Now, this demo was a surprise. I was expecting a linear moody walking-simulator, but Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival is an actual game with stealth, machete-combat London-style and the blasting of foes with guns. It was also incredibly bloody, with breasts and genitalia on full display—so very Hellraiser and Clive Barker. I found the lady with the massive flesh-constructed tongue upsetting, but not in the pearl clutching way—it was more like: It’s time to get the hell out of here!
Gore, blood and demons
The horror vibe of the game is effective, yet it does become a bit cartoony in places. There is blood, dead bodies and body parts strewn all over the cult compound you are trying to escape. Atmospheric sure, but this must be a logistical nightmare to cover up, especially since it’s built beneath what I assume is a legitimate business: a goth nightclub.
It reminds me of people starting to smoke weed. One day they are a normal, functional individual, and one puff on the devil’s lettuce, and suddenly their whole identity is “Mary Jane”—with the cannabis plant plastered all over their clothes and backpack. It’s just too much, man! And in the context of Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival—yes, we know you guys love blood and are into BDSM, but does everything have to look like a sex dungeon from hell?
Despite this, the visuals are very nice and moody. The game feels grimy and deadly, keeping you on your toes—as stepping into another pile of human innards is just unpleasant.
Hacking and shooting
Beyond having a rudimentary but enjoyable stealth system with takedowns, Hellraiser: Revival also comes with melee and shooting. On normal, which I played on, I can’t say it was too hard, but it did feel dangerous, as every fight left me health-starved. Your defense is a dodge; I found it a bit hard to get the hang of it, but that works in the game’s favor, as keeping out of sight and being a sneaky bastard is favorable—for everything, actually. It’s not only your health you have to worry about. Melee weapons have durability, and bullets are rare to come by.
All in all, I found it very enjoyable, not being too tough and not too easy, but I assume the game becomes much more brutal the further you get into the madness. Down below is a recording from my escapades with my trusty 9mm pistol.
I love that firearms are this deadly since it adds to the believability of the setting—and the tension of sneaking and being hunted triggers something primal inside me. When speaking of primal things, one section has you being hunted by the Cenobites, specifically the Chatterer in their labyrinth realm of suffering—and it was damn intense!
Failing to escape meant death, which took out some of the enjoyment, as it was a full restart each time, but a thrilling segment nonetheless.
Conclusion
Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival demo surprised me, as mentioned. I didn’t think it would be a game in this style at all. While it was fairly linear, I can’t hold it against the game, since it seems to have a large focus on the narrative—keeping things tense—and who knows what the game’s later stages evolve into, anyhow. Be sure to give it a go if you like Hellraiser and the dark worlds of Clive Barker!
