Slitterhead – directed by Japan Studio veteran Keiichiro Toyama – feels like a spiritual successor to Siren, Gravity Rush, and Soul Sacrifice all at the same time. This inventive, unusual survival horror is far from perfect, with inconsistent visuals, repetition, and some unrefined gameplay systems. But if you’ve been lamenting the loss of PlayStation’s oddball first-party output, this is the closest you’re going to get to it.
You play as an ambiguous, omnipotent spirit named Hyoki, capable of possessing humans and commandeering their bodies. A disease is ravaging a fictional reimagining of 1980s Hong Kong, transforming the public into the eponymous Slitterheads. All you really know is that you want to wipe these monstrosities out, and so you begin body-hopping through the community to learn more about the threat – and bring it down.
The story unfolds over a sequence of days in a handful of small, sandbox-style environments. As you progress, you’ll revisit these levels repeatedly at various different times. You can freely possess most of the people you encounter, and this plays into the game’s traversal; if you need to reach a rooftop, for example, you may do so by inhabiting someone standing out on their balcony and then working your way up.
While it’s not identical, this system will remind you of Gravity Rush. You can leap off buildings and then dispossess your current host just before they hit the ground, switching to another unsuspecting person to move forward unscathed. Some chase sequences, which are clumsily executed but cool in concept, see you quickly switching between a string of humans to keep up pace with your target. There’s even an obligatory stealth system, where you body hop to avoid detection.
But there are contrivances to ensure the mechanic works. Hyoki’s movement is limited, for example, so you can’t float off forever looking for new hosts. Similarly, the spirit often finds himself blocked by man-made constructions, like doors. In some missions, you’ll find yourself searching for open windows in order to progress. While we understand there had to be limitations in order to create some degree of difficulty, it feels a little bit like the rules are always bending to meet the requirements of the game.
This is equally true when you try to possess a certain person who would easily get you to where you need to be, but they’re inexplicably unavailable. The game wants you to play it exactly as it’s been designed a lot of the time, and that often leaves little room for experimentation or problem solving.
It’s a shame because, in combat, the game’s actually empowers you to explore your own strategies. Throughout the story you’ll encounter Rarities, humans you possess who resonate particularly strongly with Hyoki. Unlike the other people you inhabit, these come with unique skills and weapons, and can be permanently added to your roster. Tri, a housekeeper, has a pair of bladed oven gloves, for example – while Alex, a doctor, is armed with a giant syringe.
You can usually take two Rarities into a mission with you, and while some do require you to select a specific personality for plot reasons, usually you’ll be free to mix and match. This provides plenty of room for experimentation, because glass cannons like the homeless alcoholic Edo can be paired with healers such as the convenience store worker Julee. Each character can be upgraded individually, and comes with unique talents to support you in battle.
The combat is very janky, but it uses the possession mechanic smartly. You’ll often find the environment populated with human fodder, and you can possess these people to draw attention away from your Rarities, then switch back to take out your targets. You’ll get a small offensive boost each time you hop bodies, and of course it gives you the ability to move to more advantageous positions. Blood can be sopped up from the ground to recover health.
There’s quite a lot going on here, and sometimes the information is buried in tutorial menus. But it makes for a unique combat system unlike anything else you’ve ever played. One character can drop a blood vortex onto the stage, for example, sucking foes in; you can then switch to an unimportant human, prime them for detonation, run into the middle of aforementioned maelstrom, and possess a different body before they explode.
There’s a counter system which sees you using the right analogue stick to time parries, which adds a little more depth to the one-on-one combat. While the animations and contacts never quite feel robust enough to make this a great action game, the team-building systems and body hopping mechanics make it inventive and unique. It’s quite a difficult experience on the standard difficulty, so you’ll need to take advantage of all the tools available to you to progress.
Our biggest criticism really is that it all becomes a bit repetitive at times. You’ll need to replay certain levels to discover Rarities required to progress the plot, and these stages can be padded with overly long chase sequences, which do wear out their welcome fast.
