Review of Slitterhead

Initial release date: November 4, 2024

Platforms: PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Publisher: Bokeh Game Studio

Genres: Action game, Adventure game, Adventure

Developer: Bokeh Game Studio

Composer: Akira Yamaoka

License: proprietary license

After creating Silent Hill for PlayStation, Keiichiro Toyama left Konami and joined Sony. His subsequent games were Siren and its sequel. Most gamers would recognize him for his skill as a horror game creator, having created some of the scariest and most difficult instances in the genre. He also designed Gravity Rush, a cheerful anime-inspired open-world adventure with some scary themes.

Sony eventually terminated all of its Japanese studio branches. With nowhere else to go, Toyama decided to open his own studio. His horror games frequently feature cults, time loops, and terrifying bug imagery. Toyama would not have the financial backing of Sony or Konami to accomplish his goal this time, so he went independent.

Can Keiichiro Toyama, the genius mind behind Silent Hill and Siren, shock the world with his independent project? Is Slitterhead actually a scary game? Why are there so many prostitutes, and what is a hyoki? Find out more in our Slitterhead review!

Kowlong City, in Hong Kong, cries as a result of an invasion of human mimics known as Slitterheads. These are Cronenbergian, Junji Ito-style insectoid monsters that can perfectly mimic humans and grow to gigantic proportions. Most people are unaware of Slitterheads. They’re usually regarded urban legends, although they’ve begun emerging increasingly frequently and committing serial murders.

Slitterhead’s main character is a mysterious spirit known as a Hyoki. He seeks answers to his past while suffering from amnesia, but his only inclination is to find all of the Slitterheads. He can sight-jack, as Siren can, but being a disembodied magical consciousness, he has limited abilities. He can control practically any person and force them to fight for his purpose, using their crystallized blood as a weapon.

The story progresses when the Hyoki meets rare people. They have a strong connection to Hyoki and can communicate with him. Julee is the first rare, and she named the Hyoki “Night Owl”. Julee is a typical girl who enjoys manicures and lives in the Kowlong slum. She joins Night Owl’s quest to seek the Slitterheads, who are locked in a temporal loop.

The time loop is integral to the fundamental gameplay and plot of Slitterhead. Expect to replay specific days to change the circumstances that determine the destinies of some characters. Other Rarities become playable party members when their fate is changed. Julee will not be the only playable character, with everyone having a specific role to play in battle.

Certain characters are faster than others. Other rarities, such as trucks and Superman, might cause tank damage. There is even a Rarity who can summon other humans to the field to serve as meat shields or order them to assault a target all at once. Some characters have dangerous ranged weaponry. Everything is made of blood and relates to the character’s personality and style.

The combat is unlike anything seen before and requires concentration since a towering hideous praying mantis beast can rip the cast to shreds. Slitterhead’s bouts rely heavily on defensive fighting and guarding. It is possible to be aggressive and dodge roll around like you are in Dark Souls, but the most effective method to play is to use the Rarity powers and body surf to different individuals while parrying to trigger slow-motion.

When a target is locked on, the right stick is used to parry, and players must match the direction to the on-screen command. It’s similar to Punch-Out!. The timing window is narrow, and it looks and feels great when the hero connects a perfectly timed parry. Some upgradeable passive skills can change the consequences of parrying, making bouts against advanced Slitterheads more fair.

Restoring health is entirely dependent on how much blood is spilled on the field and whether the player can absorb it before being slashed by a massive mandible. Sometimes the easiest method to gather more blood is to sacrifice more humans, which presents Night Owl as a ruthless creature. Throughout the game, he exploits numerous innocent individuals and forces them to die for his goal.

The gameplay adapts to the situation at hand. Combat is only viable when enemies are present, and stealth mode is used when the story requires it. When the gameplay states are binary, it indicates that players can relax, explore the astonishingly large surroundings, and soak up the gritty atmosphere.

