Review: Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival
Hellraiser Finds Its Most Disturbing Ritual in Gaming
Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival is a video game adaptation of one of horror's most disturbing franchises, known for exploring the boundaries between pain, pleasure, and suffering. Featuring an original story, the game pits players against the Cenobites, supernatural creatures that turn agony into an extreme experience, while mysteries surrounding the Genesis Configuration lead the adventure through grotesque environments and increasingly disturbing situations.
Playing as Aidan Lynch, we must confront this universe of horrors in an attempt to save our girlfriend, Sunny.
From the very beginning, Hellraiser: Revival makes it clear that it has no intention of toning down the franchise's identity. Explicit violence, body horror, and discomfort are all part of the experience, accompanied by a narrative that seeks to expand the mythology of the Cenobites. This approach may put off more sensitive players, but it can also spark the curiosity of those who want to explore this universe beyond the films.
GAMEPLAY
Exploration combines material gathering, searching for important objects, puzzles, and chase sequences that make us feel like we're genuinely in trouble. The inventory includes key items, crafting materials, a map, and a journal containing information about the adventure. Another curious detail is the ability to monitor the protagonist's heartbeat on-screen, a feature that fits the game's goal of keeping players on edge. Progression also features manual saves, performed at rifts found throughout the environment, alongside automatic saves. Some interactions feel a little awkward, particularly when controller movement requires us to turn the camera completely to one side, but these are quirks we eventually get used to.
In certain situations, we need to observe our surroundings and figure out solutions using visual clues. One of the early sequences requires us to manipulate parts of modified bodies, fitting elements together to solve a puzzle. Elsewhere, we encounter a skull covered in nails and must press the correct ones to release a key that allows us to open a grotesque-looking door. There are also numerical codes and puzzles hidden throughout the rooms, some of which may take a few minutes of observation before we finally understand what to do. These moments reward exploration and encourage players to pay attention to their surroundings.
The Genesis Configuration becomes increasingly important as we progress, especially when we begin using the cube's energy to our advantage. The ability to collect glowing objects and throw them, combined with supernatural abilities, expands our options during combat. Hunting for hearts to restore Shailod also marks an interesting shift in how we approach the adventure. Gradually, we stop feeling like mere victims of our circumstances and begin adopting a much more aggressive stance toward the threats we face. Chase sequences help maintain this dynamic, creating moments when we must learn the route and avoid repeating our mistakes. Some sections can feel a little out of rhythm, particularly when we are forced to run through certain areas, but the sense of danger works well. I also feel that the game moves away from its puzzle-focused approach after the opening sequences, placing greater emphasis on survival and killing.
The cult-related enemies are one area where I would have liked to see more variety. Despite differences in clothing and the presence of certain characters who become important throughout the story, many enemies look remarkably similar, with pale faces and shaved heads. They taunt the protagonist and display constant hostility, but their visual repetition becomes increasingly noticeable throughout the campaign. Fortunately, the introduction of Charlotte and other creatures expands the variety of threats and helps enrich the mythology being presented. The narrative also deserves recognition for its willingness to take players into increasingly extreme situations.
VISUALS AND SOUND
Developed using Unreal Engine 5, Hellraiser: Revival features excellent graphical quality, particularly in its environments and creature designs. The world is carefully filled with references to the franchise, and some details seem deliberately placed to reward players who enjoy examining every corner. The open areas, especially the sections set in the cemetery, are among the game's visual highlights. There is also a sense of nostalgia for horror games from the Xbox 360 era, when certain experiences relied on striking imagery and disturbing situations that stayed with players long after they finished playing. Here, that impact is reinforced by the grotesque art direction and the way environmental elements are arranged. The sequence set in the swingers' club, for example, is so disturbing within the context of the story that it makes us uneasy about what we might find there.
The Cenobites' presentation is particularly striking. The game understands the importance of body horror to Hellraiser's identity and does not attempt to soften what makes this universe so unsettling. The gore is excessive, but it makes sense within the game's approach and reflects the way the franchise explores suffering. The atmosphere helps sustain this feeling throughout exploration, while the mystery surrounding these creatures makes us curious to learn more about their origins and motivations. Even with explicit violence dominating much of the experience, the visual design also stands out for creating locations that inspire curiosity rather than relying exclusively on shocking imagery.
ACHIEVEMENTS
Hellraiser: Revival features an interesting achievement list that encourages exploration, experimentation with different mechanics, and the search for secrets scattered throughout the campaign. I enjoyed the variety of objectives, but some achievements could have been made non-missable, or the game could have offered a more suitable chapter selection system to make pursuing 100% completion easier. This would prevent players from having to replay large sections of the adventure or save in very specific areas just to recover something they missed during their first playthrough.
TRAILER OFFICIAL
FINAL THOUGHTS
Hellraiser: Revival has a few issues that keep the experience from being more consistent. The shift in pacing changes how we approach the game. It begins with puzzles, stealth, and sneaking through areas undetected, but gradually moves in a completely different direction. There are also moments when certain narrative situations feel overly convenient, leaving us wondering why the protagonist made a particular decision. These are aspects that could have received more attention, especially in a campaign that does such a good job of establishing its atmosphere.
Even so, the way the game presents the Cenobites, hides puzzles throughout its environments, and uses discomfort as part of the experience makes these shortcomings less significant when compared to its strongest moments. Exploration rewards curiosity, the puzzles are engaging, and the introduction of creatures like Charlotte helps expand the variety of threats. Once we begin using the Genesis Configuration more aggressively and hunting for hearts to restore Sunny, the gameplay takes on a much more interesting dynamic, with a noticeable shift in the protagonist's attitude toward the dangers around him.
For me, Hellraiser: Revival's greatest achievement lies in expanding a universe that has long deserved an adaptation capable of exploring its ideas with greater freedom. The structure of a video game allows for a self-contained story, presents the Cenobites from new perspectives, and creates situations that would hardly have the same impact in a film lasting approximately two hours. The exaggerated gore is necessary for this approach, and the willingness to embrace the franchise's identity makes the experience particularly memorable. Despite a few less engaging sections, I believe Hellraiser: Revival has found a direction that suits the franchise exceptionally well, delivering a horror adventure that left me feeling a level of unease I had not experienced in quite some time.
SCORE: 8.5/10
Review by Gamertag: SCOULZ
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