Hollowbody is a tech-noir survival horror from solo developer Headware Games, sending the player through a quarantined city in search of a missing companion. The full campaign was completed to the credits, with the post-credits extras including Dungeon Crawl, First Person and Big Head modes.
The Silent Hill homage is the whole point and lands well, with fixed camera angles, the red save flash and a pick-up noise that mirrors Silent Hill 2. The radio static that signals a nearby enemy is a welcome survival tool.
The connection to the developer’s previous game pays off, with the Last Stop Cafe serving as a subtle callback to where Chasing Static began. The authentic British touches impress, with train tickets that look exactly like real ones.
The resource balance is generous in one direction, since the game gives plenty of ammo, and the bow and arrow is a highlight that outperforms the shotgun. The healing economy is stingy in contrast, with first aid sprays in short supply throughout.
The unlockables give a genuine incentive to replay, since beating the game unlocks new modes rather than simply ending. The multiple-ending structure is noticed approvingly, with different outcomes implied by different choices.
The fixed camera angles bite in combat, with awkward angles repeatedly causing trouble, and the darkness is oppressive without a toggleable flashlight. Combat is largely skippable with little incentive to fight, and the dogs are the most annoying enemy encountered.
Overall, the Silent Hill-inspired craft, the British world-building and the fair ammo supply make this a very good survival horror. The camera angles and healing scarcity are the caveats.