As a simple demo, many players initially felt it was no big deal and believed it would be easy to clear the level.
However, the reality surpassed everyone's expectations.
Before the gameplay exhibition, the game industry had remained quiet. For some developers, even though there were announcements in the pipeline, they had been reserved for unveiling during the exhibition. Yet, Silent Hill PT, the demo for the new VR test version, unexpectedly became the center of media attention.
Reports revealed, "The beta version of the demo Silent Hill PT was launched for a day, and the clearance rate was only 1.76%."
This statistic shocked both players and media outlets. When media personnel analyzed the trophy records on the Neon game platform, they were stunned. The game had been live for an entire day, and despite a significant number of players trying it, the clearance rate hadn't even reached 2%.
Was the game overly difficult? Or simply too terrifying?
These questions piqued the curiosity of many, including Wu Tian, who frequently delved into the gaming world. Upon seeing the data, Wu Tian couldn't help but investigate further. He opened the Neon game platform, downloaded the demo, and entered the game.
Ten minutes later, he stood up abruptly from his chair, clutching his chest and taking deep breaths. His hands trembled as he opened the curtains to let sunlight pour in. Only then did he fully grasp why the clearance rate was so abysmally low.
For an average player, the experience was utterly overwhelming.
Despite its terror, there were still some players who managed to clear the level. For those using the PC version instead of VR, various techniques were employed to mitigate the fear factor. Players swapped out frightening character models like female ghosts, preventing the game from veering into unintended genres.
Others devised creative ways to navigate the game: adjusting brightness settings, muting the sound, listening to cheerful music, or even playing cross-talk recordings in the background. Some gathered in groups, holding hands, and pushing through the game together.
Yet, the game's harsh clearance conditions remained the most critical factor. It wasn't until the second day that a handful of hardcore players—through extensive research and forum discussions—finally pieced together the exact requirements to clear Silent Hill PT.
What surprised many players is that although Silent Hill PT is only a test DEMO, it still tells a simple yet haunting story.
In the infinite loop corridor within the game, there are a total of fourteen loops. Each loop introduces new plot content.
In the second loop, the player is directed to go back and notice a picture of the protagonist's wife on the ground. After picking it up, three lines appear:
Can you hear my voice?
Can you interpret this message?
If you come to me, I will always wait for you.
This marks the first clue in the game.
Throughout the room, fragments of photos are scattered. There are eight pieces in total, but ten sentences are associated with them. Each time a fragment is collected, words written in different languages appear randomly. These ten sentences hold critical clues for completing the game:
While waiting, I stood still.
I whispered his name.
His fingertips ran across my hand; it was cold.
My body was shaking, waiting for it to end.
I moved without moving.
His outstretched hand gradually disappeared into the fog.
And I believe I heard a call.
When the female ghost, Lisa, kills the player, it results in a game over. The game crashes and exits, but this screen reveals a key piece of information: the name of the protagonist, J.
As the game progresses, the atmosphere becomes increasingly oppressive and eerie.
The story of Lisa's death also unfolds. In one of the loops, players hear sounds coming from the toilet through a peephole in the hallway. Based on the audio clues, it can be inferred that Lisa's eyes were gouged out, her throat slit, and her unborn child forcibly removed. Lisa's bubbly, gurgling sounds stem from the blood choking her throat.
The reason for Lisa's murder becomes clearer through a mysterious narration:
"You were fired, so you used alcohol to drown your sorrows. She had to find a part-time job as a cashier in a canteen. The only reason she was allowed to stay there was because the manager liked her. Won't you forget? Just ten months ago."
From this, it can be inferred that the protagonist killed Lisa, believing she had cheated and that the unborn child was not his.
Once all the clues are gathered, players reach the final loop and must complete three specific steps to clear the level.
Wait for Time Zero– Stand in front of the electronic clock and wait for one minute until the time hits zero. This action corresponds to the sentence: 'I stand still while waiting.'
Take Ten Steps Forward: After the time reaches zero, walk ten steps forward. This triggers the sound of the baby's first laugh.
Call the Protagonist's Name: Listen for the sound of Lisa's high-heeled footsteps. Follow the sound while maintaining a safe distance. Then, using a microphone, speak the name J collected earlier. This confirms the photo line: 'I whisper his name.'
Lisa will then rush toward the player and possess them. At this moment, the screen begins to shake slightly. In the VR version, players feel vibrations from the game compartment. On a PC, vibrations are simulated either through the game controller or screen effects when using a mouse and keyboard.
This final sequence aligns with the photo passage: 'His fingertips slid across my hand, which was very cold, and my body was shivering.'
Then the strange music plays, but there is still no movement, confirming the following words: I didn't move. The hand that was stretched out gradually disappears into the fog.
Once the music fades completely, a baby's laughter echoes for the second time. At the same moment, the phone in the hallway rings, affirming the last sentence: I believe I heard a call.
Walking toward the phone, a voice comes through the receiver: You have been selected.
The next moment, the door lock clicks open, and the achievement trophy for clearing the stage appears.
After reading strategies summarized by some of the experts, countless players are left in shock. The conditions for final clearance are simply too harsh!
Without a single clue, there is no way to infer the required steps. As seasoned gamers work out the customs-clearance strategy, discussions explode across the internet.
"I'm convinced! If I went through these brutal conditions to clear the game, I wouldn't touch another game for a year!"
"Be confident, my friend. You won't clear it in your lifetime. At best, you'd clock in at 0.1 hours—if that!"
"Haha, 0.1 hours? You're being generous! That's the minimum record time on the Neon game platform. Most likely, they just glanced at it and gave up. How do I know? That's exactly what I did!"
"This game needs sponsorship from an extreme sports brand. It's as intense as bungee jumping!"
"Your death is beyond your imagination!"
Although the DEMO strategy has been released, discussions about Silent Hill PT show no signs of slowing down.
On live-streaming platforms, even with a guide, streamers frequently find themselves startled or terrified. A simple DEMO has managed to cast an indescribable psychological shadow over countless players.
Some even joke about experiencing PTSD, avoiding their home corridors at night for fear of finding a surreal, endless hallway behind their bathroom door.
If there's any silver lining for players to lighten the mood, it's the announcement of this year's gameplay lineup.
At last, the long-awaited prequel to Dark Souls has more news to share, sparking excitement and anticipation across the gaming community.