residence. Instead of ascending the mountain, take a detour past a hokora to uncover this plate.
Ema Plate 9/22
At Shimizu Residence, you’ll discover three versions marked with Roman numerals. In Shimizu Residence II, step into the first room off the initial hallway to find an Ema resting prominently on display.
Ema Plate 10/22
Proceeding to Shimizu Residence III, the next Ema awaits at the end of a hallway, but beware of the numerous foes patrolling this section.
Ema Plate 11/22
Without a map, locating the 11th Ema requires solving the Mural Puzzle by collecting various crests. This plate is found in the last section featuring foxes, accessible through an Inari door you should be able to open with the Fox Pin.
Ema Plate 12/22
Finally, the last Ema Plate for this playthrough lies in the chase after the Fog Monster, opposite a hokora near the second pregnancy monster’s area.
New Game+ (Second Playthrough) Guide
For players who missed any Ema Plates in the initial playthrough, fret not! You can revisit their original locations in New Game+.This time, new layers of plot will unfold, supplemented by previously inaccessible Inari doors and boxes that become available with the Fox Pin.
Be advised: if you relinquish your Fox Pin before returning to Shimizu Residence, you will miss out on crucial collectibles.
Ema Plate 13/22
The first Ema Plate you will find during the second playthrough is hidden in an Inari box following a long staircase, positioned just past a Hokora.
Ema Plate 14/22
Upon reaching the Otherworld, solve the Shrine Vault Puzzle and navigate towards a Decaying Tree. Before reaching the tree, divert left to a sliver of land where you’ll find the next Ema Plate resting on a tree stump.
Ema Plate 15/22
On the road to Rinko’s house, upon triggering a cutscene, you will find a small shrine directly across from a Hokora. Inside, you’ll uncover an Inari box filled with documents and the next Ema.
Ema Plate 16/22
Visit a secluded backyard on the way to Ebisugaoka Middle School, where monsters conveniently lurk. The 16th Ema Plate will be waiting for you on a stool.
Ema Plate 17/22
In the Worship Hall, during subsequent playthroughs, you’ll gain the Fox Arm. Once inside Rinko’s section, continue past her and the first gate, seeking a narrow gap in the wall. After dispatching an enemy, reveal Rinko’s doll room, which contains the next Ema Plate and an Omamori charm.
Ema Plate 18/22
While traversing the mountain path to Shu’s house, spot a gazebo-like structure. An Inari box is hidden here, offering more narrative insights alongside the next Ema Plate.
Ema Plate 19/22
Returning to the Otherworld, where unsettling rituals occurred, find a secret location where you can discover the Agura no Hotei-sama and complete the puzzle to purify the Sacred Sword. The next Ema Plate is nested within this structure.
Ema Plate 20/22
As you approach Shimizu Residence, just beyond a playground, you’ll come across a house with an open gate. Previously a place for healing items, this time it conceals the next Ema Plate amid the shrubbery.
Ema Plate 21/22
The penultimate Ema Plate of your second playthrough requires you to possess the Fox Pin. Inside Shimizu Residence, adjacent to the room with moving images, discover an Inari Box that yields significant lore and the last Ema Plate of the playthrough.
New Game++ (Third Playthrough) Insights
The Ultimate Ema (22/22)
The concluding Ema Plate can only be collected during a New Game++, necessitating at least two completed endings. Fortunately, your initial run’s default ending qualifies, so securing one more will suffice.
Prepare for this last acquisition, located en route to Shimizu Residence. A new jizo statue emerges, offering a spot to exchange your Fox Pin for the true ending. The ultimate Ema rests on a nearby stone, marking your triumph in collecting all plates.
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