Silent Hill creator says his new title Slitterhead is a modern take on a Siren action game

Bokeh Game Studio Head cut off was recently announced for release on November 8, 2024. Development of the game is led by Keiichiro Toyama, the creator of the Silent Hill, Siren, and Gravity Rush franchises. He works with composer Akira Yamaoka of Silent Hill and Tatsuya Yoshikawa, the character creator of the Breath of Fire and Devil May Cry series. All three developers recently provided feedback on the upcoming Slitterhead during a media event.

Slitterhead is a 3D action-adventure game set in the neon-lit town of Kowlong, where players take on the role of the bodiless entity Hyoki. As Hyoki, you possess human bodies to fight brain-eating parasites called Slitterheads. Using the blood of humans, you create weapons to engage Slitterheads in rapid-fire combat, jumping to different hosts when they are injured.

According to Famitsu, when asked about the inspiration for this human possession mechanic, Toyama responded that “the core concept of Slitterhead is to reinterpret Siren as a modern action game.” Siren, released in 2003, is a survival horror game in which the player uses a psychic ability called “sight hijacking” to take control of the vision and hearing of nearby targets. This system allows the player to gather information about the game field, such as the location of important objects.

Toyama says Slitterhead will reinterpret and expand the concept of misdirection. While Siren was less focused on combat and more on stealth (looking away left you immobile and vulnerable), it appears that Slitterhead will transform some of its predecessor’s mechanics into a heavily action-focused game (as indicated by the latest trailer). Although Slitterhead is about possessing bodies rather than senses, Toyama mentions that the game will allow players to get occasional glimpses into other characters’ points of view, “as a form of fanservice” for Siren enthusiasts.

Commenting on the “nervousness” of the game, Toyama says that he is aware that Slitterhead will not be a title that will appeal to the vast majority, but at the same time, he does not intend to market it only to a handful of privileged people “who will get it”. » Instead, the creator hopes to show people a new, original game that stands out for its entertainment value.

As a side note, the Slitterhead trailer shows the protagonist owning a dog, but Toyama thankfully confirmed that there won’t be any battles or bloodshed involving animals.

Slitterhead is set to be released on November 8th for PC (Steam/Epic Games Store), PS5/PS4 and Xbox Series X|S.