Summary
- Slitterhead, from Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, promises a mix of horror and action in a unique gameplay experience.
- The game's combat mechanics and possession abilities add a new dimension to traditional horror gameplay.
- While leaning heavily into horror aspects, Slitterhead aims to differentiate itself by focusing on body horror and terrifying gameplay.
Slitterhead will be the debut title from developer Bokeh Game Studio, founded by Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama. Given Toyama's history and the game's early marketing, many are expecting Slitterhead to be a solid horror title, focusing on unsettling creature design and a disturbing narrative premise.
But it also looks like Slitterhead won't be shying away from action-packed gameplay, as evidenced by its Summer Game Fest trailer. The game once appeared to be a sort of spiritual successor to Silent Hill or Siren, but it's now looking to have more in common with action-horror titles like Ghostwire: Tokyo. The Ghostwire comparison may be particularly relevant, as both games are set in neon-drenched, urban Japanese locations that are overrun by malignant spirits. Another interesting comparison is how both games have been marketed, as Ghostwire: Tokyo initially appeared to be far more horror-focused before being revealed as more of an open-world FPS with horror themes. Slitterhead could repeat history in this regard.
Hopefully, Slitterhead Won't Lose Sight of Its Horror Elements
Slitterhead Is Looking More and More Like an Action Game
This summer's Slitterhead gameplay trailer shone a light on its mechanics, many of which look surprisingly unique and inventive for the horror genre, which is generally more concerned with atmosphere, story, and enemy design than experimental gameplay. Players can possess various characters, who appear to have distinct shapeshifting abilities and combat styles. The trailer showcased a style of combat that is dynamic and fast-paced, ostensibly requiring mastery of different melee abilities and the possession mechanic to best the game's various grotesque enemies.
It looks interesting, but not exactly scary. The gameplay footage contrasts with the game's initial reveal back in 2021, which explicitly references Toyama's background as the creator of Silent Hill and calls Slitterhead a "new challenge in horror," heavily suggesting that it would be a horror title. This echoes the marketing for Ghostwire: Tokyo, which kicked off by focusing on the game's horror elements before revealing that it would, in fact, be more of a horror-themed action game.
This came as something of a disappointment for some gamers looking forward to Ghostwire's horror elements, which were majorly understated in the final product. Slitterhead still has a chance to provide some serious scares in spite of its ostensible combat emphasis as, contrary to what games like Outlast may have some players believe, combat and horror are indeed compatible. That said, making players overpowered or more concerned with things like reaction time or pulling off cool moves that wouldn't look out of place in Devil May Cry runs the risk of undermining more nuanced aspects of atmosphere and tone.
Marrying Slitterhead's Action and Horror Elements
Many have argued that Slitterhead isn't meant to be a horror game, but that is not exactly true. It's extremely apparent, not only through the game's approach to art direction but also through its marketing, that it is meant to lean heavily into horror aspects. At the same time, it can't be denied that its combat is taking a front-row seat. But Slitterhead can differentiate itself from Ghostwire: Tokyo, which also puts players in the shoes of a superpowered protagonist, by keeping its eye on the bloody, gruesome ball.
Body horror is one area that Slitterhead could afford to focus on. Body horror plays a significant role in most horror experiences since creatures like zombies and vampires certainly incorporate aspects of the subgenre. Slitterhead's unique premise, specifically as it pertains to the possession mechanic, could provide an opportunity for a more intimate take on body horror, one that the player themselves is closely connected to through the means of interactivity. In this way, Slitterhead could retain its unique combat framework while still being appropriately terrifying.
Slitterhead
- Released
- November 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Set in the densely cluttered streets of "Kowlong," filled with obscurity and chaos, this battle action-adventure game casts players as the "Hyoki," an entity devoid of memory and physical form. His only motive is to eradicate the monstrous beings known as "Slitterheads" crawling around the city, disguising themselves as humans.
Roaming the vibrant neon-lit cityscape, players must seek out allies among humans known as "Rarities," infiltrate and track dangerous organizations, and engage in battles harnessing the power of blood. As the suspenseful drama unfolds, delve into the mystery behind Hyoki's existence and the appearance of the Slitterheads.
- Developer(s)
- Bokeh Game Studio
- Publisher(s)
- Bokeh Game Studio
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
