Slitterhead

Slitterhead is a bold and inventive addition to the action-horror genre, but it offers a flawed journey in its strange universe.

82%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

character development, optimization

89% User Score Based on 323 reviews

Critic Score 68%Based on 4 reviews

Platforms

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About

Slitterhead is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Bokeh Game Studio lnc. and was released on June 26, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Slitterhead" is a single-player action game set in the neon-lit streets of Kowlong, where players take on the role of the memory-less "Hyoki" determined to eradicate the monstrous "Slitterheads." As Hyoki, seek out human allies, infiltrate dangerous organizations, and harness the power of blood in battles. Uncover the mystery behind Hyoki's existence and the Slitterheads as the suspenseful drama unfolds. Ingenious music and awesome story & gameplay await.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 323 reviews

story66 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Unique and ambitious gameplay mechanics, particularly the possession system that allows players to switch between characters during combat.
Strong atmosphere and art direction, reminiscent of classic horror games, with a captivating setting in a fictionalized version of Kowloon.
Engaging soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka that enhances the overall experience and complements the game's themes.

Repetitive mission structure and limited enemy variety, leading to a sense of monotony in gameplay as players encounter the same enemies and environments multiple times.
Combat can feel clunky and unrefined, with issues related to the parry system and hit detection that may frustrate players.
Lack of voice acting in many parts of the game, which detracts from character development and immersion in the story.

