Out of all the games that were announced at The Game Awards 2021,Slitterheadmay be one of the most remarkable. As a new horror game from the mind of Keiichiro Toyama, creator of franchises likeSirenandSilent Hill,it has a ton of potential. The reveal trailer didn’t show off any gameplay, nor has Toyama’s newly founded Bokeh Game Studio released anything since, but interviews with Toyama and other Bokeh developers have shed some light on the game. Bokeh clearly intends forSlitterheadto be a highly creative foray into the horror genre.
Toyama mentioned in one recent interview thatSlitterheadwon’t be entirely horror-driven; instead it will blend various different genres to appeal to a variety of players. That isn’t entirely surprising. Toyama has indicatedSlitterheadwill be high on action, which is something of a departure from most of his horror fare. Still, it’s surprising to hear thatSlitterheaddoesn’t intend to “fully enter the horror genre” considering the terrifying creatures the reveal trailer showed off. Ultimately, that departure may be a smart move on Bokeh’s part, since it could helpSlitterheaddraw in more fans than a pure horror game might manage.
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WhenSlitterheadwas first revealed, fans had good reason to believe it would be intensely focused on horror. The monsters at the heart of the game, which can seemingly disguise themselves as humans, seem like prime fear material. Toyama’s involvement also implies a horrific game considering his storied career in the genre. He may not have been involved in everySilent Hillgame, but there’s little doubt thatSilent Hillhas been successfulthanks in-part to the core concepts Toyama put in place.
In the long term, downplaying horror could makeSlitterheadmore successful. Not everyone is interested in a traditional horror experience, but ifSlitterheadhas action elements that draw in fans ofaction-heavy games with darker themes likeDevil May CryandDark Souls,the game’s potential audience is much broader. That’s a good decision becauseSlitterheadis a new IP from a new studio. The success of this first game is crucial for Bokeh Game Studio’s future, so there’s a lot of value in enticing as many people as possible.
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Bokeh’s Unique Project
It’s clear thatSlitterheadwill still be a horror game to some extent; there really isn’t any other way to interpret the body horror involved with each of the game’s monsters. Still, it’ll be interesting to see just how scary Bokeh ends up making the game. After all, these terrifying creatures won’t be nearly as frightening if they prove easy to kill, or if fans always know when they’re coming. Bokeh Game Studio will have to balance classic horror game tools like the player’s sense of helplessness and dread withSlitterhead’s proclivity for action, which won’t be an easy task.
IfSlitterheadmanages to thread that needle, it could be well on its way to becoming a highly successful franchise. A blend of explosive supernatural action, horrific monsters, and a dense urban setting couldmakeSlitterheadstand out from the crowd, which could consequently attract more players than a traditional horror game might. Until Bokeh reveals more footage, there’s no telling how these elements and other unforeseen components ofSlitterheadwill balance one another. However, they definitely seem to be the recipe for something unique.
