Sure thing, let’s dive in—oops, almost went off-topic… So, HOTEL BARCELONA, ever heard of it? If not, heads up: it’s a real wild ride. SWERY and SUDA51, those bonkers genius types, are dropping this mayhem-laden slasher onto PlayStation 5 in September. CULT Games and White Owls are in on it too. Yep, a huge collab moment.
Now imagine a swanky hotel, stuck right where Pennsylvania and West Virginia almost kiss. It looks nice, but trust me, it’s a trap. The decor? Just a cover. Here’s a plot twist: it’s basically a playground for America’s worst serial killers. Yeah, just go with it.
Enter Justine, some kind of rookie federal marshal—well, kinda. Little secret: she’s got Dr. Carnival tangling around in her head, like an unwanted roommate. Guy’s a nutcase with a history to match. Their mission, if they choose to survive it (cue Mission Impossible theme): knock off every killer lurking in that cursed hotel. No biggie, right?
Oh hey, picture break! Yeah, visuals are great for setting a mood. Think vibrant chaos, if you get what I mean.
There’s this whole 2.5D action thing going on. It’s not your basic side-scroller, but what do I know? Move right, hit buttons, dodge danger, and feel the 80s horror vibes all around. Drama, drama everywhere.
Speaking of drama—Have you ever thought dying in a game was useful? Here, it is. You die, you get these “Slasher Phantoms.” Long story short, they copy your flailing (uh, I mean strategic) moves from your last life. And they can seriously mess with enemies’ heads. Use them, abuse them, or just watch them dance. Whatever works.
Then, blood. Everywhere. And I mean everywhere. It’s apparently more than just a mess. Blood pumps you up, quite literally fueling your powers. Fill up the Skull thingy and—BAM! Carnival Awakening hits. Not to be confused with your morning coffee routine.
Oh, wanna explore? There’s seven zones here—think haunted house to creepy lab. Each zone throws a boss at you that demands quick thinking. Or quick smashing of buttons, let’s be honest here.
And guess what, this whole fever dream is a mash-up of SUDA51 and SWERY. Picture No More Heroes having a bizarre meeting of the minds with Deadly Premonition. Results are a tad surreal. Or, you know—nightmarish. Depends on your point of view.
That’s the lowdown. Hope you’re as confused, intrigued, and slightly uneasy as I am. Cheers to whatever lies at the end of this gaming rabbit hole.
