Silent Hill: Townfall Goes First-Person With Stealth and CRTV Detection

Silent Hill: Townfall is trading the series’ traditional third-person camera for first-person, putting players directly behind the eyes of protagonist Simon Ordell. The official announcement describes it as the first full Silent Hill experience presented from its protagonist’s perspective, rather than a game containing only isolated first-person sequences.

That shift is reinforced by an unusually wide 2.35:1 aspect ratio. While the format expands the horizontal display, it also shortens the visible area vertically. Players will need to account for threats lurking beside or behind Simon, making limited awareness part of Townfall’s horror rather than merely a camera preference.

The most distinctive tool is a handheld CRTV that can be tuned to different frequencies to reveal nearby enemy positions. Simon can keep the device raised while moving, while a DualSense haptic pulse signals that a new enemy is close. Together with the restricted display, the CRTV appears designed to provide information without granting comfortable, complete awareness.

Combat will not always be available. When monsters attack at close range, Simon can use a flimsy object to block, react to counterattacks and strike back. Other encounters instead require cover and dedicated leaning or peeking controls, allowing players to monitor enemies and slip past without being detected.

Breaking line of sight can also create an escape opportunity. Cabinets, closets and lockers provide hiding places, but they are not automatic safe zones: an enemy that watches Simon climb inside can pull him back out. That rule should prevent hiding from becoming a simple reset button and makes choosing when to disappear as important as finding somewhere to do it.

Townfall also includes optional motion controls for more precise aiming. Players can tilt the DualSense when lining up firearms or thrown objects, rather than relying exclusively on conventional stick input. Silent Hill 4: The Room in 2004 and Silent Hill: The Short Message in 2024 previously used limited first-person play, but Townfall is building its entire experience around the viewpoint—and tying its combat, stealth and enemy detection directly to what Simon can and cannot see.

Official link: blog.playstation.com