Slitterhead

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 112 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Slitterhead Game Cover
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Set in the densely cluttered streets of Kowlong, filled with obscurity and chaos, this battle action-adventure game casts players as the Hyoki, an entity devoid of memory and physical form. His only motive is to eradicate the monstrous beings known as Slitterheads crawling around the city, disguising themselves as humans. Roaming the vibrant neon-lit cityscape, players must seek out allies among h…

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 112 reviews
story15 positive mentions
optimization3 negative mentions
  • Slitterhead offers a unique and innovative gameplay experience with its body-swapping mechanic and engaging combat system, reminiscent of classic titles from the PS2 era.
  • The game features a captivating atmosphere and art direction, with detailed environments and a strong soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka that enhances the overall experience.
  • Despite its flaws, the game is filled with passion and creativity from the developers, making it a refreshing alternative to mainstream titles and appealing to fans of body horror and action games.
  • The combat system can feel clunky and repetitive, with limited enemy variety and frustrating mechanics that may detract from the overall enjoyment.
  • Graphics and animations are often criticized for being outdated and lacking polish, which can impact immersion and player experience.
  • The game suffers from pacing issues, with some players finding the story stretched thin and the need to replay missions tedious, leading to a sense of monotony.
  • story49 mentions

    The game's story is described as intriguing and unique, drawing inspiration from various sources, including Asian horror films and anime, which creates a captivating atmosphere. However, some players find the narrative execution flawed, with repetitive dialogue and mission structures that detract from the overall experience. Despite its rough edges, many appreciate the compelling world and character designs, suggesting that the story has the potential to be a standout feature if refined.

    • “The story is brought to life with a super immersive environment built with great detail and filled with a vibe that you can find in those Asian horror movies.”
    • “Fantastic atmosphere, unique gameplay, music that nails the tone, and an interesting story.”
    • “Along with the story being compelling and interesting, trying to figure out what's happening and what is going on in the city, I can definitely see this game becoming an underrated, yet rough, gem.”
    • “The story is stretched out via dialogue that is boring to read.”
    • “I will finish the game but it's really annoying that such a great concept gets muddied by poor story and forced character-building dialogue.”
    • “The story was heavily disappointing for me, for multiple reasons that go into spoiler territory.”
  • gameplay41 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of unique mechanics, such as a body-swapping feature and a time-slowing "blood time" mechanic, which some players find enjoyable despite its clunky execution. While the combat can be fun and challenging, many reviews note issues with repetitiveness, finicky mechanics, and dated visuals, leading to a range of ratings from 4/10 to 8/10. Overall, the game offers a distinct experience that blends action and horror elements, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its quirks and inconsistencies.

    • “Incredibly fun game with a complex and fulfilling story and very enjoyable and unique combat and gameplay.”
    • “Over-the-top action, amusing and stylish gameplay, and full of heart from the developers.”
    • “The gameplay mixes exciting combat with spooky exploration.”
    • “There's this strange severing mechanic, where attacks can sometimes remove the limbs of whoever you're possessing; however, it seems to be completely random RNG, as the same attack that hit you and knocked you over or staggered you one time will just completely chop off your arm in another instance.”
    • “Way too expensive for the quality of gameplay.”
    • “My biggest complaint is that I feel like the parry/deflect mechanic is too finicky.”
  • graphics34 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the art direction and stylistic choices can be appealing, the overall visual quality often feels dated and reminiscent of older console graphics. Some appreciate the unique aesthetic and atmospheric elements, while others criticize the lack of detailed graphics settings and technical limitations. Overall, the visuals are described as decent but not groundbreaking, with a blend of charm and roughness that may not satisfy all players.

