Slitterhead – directed by Japan Studio veteran Keiichiro Toyama – appears like a non secular successor to Siren, Gravity Rush, and Soul Sacrifice all on the identical time. This ingenious, uncommon survival horror is far from excellent, with inconsistent visuals, repetition, and a few unrefined gameplay techniques. However for those who’ve been lamenting the lack of PlayStation’s oddball first-party output, that is the closest you’re going to get to it.
You play as an ambiguous, all-powerful spirit named Hyoki, able to possessing people and commandeering their our bodies. A illness is ravaging a fictional reimagining of Nineteen Eighties Hong Kong, remodeling the general public into the eponymous Slitterheads. All you actually know is that you simply wish to wipe these monstrosities out, and so you start body-hopping via the group to be taught extra concerning the risk – and produce it down.
The story unfolds over a sequence of days in a handful of small, sandbox-style environments. As you progress, you’ll revisit these ranges repeatedly at numerous completely different occasions. You’ll be able to freely possess the general public you encounter, and this performs into the sport’s traversal; if it’s essential attain a rooftop, for instance, it’s possible you’ll achieve this by inhabiting somebody standing out on their balcony after which working your manner up.
Whereas it’s not equivalent, this method will remind you of Gravity Rush. You’ll be able to leap off buildings after which dispossess your present host simply earlier than they hit the bottom, switching to a different unsuspecting individual to maneuver ahead unscathed. Some chase sequences, that are clumsily executed however cool in idea, see you rapidly switching between a string of people to maintain up tempo together with your goal. There’s even an compulsory stealth system, the place you physique hop to keep away from detection.
However there are contrivances to make sure the mechanic works. Hyoki’s motion is proscribed, for instance, so you possibly can’t float off endlessly searching for new hosts. Equally, the spirit typically finds himself blocked by man-made constructions, like doorways. In some missions, you’ll end up looking for open home windows with a purpose to progress. Whereas we perceive there needed to be limitations with a purpose to create some extent of issue, it feels somewhat bit like the foundations are at all times bending to satisfy the necessities of the sport.
That is equally true if you attempt to possess a sure one who would simply get you to the place it’s essential be, however they’re inexplicably unavailable. The sport needs you to play it precisely because it’s been designed plenty of the time, and that always leaves little room for experimentation or downside fixing.
It’s a disgrace as a result of, in fight, the sport’s really empowers you to discover your individual methods. All through the story you’ll encounter Rarities, people you possess who resonate notably strongly with Hyoki. Not like the opposite folks you inhabit, these include distinctive expertise and weapons, and might be completely added to your roster. Tri, a housekeeper, has a pair of bladed oven gloves, for instance – whereas Alex, a physician, is armed with an enormous syringe.
You’ll be able to often take two Rarities right into a mission with you, and whereas some do require you to pick out a particular persona for plot causes, often you’ll be free to combine and match. This supplies loads of room for experimentation, as a result of glass cannons just like the homeless alcoholic Edo might be paired with healers such because the comfort retailer employee Julee. Every character might be upgraded individually, and comes with distinctive abilities to assist you in battle.
The fight could be very janky, however it makes use of the possession mechanic neatly. You’ll typically discover the surroundings populated with human fodder, and you’ll possess these folks to attract consideration away out of your Rarities, then swap again to take out your targets. You’ll get a small offensive increase every time you hop our bodies, and naturally it provides you the flexibility to maneuver to extra advantageous positions. Blood might be sopped up from the bottom to get better well being.
There’s quite a bit occurring right here, and typically the knowledge is buried in tutorial menus. Nevertheless it makes for a novel fight system not like anything you’ve ever performed. One character can drop a blood vortex onto the stage, for instance, sucking foes in; you possibly can then swap to an unimportant human, prime them for detonation, run into the center of aforementioned maelstrom, and possess a distinct physique earlier than they explode.
There’s a counter system which sees you utilizing the fitting analogue follow time parries, which provides somewhat extra depth to the one-on-one fight. Whereas the animations and contacts by no means fairly really feel strong sufficient to make this a terrific motion recreation, the team-building techniques and physique hopping mechanics make it ingenious and distinctive. It’s fairly a troublesome expertise on the usual issue, so that you’ll have to make the most of all of the instruments accessible to you to progress.
Our largest criticism actually is that all of it turns into a bit repetitive at occasions. You’ll have to replay sure ranges to find Rarities required to progress the plot, and these levels might be padded with overly lengthy chase sequences, which do put on out their welcome quick.
Equally, it’s fairly a low-budget expertise, with visible novel components used to additional the story and a few fairly dangerous human fashions. The general artwork route is phenomenal, leaning into real-life places like Hong Kong’s notorious Monster Constructing and making them the star of the haunting architectural artwork – however it’s a recreation that has higher environments than character designs. The soundtrack, in the meantime, composed by the timeless Akira Yamaoka, is a masterpiece all through.
Conclusion
Irritating at occasions however fearlessly ingenious, Slitterhead is an absolute must-play for those who’re searching for an authentic tackle the survival horror style. Serving as a non secular successor to fan favourites like Siren, Gravity Rush, and Soul Sacrifice, this haunting story a few body-hopping spirit – who makes use of people as fodder to place a cease to the eponymous enemy – is a scintillating albeit often undercooked debut from Bokeh Recreation Studios. Repetition and an total lack of refinement do deliver it down, however you’ll be hard-pushed to discover a extra imaginative expertise this 12 months.
