Slitterhead review

Slitterhead review

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of experience under my belt, I have played my fair share of horror games and have come to expect nothing less than top-notch storytelling and gameplay from developers like Keiichiro Toyama. With such high expectations for Slitterhead, I was eagerly anticipating its release, imagining a masterful blend of suspense, exploration, and combat that would leave me breathless.


A new original game from Keiichiro Toyama was all I needed to know about Slitterhead, and upon first hearing about the supernatural monster horror, I was laser focused on getting my hands on it. Now, after playing through the story and seeing the things I’d been excited about, I’ve been left somewhat deflated. I had such high hopes for it, but there’re some issues that kept me from falling in love with this new title from the creator of the original Silent Hill. The premise is clever, but it’s the combat and repetition that started to grate on me.

As a player, I assume the role of the ethereal figure known as ‘Night Owl,’ whose mission is to eliminate the Slitterheads, monstrous creatures reminiscent of The Thing and the villagers with elongated necks from Resident Evil 4, in the fictional city of Kowlong, Hong Kong. From the get-go, I’m drawn into a mystery surrounding these beasts and their influence over humans, transforming them into grotesque abominations. The narrative unfolds intriguingly, but it struggles to deliver a satisfying conclusion, particularly as I delve deeper into the storyline.

Slitterhead review

It appears The Night Owl has an unhealthy fixation on exterminating creatures, which raises the concern: who exactly is he protecting them from if he’s so eager to put them in harm’s way for his objective? However, it’s worth noting that controlling almost anyone through a possession ability is straightforward and swift, but there’s little variation between characters beyond their appearance. You can take advantage of this by finding someone on a balcony or rooftop to ascend high, or you can jump exceptionally high in specific locations.

In this game, the ability to swap bodies can save your character from death, allowing them to transfer into another body when they’re near death. However, knowing that death isn’t a major concern removes some of the fear and anxiety. If you die three times while in possession, it means game over. But, the fear of death is usually absent. You’ll encounter numerous ordinary humans, but also extraordinary individuals called Rarities who possess unique abilities, often involving blood-infused weapons like claws and swords.

Slitterhead review

In comparison to games like Stellar Blade and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which provide precise control during battle, Slitterhead seems overly fluid or imprecise. I found it difficult to truly appreciate the game due to this floatiness. Although there’s a unique parry and block system that requires some skill in timing and positioning, it didn’t spark much excitement when facing enemies. The enemy movements of some bosses are diverse, but mostly, it feels like repetitively pressing the attack buttons, with occasional use of special abilities to inflict additional damage.

The game’s missions seem fragmented since they don’t form a continuous storyline but rather involve periods of exposition outside the city where you interact with Rarities and enhance your abilities. The repetition in the missions is noticeable, particularly when traversing what appears to be the same part of the city over and over again. I wished for more diversity in level design, especially during the pursuit of Slitterhead through the identical back alleys.

Slitterhead review

In certain instances, the cutscenes are exquisitely crafted, yet they’re not frequent enough. The character Slitterhead seems incomplete. While the city occasionally looks impressive, the character movements and NPC designs appear rough, and the dialogue-based interactions between missions lack polish. I was hoping for more engaging conversations as there appears to be a compelling narrative, but it ultimately fails to captivate. Given the talent of Toyama involved, I found the overall experience somewhat underwhelming.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but feel that Slitterhead had immense potential if it had been given a bit more development time. The combat feels somewhat ungrounded, making it hard for me to truly savor it. The repetitive nature of the missions often hinders my immersion in Night Owl’s mission, and I yearn for a deeper connection with the goal.

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2024-11-05 14:16