Hollowbody Review – Quality Over Quantity (PC)

Hollowbody answers a question that I am not sure anyone asked; what happens when you set the awkward slow burn gameplay of Silent Hill against the sci-fi noir backdrop of Blade Runner and sprinkle in UK soap opera dialogue reminiscent of an edgier Coronation Street?

The result is a worthwhile experience that becomes especially impressive when you learn that it was created by one person, even if it does lean a bit too much on the media it is inspired by.

To quote a vastly overrated and only moderately funny sitcom created by a washed up creep, “I’m sorry, we’ve already got a George.” In an era of an imminently releasing Silent Hill 2 official remake and countless other upcoming titles inspired by that game, it causes one to question whether we really needed another clone; even if it is extremely well made by a singular creative force.

Hollowbody is out now for PC.

I should probably add an addendum to that previous sentence to state that I am a massive fan of Silent Hill 2, in fact it earns a slot amongst my top three games of all time. I am also a fan of noir futuristic media, so Hollowbody is pretty much tailor-made for me. The issue with that though is that I don’t feel like I necessarily represent the vast majority of the gaming audience.

If a game only appeals to gamers between 25-35 who where fans of survival horror in the PS2 era, then it will always be a niche product. There is nothing inherently wrong with taking heavy inspiration from your favorite game, although the caveat of doing this is that you then can’t expect your vision to be seen as particularly unique or ground-breaking.

Stop Me if You’ve Heard This One Before

Look at the state of this place! Image credit: Headware Games

There are a few puzzles in Hollowbody that can’t be solved and are put there just to confuse the player. Image credit: Headware Games

The game starts out in a different location to the rest of the narrative. Image credit: Headware Games

Futuristic UI elements like this contrast with the game’s otherwise retro feel. Image credit: Headware Games

Hollowbody is inevitably going to be compared to Silent Hill 2. Image credit: Konami

The elements shared by Hollowbody and Silent Hill 2 include awkward melee combat, twisted monster design, and creepiness caused by a thick uneasy atmosphere of particle effects. Although, these aren’t what made Silent Hill 2 so iconic. Instead, it was these elements blended with surreal, provoking storytelling that blurred the lines between disturbing dreams and reality.

Hollowbody only features the former and forgoes the more existential elements of battling with one’s own psyche and the effect that guilt can have on a person’s mental state. Omitting these emotionally vital elements leaves the call-backs feeling like more a surface level homage that could even be seen as… hollow.

Hollowbody’s story is a perfectly serviceable tale typical of the genre, however it does suffer from some pacing issues. The intro is a slow burn that leads into a worthwhile if familiar jaunt through pseudo-science and body horror before coming to a close far quicker than you may expect. This does leave the player wanting more and potentially opens the door for a follow up, but it may leave some feeling unfulfilled.

This outcome becomes a bit more frustrating when you learn that the reason that the game was cut short was due to a kickstarter goal failing to be reached. It is understandable given then grass roots background of Hollowbody’s development, however it is still sad to learn that the decision to keep the game’s runtime brisk was not an artistic one, but one made out of necessity. One additional interior area would have helped the game feel more complete.

A Singular Vision

Completing Hollowbody allows you to replay the game in first person mode which works really well. Image credit: Headware Games

With all of that being said, Hollowbody is a seriously impressive feat of game development that deserves to be checked out by any survival horror fan. Every element of Hollowbody was created by Nathan Hamley, operating under the name of Headware Games.

The fact that everything seen here from the gorgeous art direction, to the effective musical score and chilling sound effects, to the animation and programming was done by a single individual is nothing short of utterly astonishing.

If you are a fan of early 2000s survival horror, then you will really appreciate all of the effort Hamley has put in to the intricate details of Hollowbody. The game runs smoothly, the level design is purposeful, the atmosphere of dread is successfully built up and perpetually present throughout the game’s runtime. All of it is masterfully executed.

Providing that you are able to get away from the fact that Hollowbody doesn’t really add anything to what has already been said in the past within this sub-genre, there is a whole lot to appreciate here. While I personally believe that there is value in creating a homage such as this, the question still remains whether the masses will feel the same way.

For the asking price though, and for the fact alone that this is a solo effort, recommending Hollowbody is a no-brainer. In an era of overpriced AAA bloat, this is an indie experience that is worth your time. Even if it does tread a lot of old ground, it still manages to feel fresher than anything developed by companies like Ubisoft in 2024.

Hollowbody – 8/10