Similarly, it’s quite a low-budget experience, with visual novel elements used to further the story and some pretty bad human models. The overall art direction is exceptional, leaning into real-life locations like Hong Kong’s infamous Monster Building and making them the star of the haunting architectural art – but it’s a game that has better environments than character designs. The soundtrack, meanwhile, composed by the timeless Akira Yamaoka, is a masterpiece throughout.
Conclusion
Frustrating at times but fearlessly inventive, Slitterhead is an absolute must-play if you’re looking for an original take on the survival horror genre. Serving as a spiritual successor to fan favourites like Siren, Gravity Rush, and Soul Sacrifice, this haunting tale about a body-hopping spirit – who uses humans as fodder to put a stop to the eponymous enemy – is a scintillating albeit occasionally undercooked debut from Bokeh Game Studios. Repetition and an overall lack of refinement do bring it down, but you’ll be hard-pushed to find a more imaginative experience this year.
Comments 53
I love Toyama so much but reading some other reviews and seeing gameplay it really seems like this is a deep sale kinda game.
The pros listed here aren’t sounding like a 7/10 game, especially not at full price, I’ll definitely play this on the Pro in late 2025 when it’s in deep discount!
Wowzers! A real life 7 outta 10 game! I think I'll play this game as soon as possible!
Not a priority to play this game, but defo gonna pick it up at some stage
Sammy, thanks for the review.
Could you advise if this is a game with repeated 'jump scares' please? I'd like to play this, but I suffer from PTSD and need to avoid things with too many jump scares as my body cannot control the resulting adrenaline rush and Once triggered I can be ill for hours... its a real shame as I've always enjoyed a lot of genres which use jump scares!
I'd definitely put some games on hold if this was $50 or so. The game's name tastes bad though. Like a slur, lol.
I predicted PS will give 7/10 before click the review and i'm correct lol.
From what I saw, this seems to be a fair review.
@PuppetMaster yup. It's a safe bet most of the time.
@Titntin It’s not massive on jump scares but there are a few, yes. Generally it’s more just tense but they do hit you with a couple of jump moments.
@DonJorginho I fully expected the mixed reviews. It’s a janky game, but I liked it a lot overall. It’s weird and memorable in a way few games are.
@get2sammyb Thanks Sammy!
This usually wouldn't be my type of game but because of who's behind it I'm definitely willing to give it a go once it goes on sale.
Is this game 60fps ?
The whole premise of this game feels like a sidequest/activity/dream sequence of a more realised game. But at the right price point I might give it a whirl down the road. Thanks for the review.
Why is the physical day one edition ,not available in the uk ?
This didn’t read like it was going to get a 7 and it’s already at 60 on metacritic so I’ll wait for a steep discount before trying it especially since I’m knee deep in DA Veilguard
@Rich33 Yes. It's a nice smooth 60fps on standard PS5.
@lazarus11 Yeah it's disappointing they're not releasing that nice physical version in Europe.
Sacred Slits rejoice, it actually turned out OK!
@get2sammyb
Thank you.
I will add to my list (which fortunately / unfortunately is beginning to get quite big recently!) - the janky combat i saw on a video, and referenced in your review did not put me off, and this just looked like a very interesting game.
Still interested but this has always been a game for a deep sale
I’ll pick this up at some point when it goes on sale, or if I’m completely bored with the games I do have in my backlog. It definitely seems unique, to say the least. GamesRadar also had an excellent review that touched on a lot of good points.
Yeah seems fair. This is honestly on the high end of what I was expecting, this could have easily been a 4/10 experience based on the gameplay I've seen.
The pedigree here is amazing but man, the footage they've put out of this...it honestly looks awful. Clunky movement, dodgy jarring unfun looking combat.
I love Deadly Premonition but the gameplay makes the game a real slog.
I just watched a review and I'm a hard pass after seeing the combat. Woof.
@get2sammyb just wanted to thank you for taking the time to answer questions and actually engage w people here. There aren't many sites left where a writer will do that. So thanks!