Slitterhead is a game that will make you reflect on the morality of abusing ordinary people. It’s no accident that the story takes place in Hong Kong. It is a city largely influenced by Kowloon’s nightmarish and chaotic urbanization. The quality of life was exceedingly low, and human life was viewed as disposable. Cramped little flats were clumsily constructed on top of one another with no planning, and each building was encircled by a continual stream of cables and glaring neon lights.

Slitterhead is set across several days and has a mission-based structure. It’s similar to how PlayStation 2 games used to be, with intermissions between missions when players could upgrade and interact with the characters. The smooth UI is simple to use, and the ability to return to previous days and change the party can lead to a variety of scenarios.

One of the few flaws of Slitterhead is the lack of voice acting. There is some voice acting, and it is quite nice. When Night Owl interacts with the other Rarities during the intermissions, you can tell something is missing. The majority of dialogue is written in text with mumbles or gibberish. The constant reading is exhausting and distracting, especially when attempting to catch everything while battling a massive cockroach or searching for different clothes or upgrade points.

The basic NPs do not fit the rest of the outstanding visuals. They most often resemble Yakuza pedestrians from the PlayStation 3 era. They contain little detail or expression and are intended to be meat for Night Owl’s grinder. When you have them jump from a building, they don’t even produce a pleasing splash or crunch. Unfortunately, the generic humans did not receive the same level of attention as everything else, despite the fact that they constitute an essential component of Slitterhead’s experience.

The main characters and Kowlong look fantastic. The city is slightly more ideal than the original Kowloon. The red light area is packed with prostitutes, and everywhere you turn, there’s cheap items for sale and poor living conditions. The streets and rooftops appear filthy, and the dank air makes your skin uncomfortable and oily.

The character design does not aim for a photorealistic look. The cast of Slitterhead resembles that of a manga. Everyone is slightly exaggerated, with seinen-style attitudes and movements. Slitterhead, as horrible and horrific as it is, is not a traditional horror game. It is more reminiscent of nasty action manga such as Gantz or Tokyo Ghoul. The tone is fairly mature, and early on, there are naked breasts revealed, making it easier to converse with female Rarities while wearing underpants.

The creature designs and motions are amazing. They perfectly convey the uncanniness of insects and the misery of change. While Slitterhead is not a classic horror game, its atmosphere and animals create a distinct sense of uneasiness and revulsion. It’s also an extremely graphic game, with many moments featuring Verhoven-style jets of blood spray, entrails spilling, and dismemberment.

Akira Yamaoka’s music attracts the guys to the yard, and his work on Slitterhead is among his strongest and most varied yet. Fans of his work will notice his use of samples and orchestration, but in this game, he opts for something really jazzy. The smoldering soundtrack is sensual, like noir detective music.

Yamaoka’s music occasionally incorporates traditional Asian instruments and guttural chanting. He combines numerous styles to create something truly distinctive that defines Slitterhead’s personality and goes under your skin. His work on this game could be his greatest opus.

Cults, insect monsters, time loops, and dank ghettos are what you can anticipate from Slitterhead if you’ve played any of Toyama’s previous games. Fans, however, will be surprised by the gripping and tight action-packed gameplay that switches between genres and allows for body-surfing.

Cults, insect monsters, time loops, and dank ghettos are what you can anticipate from Slitterhead if you’ve played any of Toyama’s previous games. Fans, however, will be surprised by the gripping and tight action-packed gameplay that switches between genres and allows for body-surfing.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 83%

Controls: 80%

Aesthetics: 90%

Content: 84%

Accessibility: 76%

Value: 81%

Overall: 82%

CHILLINGLY ENGAGING!

Summary:

“Slitterhead” immerses players in a thrilling horror experience that combines action and psychological strain. The action is smooth and dramatic, keeping players on edge as they explore horrific areas populated by horrifying animals. Controls are reasonably responsive, yet some mechanics need precision, which increases the strain. Visually, “Slitterhead” is a dark masterwork, with intricate, disturbing landscapes and memorable creature designs. With a strong content offering and layers of frightening storyline, it’s an exciting pick for horror enthusiasts looking for an intense and atmospheric experience.