Kotaku Explores Hollowbody: A Silent Hill 2-Inspired Horror Experience

What Is Hollowbody About?

In the 22nd century, Mica Holloway is a smuggler in the North Atlantic island city of Aeonis. Her partner Sasha went on a research expedition to the long-abandoned British Isles 12 days ago, and Sasha and her team have since disappeared.

Mica calls in some favors to break through the quarantine perimeter around the UK so she can travel to Sasha's last known location, when a sudden engine failure knocks her out of the sky. Mica's left stranded in what remains of a small British town, where she quickly discovers the ruins are inhabited by strange, hostile mutants. She must fight through them to find out what happened to Sasha.

What Kind of Horror Are We Talking About Here?

Hollowbody is a deliberate homage to late '90s survival horror, particularly the original version of Silent Hill 2. It’s a dark, atmospheric game set in a procession of ruined streets and abandoned buildings, where your flashlight is often the only source of illumination.

If you enjoy exploring old buildings and abandoned neighborhoods, interspersed with some puzzles or zombie brawls, this game is for you.

What Should I Know About Hollowbody Before I Start?

First off: Hollowbody's resources are more scarce than those of the Silent Hill games that inspired it. If players aren’t careful, it’s easy to run out of ammunition right as tougher enemies appear. However, Mica has some good melee weapons, such as a spiked bat and an improvised ax, although they don’t work equally well on everything.

Players should conserve health and ammo similarly to a Resident Evil game—avoid fights when possible, and use melee weapons whenever needed.

Secondly, if you’re a serious arachnophobe, this game might not be your best choice.

One last tip: you won't hit a real point of no return in Hollowbody until near its end, allowing you to backtrack as long as you can dodge new enemies and discover big secrets and useful weapons.

How Long Is Hollowbody?

The first run on Intended (normal) difficulty took about six-and-a-half hours. Currently, you cannot skip cinematics, making it less speedrun-friendly. With knowledge of routes and puzzles, clearing Hollowbody in well under three hours is possible, especially when skipping fights. To unlock all achievements, players must run through it at least three times, including one on its hardest difficulty.

How Many Endings Does Hollowbody Have?

On a fresh save, players can achieve one of two endings, influenced by a plot-mandatory conversation near the end of the first area. A third ending is achievable through a low-damage run on the unlockable Punished difficulty.

What Kinds of Collectibles Are There In Hollowbody?

There are a total of 34 collectibles in Hollowbody. Eight are 'lost signals,' unlocked through Mica's pocket radio, with unique achievements tied to them. Players can also find 26 documents, with a single off-limits document. Finding all 25 in one run unlocks the achievement Logomaniac.

Hollowbody is available now via Steam and GOG for a starting price of $16.99.