Set in the near future, amongst the urban decay of a long-abandoned British city, Hollowbody is a dystopian love letter to the survival horror of yesteryear. Its grimy, detailed environments exude an oppressive, cloying atmosphere, while its tense story and gameplay evoke genre classics of the PS1/PS2 era.
Are these qualities enough to make the game a modern classic of its own? Let’s find out.
Story
The game starts off with you searching for your partner Sasha, who has gone missing during a fact-finding mission within the off-limits, quarantined area known as the exclusion zone. Players take control of Mica, an unlicensed black market shipper who will stop at nothing to find Sasha. After her hover crashes deep within the exclusion zone, she is left alone and stranded with limited resources. Surrounded by darkness and death, she must make her way through the ruined remains of an abandoned city to find Sasha and escape beyond its walls.
It’s refreshing to play something with a clear vision. The combination of sci-fi and horror elements works well together, resulting in an experience that is distinct from its components. It’s akin to playing the video game equivalent of a science fiction short story.
The game features a British cast, which is a nice change of pace for a horror game, and adds a nice bit of cultural flavor you don’t normally see in horror titles. Performances are solid, which helps you to relate to and care about the characters.
Gameplay
After having played the demo for Hollowbody, I was very much looking forward to the full game. Upon playing it, I was pleasantly surprised to find the game was noticeably more polished, both visually and where gameplay was concerned. Sasha’s movements were smoother and more refined, and the game as a whole just looked and played better. Overall, my time spent with the game was very satisfying.
As you guide Mica through the urban wasteland of the excursion zone, you must utilize your limited resources to accomplish your mission. Those include a pistol, flashlight, and lighter, and can pick up various weapons and puzzle-related items to help her along her way. There is an even mix of puzzles and enemy encounters. Ammo is scarce and the shambling husks known as “The Strays” take a lot of punishment before they finally go down. You will also have to defend yourself against other monstrosities that lurk in the shadows, waiting to pounce on you.
The game has a really cool and spooky opening prologue that sets the tone very well. It’s got a melancholy, dystopian vibe that evokes the likes of films like Blade Runner, while also recalling the horror design aesthetic of PS1/PS2 games. It conjures memories of the atmosphere of titles like Silent Hill 1 & 2, and Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, and even borrows elements from the likes of Dead Space. The game definitely has shades of SH2, as you guide Mica through the dark and claustrophobic hallways of a decrepit apartment complex.
You can save manually via designated telephones where you can choose a slot to save. The game also offers strategic autosaves, typically after you enter a new area or accomplish an objective.
Performance
I played Hollowbody on my Steam Deck and it ran great. The game lets you choose between two difficult modes, “Casual” and “Intended.” Casual mode reduces enemies with weaker attacks, while Intended is the mode you want to select for the intended gameplay experience.
The framerate was fantastic, and I never had any problems with the game skipping, crashing, or strange animation errors. However, I did notice a few minor sound effects were missing, like when Mica walks while aiming her pistol. But other than a few instances, the game ran fine.
The game swaps between fixed camera angles and a limited mobility camera view, similar to the camera in games like Resident Evil: Code Veronica. In this mode, you can slightly nudge the camera in the direction you want, for slightly better visibility. You also can snap the camera in the directions you’re facing by pressing L3.
This combination of camera styles works for the most part however the camera can be a bit disorienting. I frequently found myself trying to reorient myself. This happens mostly in the cramped rooms of the apartment, as the camera snaps to an awkward angle. This dynamic is one of the potential pitfalls of making a “PS2-style” game, but it never gets too bad. I also encountered some clunky collision issues with a few enemies and environmental geometry, but that’s the extent of my quibbles with the game. Overall, it is a well-built, robust gameplay experience that consistently delivers.
Graphics
The game looks gorgeous, with crisp and clear graphics. The art design in particular is very well executed. Hollowbody could easily pass as a legit indie PS2 horror title. The post-apocalyptic ruins of the fallen western city are suitably run down and rubble and debris litter the streets. Rain pours down as you search for clues, and lightning strikes briefly light up the night sky.
The interiors of the buildings you explore also look amazing. Filth and the broken remains of the inhabitants are strewn throughout the living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways. On top of the man-made debris, a strange, root-like mold stretches its sinewy tendrils throughout the excursion zone.
Sound Design
In addition to looking great, the game has very effective sound design. As you cautiously step into a room, or around the next corner, the soundscape keeps up the ominous tone.
Footsteps, scratches, and the opening and closing of doors can be heard in the distance, while the strays’ screeches echo down the abandoned city’s dark hallways and alleys.
Conclusion
Hollowbody is an effective throwback to the PS2 era of survival horror, that also successfully establishes its own unique identity. The graphics and sound are of a very high standard, and the story is nuanced and compelling.
I would recommend Hollowbody to anyone looking for a polished indie horror title that delivers a quality story and scares. It’s retro without feeling overly nostalgic for its predecessors. Don’t leave this one in the dark. This is one game that deserves to be illuminated.
Hollowbody is currently available on Steam for a discount of 10%. This offer ends September 19th.
(8.5 / 10)
Great
(8.5 / 10)Rely on Horror Review Score Guide
A PC review code of the game was provided by the developer.
