Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival Review: Chains & Whips Excite Me

Up front, I would be lying if I said that I was a huge fan of the Hellraiser franchise. To me before engaging with Hellraiser: Revival, Pinhead was what Spongebob called Patrick in that one episode, a Cenobite sounded like a delectable little snack, and the word Labyrinth triggered thoughts of childhood evenings spent with one David Bowie. As for Clive Barker video games, the less we say about Jericho, the better.

However, that all changed the moment I sat down some time ago to preview this video game adaption of the beloved horror franchise, and I was thrust headfirst into a world of S&M, grotesque suffering, and pleasures of the flesh. 

This bumper BDSM horror epic shoots for gasps, with some of the most aggressively gory and unsettling imagery you’re likely to find in a video game. But, also manages to blend this with horror gameplay that has substance beyond shock value. If you’re ready to raise hell, come get lost in the Labyrinth with me. 

You’ll Be Hooked, Quite Literally 

I don’t think there has ever been a game that has dropped me in at the deep end quite like Clive Barker’s Hellraiser: Revival. From the moment you drop into this Cenobite-fueled epic, the game unapologetically sets the tone. You’re witness to a hot and heavy S&M session that goes one step to far as Sunny and Aiden unlock the Genesis Configuration. 

this adaption nails a lot of what Hellraiser is, purely because this game pulls absolutely no punches

Truly what it must be to open Pandora’s Box, as this sees the arrival of the Cenobite leaders, fronted by the infamous Pinhead. With little to no coercion, Sunny submits to the residents of the Labyrinth and is quite literally and viscerally torn limb from limb, setting the wheels in motion for Aiden Lynch to hunt down these freaks and try to somehow save Sunny. 

While I don’t have the wealth of knowledge that some will have about the franchise, I can already tell that this adaption nails a lot of what Hellraiser is, purely because this game pulls absolutely no punches. The violence is brutal, the sexually explicit gore and mutilation is enough to turn your stomach, and the surreal, mind-bending nature of navigating the Labyrinth helps give weight and meaning to this otherworldly setting of suffering. 

I would by lying if I said that the core storyline is blockbuster quality, as the quest design feels like a constant convenience to facilitate non-stop action. Plus, Aiden isn’t all that interesting as a core character and Sunny is borderline unlikable to the point you’ll judge Aiden for even bothering to save her at all. Which, I suppose you could argue is in keeping with the Hellraiser franchise, as generally speaking, everyone is an irredeemable asshole. But, I would have loved more of the focus to have been centered around Bruno and Marlowe. They were the assholes I wanted to know more about.

That said, what I will applaud without giving too much away, is that the ending is phenomenal. It’s the kind of ending you simply don’t see enough of in video games. A bold choice that really leans into the themes of Hellraiser perfectly, whether you like it or not.

Despite the peaks and valleys within the story, it’s the strength of the imagery, the surreal nature of how each scene blends into the next, and the game’s ability to lean on the preexisting subject matter that helps this game stand out from the pack. All of which sets the scene for the core gameplay to shine. 

If Only Leon Kennedy Was More Kinky 

There’s no getting around it, so I suppose we better run at it headfirst. Hellraiser for all intents and purposes plays incredibly similar to modern Resident Evil titles. Specifically Ethan Winter’s entries, and Grace Ashcroft’s portions of Requiem, employing a first-person survival horror format. 

It’s a format that made me fall in love with Resident Evil all over again, and it’s a format that feels exceptionally immersive in Hellraiser Revival. Controlling Aiden while exploring pulsating nightclubs, dingy cabins in the woods, and vast areas linked together with intricate puzzles is as intense as it is cathartic. 

I will admit that I’m never a fan of a survival horror game that takes away that feeling of helplessness and vulnerability too soon. Something that Hellraiser does a little too soon for my liking as you have ease of access to melee weapons and firearms galore. But, the upside is that the gunplay, stealth, overall combat, and steady sense of progression all lead to a satisfying action-packed affair. 

However, I would argue that where the game shines brightest is when you’re taken out of the real-world and placed in the heart of the Labyrinth. I can’t tell you how many times the world I turned the camera away only to find that upon second glance that the world had changed entirely, leading to a well-earned ‘oh wow’ leaving my lips. 

Not to mention, within the Labyrinth you’ll witness some of the finest, most intense chase scenes you’ll likely encounter in any horror game as Chatterers are on your tail. Instantly creating that feeling of dread when you hear the chatter of Cenobite teeth for the rest of the campaign. 

