Summary
Bokeh Game Studio’s premiere release,Slitterhead, is finally loose on the streets. After being originally announced back in 2021, fans can now jump into its unique blend of surreal body horror and third-person action.Slitterheadcomes from the mind of Keiichiro Toyama, the creator of the seminalSilent Hillseries. While it clearly takes inspiration fromSilent Hill’s unsettling atmosphere and psychological terror,Slitterheadalso iterates on some of Toyama’s other IPs likeGravity RushandSiren, particularly when it comes to its combat design and integration of fighting mechanics.
Slitterheadputs a lot of attention on its bizarre story, framed around the mystery behind the insidious creatures that are devouring humans and disguising themselves as them within the retro 90s-styled city of Kowlong. However, once players take on one of the various missions, the emphasis is firmly placed on hunting and eradicating the monstrosities.Slitterhead’s possession featureforms the backbone of its combat, allowing players to freely swap between controlling various human characters with a range of abilities to take down the slitterheads.
This system encourages and essentially requires constantly switching off between hosts to overwhelm and whittle down the enemies. Due to this, along with its other core fighting mechanics and presentation, combat encounters inSlitterheadmore often than not capture the spirit and style of martial arts and kung fu films, albeit with a distinct horror bent.
Martial arts flicks and videogames have long had a close connection, which is no surprise given how well they often translate. As seen inclassics likeDouble DragonandFinal Fightthrough modern titles likeSifu, the genre can lend itself to a satisfying game experience quite naturally. Brawling through the gritty streets of a crime-ridden city against waves of thugs and other baddies is a timeless setup and has been a popular framework in both mediums.
From the outset,Slitterhead’s world resembles one that might be seen in well-known kung fu and similar films. The fact thatSlitterhead’s Kowlongdraws from real-life locales like Hong Kong, where some of the most seminal martial action films originate, gives it an additional connection to the genre. Even parts ofSlitterhead’s marketing material could almost be mistaken for a film of this kind instead of a game. Bokeh’s artistic vision of Kowlong as a seedy 80s/90s city with a cyberpunk veneer further adds to its feel as a grindhouse kung fu work complete with brutal action, which is exactly what many of the fights inSlitterheadcan seem like.
Central to its fighting areSlitterhead’s Rarities. These are the main characters that players, as the bodiless Hyoki spirit, can inhabit as its hosts to slay the slitterheads. Many Rarities wield traditional martial arts weapons like a katana, claw blades, and a staff. However,Slitterhead’s non-Rarity NPCsare also integral to successfully navigating encounters. Thanks to the way the possession mechanic and combat design work in tandem, strategic use of both types is necessary to overcome challenges.
What stands out most is that, while in the thick of the action,hopping bodies inSlitterheadends up functioning like choreographed cinematic sequences that wouldn’t be out of place in a high-octane martial arts movie. Seamlessly switching between hosts to distract the slitterheads and gain temporary attack boosts, while maneuvering to continuously pummel them from all sides creates a flow that is as satisfying to play as it is to behold on-screen. One particular Rarity can summon even more humans into the fray and have them all gang up on a target at once, in a chaotic rush that brings to mind some of the more elaborate fight scenes in martial action films.
There are also perfect parry and slow-down time mechanics that produce more moments forSlitterhead’s combatto be visually appealing and rewarding to control in the vein of a great kung fu flick. What’s more, since most missions allow a choice of any two Rarities, and the overall structure requires playing levels multiple times, this can keep encounters fresh and exciting even when going through them a second or third time. With its unique combat design and sensibilities,Slitterheaddoes a great job of looking and playing like an intense and engaging martial arts film for many of its action sections.