story
218 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
65%
5%
The story of "Slitterhead" is described as intriguing and unique, featuring a blend of horror and action elements with a nonlinear narrative that encourages players to piece together the plot themselves. However, it suffers from repetition in mission structure, a lack of resolution by the end, and minimal voice acting, which detracts from the overall experience. While the atmosphere and character design are praised, the storytelling is often seen as convoluted and lacking polish, leading to mixed feelings about its execution.
- “The story will slowly unravel as you play and it expects you to put the pieces together yourself - it won't hold your hand explaining everything to you - and the experience is better for it.”
- “I was fully invested and couldn’t wait for the next tidbit of story to be revealed in the moments between missions; it feels like a good horror movie or comic book.”
- “The story is intriguing and kept me going to see where it all headed...”
- “The story starts strong with its mysterious premise but loses steam with its slow pace and convoluted twists.”
- “Story-wise, pretty much nothing is truly resolved by its conclusion, and not in a good way.”
- “You will be replaying a lot of missions using the same area, albeit under different story scenarios.”
gameplay
140 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
61%
9%
The gameplay in "Slitterhead" is characterized by its unique body possession mechanic, allowing players to switch between characters mid-battle, which adds depth to combat and exploration. While the mechanics can be complex and initially challenging, they become engaging once mastered, despite some criticisms regarding repetitive enemy designs and inconsistent parry timing. Overall, the game offers a mix of adventure, combat, and chase sequences, set against a backdrop of intriguing story elements and atmospheric visuals, though it suffers from a lack of polish and variety in execution.
- “The gameplay is a mix of adventure, chase, and combat sequences.”
- “The game’s unique mechanic allows you to switch between bodies mid-battle, using each host’s abilities to fight grotesque monsters.”
- “The weird cast of characters, Kowloon as the city this place is set in is a stroke of genius, the combat and possession mechanics feel really good once you give it some time.”
- “The parry system is inconsistent as to when the indicator will show up and the timing window mixed with the award hit indicator makes the whole mechanic feel off.”
- “The gameplay loop is fairly structured with each mission requiring you to go from A to B and fight C, with some collectibles along the way.”
- “The combat is so-so, but the biggest issue is the main mechanic of the game, possession, which becomes tiresome to use very early on.”
music
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
45%
4%
The music in the game, primarily composed by Akira Yamaoka, has received widespread acclaim for its unique and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight its variety, experimentation, and ability to evoke strong emotions, with many considering it one of Yamaoka's best works. Despite some critiques regarding the selection in the deluxe edition, the soundtrack is praised for its chilling and immersive qualities that complement the game's themes and visuals.
- “The menu and sound design is incredible, and the soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka is some of his best work yet.”
- “The music features lots of variety and experimentation plus some of the best chilling-in-between-missions-menu music I’ve heard.”
- “Akira Yamaoka's soundtrack is of course excellent and it gives a lot to the game's overall vibes.”
- “That said, I must admit the soundtrack packaged in the deluxe edition is disappointingly selective; the tracks included could have been arranged to a longer length, and more unique tracks could have been included.”
- “Music/soundtrack: 6/10”
- “What is also interesting is that it doesn't sound much like previous soundtracks composed by Yamaoka.”
graphics
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
51%
20%
The graphics of "Slitterhead" are generally viewed as dated and indicative of a low-budget production, with many reviewers noting a lack of polish and technical limitations reminiscent of earlier console generations. However, the game's unique art style, atmospheric design, and strong aesthetic choices are praised, often compensating for the less impressive visuals. While not cutting-edge, the graphics contribute to the overall vibe and storytelling, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate its artistic direction.
- “Slitterhead is a game that forgoes any pretence of cutting-edge graphics and instead takes a risk to present us with something truly interesting, reminding me of the early PS3 era where graphics had already become good enough and some developers still had the vision to create new experiences.”
- “Budget character models and not-so-impressive visuals are made up for by stellar art direction and minimalist UI design.”
- “Visuals are amazing, can't help but stop and adore the neon-lit streets of fictional Kowloon.”
- “You can tell it's made on a budget; the levels are short, cut scenes are mostly just text, and there's a lack of polish to the graphics. However, Slitterhead has engaging gameplay once you appreciate what's being asked of you, and an interesting story.”
- “The graphics are somewhat underwhelming (almost old-gen), the combat and controls are far from smooth, and you can see all the technical limitations of a game that’s almost indie-level.”
- “It's got clunky combat, disappointing visuals, and some repetitive missions.”
atmosphere
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
50%
9%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, blending beautiful environments, a haunting soundtrack, and a distinct art style that evokes a sense of nostalgia and unease. While some players note the restrictive nature of the city and occasional gameplay flaws, the overall mood and thematic depth create a captivating experience that stands out in the gaming landscape. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions and a sense of place, making it a memorable journey despite its imperfections.
- “Certainly not a perfect game, but its atmosphere, themes, and mood are absolutely unbeatable.”
- “The atmosphere, the enemies, the gimmick behind the game, the soundtrack by the great Akira Yamaoka, and the mind behind Siren.”
