Slitterhead review: "A daring horror vision executed with finesse"

GamesRadar+ VerdictPart sci-fi body horror, part thrilling detective yarn, Slitterhead is a story of humanity versus monstrosity in a city where both are plentiful. Bokeh’s debut release bravely takes strides to manipulate, challenge, and evolve how we play horror games, and while some of these risks do not pay off as well as others, Slitterhead’s sheer creative ambition is impossible to ignore.Pros+Innovative, fast-paced combat feels fluid and exciting+Sumptuous worldbuilding+Unpredictable story lingers on the mind long after credits rollCons-Frustrating mission unlock system-Surplus player characters with markedly less narrative importance GamesRadar+ Verdict GamesRadar+ Verdict Part sci-fi body horror, part thrilling detective yarn, Slitterhead is a story of humanity versus monstrosity in a city where both are plentiful. Bokeh’s debut release bravely takes strides to manipulate, challenge, and evolve how we play horror games, and while some of these risks do not pay off as well as others, Slitterhead’s sheer creative ambition is impossible to ignore. Part sci-fi body horror, part thrilling detective yarn, Slitterhead is a story of humanity versus monstrosity in a city where both are plentiful. Bokeh’s debut release bravely takes strides to manipulate, challenge, and evolve how we play horror games, and while some of these risks do not pay off as well as others, Slitterhead’s sheer creative ambition is impossible to ignore. Pros+Innovative, fast-paced combat feels fluid and exciting+Sumptuous worldbuilding+Unpredictable story lingers on the mind long after credits roll Innovative, fast-paced combat feels fluid and exciting Sumptuous worldbuilding Unpredictable story lingers on the mind long after credits roll Cons-Frustrating mission unlock system-Surplus player characters with markedly less narrative importance Frustrating mission unlock system Surplus player characters with markedly less narrative importance Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. Why you can trust GamesRadar+Our experts review games, movies and tech over countless hours, so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about our reviews policy. FAST FACTS(Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio)Release date:November 8, 2024Platform(s):PS5, PS4 Xbox Series X, PCDeveloper:In-housePublisher:Bokeh Game Studio FAST FACTS (Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio)Release date:November 8, 2024Platform(s):PS5, PS4 Xbox Series X, PCDeveloper:In-housePublisher:Bokeh Game Studio (Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio) Release date:November 8, 2024Platform(s):PS5, PS4 Xbox Series X, PCDeveloper:In-housePublisher:Bokeh Game Studio The duality of humanity and monstrosity is a core theme sitting at the beating heart ofSlitterhead. Make no mistake, this is a grisly horror game where skulls split open to make room for spiny appendages, shrivelled bodies hanging limp as empty cocoons upon the backs of the insectoid creatures that burst from them, mouthed tongues flickering from jagged maws in search of unsuspecting human eye sockets to pierce and suck dry of cerebral matter. It’s a grisly reimagining of zombie fiction, this time with razor-sharp third-person combat encounters where chaining possession is the key to success as you literally throw bodies at the problem. But Slitterhead also makes a poignant comment on the human condition, taking inspiration from the very real, very overcrowded region of Kowloon, Hong Kong to show how even an everyday person has a purpose in the grand scheme of life – and, in this case, death. Welcome to the dark side (Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio) Peeling back the layers of Slitterhead’s bizarre narrative is a process in itself. It starts off slowly, our first host a barking street dog that leads us into the bustling main road of central Kowlong. From here, the nameless spirit leaps from person to person, grappling with memory loss as it tries in vain to recall who and what it is. It only knows one purpose: destroy the Slitterheads, vicious monsters posturing as humans who hunt their prey in the shadows of Kowlong’s insidious underbelly. Think triads, prostitution rings, creepy cult hideouts – the works. Instead of leaning heavily on voiced cutscenes, a Talk menu in the intermission screen allows the Hyoki to get to know each Rarity as you progress. Adapting to this more fragmented gameplay hook took some getting used to for me, but I soon grew to appreciate the storytelling opportunities it created. The peppering of noir detective work that comes with piecing together conversations between Rarities allows for slow, procedural revelation of Kowlong’s secrets, the player uncovering them alongside the spirit as a foreign entity in this world and gradually discovering new places of interest. (Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio) The first three Rarities' stories lead into one another in a more linear fashion than the rest, but eventually, I had to rely on mission information screens to preview what remaining secrets, collectibles, and signs of Rarities I’d missed in a given area. Novel as the concept is, though, it did leave me frustrated at one critical juncture; closing in on the game’s final moments, I mistook a series of connected events as optional collectibles rather than mandatory mission unlocks. That’s three hours I’ll never get back, but I’m willing to forgive Bokeh this instance of loveable, albeit questionable, jank. Slitterhead is all about tactics and precision, thinking quickly on your feet to gain the upper hand and make every second count. The glorious result is aggressive, nail biting action involving everything from blood-generated shotguns, claws, using a giant mascara wand as a melee weapon, and turning humans into literal time bombs to make you sweat even on normal or easy difficulty – all honing in on the dynamism of playing a wandering Hyoki in search of a host. Amid the madding crowd (Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio) “Kowlong is a microcosm of humanity, all walks of life sharing a tiny space” “Kowlong is a microcosm of humanity, all walks of life sharing a tiny space” In a charming twist of fate, humans turn out to be the ones guiding a spirit rather than the other way around. Slitterhead tells human stories through a superhuman, possibly preternatural being, shining a light on the unique souls it encounters on the way. Kowlong is a microcosm of humanity, all walks of life sharing a tiny space and choosing their path through it. True, some of the discovered Rarities serve little narrative purpose compared to others, but each is distinct and represents an ordinary person just trying to survive. As the spirit learns more about humanity and the darkness in us all, the line between good and bad grows ever blurry – even when it comes to grotesque monsters. Disclaimer Need the scares to continue? We’ve got a list of theupcoming horror gamesthat you need to keep an eye on next. Need it now? Then check out our list of thebest horror gamesever! Alternatively, thebest games based on horror moviesis a good shout if you’re looking for something with a bit more cinema. 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