1987’s Hellraiser is one of those films I have vivid memories of, simply because I had watched it at an age that is, and should be considered, way too young. I was into horror movies as a young teen and thought the edgiest, and at times most brutal, films were the ones to watch. The Evil Dead, The Exorcist, and Hellraiser were among those classic films. But as much as I tried to put on a brave face, this movie terrified me.
I’ve certainly come to appreciate the original film in my adult life, but I would be lying if I said there wasn’t a small amount of trauma attached to this film.
So when I saw the reveal of Hellraiser: Revival, I was equal parts excited and spooked, like an old dream coming back to haunt me. In many ways, Hellraiser: Revival did exactly that. It’s an incredibly gory, brutal, faithful and authentic experience that nails the overall tone and visual nature of the film franchise, and I had fun simply progressing through the game just to see what was in store next.
The only thing that really holds it back, at times, is its more basic gameplay. All the elements of a solid survival horror are there; they’re just not as fleshed out as its more upfront inspirations, like the Resident Evil franchise.
A Stroll Through the Labyrinth
Hellraiser: Revival’s story can at times feel a little wooden and contrived, but it’s enough to get you up and about. You play as Aiden Lynch, a former biker, who, along with his girlfriend Sunny, decides to take things up a notch in the bedroom. Their brief time with a mysterious cube (soon to be revealed as the Genesis Configuration) turns a bout of kinky play into an unintentional peek into The Labyrinth, otherwise known as the homeworld of iconic villain Pinhead (voiced here by the original actor, Doug Bradley) and his Cenobite pals.
They’re here now, and they’re taking Sunny back with them. Aiden, understandably confused by this interaction, follows Sunny into The Labyrinth, where the real fun begins.
The rest of the story essentially follows Aiden navigating through The Labyrinth and the real world to track down Sunny and rescue her. Along the way, we do get some flashbacks and insights into their relationship, but it’s rarely deep or even that interesting, at least until the later chapters, where things come to a head.
That being said, Hellraiser: Revival does a great job of setting you firmly within the brutality and severity of this world. Everything is either gross, bloody, disfigured and dismembered, and the crazy juxtaposition of The Labyrinth and the real world never gets old.
Being in The Labyrinth is a real treat, and the game’s opening hour essentially gets you weaving in and out of obscure corridors and running from some familiar faces (or teeth) like the Chatterer. The real world is packed with crazy cultists and demonic foes, but they just don’t feel as interesting in comparison.
Turn That Gore up to Eleven
At its core, Hellraiser: Revival is a straightforward and functional first-person survival horror game. If you’ve played any of the more recent Resident Evil titles, then you’ll feel right at home here, as the experience blends stealth, melee combat, gunplay, crafting and inventory management, with mixed results.
There are also some puzzles on offer, which can require a small amount of backtracking and exploration, but like the combat, nothing ever feels that deep or fleshed out.
The only saving grace here is the Genesis Configuration, which Aiden can use in both puzzle solving and combat. In traversal and puzzle solving, you’ll be able to move and manipulate objects to clear or create a path forward. In combat, however, it has few handy uses.
Firstly, Telekinesis allows you to pick up saw blades and other assorted sharp objects to hurl at your enemies from a distance. Secondly, Pyrokonesis allows you to absorb flames from the environment and turn your enemies to ash.
Finally, it can be used as a finishing move of sorts to execute “Unworthy” enemies and regain a bit of health in the process. It does take a couple of hours to get going, but once you’re off and running, it is quite a bit of fun.
It’s too bad that melee combat and gunplay don’t follow suit. Melee combat does allow you to pick up an assortment of blades and blunt objects, each with its own level of durability, but as you’re only really able to dodge and swing, you’ll soon identify the same boring attack patterns and lofty strikes that don’t always feel like they land.
Gunplay does get you pulling the trigger a fair bit, with a handful of weapons, particularly as the game progresses. Unfortunately, it all just feels really stiff and lifeless. At times, the game intentionally shortchanges you with ammunition, and you are able to craft both bandages and ammunition by collecting things like metal and cloth, but these too can at times feel pretty scarce.
Thankfully, enemies only really need a couple of shots to go down, and as you’re able to rely on melee combat and a knife that never breaks, you’re always able to defend yourself.
Look the Part
Hellraiser: Revival might not be the best-looking game out there, but I cannot deny how authentic everything looks. The real world might look relatively drab and dull in comparison to The Labyrinth, but when the game is throwing iconic Hellraiser stuff at you, be it enemies, characters, locations and everything in between, it’s all spot on.
I must say though, as desensitised as I can be at certain times, Hellraiser: Revival does depict some incredibly brutal and sexually crude imagery. It made me squirm at times, but this absolutely terrified my wife. I’ll give her credit; she’s not a fan of horror films and would probably rather be watching something much more pleasant and uplifting. But either way, please be warned.
The game also gives you the choice between a 30 FPS Quality Mode and a 60 FPS Performance Mode, and like in most of my reviews, I always recommend the latter.
No matter which way you choose to play, though, performance will generally suffer, and frames will drop rather consistently. It’s not that egregious, and it’s only a handful of frames, but there’s just no avoiding it.
Final Thoughts
If you’re a fan of the Hellraiser franchise, then you’ll certainly enjoy sections of Hellraiser: Revival. Running about The Labyrinth is an authentic visual feast that simply nails the look and tone of those films.
But given its gameplay can feel quite undercooked at times, it might feel like a bit of a slog in between.
THREE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Absolutely nails the look and tone of the films; Gameplay is at least functional; Genesis Configuration is satisfying to use
Lowlights: Gameplay feels undercooked and basic; Performance issues; Bland story
Developer: Saber Interactive
Publisher: Saber Interactive
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 Pro with a code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image also provided by the publisher.
