Hollowbody Review

While there is no shortage of high-quality survival-horror games, many would agree that the genre's golden age was the late 90s and early 2000s. It was then that genre juggernauts like Resident Evil and Silent Hill released some of their greatest games alongside a slew of lower-profile survival horror gems that have since become cult classics. As such, it's no surprise that many modern indie horror games pay homage to these PS1 and PS2-era horror games, with the latest to do so being Hollowbody.

Developed by Headware Games, Hollowbody puts players in the shoes of Mica, who travels to an abandoned, walled-off city in search of her missing sister Sasha. As one might have guessed, things quickly go wrong and Mica finds herself face-to-face with horrific monstrosities. What plays out is standard fare for the genre, with Mica having limited ammo and healing supplies, as she tries to fight back against the city's creatures and find her missing sister.

While its opening scenes give off a distinct cyberpunk vibe, complete with a flying car, Hollowbody fails to take full advantage of its unique setting and instead puts players in a grim, dusty city that wouldn't be too far off from a modern locale. Level design leaves something to be desired, as there's a lot of wasted space between important areas, and the same-y look of each locale can sometimes make exploration confusing, exacerbated by dreaded invisible walls that pop up now and again. Despite these shortcomings, Hollowbody still delivers a fairly engaging survival-horror experience that will greatly appeal to fans of 2000s-era horror games, but may not be quite as fun for those who prefer the genre's modern blockbusters.

Hollowbody Plays Like Old-School Survival-Horror

Hollowbody gameplay is exactly what one would expect from a survival horror game inspired by the classics. Like in most survival-horror games, Mica must collect a variety of items to solve puzzles and access new areas. Those who take the time to thoroughly explore each area will be rewarded with helpful supplies like ammunition and repair sprays, with supply management a key part of the challenge. Luckily, Mica has melee weapons at her disposal, though there are many instances when avoiding the monsters is the best course of action.

Hollowbody's combat is basic, its monsters are generic, and its puzzles aren't too challenging, but they are still fun to solve. Survival-horror fans will feel right at home with Hollowbody, making it an easy recommendation for hardcore genre enthusiasts looking for something that plays similar to their favorites from back in the day.

But while I think Hollowbody will mostly appeal to those who are already fans of the survival horror genre, it is also a perfect choice for someone who hasn't played much survival horror but is interested in seeing what it's all about. Hollowbody checks all the boxes of classic survival horror, and it is more accessible than the games that inspired it. Beyond the fact that it's readily available to play on modern PCs, Hollowbody offers multiple difficulty options, letting those that aren't confident about the game's combat have an easier experience. It's not particularly scary either, though it still has a few solid jump scare moments, so those that are a little skittish may find it easier to play than other survival-horror games.

Hollowbody is Short, But Has A Lot of Replay Value

That's not to say that Hollowbody doesn't cater to hardcore fans. It boasts a mix of moving- and fixed-camera angles, and while the camera can sometimes get in the way during combat, the fixed-camera angles are still a nice, nostalgic throwback. The game even offers optional tank controls for those who really want an old-school experience. And if that weren't enough, Hollowbody players can unlock an even tougher difficulty upon completing the game for the first time, along with other fun unlocks. I won't go into detail as discovering this unlockable content is part of the fun, but rest assured that Hollowbody gives players a great reason to go back through after they've survived its horrors for the first time.

Replay value is key to a great survival horror experience, and Hollowbody has it in spades. Unlockable modes and features are a great incentive to replay the game, but so too are the multiple endings. The ending that I experienced after my first playthrough was particularly chilling with one moment that's going to stick with me for a long time. The overall story is fairly predictable survival-horror stuff, but the Hollowbody ending I saw was unexpected and unnerving.

While Hollowbody is far from the scariest horror game of all time, its ending is plenty disturbing and the game does a great job of building an eerie atmosphere. Perhaps its greatest accomplishment is its sound design, which does a tremendous job of pulling players into its spooky world. I was completely engrossed while exploring Hollowbody's monster-filled city thanks to its ominous music mixed with crisp, punchy sound effects. Sounds like the distant clap of thunder and pattering rain are punctuated by sudden crashes like objects falling off a shelf or a bird smashing into a window. And while the game's monsters are generic-looking humanoid tentacle blobs, the high-pitched wheezing of some of them sent chills down my spine on more than one occasion.

My first playthrough of Hollowbody took 3.5 hours, which is short, but works for the genre.

Hollowbody excels in some key areas, like its sound design, though it also comes up way short in others, like with its level design. Regardless, it's a serviceable survival-horror game that does everything one would expect. Nothing it does is new, but it does everything well enough to make it an easy recommendation to fans of survival horror games from the 2000s.

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