Reviews
Slitterhead Review (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S & PC)

Although a young developing franchise, Bokeh Game Studio has shown its magnificent expertise in the industry through the release of Slitterhead. The game offers a creative environment filled with a mixture of psychological terror and blood-chilling action. Created by Keiichiro Toyama, the visionary behind Silent Hill, this game introduces a haunting new world filled with grotesque creatures and gripping storytelling. Set in a dark, mysterious city, players must unravel eerie secrets while fighting for survival against otherworldly threats. With its stunning visuals, innovative gameplay, and atmospheric soundtrack, Slitterhead promises horror enthusiasts a fresh, spine-tingling experience.
Monsters on The Street
The story of Slitterhead is full of twists, turns, and a few bumps along the way. Players take on the role of Hyoki, a ghostly spirit with the power to possess humans. The mission here is to hunt down Slitterheads, creepy brain-eating monsters that hide among humans by pretending to be normal people.
These monsters aren’t just scary; they’re sneaky. They stay hidden until it’s too late. Therefore, it’s up to players to track them down and stop them before they turn the city into a brain buffet. Now, the game offers some allies called Rarities. These are humans with a special connection to your spirit. These allies can fight alongside you, wielding powerful blood-based weapons that pack a punch.
While the setup is super cool, the story takes some confusing turns. Players’ Hyoki can manipulate time, which sounds great. However, here is the twist: It leads to a lot of flashbacks, alternate timelines, and head-scratching moments. One minute, you’re in the present; the next, you’re revisiting the past. Before you know it, you’re in a whole different reality. It’s enough to make anyone feel a little lost.
One drawback of the story is that it leaves players with a bunch of questions. For instance, where did the Hyoki come from? Why are the Slitterheads here? The game somewhat leaves you hanging without a proper ending.
Nevertheless, the mix of creepy monsters and high-stakes battles keeps things interesting. With fewer timeline jumps and more depth, this could’ve been a story to die for. As it is, it’s a hauntingly fun ride; just don’t dive in with high expectations for the story's depth.
Possession
The game’s standout feature is possession, and it’s a blast. As a Hyoki, players can hop into different human bodies to explore, fight, or solve puzzles. Each character has unique abilities, so picking the right one is part of the fun. Need to fight? Possess a strong fighter. Need to open a door? Find someone with the right skills.
In the game, possession isn’t just fun; it’s strategic. Players get a power boost every time they switch bodies, which makes combat more exciting. Notably, this mechanic keeps you on your toes, constantly looking for new bodies to jump into.
The Power of Blood
Combat gets things interesting in Slitterhead. You can summon blood weapons to fight Slitterheads and use special skills from the Rarities you possess. There’s also a deflect system where you block attacks at the right time to fill a meter. Once it’s full, you enter “blood time,” which slows everything down so you can unleash extra damage.
Players explore levels and hunt for collectibles like memory fragments between fights. These fragments give you skill points to upgrade your abilities. Surprisingly, you can spend these points to improve your Rarities’ skills and unlock new powers. For example, Julie’s blood talons can deal more damage, or Alex’s shotgun can gain extra range.
Upgrading is simple but effective. For example, you can unlock Sixth Sense, which helps spot incoming attacks. While the system isn’t groundbreaking, it adds a little depth to the gameplay. Finding all the Rarities is another part of the fun. Each one has unique powers and a backstory. However, some Rarities are hidden behind specific missions or tricky puzzles. Therefore, you might need to replay levels to find them. It’s rewarding when you do, but it can also feel like a lot of work at times.
Now, here is the problem: possession is so powerful that you don’t need to master deflecting. Instead, it’s easier just to keep jumping between bodies and smashing enemies. On the flip side, it makes combat feel repetitive after a while, even though it starts strong.
Additionally, fighting more than one enemy at a time can be frustrating. The camera sometimes struggles to keep up, and enemies can overwhelm you quickly. Nevertheless, there’s a lot of satisfaction in taking down a Slitterhead with a cool combo or a well-timed possession.
