Horror video games have one of the most vibrant histories out there and for many the genre was at its peak more than a decade ago during the PS2 days. Greatest hits of horror gaming included such titles as Silent Hill and, to the lesser extent, Haunting Ground.
For those who are pining for an album that takes them back to that time, well, Hollowbody is that trip. Far from perfect, it offers the creepy chills and might even give you sleepless nights.
In Hollowbody, you are Mica, an operator of cargo running as a supplier in a black market within a future dystopia setting. Mica and her partner Sasha travel to dangerous exclusion zones, delivering goods illegally.
After Sasha unexplainably goes missing after entering one of such zones, it becomes up to Mica to find her. You soon are lost within an environment that is empty, dilapidated, a city that has almost turned into a ghost town. You soon understand that it is not empty and it is rather creepy here.
If you’ve played horror games, you’ll find yourself at home playing Hollowbody. Unlike many older titles, there are no tank controls to get in the way and make movement that is much more of a challenge.
Mica carries both a gun and melee weapon for the possible fight against enemies. While combat is useful, it’s not refined, not smooth. Melee weapons are especially uncomfortable due to the low speed and range of strikes, which only increases vulnerability.
Firearms can be more manageable because they are locked and loaded, but the problem lies in the fact that getting the ammo is hard and if one runs out, they are in trouble. The combat mechanics remind of older games, where resources and surviving become the most significant features.
Their primary goal is to find Sasha while the first step Mica has to accomplish is to get to the highest point, where she can send a radio signal.
This leads her to ascend through an apartment filled with upcoming dangers all reminiscent of the old Silent Hill type of gameplay dungeons. While you’re running through this nightmare, be sure to pick up certain items, get the keys and solve the puzzles.
The atmosphere of Hollowbody is great, for the most part, it voraciously sustains tension and anxiety as you roam through the decaying city.
This way it becomes surprisingly effective to use discordant music and grotesque monsters to make some that are genuinely frightening. While not constant, those moments are effective when they occur, combining gross and creepy with increasing suspense.
The map is a painful issue which has not been well handled. It is barely readable, and in some places, you almost don’t see it at all. In those environments which have been filled with many corridors that look like labyrinths, this lack of clarity becomes more and more frustrating.
Lacking a satisfactory map, players might end up losing direction, clueless as to which direction they need to take. Alongside with the problem of limited available save points, such a problem can put players to the end of their tether.
Conclusion
Hollowbody is a tribute to the survival horror games of the PS2 and all the joy and annoyance that implies. It conveys the feeling of suspension and despair of games like Silent Hill but with it comes with problems that audience today may not be willing to put up with.
Nonetheless, Hollowbody is an excellent work, or at least an excellent idea, primarily because it was created by a single person.
For such players, who have grown tired of the horror genre and are accustomed to highly polished experiences; the game is rough around the edges but for those that have a love for horror that has not faded with time, it is entertaining for them.
Also read: Frostpunk 2 Review: The Frozen World
