Hollowbody PC Review
The nights are getting darker, the temperature colder, and the spooky season is in full swing. It must mean it is October, and with October comes Halloween, the time of year when horror fans everywhere seek out games that can deliver scares, chills and terrifying thrills. There’s no better way to embrace the Halloween spirit than by diving into a horror game to match the seasonal mood. Hollowbody, the latest indie horror title from Headware Games, a UK-based solo developer, has arrived. Drawing clear inspiration from the iconic horror titles of the PlayStation 2 era, particularly Silent Hill 2, Hollowbody is hoping to make your Halloween an unsettling time with its nostalgic survival horror gameplay.
Hollowbody sets up the player with a quick introduction that begins with a brief exposition detailing a catastrophic event that transpired along the western coast of the British Isles in the mid-21st century. This incident, characterized as a bioterrorist attack, instigated widespread panic and led to the construction of fortified walls around Western Cities, effectively isolating them from the remainder of society. In a drastic measure to contain the outbreak, orbital strikes were employed to obliterate any signs of contagion within the designated quarantine zone. It has now been 60 years since this happened. At this point the game puts players in the shoes of Mica, an unlicensed black-market shipper on a desperate quest to locate her missing partner, Sasha, who becomes ensnared in the quarantine area in the game’s beginning. It has been 12 days since the incident and Mica is worried about her buddy, so decides to go into the dangerous exclusion zone and recover Sasha. On her way, Mica ends up crash landing in the middle of the desolate city and must make her way on foot against the infestation to get to her friend.
What I find intriguing about Hollowbody is its narrative structure, which begins in a futuristic environment featuring flying cars, a scenario that Mica encounters when she crashes on route to an abandoned city. However, this futuristic backdrop quickly vanishes as the story changes to the enclosed city that has been deserted for sixty years, effectively shifting the setting to a more current era that evokes memories of Silent Hill 2, albeit situated in a British town. It is somewhat disappointing that the cyberpunk setting was not used, as I would have found that an incredibly cool backdrop. I can only hope that the developers will consider revisiting this theme in future. Throughout Hollowbody, the storyline remains relatively subdued, punctuated by a few dialogue exchanges during the game’s three-and-a-half-hour journey, which includes interactions with NPCs that add mystery. Nevertheless, the revelation at the conclusion of the game leaves players pondering the circumstances surrounding the town’s long-standing biomass. When a game gets people thinking about its ending, I always find that a worthwhile reason to finish a game.
As soon as I was in the city and playing Mica the vibes of Silent Hill 2 were in full force. Mica’s movement is characterized by an awkward and rigid running animation (sound familiar?), as she navigates the darkness with a torch affixed to her chest. The only element absent from this eerie scene is the pervasive fog that was right in your face in Silent Hill but lingers in the distance in Hollowbody’s night setting. The city itself is a desolate and sober place, accentuated by the typical British weather, where rain gently taps against the ground, creating a misleading soothing yet moody ambience. The game’s visuals, inspired by the PlayStation 2 era, possess a unique charm, appearing significantly sharper and more refined than a game from that time. This game could easily be processed through emulation filters to give it that PS2 look, allowing it to serve as a compelling tribute to the nostalgia of the PlayStation 2 era.
Hollowbody predominantly unfolds within the city, exploring various locales such as apartments, a graveyard, sewers, a train station, and a brief underground segment, all integrated into the overarching town location. Everything within this setting feels appropriately placed, with the sole exception being the terrifying entities that inhabit these isolated places.
Getting around town is straightforward as the controls are modern – tank controls are available in the menu for people wanting an even more traditional horror experience. I found it hard to get lost in this game as there are only so many directions to go and its design is not laced with areas filled with many optional doors or pathways as most places will be locked. There are very few instances of backtracking but being that the game is only 3 and a half hours long, it is probably for the best. The only time you backtrack is finding a key for a blocked gate in the park and a couple of rooms in an apartment block. There is one element in the sewers that the game tries to play tricks on the player, making it seem like there is some weird extended loop or corridor, but if the player does not try to be smart and lets the game take them through the mystery of the sewers then it plays out just fine.
