Hotel Barcelona, the Latest from Suda51 and SWERY, Has Arrived
The collaborative project from renowned game designers Goichi Suda (Suda51) and Hidetaka Suehiro (SWERY), titled Hotel Barcelona, has officially launched across all major platforms. This 2.5D roguelike slasher is now available on PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. As players begin to dive in, initial impressions and reviews are starting to surface, presenting a somewhat mixed reception.
Hotel Barcelona plunges players into a blood-soaked action roguelike where the protagonist finds herself trapped in a hotel teeming with serial killers. Adding to the macabre premise, the heroine harbors a killer spirit within her—a secondary personality that emerges to assist her in combat should she fall in battle, offering a unique twist on the typical roguelike death mechanic.
Initial Reviews Offer a Varied Perspective
Early assessments for Hotel Barcelona are still limited, both from critics and the wider player base. On Metacritic, the PC version currently holds a score of 63 out of 100 based on five reviews, while OpenCritic reports an average of 61, with only 23% of critics recommending the title. However, Steam users appear to be embracing the game with much more enthusiasm, giving it a positive rating of 92%.
Journalists have praised the game for its intriguing characters and the innovative Slasher Phantom mechanic, which sees the shadows of past runs fighting alongside the player. The game also received nods for its numerous references to classic horror films, showcasing the creators' deep understanding of the genre.
Despite these positives, several drawbacks have been highlighted. Common criticisms include awkward and unresponsive controls, clunky and frustrating combat, technical issues, and a relatively short game length. One particularly scathing review from Joe Chivers of GamesRadar+, who awarded the game 40/100, stated, "Understandably, Hotel Barcelona was born from minds clearly well-versed in horror, but the game never manages to break free from genre clichés and become truly unique. The result is a project that slips from your mind immediately after finishing it. The slow combat and weak dialogue become the final nail in this game's coffin."
What This Means for Players
For players eager to experience the latest from these celebrated developers, Hotel Barcelona offers a distinctive, albeit polarizing, take on the roguelike genre. Its unique blend of character-driven horror, innovative gameplay mechanics, and a clear homage to classic horror tropes might appeal to fans of Suda51 and SWERY's previous works, even with the reported technical and gameplay issues. Those interested in picking up the game on PC can do so with a 20% discount on Steam until October 10th. The game is available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S, allowing a broad audience to decide for themselves if this horror-infused slasher checks into their preferred gaming experiences.
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