Key conclusions
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Slitterhead's body bounce mechanic is an evolution of the Forbidden Siren kidnapping.
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However, Keiichiro Toyama's latest game also features location-stealing as it was 20 years ago.
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During stealth missions, you can see through the eyes of certain enemies to sneak past them more easily.
Keiichiro Toyama's latest game Slitterhead has a fascinating twist – instead of fending off giant insectoid monsters in Kowloon with a unique character, you play as a disembodied spirit capable of controlling ordinary people, giving you a small army of disposable citizens to play with.
You may also know Toyama as the creator of Silent Hill.
It's a gritty iteration of Toyama's survival horror game Forbidden Siren. In the 2003 cult classic, you could see through the eyes of most nearby characters by possessing them in a similar way. In fact, speaking to Game Rant, Toyama said that Slitterhead's core concept was born out of Siren, as Bokeh's debut game sought to push the signature mechanics even further.
But what's really interesting is that even though Slitterhead's body hopping is an evolution of Siren's abduction, it also has location extraction like it was 20 years ago. During stealth missions, you can look through the eyes of certain enemies without taking control of them, allowing you to better maneuver around corners to avoid guards.
As you can see in the screenshots embedded above, stealth missions can offer you the ability to “Pry out the sight”, just like in Forbidden Siren. This allows you to see the enemy in first person so you can see what they see and hear what they hear. It's a handy way to make sure you don't get caught on a curve.
The Siren Monster communicates with each other
The Sirens had their own insectoid enemies, some of which bear a striking resemblance to Slitterheads. They are called Shibito, and by consuming the red water that allows this species to evolve, you can take advantage of some of their abilities, namely stealth.
They use it to communicate with each other telepathically, but you use it to spy on them, ensuring you stay hidden. However, “Siren” was a little more tactical. Enemies don't vary much in Slitterhead, and getting caught usually means facing a few grunts. Without other characters, you are almost guaranteed to be defeated.
In Siren, it was much more important to see what you were up against, given that it was less action oriented. The exit can show you that the enemy is holding a rifle, which means they can pick you up from a long distance. This is incredibly useful to know, while in Slitterhead it's a faster way to get past a guard or two.
Either way, it's a fresh idea, and it's nice to see Tayama paying homage to this monstrous survival gem, with the mechanic picked up almost immediately.
Slitterhead is a horror game from Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama and new developer Bokeh Game Studio. The action takes place in a world filled with deadly parasitic creatures.