- “Bokeh Game Studio absolutely nailed the atmosphere and ambiance with this game; it's simply amazing and it completely immerses you in this nightmarish city.”
- “While it certainly has its flaws, the unsettling atmosphere and grotesque creature designs kept me hooked from beginning to end.”
- “Atmosphere is unreal, feels like Wong Kar-wai and Christopher Doyle teamed up yet again to give us a neon-soaked noir visual masterpiece; you can almost smell the gutters in this game.”
- “With an eerie atmosphere, creepy creature designs, and a city that feels alive, it’s unforgettable.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its bizarre and morbidly funny elements, such as quirky character transformations and absurd scenarios involving unlikely allies like a grocery store worker or an old grandma. While some animations elicit laughter, particularly the blood-related ones, the overall comedic impact is enhanced by the game's unique storytelling and character interactions, despite some repetitiveness. Players appreciate the blend of sleazy and gross humor, making for an entertaining experience.
- “The ability to hop between hosts during battle and gaining new powerful allies in the form of a grocery store worker or an old grandma are interesting and funny ideas.”
- “It's sleazy, it's gross, it's bizarre, it's morbidly funny and I loved every second of it, warts and all.”
- “Attacks feel weighty, and most animations (except blood ripper and blood popper, they made me laugh every time I used them) look good, especially for the polearm-wielding rarities.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development is highlighted through impressive and unique character designs that contribute to an engaging team dynamic, sparking curiosity about each character's background and abilities. However, while the designs are celebrated, the depth of character exploration is noted to be somewhat limited, lacking the complexity typically found in RPGs. Overall, the characters are enjoyable but do not reach a profound level of development.
- “Character designs are great, and I love the rag-tag team of rarities you assemble.”
- “The character design is fun and honestly exciting; I constantly found myself wondering who would join the team and what they'd play like. There's enough writing here to get a strong sense of each host.”
- “The sound and character design are amazing, but the world lacks depth and the gameplay is not all that fun because the cognitive challenges are lacking and there's little meaning in what I can do.”
- “Also, had some surprising character designs you wouldn't usually see as selectable main characters.”
- “I actually love the character designs and details in the settings.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing stuttering and camera issues, particularly in the final third of gameplay. However, others found that adjusting settings significantly improved performance, leading to a more enjoyable experience. Overall, while there are notable optimization challenges, some players were able to achieve satisfactory performance.
- “It's pretty out there and it's a refreshing performance.”
- “Performance:”
- “Stuttering and camera issues; the last 30% of gameplay was rough.”
- “Stuttering Denuvo issues make this feel like a poorly optimized PS3 indie game with a stunning fifty (50) coin price tag.”
- “Performance is lacking and needs significant optimization.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game demonstrates excellent stability, with users reporting no frame drops, bugs, or crashes, and smooth performance across platforms, including Linux and Steam Deck. While one collectible's conditions may be unclear, it is not considered a significant issue.
- “The game runs great on Linux, for those who care.”
- “Plus, it runs great to boot.”
- “Amazing soundtrack and runs great on Deck!”
- “This game is an absolute gem, if you're looking for broad appeal and AAA open-world buggy-ness, look elsewhere.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Players find the game enjoyable and encourage replayability, particularly due to its engaging storytelling and visually appealing environments. The clever design choices, reminiscent of titles like Nier, enhance the experience and motivate players to revisit levels despite budget constraints.
- “The game is still fun to play, encourages replayability, and manages to create pretty sceneries (the nightclub looks pretty cool).”
- “They also worked around budget limitations in clever ways similar to games like Nier, in terms of level replayability.”
- “The storytelling is primarily done through text, which limits the replayability since most of the experience feels the same on subsequent playthroughs.”
- “While there are some clever design choices, the overall level replayability is hindered by a lack of significant changes in gameplay or story.”
- “The reliance on text for storytelling means that once you've experienced the narrative, there's little incentive to replay the game.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The game features a commendable monetization model with zero microtransactions or DLCs, allowing players to unlock all costumes and items solely through gameplay. This approach has been praised as conceptually awesome, contrasting with the misleading previews and advertisements.
- “+0 microtransactions and DLCs; all costumes and items can be unlocked through missions, and that's the only way to obtain them!”
- “The game offers a fair monetization model, allowing players to earn everything through gameplay without spending extra money.”
- “I appreciate that there are no paywalls; all content is accessible through in-game achievements.”
- “Zero (0) microtransactions and DLCs; all costumes and items can be unlocked through missions, and that's the only way to obtain them!”
- “The monetization model is refreshing, as it allows players to earn everything through gameplay without spending extra money.”
- “I appreciate that there are no paywalls or hidden costs, making the game accessible to everyone.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game, particularly related to deciphering dialogue, to be tedious, especially in the late-game. Despite this, many still consider the game a strong contender for Game of the Year, indicating that the overall experience outweighs the grinding frustrations.
- “Don't even get me started with the cipher dialogue. Credit to the person who managed to decipher it, but I believe it shouldn't be that tedious for a mid-story.”
- “I've heard late-game gets tedious, but I can't imagine this not being in my Game of the Year list, even if it's like, number 3 or whatever.”