Silent Hill F is definitely one of the best horror games of the year. While a very different type of game from usual titles in the series, the latest horror adventure benefits from a brilliant story penned by visual novel legend Ryukishi07.

Since release, some fans have noticed that the names of the game’s central cast are essentially reused names from the writer’s iconic Umineko When They Cry series. Hinako, Rinko and Sakuko are essentially the full names of Hina, Rin and Saku from the visual novel’s second episode.

Speaking in a recent livestream, Ryukishi07 explained that the names of the characters in Silent Hill F were all “placeholder names” that were planned to be changed at some point. While the names’ meanings do fit the characters very well, the writer originally planned to give them all “cooler names” after finishing the script.

“I think it’s high time somebody finally noticed the names of the characters are just Umineko references,” the writer said in the livestream (via Automaton). “To be completely honest, these were only placeholder names to me, and I originally wanted to give [the characters] much cooler names later.”

Silent Hill F director Al Yang also revealed that the team originally included a sword from When They Cry as a weapon in the game, but decided not to include it as “everything in Silent Hill is supposed to have a meaning”.

“Everything exists within the story for an actual reason,” Yang told Dengeki Online earlier this month. “We unfortunately ended up having to scrap the idea.”

Silent Hill F may use recycled names, sure, but it’s story is thoroughly unique, even within its series. With even more games in the franchise coming from new studios, as well as a remake of the original game from Bloober Team, Konami’s iconic horror series is back and firing on all cylinders.

With the series cracking sales milestones and Silent Hill F even outselling Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater, we can be sure that there will be many more games in the series in the years to come.