As a seasoned survivor of countless nights spent huddled behind walls in Resident Evil and Silent Hill, I must say that Hollowbody has managed to carve out its own corner in the survival horror genre with finesse. With its eerie atmosphere and fixed camera angles that took me back to my PlayStation 2 days, Hollowbody delivers a hauntingly familiar experience that’s as chilling as it is captivating.
In recent years, the visual style reminiscent of the PlayStation 2 (PS2) era has gained significant popularity, especially in the survival horror genre. Games such as Crow Country, Signalis, and Conscript have drawn inspiration from classic games like Silent Hill and Resident Evil, capturing a following among fans of the genre. This week, another game has entered the mix. A game that shares many characteristics with these survival horror classics, drawing connections not just through its artistic style, but also through its themes, its chilling, desolate, and enigmatic ambiance, and most notably, its fixed camera angles. The new game is called Hollowbody.
A trip through desolation
On Steam, Hollowbody is referred to as a “short story in tech-noir survival horror, set amidst the decay of an abandoned British metropolis.” The protagonist, Mica, is a smuggler on a quest to find her missing partner Sasha. This search takes her into a city that was sealed off and left to decay by the British government following a calamitous event many years ago. Consequently, the journey presents numerous unwelcoming ordeals.
It’s a fairly generic premise that works to tell a fine story, but honestly, I was far more interested in the game’s subplots and uncovering the mystery of just what had occurred to bring this city to such ruin. To paint a picture, you’re walking through a city covered in black, fleshy mass, crawling with necromorph-like creatures, and littered with bodies on every corner. It’s a city that was forsaken by a disastrous something, and learning what exactly that something is, and how it got there, is what kept me engaged the most during my roughly 4-hour playthrough.
In addition to the usual notes and records you’d find in a survival horror game, Hollowbody introduces an engaging feature: Mica can tune into radio signals to hear past events that took place at the location she’s currently in. I found it intriguing to discover these broadcasts, as they added depth to her surroundings in the present and offered a glimpse into life just before the disaster struck.
Survival Horror gameplay returns
Players who have experienced survival horror games will find themselves at home with Hollowbody’s gameplay style. You’ll traverse eerie, dimly lit passageways, collect and scrutinize old papers, and conserve ammunition as you maneuver past a variety of adversaries. What sets it apart is the combination of both stationary and adjustable camera angles. I appreciated this change for the most part, but there were moments when crucial items were positioned in areas obscured by the camera or simply camouflaged within the environment, making them difficult to spot.
Combat felt right in line with what I expect from this genre You have a variety of options for melee fighting, along with, of course, your trusty pistol. It’s a pretty simple combat system with an instant lock-on similar to Signalis; the challenge comes when fighting multiple enemies at once, or trying to figure out how to get past an enemy without getting hurt or wasting your precious ammo.
In the spirit of traditional survival horrors, Hollowbody offers a selection of shrewd puzzles to solve. I must admit that as I progressed through the game, they seemed to grow less complex, but the moment of realization when I figured out the solution was always satisfying. Unlike many survival horror games, Hollowbody streamlines certain aspects, such as inventory management and excessive backtracking, to deliver a more concise and focused gaming experience.
A competent Silent Hill-like
At first look, it’s evident that Hollowbody was significantly impacted by Silent Hill and Resident Evil in the indie horror genre. The nostalgic PS2-inspired graphics initially piqued my interest, but once I delved deeper, I found a well-crafted survival horror game. Although it doesn’t break new ground with its concept, it offers an immersive world and setting that is captivating to explore. If you’re searching for a game that replicates the thrill of classic survival horror games, Hollowbody should definitely be on your playlist.
This assessment stems from the Steam-bought edition of Hollowbody that I own. At the moment, you can get Hollowbody for PC.
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2024-09-28 19:27