Silent Hill f Guide: Solving the Mural Puzzle Explained

Navigating the myriad of puzzles within Silent Hill F can prove challenging, but none quite match the perplexity of the Mural Puzzle. Often cited as the most arduous puzzle in the game, it leaves players scratching their heads due to its ambiguous nature.

What many players might not realize is that the Mural Puzzle actually serves as a foreshadowing mechanism, hinting at the ending players will achieve. Unlike most games where puzzles vary by difficulty, in Silent Hill F, puzzle complexity shifts according to the endings. This innovative approach is one of the standout features of the series.

During your initial playthrough, everyone will encounter the same Mural Puzzle experience. However, the pathways to alternative endings are often more straightforward than the default conclusion.

To solve the Mural Puzzle, players must collect three distinct crests: A Fox, a Black Bird, and a White Bird. The game intricately links these symbols to the Fox Mask and both versions of Hinako. The placement of these crests varies depending on the chosen ending.

Ending	Requirements
Coming Home to the Roost	Finish your initial playthrough on any difficulty.
The Fox’s Wedding	Avoid all Red Capsules, purify the Sacred Sword (or refrain from picking it up), and locate the Agura no Hotei-sama.
The Fox Wets Its Tail	Avoid all Red Capsules, obtain the Sacred Sword but do not purify it.
Ebisugaoka in Silence	Complete a minimum of two endings, avoid all Red Capsules, purify the Sacred Sword, and offer the Fox Pin at the jizo statue prior to entering the Shimizu Residence.

This guide provides minor spoilers regarding each ending, as the riddle associated with the puzzle alludes to them.

Coming Home to the Roost

The default ending, Coming Home to the Roost, is the one players will most likely encounter on their first run. I checked, and this ending is still achieved even if no Red Capsules are consumed. It is the conclusion you will undoubtedly reach unless you deliberately pursue the alternative endings.

At the start, players engage with the Mural empty-handed, with clue scrolls flanking the artwork.

The riddle reads:

“The Black Bird wishes to take the White Bird. The White Bird wishes to resist. The Fox brings along his followers in triumph. He notices not the two birds in conflict.”

In this context, the Fox crest finds its place with the triumphant Fox at the forefront, while the two birds represent a tug-of-war. The Black Bird is positioned to the right, while the White Bird occupies the left, illustrating their struggle.

Therefore, the correct order for placement is as follows:

Fox
Black Bird
White Bird

The Fox’s Wedding

In The Fox’s Wedding, the Fox Mask succeeds in wooing Hinako into matrimony. The nuances of this event are encapsulated in the riddle provided for this ending.

The riddle unfolds as follows:

“The Fox Crest, across all these riddles, is the easiest one to find a home. This ending is no exception, as the satisfied Fox spreading his fan is for a single character in the painting, depicted at the very front and leading the group along. From there, the Black Bird must be ‘caged, ’ for lack of a better term, by having her ride along with the princess fox in her lantern. The White Bird is sitting in a daze, and for this one, you have to find the fox that’s sitting cross-legged and looking confused, like it just woke up from a terrible nightmare, only to realize it’s actually happening.”

For placement:

Fox Crest
Black Bird Crest
White Bird Crest

The Fox Wets Its Tail

The Fox Wets Its Tail represents the moment when Hinako flees the altar, rejecting the societal pressures tied to marriage. In this conclusion, Fox Mask, revealed to be Kotoyuki Tsuneki, allows her to depart, powerless to pursue her.

The riddle associated with this ending hints at the emotional turmoil:

“The White Bird flies free from her cage. Her shadow follows close behind her. The Fox raises a lantern as he watches them fly away. There is nothing he can do now.”

In this scenario, place the Fox Crest above the carriage, signifying the Fox’s watchful gaze over the escaping bride. The Black and White Birds are positioned adjacent to one another, with the Black Bird trailing behind the White Bird.

The correct placement sequence is:

Fox Crest
Black Bird Crest
White Bird Crest

Ebisugaoka in Silence

The climax known as Ebisugaoka in Silence is considered the game’s authentic ending. Here, Hinako refrains from action, choosing instead to coexist with her emotions and contemplate her choices regarding marriage. This conclusion emphasizes the significance of personal freedom and the tranquility it brings.

The riddle guiding players through this final puzzle reads:

“Two chicks confide in one another in their shells. A Fox watches over them in the light of his lantern. Nobody knows when, or even if, the eggs will hatch. Not even the chicks themselves.”

In this case, the Fox Crest returns to the lantern above the carriage and the birds now occupy a different location beneath the Fox, symbolizing their introspection. The Black Bird resides within the carriage, representing Hinako’s inclination towards marriage, while the White Bird resides in the lantern, embodying Hinako’s readiness to embrace both her desires and individuality.

Thus, the routing for this ending also follows: