I’ve been a huge fan of Nathan Hamley and Headware Games for what feels like forever. His last game, Chasing Static, nailed that PS1-era horror vibe, delivering atmosphere and tension in all the right ways. So, when I heard his next project, Hollowbody, would take inspiration from the PS2-era survival horror classics, I was instantly hooked. That era is the golden age of horror for me, and the idea of a new game reviving that style had my excitement through the roof. Now that Hollowbody is here, it doesn’t just meet my expectations—it blows them away. It’s a tech-noir survival horror short story set in the rotting ruins of an abandoned British city. You’ll solve puzzles, scrounge for resources, and fight like hell to escape beyond the wall. It’s a love letter to PS2-era horror that perfectly reminds us why that style remains so damn effective—and why it still holds up today.
A Dystopian Nightmare
You step into the shoes of Mica, a black-market shipper on a desperate mission to find her missing partner, Sasha. This isn’t about being a super-soldier or embarking on a grand, world-saving adventure—it’s a deeply personal quest driven by the simple, yet powerful, motivation of one person searching for another. Sasha has vanished within a quarantined zone, a grim urban wasteland sealed off after a mysterious catastrophe. With no one knowing the truth behind the disaster, Mica bravely ventures into the unknown, risking everything to find her. The game begins with a hauntingly brief but unforgettable scene where you control Sasha on a desolate beach. As she approaches a dark cave, the camera pans to reveal a gas mask of a missing colleague abandoned in the sand. This chilling moment sets the stage for the dread that follows. It’s a brief but poignant glimpse into Sasha’s fate that casts a long shadow over what’s to come. From there, the narrative shifts to Mica, who crash-lands her hover car into the decaying, biomechanical ruins of the city. And that’s where the real horror begins.
PS2 Horror, But Sharper
Let’s get this out of the way—the look of Hollowbody is exactly what I wanted from a PS2-inspired horror game. The fixed camera angles are back, and they are masterfully crafted to create tension. Every shift feels deliberate, keeping you constantly on edge, making every corner a potential threat. You never know what’s lurking just outside of view, and when the camera pans, it’s pure dread. The polygonal character designs capture that retro PS2 roughness, but with a modern sharpness that elevates them. It’s perfectly nostalgic—the characters’ stiff movements, the blocky environments, and even the way the mouths don’t sync with the dialogue—it’s all so authentic to that era, but with just enough polish to feel fresh. The decaying city, filled with biomechanical rot, is unsettling, though I will admit it could’ve used a bit more visual flair. While there are some striking moments, like a purple light casting eerie shadows in a room or the entirely different aesthetic of the final area, the environments feel a little too muted at times. A few more pops of color or standout set pieces would have enhanced the overall immersion. Yes, it’s a one-man team, and the limitations are clear, but I couldn’t help wishing for a bit more visual variety.
Tension, Puzzles, and Survival Horror Bliss
This game understands horror in a way many modern titles miss. The fixed cameras and clever environmental storytelling pull you in, while the puzzles demand attention. It’s not about running and gunning—Hollowbody makes you think. Early on, you’re cracking a safe by piecing together environmental clues, and it feels like classic survival horror at its finest. The world is telling a story, and you have to slow down, pay attention, and figure it out. And then there’s the combat. It’s intentionally stiff and clunky, just like the survival horror games of old, and that adds to the tension. It’s not perfect—Mica’s melee attacks sometimes feel awkward and unreliable, but when you switch to firearms, the combat flows much better. There’s something uniquely satisfying about blasting through enemies with clunky, retro weaponry in this kind of world. Plus, swinging an electric guitar as a melee weapon? That’s the kind of throwback nod that makes me grin, even if it feels a bit janky.
A Near-Perfect Horror Game
As much as I love Hollowbody, it isn’t flawless. Aside from the aforementioned visual monotony in some areas, there are a few other issues that stand out. The environments, though appropriately decayed and grim, sometimes lack that extra level of polish. Floating props and misaligned geometry are noticeable in open areas, and though these are small details, they can momentarily break immersion. The audio mixing could also use a bit of fine-tuning. There were a few moments, particularly during phone conversations, where dialogue was drowned out by environmental noise or background music, making it hard to follow the story. And while I appreciate the puzzle design, I found myself wishing for more variety and difficulty in the later stages of the game. The puzzles are engaging, but they could have pushed the envelope a bit further, especially for seasoned survival horror fans.
A Masterful Revival
Despite its few flaws, Hollowbody is an incredible throwback to the PS2 era of horror that nails the atmosphere, the tension, and the nostalgia of those classic games. It’s a love letter to a style of horror that’s been missing for far too long. Sure, the environments could use a bit more color, and the combat could be a little less janky, but in the grand scheme of things, these are minor critiques. This game is an absolute must-play for any horror fan, especially if you grew up loving the survival horror classics like I did. For a one-man project, Hollowbody delivers in ways I didn’t expect, and it leaves me craving more from this world. Nathan Hamley has cradted something special here—a game that feels like a forgotten classic, unearthed and given new life. If you’re a fan of slow-burn, atmospheric horror with a retro twist, then Hollowbody should be on your must-play list.
Hollowbody on Steam: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2123640/Hollowbody/