In the menu, players can find a map that offers a digital overview of the area, serving as one of the rare elements, alongside the communication device, that maintains the game’s connection to its cyberpunk theme. However, this futuristic vibe quickly fades as players uncover letters and documents detailing the lives of individuals and events from six decades ago. This juxtaposition makes sense, given that the town is trapped in a time warp due to its tragic history. Yet, I can’t help but feel a lingering desire for the game to delve deeper into its futuristic aspects and fully embrace the potential of its cyberpunk roots.
The brief nature of the game means there aren’t a ton of puzzles to tackle. Most of your time will be spent wandering around, navigating through various threats, or hunting for items that help you move ahead. The few puzzles that do exist involve cracking a safe code or lighting candles in a specific order based on certain clues. Hollowbody feels crafted in a way that it caters to players who prefer a unbroken experience without the interruptions of complex puzzles or mechanics that can drag out gameplay. It’s a straightforward horror experience, which might appeal to some, while others could find themselves wishing for a bit more suspense. The game kicks off by immersing the player in the unsettling atmosphere of the town before the monsters start to appear, leading us to the final aspect of Hollowbody: its enemies and the combat system.
This also brings me to how absorbing inspiration for a close copy can be a double-edged sword. This is particularly relevant when considering the legacy of a highly regarded horror game, especially one that is enjoying a well-received remake. Hollowbody has a lot to live up to. That is quite the task for a one-man development team. A critical question arises: does this new game measure up to what inspired it? The answer is no, but this is not a reflection of Hollowbody‘s quality; rather, it highlights the unparalleled excellence of Silent Hill 2, which remains a landmark in horror gaming. While Konami’s game mechanics are not immune to analysis and enhancements, Hollowbody may be hampered by its excessive reliance on being inspired by PS2 horror games.
The combat mechanics in Silent Hill 2 were designed with a particular focus, and while the melee system was never particularly strong, Hollowbody takes this a step further by presenting an even less refined melee experience. The enemy designs in Hollowbody tend to be quite basic, as the game features a very limited array of enemy types. Although there is a lock-on feature that helps gunplay, making the use of firearms like pistols and shotguns relatively straightforward, melee combat remains the most challenging aspect, even though it is the most used element of defence as ammo is limited in supply. Mica must be in very close proximity to their foes for their attacks to connect, leading to frequent misses if the distance is misjudged. By the end of the game, I had access to three different melee weapons, yet they felt largely indistinguishable from one another, with similar swinging animations and the same requirement for close engagement. This can lead to moments of frustration, as players may find themselves taking damage due to the difficulty in accurately gauging the distance to effectively hit monsters.
Hollowbody effectively embodies the classic survival horror aesthetic through its visual style and calculated use of fixed camera angles, which provide a nostalgic feel reminiscent of older games in the genre. Rather than focusing on cutting-edge graphics, the game prioritizes creating an immersive atmosphere that captures the unsettling essence of its environment. Instead of relying on jump scares, Hollowbody nurtures a tense and eerie atmosphere that gradually draws players in, enhancing the overall experience with its thoughtful sound design and throwback visuals. This approach allows fans of old-school horror games to become engaged in a compelling homage to the classic survival horror genre. It does not take much hardware to run, so even having modest hardware that could be 8-10 years old will still let you jump into this British horror without any hiccups.
Hollowbody stands as a commendable project from a solo developer, effectively channelling the essence of classic PlayStation 2 horror titles, with a particular nod to Silent Hill 2. While it pays homage to this legendary series, it faces challenges in establishing its unique identity, often leaning too heavily on its influences rather than fully exploring the possibilities inherent in a cyberpunk horror setting. The gameplay is hindered by basic mechanics and somewhat awkward melee combat, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. However, the game excels in creating a compelling atmosphere, and the gameplay maintains a smooth flow. In the end, Hollowbody provides a nostalgic experience for fans of British survival horror at the price of a large takeaway pizza (£14.20), encapsulating both the triumphs and shortcomings of the genre, making it a worthwhile choice for an engaging evening for fans of horror games that like them with a sprinkle of nostalgia.
