Key information
Hellraiser: Revival is a single-player horror title that expands the franchise canon with an original story. Set decades after the first film, the narrative follows Aiden, a biker who embarks on a multidimensional quest to rescue his girlfriend, Sunny, after she is taken by the Cenobites via a puzzle box known as the Genesis Configuration.
The game features a variety of mechanics, including melee combat with degradable weapons, gunplay, and elemental or telekinetic abilities powered by the Genesis Configuration. Despite these options, the reviewer notes that the game struggles to balance its identity between a horror experience and a first-person shooter, leading to uninteresting, bullet-sponge boss encounters.
The reviewer criticizes the level design for lacking the depth of inspirations like Resident Evil, noting that puzzles often feel simplistic and exploration lacks satisfaction. While the Cenobite realms effectively capture the film's aesthetic, the trial-and-error maze sequences are described as tedious. Visually, the game is powered by Unreal Engine 5, yet the art direction remains inconsistent across different environments.
Ultimately, the reviewer finds the game underwhelming, suggesting that its attempt to blend multiple genres prevents it from mastering any single one. While the voice acting, particularly for Pinhead, is praised as a highlight, the title is described as a jack-of-all-trades that fails to fully commit to a cohesive vision.