It’s incredible how much sense of place you have in this nightmarish alternate reality, especially as someone that had very limited points of reference to the Labyrinth to begin with, and it’s these scenes, and these big design swings that make Hellraiser Revival more than just some Resident Evil clone. 

In fact, it wouldn’t even be fair to say that Resident Evil is the only muse this game draws from, as throughout the horrific ordeal you’ll play witness to nods to video game and horror greats like Bioshock, Call of Duty’s zombie mode, and P.T. to name but a few that I clocked along the way. 

It’s a game that respects its inspirations, a game that respects the source material enough to be as gross and gory as needed, and a game that has enough of its own ideas to stand out from the crowd. 

But that said, I can’t say in good conscience that I found it to be a good ‘horror’ game.

Intense, But Hardly Terrifying 

You can’t deny that Hellraiser Revival is a cinematic, engrossing, action-fueled gorefest in every respect. Something that should lend itself to a horror game, helping to keep players on their toes and set them up for a few standout scares here and there. But, unless I’m truly dead inside, which is a possibility, I just don’t think this game rises to the status of ‘scary’. 

While the sound design is solid, the visuals are on-point and the blood, guts and sexual violence never relent, there was never a point where I found myself petrified with fear, or even on edge for that matter. 

Which is a shame, as the opening stages of this game did briefly hit those heights, mainly because you were unarmed, flimsy, and completely at the mercy of this surreal and frightening Cenobite world. But, unfortunately, the game strays too far into action game territory for me, which cheapens any attempt to truly catch the player off-guard. 

Ask yourself, if you have a shotgun, a pistol, a SMG, a revolver, and a blunt weapon stocked with ammo, and loaded up with Medkits, all within a few hours of starting. Why would you be worried if a monster came at you? Cenobite or not, I’ll happily blow it’s head off. 

By contrast, the aforementioned modern Resident Evil game were some of the first modern horrors to make me fear leaving a safe room. One of the first to make me fear invulnerable foes, and one of the first games to take full advantage of that first person shooter blend of horror action. 

As much as Hellraiser tries to be Resident Evil, there’s something lost in translation that makes it a good game, but a horror game specifically that leaves a lot to be desired. 

Baker Family On A Budget

Lastly before sign off on this review, ascend, and reach deeper into the void, we need to discuss where the gameplay falters. I adored the chase scenes, found general combat to be cathartic fun, and was left in awe of the Labyrinth. But, what truly drags this game down is the insatiable need to mirror all of Resident Evil’s tropes, even the tired, labored ones.

Firstly, the boss fights. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Hellraiser: Revival is batting close to zero when it comes to boss encounters. The game does a superb job of building the mystique and fear factor of these enemies up, only to present you with fights that rarely evolve beyond, sprint around the room and take potshots. Picture Jack Baker but without the gimmicks and with mediocre design, and you won’t be too far away from painting the picture of most fights in Hellraiser: revival.

That’s not to say that some bosses don’t push the boat out a little more in terms of design, as the final boss in particular is gimmicks galore. However, to say that it’s an improvement would be very kind. The best I can do is ‘different’.

Plus, I can’t help but also feel very let down by the straightforward nature of a lot of the puzzles on offer. There was a certain welcome Resident Evil-like familiarity to each setup as you need one item to gather another, eventually leading to a crescendo like a boss fight. However, puzzles essentially range from look around and you’ll stumble across the item you need eventually, to completely obtuse puzzles where its less about logic and more about mindless trial and error to finally break through.

It’s these borrowed ideas and staples that have been regurgitated and diluted that drag Hellraiser down, which is a shame really, as the unique ideas the game has are more than enough to hold the player’s attention.

Code provided by publisher, reviewed on PS5

 

8.0

Clive Barker's Hellraiser Revival is a horror game with a small 'h', but a glorious adaption with a capital 'A'. With grotesque imagery in abundance, solid survival horror systems, and a blend of truly unique gameplay and nods to horror greats, Hellraiser manages to do justice to a horror staple.

Pros

1. Unappologetically grotesque and violent
2. Combat and stealth feel excellent
3. Labyrinth sections are satisfyingly surreal

Cons

1. Puzzles don't compare to top-end contemporaries
2. Unsettling but never scary
3. Some technical issues and wonky mechanics

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