Impressions: CLIVE BARKER’S HELLRAISER: REVIVAL is a Return to Glory for the Order of the Gash

It’s no secret that I’m a really big Hellraiser geek. Here at Daily Dead, folks have likely seen my writing about Clive Barker’s masterpiece, heard me chatting about the dizzying highs and excruciating lows of the franchise as a whole on our podcast, or even cringed through me rocking some poorly crafted Pinhead cosplay as part of a Twitch fundraiser. Suffice to say, I’m a fan of all things Cenobite.

But I’ve been burned by this series too many times to get truly excited about new entries, so when Saber Interactive released a teaser for Hellraiser: Revival months ago, I was surprised to find my heart gave a little pitter patter (or chitter chatter) of cautious optimism. It had promise, with flashes of vibrant, gory art design and a tease for a story that might bring back the blend of artistic violence and taboo desire that made Hellraiser so special when Barker first introduced us to his macabre world almost 40 years ago.

Thankfully, Daily Dead was invited to try Revival early and give our first impressions, and fearless leader Jonathan James probably knew there would be many tears fallen and suffering wasted had I not been given a chance to give the game a test drive and see how she handles. (Full disclosure: as of writing this, I’m still working my way through the game so these are impressions based on what I’ve gotten to check out so far).

Revival follows Aidan Lynch, your classic biker type whose hedonistic relationship with girlfriend Sunny puts them in possession of a box referred to in-game as the Genesis Configuration. Of course, when they open said box, they are greeted by the Cenobites, who tear Sunny apart and take her into the Labyrinth. Before he can do anything about it, Aidan is ambushed by a group of cultists who call themselves The Scarlet Church and he finds himself not only having to escape their clutches, but also brave the Labyrinth itself to make a deal with Pinead for Sunny’s salvation.

Without diving too far into spoiler territory, the plot that I’ve seen so far isn’t earth-changing, but that’s not what Saber needed to do here. They just needed to establish a solid premise to kick off the blend of survival and action shenanigans that abound in the game, and in that they deliver. They also weren’t afraid to lean hard into the brutal yet sensual themes that make this world so transgressive and compelling. 

Gameplay starts with Aiden nailed naked to a chair, and things only get more grim from there. From underground Scarlet Church hideouts where gimp mask-wearing cultists try to dismember him to backwoods encounters with zombie-like Cenobite rejects called Unworthy seeking to make a meal out of him, players will have a handful trying to keep this poor PC alive. And that’s without even taking into account the frequent diversions into the maze of torment the Cenobites call home. Saber seems to have found a narrative sweet spot that combines the basics of the early Hellraiser films along with the creative world-building found in the Boom! Comics runs from the 2010s.

What makes these plot elements really sing is the immersive nature of the game. Cut scenes play out with cinematic quality graphics and sound design like the new Hellraiser film I’ve wanted for years. These transition into gameplay production that’s equally impressive, as you can almost feel each bite, blade slash, and gunshot blast. And there’s something particularly off-putting about hiding from a cultist yelling things like “I promise I’ll jerk you off after I kill you!” When you’re not hiding or fighting for your life, the game incorporates a multitude of ways to build the lore of this world, from found recordings, dropped notes and journal pages, and perhaps most disturbingly a variety of “artwork” left by the cult where human bodies have been used as a horrible canvas.

As for gameplay, I must first admit that I am by no means an elite gamer. I’m not looking to find the most punishing encounters just for the sake of the challenge. Revival gives four difficulty options, and I was proud of myself for doing Normal instead of Easy, so gauge my opinions accordingly. That said, Revival has a nice variety of survival, action, puzzles, and even chase sequences to keep the game from feeling stale. 

Aiden’s abilities at the start of the game put you squarely in the “survival horror” camp, with a small knife and ability to stay hidden being the only things to keep you from being torn to pieces. But as the threats increase, so does your arsenal, which includes conventional upgrades like better melee weapons and various firearms, but also more supernaturally-based powers, as you’re given access to powers of the Genesis Configuration, which include telekinetic and pyronetic powers to launch spikes, sawblades, and fireballs at incoming baddies.

The puzzles in Revival give just enough of a nudge in the right direction without holding your hand completely to make them difficult but doable. As someone who looks up how to solve puzzles in 85% of the games I play, the fact that I’ve been able to move along in a game that doesn’t yet have any online guides should give you a good gauge of the difficulty rating you’ll be dealing with. 

But perhaps the most impressive yet frustrating component of the game are the chase sequences where you’re forced to make split-second decisions and button combos to escape demonic beasties or, most frequently, our old smiley friend Chatterer. If you’re able to get through a mad dash through the Labyrinth while hearing the “clack clack clack” of Chatterer on your tail and not spend the next 45 minutes with a clenched butthole, then you’re a cooler cucumber than I.

At this point I’ve gotten about halfway through the game’s advertised 8-12 hour playtime, so I’m excited to see what additional surprises are in store from me in this beautifully bloody playground. What I’ve gotten so far has been extremely satisfying, and I can’t wait for fellow acolytes of the Order of the Gash to get their chance to pray with me at the altar of Hellraiser: Revival.