Pinhead Hair-Raiser as Hellraiser: Revival Revealed

If you've never experienced Clive Barker's Hellraiser or The Hellbound Heart, you're sadly missing out. Thankfully, someone, somewhere made some sort of deal or incanted pact to see a videogame entry in that universe manifest, and even be considered canon against Barker's original works.

We think his name was "Pin"-something.

Anyways, If you're a bit feint of heart or are just a squemish-type, maybe skip this one and go and read about our other 1987-inspired (but kind of not) dealie (what a tenuous cross-reference -- go us!). But if you love all things horror, flesh and S&M (and otherworldly), maybe give this a quick watch (FYI: maybe NSFW):

Fans of the books and films are dubious and wonder whether a Puzzle Box and Pinhead jaunt can actually work as a videogame, which both developer Boss Team Games and publisher Saber Interactive refer to as a "first-person survival horror". So far, based on the visuals and tone above, we're definitely in the camp of yes, but how far it's willing to push the narrative undertone of hedonistic desire and flesh-and-mind-as-currency will remain to be seen. It certainly makes a great statement for games as both art and for adults and can hopefully broaden that acceptance a bit more given the gravity and size of the IP in hand.

What we hope it doesn't desecend into, however, is a basic hack-and-slash/shooter experience with cheap jump scares and Barker-inspired prose, on a very linear plane. Plenty of Lovecraftian games get by on that name and subgenre title alone with no real substance, which could also happen here. And Saber Interactive has a genuine hit and miss record, but we're cautiously optimistic for now as fans of both Clive Barker and survival horror in general. Oh, and that "Pin" guy. He seems like a stand up dude.

Stay tuned for more as we have it, including info on release dates, taboo-ish content and how it stacks up as a genuine survival horror experience, but for now feel free to fulfull your eyeball desires across the screenies available in our carousel below.