Before we get started with this review, a tiny disclaimer: it’s worth pointing out that this is an extremely adult game, both in theme and visuals. So, in no way, shape or form is it for the younger gamers out there, no matter whether Pinhead is in Fortnite or not. With that out of the way, we can ask a killer question, so to speak: how do you turn Clive Barker’s Hellraiser, one of the most disturbing horror movie franchises of all time, into a video game?
Well, it’s a tricky one, because Hellraiser isn’t exactly your typical horror tale. The Cenobites. The twisted imagery. The wonderfully disturbing relationship between pleasure and pain. There’s just so much nightmare fuel to work with.
So, when Saber Interactive announced Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival, I was more than a little interested. And this wasn’t your standard 80s horror game where the big bad hunts down four players. No, this is a single-player offering.
Revival puts you in the shoes of Aidan Lynch, who finds himself on a desperate mission to save his girlfriend Sunny after she becomes trapped in the nightmarish Labyrinth following some bedroom antics that go, eh, wrong.
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Naturally, things quickly get out of hand, and before long, you’re dealing with Pinhead and his Cenobites.
Thankfully, this isn’t just another horror game with a movie name slapped on the box. With Clive Barker “involved” in the story, Revival does a great job of capturing both the disturbing atmosphere and twisted mythology that made the original films so memorable.
Hairraiser
Of course, what would Hellraiser be without your boy Pinhead? Well, they nailed that, with Doug Bradley returning to the role, and honestly, it’s brilliant to see him back. His performance gives the game a genuine connection to the films, while his gang of Cenobites feel like a terrifying force of nature.
Now, things start to become a bit unstuck on the gameplay front. Revival mixes first-person survival horror with combat, stealth, exploration and puzzle-solving. Think Resident Evil 7 or Resident Evil Village, and you’ll have a good idea of what you’ll find, just not as polished.
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You’ll spend plenty of time exploring grim locations, managing your supplies and trying to survive encounters with monsters, spooks and lots and lots of gimps.
Combat is OK overall with its mix of firearms and melee weapons. However, it’s the Genesis Configuration puzzle box that is the real star. Alongside solving environmental puzzles, it grants you supernatural abilities that can be used against enemies, adding more options to how you deal with each encounter.
Eyebrowraiser
Visually, things are suitably gruesome and X-rated. The Labyrinth is easily one of the game’s biggest highlights, especially if you are a fan of the films. Its twisted corridors and impossible layouts create some genuinely unsettling moments.
Hellraiser feels like a game that has been crafted with a real love for the series. But while its story and visual design hit the mark, its gameplay and combat do not. The boss fights are especially disappointing, as they get reused once or twice too often and start to feel dull once the shock factor passes.
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Still, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is an interesting addition to the survival horror genre. It understands what makes the franchise “special”, even if the gameplay doesn’t always reach the same heights as its atmosphere.
For fans of the films, there’s plenty here to enjoy, but a few too many rough edges and a feeling that it is trying to be shocking for the sake of it stop it from being the ultimate Hellraiser experience.
- Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival review – Combat Out of Hell
- Halloween: The Game review – All Hollowed Out
- Tenebris Somnia review – Multi Media Scares