The Team
The Rarities are the heart of Slitterhead’s gameplay and story. These unique characters aren’t just tools for fighting. They’re part of the narrative, each with their own vibe. You’ll start with Julie, whose blood talons are perfect for fast-paced combat. As you progress, you’ll unlock others like Blake, whose minigun tears through bosses. On the other hand, Alex offers surgical precision, making him a versatile ally.
Each Rarity has its strengths and weaknesses, and it is key to pick the right team for each mission. You can bring two Rarities with you into a mission, and balancing their abilities adds a layer of strategy. However, you might stick with your favorites once you find them, as not all Rarities feel equally useful in every situation.
What’s particularly fun is how each of Rarity’s abilities reflect their personality or background. Alex’s tools are precise and methodical, fitting his doctor persona. Blake’s sheer firepower matches his no-nonsense attitude. These small touches make the characters feel more alive, even in a game where most of them spend their time-fighting monsters.
Neon Horror Vibes
Slitterhead’s Hong Kong setting is one of its best features. The city is filled with moody, neon-lit streets, bustling markets, and haunting alleys. It feels alive and haunted at the same time. The creature designs are just as impressive, with Slitterheads transforming from human disguises into terrifying monsters. You’ll see everything from mantis-like creatures to twisted tentacled beasts. It’s horrific, in the best way.
The visuals aren’t perfect, though. Some characters look a little too shiny and plastic-like, and the NPCs don’t feel very detailed. The lack of voice acting in many cutscenes also takes away some of the immersion. Still, the world feels well-crafted and memorable for a smaller studio’s first game.
The music by Akira Yamaoka, Silent Hill’s legendary composer, adds to the creepy vibe. It’s eerie and unsettling, making simple moments feel tense. It's too bad the gameplay doesn’t lean more into the horror vibes.
On the other hand, Slitterhead’s mission-based structure makes it easy to jump back in and replay levels. This is helpful if you missed collectibles. Players can level up their Rarities or just experiment with different characters. Ultimately, upgrades let you improve Rarities’ abilities, making them stronger and unlocking new skills.
The Struggle
The game isn’t without its share of flaws. Players will notice frame drops, texture pop-ins, and awkward camera angles. Playing on a Steam Deck is quite a bumpy ride. The frame rate falls during cutscenes, and the controls don’t always feel responsive. It’s playable but not the smoothest experience.
The game performs better on a regular PC but still has drawbacks. Movement can feel stiff, and the camera sometimes gets stuck in weird spots during combat. While none of these issues are game-breaking, they do add up and take away from the overall experience.
In addition, while the progression system is solid, it’s not groundbreaking. Most upgrades feel like minor improvements rather than game-changing. The missions themselves can also feel repetitive, especially toward the end, where the objectives don’t vary much. Despite the miss-steps, the ability to replay missions with a different strategy adds some value.
Verdict
Slitterhead is one of those games that grabs your attention right away, not because it’s perfect, but because it’s so unique. Mixing action, horror, and a little mystery, Slitterhead is a game with big ideas and potential. At its core, it’s a perfect experiment, offering a unique possession mechanic that makes combat and exploration. The eerie setting and creepy monster designs set it apart from other horror-action games.
Unfortunately, the game’s technical issues, repetitive combat, and confusing story hold it back. At $50, the game doesn’t feel polished enough to justify the high price tag. However, it's worth checking out if you see it on sale for $20 or less. The possession gameplay and ghostly charm might just win you over if you can overlook the bumps along the way.
Ultimately, Slitterhead feels like it’s destined to become a cult classic. This action-horror title takes bold steps, stumbles along the way, but still leaves a lasting impression. With a bit more polish and focus, it could’ve been something truly special, a standout in the action-horror genre. For now, though, the game needs some improvements to reach its full potential. There is always room for improvement. For players who are willing to look past its rough edges, it’s worth a try.
Slitterhead Review (PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S & PC)
A Bold New Take on Action-Horror
Slitterhead stands out for its creativity and great ideas, making it a fresh entry into the action-horror genre. While its unique mechanics and atmosphere show promise, the game’s flaws in execution and storytelling leave it feeling unfinished. With some fine-tuning, it can potentially become a cult classic, but for now, it’s a mixed experience.