Hellraiser creator Clive Barker was nervous the franchise’s new online game could be “overly censored,” however he is “proud as f**okay” of “how far they have been capable of push it.”
The thoughts behind one of horror’s most twisted franchises spoke about his emotions on Saber Interactive’s Hellraiser: Revival throughout a latest chat with Dread Central. The place different variations of iconic properties typically come and go, Barker solely had good issues to say in regards to the expertise.
“I used to be fearful at one level that the sport could be overly censored however I’m genuinely astonished by how far they’ve been capable of push it,” he mentioned.
So as to not mince phrases, Barker clarified: “I am proud as f**okay on the finish consequence.”
It is about as a lot reward as Saber and Hellraiser followers may ever hope to see for the brand new sport. Revival ditched the asymmetrical multiplayer formulation utilized by different variations by means of the final decade and as an alternative delivered a single-player survival expertise set throughout the Hellraiser world. Pinhead and different Cenobites helped Saber earn its now famously strict “M for Mature” ranking, which warns gamers of “blood and gore, intense violence, nudity, and powerful sexual content material,” amongst different issues.
It is each bit as intense as franchise followers hoped, however it’s not been with out its hangups. Hellraiser: Revival is so brutal that French YouTuber J0nathan reported their channel had been completely banned after they uploaded footage of themselves enjoying the sport. Not everybody has been fairly so unfortunate, however the truth that this particular person had even gone by means of the difficulty to cowl up moments that includes nudity and was nonetheless handed a ban speaks to how intense that gameplay can get.
As far as Barker’s time within the Hellraiser universe is anxious, he mentioned he’d “like to have one other go at it and discover.” The franchise, which started within the ’80s and has seen quite a few entries launch to various levels of success within the a long time since, final noticed an installment with Hulu’s 2022 film, merely titled Hellraiser. Whereas its future stays unsure, its creator thinks Revival would possibly be capable to provide a method ahead for related IPs.
“I feel what was achieved within the sport is a wake-up name to anybody who’s been concerned within the making of a franchise like Hellraiser,” Barker mentioned. “It says to get your concepts warmed over so you may return into present worlds in a model new method. I’ve many concepts that I’d wish to see realized within the Hellraiser universe, and I’m planning to maintain my fingers in that pie.”
IGN gave Hellraiser: Revival a 6/10 evaluate. We mentioned, “Whereas the studded scalp of otherworld antagonist Pinhead completely seems to be the half, it’s a disgrace that little else in Hellraiser: Revival has been nailed to anyplace close to the identical extent.”
For extra, you may examine how the workforce had an “unofficial aim” to be “banned, unrated, or restricted.”
Michael Cripe is a contract author with IGN. He is greatest recognized for his work at websites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be certain to present him a observe on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).