Summary
Upcoming horror gameSlitterheadwill debut its world gameplay premiere during Summer Game Fest on Friday, June 7. Created bySilent Hillcreator Keiichiro Toyama and Japanese developer Bokeh Game Studio,Slitterheadwas revealed in a cinematic trailer during The Game Awards 2021, but fans have yet to get an in-depth look at its gameplay.
Toyama is certainly no stranger to the horror genre. Serving as director, writer, and background designer for the originalSilent Hillin 1999, he also directed and performed various other roles for the development of the threeSirengames released on PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 between 2003 and 2008. Since that time, he had shifted gears towards the action-adventure genre for Sony’s physics-defyingGravity Rushseries, but he struck out on his own in 2020,founding Bokeh Game Studioand beginning development of his latest horror game.
Slitterheadwill be that studio’s first game, and as revealed by Summer Game Fest host Geoff Keighley on Twitter, the first look at the gameplay will be available during that showcase. The livestream for Summer Game Fest will take place on June 7 at 5 p.m. EST, 2 p.m. PST.. Toyama and his team have been open about the game’s development since its reveal, hosting video Q-and-A sessions online and sharing details on theJapanese urban legends that inspired Slitterhead, such as the slit-mouthed woman who approaches a man in the debut trailer. That character appears to be a normal human at first before her face slits open and her silhouette is revealed as a bony, shambling monstrosity who attacks the man, and she’s based on stories that date back as far as the 19th century.
One of the more interesting apsects of the horror game revealed so far is that Toyama istargetingSlitterheadat players who don’t usually play horror games. While the creepy visuals revealed about the game so far seem to fit right into the horror genre, the creator has stated that he is incorporating multiple different genres into the game. He hasn’t been overly specific about what other genres the game may fall into, but previous trailers have hinted at action sequences, and the game’s reliance on urban legends suggests there may be more peaceful moments to contrast with the parts of the game filled with nightmarish creatures.
Summer Game Fest will be the start of amassive weekend for the games industry, with the Xbox Games Showcase and PC Gaming Show on June 9, Ubisoft Forward on June 10, and a half-dozen other showcases set throughout the weekend, including Devolver Direct starting three hours after Summer Game Fest. As for the Geoff Keighley-led show, at least 55 companies are scheduled to show off their latest projects, including Blumhouse, Capcom, EA, HoYoverse, Niantic, and Sega.
Slitterhead
WHERE TO PLAY
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 humans known as “Rarities,” infiltrate and track dangerous organizations, and engage in battles harnessing the power of blood. As the suspenseful drama unfolds, delve into the mystery behind Hyoki’s existence and the appearance of the Slitterheads.
