Slitterhead: Unpolished Gem with Innovative Flair

Keiichiro Toyama, the creator of Silent Hill, is crafting a unique horror-action experience with his new game, Slitterhead. While acknowledging it might be "rough around the edges," Toyama emphasizes its fresh and original approach.

A Fresh Take on Horror, Despite Imperfections

Slitterhead, launching November 8th, blends action and horror in a strikingly experimental style. Toyama, in a GameRant interview, stated, "From the very first ‘Silent Hill,’ we’ve prioritized freshness and originality, even if it means some imperfections." This philosophy, he asserts, continues in Slitterhead.

This marks Toyama's return to horror since 2008's Siren, following his work on the Gravity Rush series. The anticipation is high, given Silent Hill's legacy in shaping psychological horror.

The "rough edges" mentioned by Toyama might stem from the relatively small size of Bokeh Game Studio (11-50 employees) compared to larger AAA developers. However, the team boasts industry veterans like Sonic producer Mika Takahashi, Mega Man and Breath of Fire designer Tatsuya Yoshikawa, and Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka. This, coupled with the promising gameplay mechanics drawing inspiration from Gravity Rush and Siren, suggests Slitterhead will deliver on its promise of originality. Whether the "rough edges" are a stylistic choice or a genuine concern remains to be seen.

Kowlong: A Retro-Futuristic Horror Setting

Slitterhead unfolds in the fictional city of Kowlong (a blend of Kowloon and Hong Kong), a 1990s-inspired Asian metropolis infused with supernatural elements reminiscent of seinen manga like Gantz and Parasyte. Players embody a "Hyoki," a spirit-like being capable of body-snatching to combat grotesque and unpredictable "Slitterhead" enemies—creatures that shift between human and nightmarish forms.

For a deeper dive into Slitterhead's gameplay and narrative, explore our related article.