Major spoilers for Slitterhead.
The release of
Slitterhead
is finally here, marking a milestone in 2024’s lineup of
Silent Hill
.
Slitterhead
has drawn
Silent Hill
and
Siren
, the game had high expectations to meet, and it has largely lived up to the hype.
Launched on November 8, 2024,
Slitterhead
has received relatively positive reviews, solidifying its place as one of the year’s most anticipated titles. The game’s initial reveal over three years ago featured a characteristically unsettling trailer depicting a city overrun by grotesque, parasitic creatures. Now, with the full game released,
Slitterhead
offers a uniquely haunting experience, blending innovative combat, a captivating storyline, and modern visuals.
The Story and Gameplay of Slitterhead
Silent Hill Director’s New Survival Horror Was Inspired by Tokyo Ghoul
Game
Release Date
Platforms
Stores
Editions
Prices
Slitterhead
November 8, 2024
PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, PC
PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store
Standard Edition: $49.99/£47.99
Deluxe Edition: $59.99/£59.99
Slitterhead
is a wholly unique horror game, but it draws from a few familiar influences. Keiichiro Toyama mentioned taking inspiration from
Slitterhead
based on Yegouzi, a mythological creature that eats human brains.
Set in the early 1990s in the fictional East Asian city of Kowlong,
Slitterhead
follows the chaos that unfolds when grotesque creatures begin hunting humans. The city’s residents must find a way to fight back, leading to the introduction of the game’s unique “Possession System.”
In
Slitterhead
, the main character is a spiritual lifeform without a physical body
, requiring players to possess the bodies of the city’s inhabitants to combat the monstrous threat.
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This possession mechanic allows players to switch between hosts, enabling quick traversal of the city and leaving bodies behind as they focus on survival. The system introduces fast-paced gameplay and creative combat strategies, challenging players to adapt their movements to match the game’s dynamic pace. As for the creatures,
Slitterhead
doesn’t hold back on delivering disturbing encounters
. The trailer showcased unsettling scenes, including a man ambushed by a parasite-infected woman and police officers grappling with a crime scene spiraling into horror.
One of the standout features of
Slitterhead
is the Yakushi, a creature capable of mimicking humans. Its monstrous face, adorned with scales and tentacle-like features, retracts to reveal a normal human appearance. This unsettling mimicry keeps players on edge, as the creatures may not always be what they seem. Fans of paranoia-inducing suspense in films like
The Thing
or the original
Alien
will likely find this game captivating.
Slitterhead
constantly challenges players to question the safety of those around them.
Slitterhead’s Story Is Extremely Dark
The story of
Slitterhead
follows Hyoki, a mysterious spirit-like entity that initially possesses a dog and several humans, including a girl named Julee. In a critical moment, Hyoki defends Julee from a terrifying Slitterhead. Julee, however, is unique—she remains conscious during possession and gains extraordinary powers when possessed. She names Hyoki “Night Owl,” inspired by an ancient legend of two spirits, Night Owl and Leopard Head, who once fought against the Slitterheads.
Their journey takes a dark and tragic turn when they encounter a particularly powerful Slitterhead with similar time-manipulating abilities. This new adversary focuses its torment on Alex, another rarity, exploiting its powers to fuel his rage and hatred. As Alex succumbs to madness, tensions rise between him and Night Owl. Alex’s descent into chaos leads him to murder other rarities, including his own allies, as he becomes consumed by his guilt and a relentless need to punish himself by hunting Slitterheads across the time loop.
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Games like the Resident Evil 4 remake and Alien: Isolation shows the horror gaming genre is thriving in the modern era.
In a desperate bid to save Alex from self-destruction, Julee allows herself to be possessed by Leopard Head, a spirit tied to Hyoki. Tragically, Julee is killed while trying to reach Alex. Devastated by her loss, Night Owl escapes to an alternate timeline, where it is revealed that Alex had originally been possessed by Leopard Head all along.
Slitterhead’s Story Takes a Tragic Turn
Close
This shocking twist uncovers the truth:
Night Owl, the Slitterheads, and even the spirits are time travelers from a distant, apocalyptic future
. A catastrophic malfunction during the time travel process transformed most of the travelers into parasitic Slitterhead creatures. Night Owl, however, successfully traveled back in time, while Leopard Head represents an alternate version of the same spirit.
Night Owl recalls bringing a mystic device—a seal—designed to defeat an unstoppable foe. Armed with this realization, he retrieves the seal and returns to the original timeline to imprison the time-warping Slitterhead and halt Alex’s descent into chaos. However, upon his return, Night Owl discovers that Alex has already killed all the remaining rarities, leaving only Julee alive.
Related
Not every horror game is completely terrifying. From Subnautica to Don’t Starve, these games are creepy without being too scary.
In a climactic and honestly very tragic confrontation, Alex orchestrates a catastrophic plane crash aimed at destroying the city, believing it will bring an end to everything. Using his time manipulation abilities, Night Owl rewinds the events to save the city, preventing the crash by possessing someone aboard the plane. In a final twist, Alex’s body vanishes mysteriously, leaving his fate uncertain. However, a post-credits scene shows a possessed Alex driving away, signaling that the battle is far from over and will continue into the next era.
The Characters of Slitterhead
Slitterhead Has Eight Playable Characters, But Players Have to Recruit Them
As Night Owl and Julee uncover the spirit’s ability to transfer memories and knowledge across time, they begin battling increasingly formidable Slitterheads. Along the way, they also recruit others with unique and rare abilities.
Julee:
The first rarity unlocked by players and a solid all-around character.
Blake:
A former navy recruit turned police officer who can summon an arsenal of weapons.
Betty:
A seemingly sweet old lady who can tear Slitterheads apart with her blood cane.
Alex:
A doctor and Slitterhead hunter who can charge his shotgun with an otherworldy level of power.
Anita:
A member of a crime ring who has the power to summon people to battle,
Edo:
A homeless man who excels at close-range fighting.
Doni:
A young and optimistic student with the ability Fatal Lance, which has the longest range of any attack,
Tri:
A housekeeper, who is very capable of throwing hands and causing bleeding damage,
Is Slitterhead Worth Playing?
It’s a Genuinely Terrifying Horror Game
Slitterhead
has received some criticism for its repetitive combat
, but it’s still a memorable survival horror game that fans of the genre will want to check out. It seamlessly combines psychological horror with action and has a novel approach to gameplay mechanics that really makes it stand out. It might not be one of the
Slitterhead
. is still a thrilling and immersive paranormal horror game.
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Slitterhead
Survival
Horror
Platform(s)
Released
November 8, 2024
Developer(s)
Bokeh Game Studio
Publisher(s)
Bokeh Game Studio
How Long To Beat
10.5 hours
Bookmarks
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