Slitterhead Impressions – Is It Good?

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Slitterhead Impressions - Is It Good?

As a seasoned gamer who’s been through the highs and lows of the gaming world, I must admit that my initial encounter with Bokeh Game Studio’s Slitterhead left me perplexed yet eagerly anticipating its release. Having grown up with the spine-tingling horror of Silent Hill and the action-packed adventure of Gravity Rush, this third-person, body-swapping game feels like a breath of fresh air… or perhaps a swarm of ’80s Hong Kong city folk?

Prior to my preview at PAX West 2024, I was entirely unsure about Bokeh Game Studio’s upcoming game, Slitterhead. However, after experiencing it, I found myself feeling a mix of bewilderment, exhilaration, and apprehension. This is because Bokeh, established in 2020, has Keiichiro Toyama as its founder – the genius behind franchises such as Gravity Rush, Siren, and most notably, the chilling and foggy world of Silent Hill.

The game titled “Slitterhead” is the initial project from our newly formed team, distinctly different from those I previously mentioned. It’s a unique blend of action-adventure, set in a fictional 1980s Hong Kong, presented as a third-person perspective. In this story, you play as an entity without a body named Hyoki, who has the power to possess various non-player characters (NPCs) wandering around the city. By pressing a designated button, Hyoki materializes as a ball of light, allowing you to navigate and control other human characters.

In the narrative of Slitterhead, you’ll come across key characters, however, it appears that you will be controlling a group of unsightly city dwellers (their faces are quite unappealing and dull, to put it mildly). You’ll engage in battles within the city, and here’s how it works: During combat, there will always be non-player characters (NPCs) on the battlefield. If a monster or enemy catches you off guard or the situation becomes too intense, you can switch to another character on the field for assistance. Additionally, there are rewards for moving from one body to another, which temporarily boosts your attack power.

In simpler terms, you seem to wield weapons powered by blood, delivering fairly standard melee attacks. You also have options to block and dodge. However, based on my brief encounters in the demo, the combat doesn’t appear to be particularly innovative or tactile. It can feel somewhat awkward at times, and engaging with the monsters lacks a satisfying physical response.

As a devoted enthusiast, I must express two exhilarating insights I gleaned from the combat in Slitterhead. The initial thrill revolves around the intriguing body-swapping mechanic during battles. When I’m pummeled by a monstrous adversary, and I swiftly switch to another character, launch an unexpected assault from behind, then leap to another player for another surprise strike, it’s a sensation that’s both empowering and singular in the realm of action games.

In summary, the game’s demo concluded with a fierce battle against an abhorrent monster that inflicted heavy damage. However, control was then given to a character named Rarity, who, as mentioned in Slitterhead’s Steam description, are individuals with a strong connection to Hyoki. This synchronicity gives Hyoki an immense power boost and the ability to perform unique skills that ordinary city dwellers cannot.

In essence, my character, Rarity, was similar to Wolverine from the X-Men comics. I had retractable claws that sliced through enemies swiftly, making battles more enjoyable compared to other combat experiences. Additionally, there was a unique gauge that built up, enabling Rarity to execute even more impressive moves. Although it’s unclear how frequently players will control these Rarities in Slitterhead, developers have hinted at a few of them, so I’m looking forward to discovering their numbers, attack styles, and the distinct traits each one possesses.

In my gaming adventure so far, I’ve only spent around 15-20 minutes with Slitterhead, which is too brief to delve deep into its narrative as there wasn’t much unfolding during my playtime. Whether it will grow into a legendary series like Silent Hill remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure – Slitterhead left me curious. It shares a similar vibe I felt when I first glimpsed Ghostwire Tokyo trailers; it’s shaping up to be a 7/10 game that might spark a dedicated fanbase in the future.

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2024-09-15 00:43