Out of all the games that were announced at The Game Awards 2021, Slitterhead may be one of the most remarkable. As a new horror game from the mind of Keiichiro Toyama, creator of franchises like Siren and Silent 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 for Slitterhead to be a highly creative foray into the horror genre.
Toyama mentioned in one recent interview that Slitterhead won't be entirely horror-driven; instead it will blend various different genres in order to appeal to a variety of players. That isn't entirely surprising. Toyama has indicated Slitterhead will be high on action, which is something of a departure from most of his horror fare. Still, it's surprising to hear that Slitterhead doesn'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 help Slitterhead draw in more fans than a pure horror game might manage.
Slitterhead's Relationship With Horror
When Slitterhead was 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 every Silent Hill game, but there's little doubt that Silent Hill has been successful thanks in-part to the core concepts Toyama put in place.
In the long term, downplaying horror could make Slitterhead more successful. Not everyone is interested in a traditional horror experience, but if Slitterhead has action elements that draw in fans of action-heavy games with darker themes like Devil May Cry and Dark Souls, the game's potential audience is much broader. That's a good decision because Slitterhead is 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.
Bokeh's Unique Project
It's clear that Slitterhead will 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 with Slitterhead's proclivity for action, which won't be an easy task.
If Slitterhead manages 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 could make Slitterhead stand 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 of Slitterhead will balance one another. However, they definitely seem to be the recipe for something unique.
Slitterhead is in development.