@LikelySatan Oh, thank you! You're very welcome! It's always been our mantra here on Push Square to do that, and we'll continue to do so as much as we possibly can!
IGN gave it 5/10 so I'll probably love it!
So it’s watchdogs 2 meets resident evil in a Ghostwire Tokyo mashup.
I'll definitely get it in the future on a sale. A little jank never hurt anyone.
This sounds perfect for me. It's a shame that everyone will cry "deep sale" or at a discount, and then lament when they get the same AAA garbage fed to them that everyone buys on Day 1. And that is their choice, but I prefer to vote with my wallet and buy the goofy stuff Day 1 and let the other stuff sit if I know that company will be just fine without me.
@ErrantRob "It's a shame that everyone will cry "deep sale" or at a discount, and then lament when they get the same AAA garbage fed to them that everyone buys on Day 1"
True. Many people only talk the talk but they never walk the walk.
Excellent Review. Looks like another Cult Classic like his Forbidden Siren games on the Ps2. I pre ordered the physical from playasia
@LikelySatan Everyone would have done that with Forbidden Siren aswell. His games are about Story and a tense atmosphere
I'm glad its not getting dogpiled. The reviews seem pretty fair and understandable.
@Tsushima Yeah, I get that. This game is very combat heavy, and it looks like some Blue Stinger shiz, lol. Might feel better to play then to watch though. Siren is not combat focused.
I do wonder at what point the jank of certain creators becomes "charm" ie Bethesda RPGs. Swery and Suda 51 have been there for a while now. Maybe we have a new initiate.
I’ll probably support this because I respect the creator so much.
When I’ll actually play it though is another story with how busy this period has been.
Yeah I'm gonna have to wait on this one. I want to buy it because it looks cool but the gameplay being super clunky is just pushing me away from it. Really hope they prioritize smoothing out the gameplay and improving sone of its animations.
@lazarus11 Only available on playasia
Jank gameplay but interesting ideas sounds typical of Toyama. I'm convinced.
Had this pre-ordered, and so glad to hear that it is solid. Weird, inventive horror is what I was hoping for, and it sounds like that’s what we got!
Lol well this site can never be accused of following the crowd that's for sure iv just read a 4/10 and a 5/10 with both pretty much saying its a piece of crap in so many words. Last two games iv been interested in have been the other way round with elsewhere praising. And again I'm at a loss about who to believe!maybe I put too much importance on reviews I dunno.
@ErrantRob yep this is type of game to purchase and support if you are here for unique experiences in video games. Not the same old same old gameplay even from the "best/highest rated" games.
It's still day 1 for me physical edition.
@kuu_nousee You said it! We’ve got to vote with our wallets!
Does the body hop mechanic works like the one in The 3rd Birthday or it's more of it's own thing ?
@3VET Honestly, it's been years and years since I played The 3rd Birthday so I couldn't really comment on how that system worked.
Here you just press L1 to assume your "spirit" form, and then you can float a certain distance and target someone else within range to assume control of them.
@Gravytrain It's all opinion at the end of the day. Read the reviews and see if things liked/criticised align with your own taste in games.
This dials up the crazy I ll invest in some point.
Like the review. Glad I got it through Playasia for $35. It just looks like a $40 game.
Fair review.
If you listen to Sacred Symbols you'd be interested in how this game is doing, but it seems the old GOAT SH2 is the better horror choice.
Ordered a copy from Gamestop, hopefully it'll arrive by the 8th or 9th just in time for my week off of work.
The combat from the trailer i saw looked terrible for this. You'll must be feeling generous today.
Here's hoping the game actually releases over here in Sweden on the 15th.
I would hate to have to import the game, it would cost more than I'd be comfortable with.
Also, looks like Sweden might not get an Xbox version at all which would suck even more. 😕
After spending 16 hours on the game, I am pleasenty surprised with the game. I'm having a fun time experimenting with each character and trying to find the secrets to each level.
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