I have a strange love-hate relationship with horror video games and movies. On one hand, I find most of them too creepy to consider experiencing. On the other hand, I find the worlds that are built around this genre to be absolutely thrilling. When I saw the initial trailer for Hollowbody, I decided that I needed to slap the worry out of my first hand and go for a deep dive into this game. Everything about this game harkens back to an older age of horror, something that has been more common over the last few years. So without further ado, let’s dive into Hollowbody!

For those who don’t know, Hollowbody takes place in a near-future world where disaster has struck part of the United Kingdom. This disaster led to major parts being walled off from the rest of the world and the inhabitants left to fend for themselves. This at first seems very reminiscent of the world we find ourselves in during 28 Years Later, but beyond this walling off from the world, there is not much in common. The plot focuses around Mica, a black market shipper who goes in search of her missing sister, who was attempting to find answers outside the walled city. What should be a simple in-and-out rescue plan quickly goes wrong as an unknown anomaly crashes your air vehicle in the middle of the quarantine zone. Things quickly go from bad to worse when Mica finds herself hunted by mysterious creatures and a mysterious voice on the phone lines.

This game from the get-go oozes PlayStation 2-era horror! From the tank controls, fixed cameras, and even the save mechanics, everything is made to take you back to an older time of gaming. With this nostalgic feel also comes some interesting bugs that can occasionally hamper the horror if you exploit it. The key one that popped up for me was that the lock-on feature allows you to lock on to enemies through walls. While this was definitely helpful in lowlit areas where I couldn’t see well, it definitely hindered some of the potential horror. Being the type of gamer that I am, I did end up using it quite obnoxiously, and it reminded me of my time spamming Revelio throughout the halls of Hogwarts in Hogwarts Legacy.

One of the things that the game asks you to accept early on is that everything is weird. You definitely get a taste for the weird when you see the technologically advanced city that Mica comes from, which feels straight out of Blade Runner or The Fifth Element, and continues that trend of certain barriers being removed for reasons that don’t quite make sense from the information given. Regardless, this weirdness definitely fits the vibe that the developers seem to be aiming for, as there is a stark contrast between what the future has provided and what this version of mankind has left behind. There is probably a deeper philosophical reasoning behind this, but that is not what any of us are here for at this time.

The audio design for this game definitely keeps you immersed. The sound effects in general keep you on edge, especially the footsteps. There were times where I didn’t know if I was being followed or if my footsteps were just being echoed. The voice acting is also quite stellar, especially the voice on the phone that serves as an antagonistic guide for Mica. Music within is (for the most part) rather minimal, but that minimalism helps to embody the emptiness within the quarantine zone and exemplifies a world long forgotten by mankind. There are many times where the audio is a good chunk of the scare factor for the various creatures that you run into, as you will often hear them before you see them. 

Overall, I believe that Hollowbody is a great horror game and is perfect for those who enjoyed Fear the Spotlight and Alisa. While the graphics may turn off those who are seeking the looks of modern-day Resident Evil games, I quite enjoyed the aesthetic as it allowed me to visit an era of gaming that I was too young to appreciate at the time. If you are looking for other games to give you goosebumps, consider checking out my review of Directive 8020 right here. 

A PS5 review copy of Hollowbody was provided by Headware Games for this review.

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Hollowbody

16.99

8

Score

8.0/10

Pros

• Great PS2 Vibes
• Wonderful Audio Design
• Fascinating World

Cons

• Some Features that hurt the horror