    • “Visuals are amazing, can't help but stop and adore the neon-lit streets of fictional Kowloon.”
    • “This is such a freshly bizarre and unique experience oozing with style and artistic visuals.”
    • “The graphics team did a good job making the most out of every hardware.”
    • “I'm not a stickler for graphics; I prefer things to be stylized and pretty over hyper-realism and the like, but I can't stress enough there's a difference between stylized appeal and just being plain old ugly.”
    • “Like, Xbox 360 marketplace tier graphics, and even that feels a bit too generous at times.”
    • “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.”
  • music29 mentions

    The music in the game, composed by the renowned Akira Yamaoka, receives widespread acclaim for its unique and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as both bizarre and captivating, with a blend of creepiness and originality that complements the game's themes. Despite some criticisms regarding graphics and gameplay mechanics, the music is consistently praised as a major strength, contributing significantly to the game's immersive vibe.

    • “The soundtrack is amazing too and I'm loving the story so far.”
    • “Akira Yamaoka absolutely nailed this soundtrack as well, but he always does.”
    • “Fantastic atmosphere, unique gameplay, music that nails the tone and interesting story.”
    • “The music, the menus, the sound effects, the vibes, the gameplay... it's like a lost Dreamcast/PS2 era game got a remaster.”
    • “Replay various missions over and over until you can finally progress, bombastic OST by Akira himself, almost little to no enemy variety, janky gameplay, visually amazing body horror, and a mechanic where you see things from the enemy's POV called sight jacking.”
    • “What is also interesting is that it doesn't sound much like previous soundtracks composed by Yamaoka.”
  • atmosphere11 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its uniqueness and depth, with many reviewers highlighting the effective combination of art design, soundtracks, and eerie environments that create an immersive experience. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and visuals, the overall mood and thematic elements, including body horror and Lovecraftian influences, contribute to a memorable and haunting atmosphere that stands out in comparison to modern titles.

    • “We need more games like this; the atmosphere and story are great, and it's truly unique.”
    • “Meanwhile, all the innovations and the game’s incredibly powerful atmosphere are completely ignored—an atmosphere that modern games with 'high-quality' NPC models can’t even come close to.”
    • “The city oozes atmosphere, and while this game won't win any awards for fidelity, the actual art design here is stellar.”
    • “With an eerie atmosphere, creepy creature designs, and a city that feels alive, it’s unforgettable.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is praised for its engaging designs and intriguing details, sparking curiosity about team dynamics and weapon choices. While the writing provides a solid understanding of each character, it lacks the depth typically found in RPGs.

    • “I actually love the character designs and details in the settings.”
    • “The character design is fun and honestly exciting. I constantly found myself wondering who would join the team and what they'd play like. What about their character informs their weapon choice? There's enough writing here to get a strong sense of each host, but it isn't RPG levels of deep or anything like that.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    Users report that while initial stuttering may occur, adjusting the settings can significantly improve performance, leading to a smoother gaming experience.

    • “I adjusted the settings after some stuttering and now it's great.”
    • “Performance issues persist even after tweaking the optimization settings.”
    • “The game runs poorly on my system despite meeting the recommended requirements.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Players find the game enjoyable and engaging enough to encourage multiple playthroughs, with appealing visuals, such as the well-designed nightclub, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “The game is still fun to play, encourages replayability, and manages to create pretty sceneries (the nightclub looks pretty cool).”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game is praised for its excellent soundtrack and demonstrates strong stability, running smoothly on the Steam Deck.

    • “Amazing soundtrack and runs great on deck!”
    • “The game performs flawlessly, with no crashes or bugs.”
    • “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    Reviewers feel that the game's monetization strategy is not well-represented in previews and ads, suggesting that the actual experience may exceed initial expectations.

  • grinding1 mentions

    Players acknowledge that while grinding in the late game can become tedious, it doesn't significantly detract from their overall enjoyment, with many still considering the game a strong contender for Game of the Year.

    • “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.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Reviewers note that the humor in the game is effectively tied to the story, with repetition serving as a clever comedic device that enhances the overall experience.

    • “The humor in this game is brilliantly woven into the storyline, making every joke feel relevant.”
    • “I love how the game uses clever wordplay and puns that keep me laughing throughout.”
    • “The characters have such quirky personalities that their interactions are always hilarious.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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