November 4th 2024.
Have you heard about Slitterhead? It's a new survival horror game from the talented creator of Forbidden Siren and Gravity Rush. Despite just missing the Halloween season, this game has some truly unique ideas that will surely pique the interest of horror fans.
As we all know, there has been a surge of horror games this year, but unfortunately, most of them have failed to deliver the scares that we crave. It seems like the developers are intentionally trying to appeal to a wider audience, but this approach is not doing justice to the genre. Even non-horror fans will agree that these games are not as scary as they claim to be. For instance, the recent remakes of Silent Hill 2 and Until Dawn lacked the disturbing and unsettling atmosphere that made the original versions so terrifying.
We were hoping that Slitterhead would break this trend, being a creation of Keiichiro Toyama, who is known for his mastery in horror games. However, it turns out that being scary is the least of Slitterhead's problems. The game follows the story of a disembodied spirit on a mission to exterminate the Slitterheads - monstrous creatures that have infested 90s Hong Kong. These creatures may look like ordinary humans, but they transform into terrifying monsters when they feed or when they are discovered.
The game's tutorial introduces us to the unique ability of the spirit to possess different people and use their bodies to carry out its mission. As we learn to jump from one person to another, we realize that the spirit has no regard for human life and is solely focused on slitting the throats of the Slitterheads. However, things take a different turn when the spirit encounters a rare individual who has the ability to use special blood-based powers. This encounter sparks a change in the spirit's attitude, and it starts to show a sense of altruism.
As the game progresses, we discover that the Slitterheads are not just evil creatures, but they have a complex relationship with humans. In fact, some of them are willing to coexist peacefully with humans, reminiscent of modern vampire folklore. This adds a layer of intrigue to the game, especially when we find out that a government agency is involved in this supernatural world. However, the lack of spoken dialogue and the constant reuse of city locations make the game's pacing feel disjointed and repetitive.
The combat mechanics of Slitterhead try to emulate popular action games like Devil May Cry, but they fall short in execution. While the possession element is an interesting concept, it is used inconsistently, and it takes away from the game's potential to be scary. After all, it's hard to feel concerned for a virtual character when you are an intangible spirit possessing unnamed characters.
Despite its flaws, it's evident that a lot of effort has been put into Slitterhead, with different characters having unique attacks and weapons. The city of Hong Kong is also impressively detailed, making it a visually appealing game. However, these aspects are overshadowed by the game's clumsy and repetitive gameplay and lack of coherence in the story.
In conclusion, Slitterhead is a game with potential, but it fails to deliver on many levels. Its attempt to combine survival horror with action gameplay results in a messy and unsatisfying experience. It's clear that the game needed more time to be refined, but even that might not have saved it from its fundamental flaws. A survival horror game that is not scary, coupled with subpar action gameplay, is not a recipe for success. It's unfortunate that Slitterhead has missed the mark, not just in terms of its release date, but also in terms of delivering a compelling and enjoyable gaming experience.
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