Horror game Slitterhead to span “multiple genres,” says creator

Sacha Loric - 28-Feb-2022, 2:50 pm

We’ve previously shared some news about an upcoming horror game Slitterhead by Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama and his new game studio, Bokeh. Now we have an in-depth look at the game from the heads of Bokeh, CEO Toyama, game director and CTO Junya Okura, and COO and producer Kazunobu Sato. Take a look here (English, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese subtitles are available):

Defying Genres

Game developers drew inspiration primarily from the vibe they got from the city of Hong Kong. This definitely comes out in the game trailer, which takes place in the claustrophobic alleys and tenements of a sprawling urban center greatly resembling Hong Kong.

The other source of inspiration is the game, Forbidden Siren, which allowed the player to control different characters, giving them multiple points of view. It’s not clear if Slitterhead will take the same route, but it seems Bokeh is leaning in that direction.

Toyama states:

"The game doesn't fully enter the horror genre. It spans over multiple genres where horror is expressed. From there, I wanted to widen the player base who could access the game, including players who don't usually play horror games."

“I wanted a game that could be enjoyed for its action, yet whose concept doesn't solely revolve around killing enemies. It conflicts the mind, making the players reluctant to enter certain fights. I want to achieve both action and drama with this game."

This is interesting, considering that the trailer thus far has promised copious amounts of disturbing body horror. Combat mechanics that can balance out this gut-wrenching experience must be on point indeed. Given that you can avoid fights, it will likely involve stealth, like with Forbidden Siren and Amnesia: the Dark Descent. However, unlike Amnesia, Toyama stated that Slitterhead isn’t psychological horror:

"I want someday to do something with some classic psychological horror themes like I did with Silent Hill. However, I'd rather do that when working with really limited resources, such as budget or having to focus on one individual. Right now, we have staff with the ability to work on action. I want to leverage their skills to go in another direction. Still, I also want to make something more personal someday."

Coming soon

Slitterhead is still under development, so there’s no release window yet. Studio Bokeh noted that they’re a bit low on manpower, so it’s likely that updates will come slow. However, we’re eagerly awaiting more news of what the gameplay will be like. While we wait, do check every now and then for Slitterhead codes from our comparator.