Slain: Back from Hell Reviews
"Imagine if the show Metalocalypse and the movie Heavy Metal had a baby. Now throw in even more bloody, visceral, H.P. Lovecraft-esque exploits that would make any hardened warrior blush. Seriously, if there was an alternate dimension that was a literal hell landscape, Slain: Back From Hell would be a perfect depiction of it. The art, music, level design, and creatures all come together to form an unforgettable, gothic horror experience. Although with all the headbanging I did to the soundtrack, I might not remember much in the long run. After all metal never dies."
Slain: Back from Hell has certainly proven itself worthy of Beelzebub himself. I thankfully managed to dodge the bullet that was Slain’s initial release but there seems to be nought wrong whence it came back from hell.
Fans who yearn for a strong, classic Castlevania experience will do well to consider Slain: Back from Hell.
If you love a brutal challenge and don't mind dying over and over again then this will be the game for you. If you don't find that fun then stay well clear. There are no difficulty settings here, it is what it is so you either live with that or you don't. It's a shame the developers didn't include a casual setting to at least make the game a little more accessible to people. I am fine with a brutal challenge like this but many will just give up and won't sink the required hours in which is a shame as there is lot's to see. A stunning visual style accompanied by a great metal soundtrack and gameplay which feels satisfying when mastered make for a really nice little package.
Slain will throw dumb A.I. and impossibly tricky situations at you throughout your time with it. It almost feels like any strategy goes out the window when you face enemy encounters and you're forced to frantically swipe at them in the hopes that you succeed, which isn't enjoyable in the slightest.
Slain: Back From Hell was a good attempt to bring back some classic gaming magic, but unfortunately just couldn't quite grasp everything that made those games great. Might be worth a look at 5 bucks or under, or if you really have a hard-on for Castlevania-esque games.
Despite the very pleasing sound and visuals, Slain is just too unforgiving to be as fun as it should be. I'm glad I've finished it, because those damned flying enemies swooping down on my are giving me nightmares.
"Highway to Hell."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
This is what Slain: Back From Hell suffers most with. While it’s blatantly attractive to look at, the reliance on being too old-school in the hack ‘n’ slash department makes the game struggle to feel anything above mediocre. This doesn’t mean that I found it terrible by any means. There are a few decent surprises present and I am sure Slain: Back From Hell can be that guilty pleasure for some in its own right. I just didn’t find it nearly as fun as I had hoped it would be, especially considering the potential that can be seen within the half a dozen hours it takes to beat it.
Slain: Back from Hell is definitely recommended if you like the classic proposals for action and 2D platforms with a fairly high difficulty throughout 6 levels that may be a simple development, but in return, it delights us with an audiovisual section of scandal , a pixel art well done, a gothic art, dark and bloody, and a soundtrack that fits like a finger. Recommended if the setting calls you and the challenges go.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
If you’re a fan of challenging games Slain: Back From Hell is happy to sate your thirst for aggravation, loud music, and pretty copious gore...
Slain: Back from Hell is a brutally tough yet impressively genuine retro 2D adventure.
Slain: Back from Hell is a unique fish in a sea of pixel-art platforming throwbacks. The level design for the most part is well-done. The difficulty suits the atmosphere created by the music and art style. I mentioned earlier that Slain awoke a part of my past-self. Needless to say, it was fun to feel a similar adrenaline to what I felt as a 17-year-old. It felt like Wolf Brew reached into my brain, and plucked out a combination of my favourite things growing up. If the element of luck was reduced some of the checkpoints a little more forgiving, this would be essential.
If you have an abundance of patience, a high degree of skill and the tenacity to not be defeated, then Slain: Back from Hell is likely to give you hours of fun. For most though, it’s just going to be the cause of extreme levels of anger and frustration.
You will go to Hell and back, just to play this game a little more. Definitely worth playing!
Slain: Back from Hell is a very solid, yet run of the mill action platformer. Its strong audio and incredible visuals are the initial pull to play this game, but the uneven enemy difficulty and simplistic combat system hurt the experience. I liked playing the game for my Slain: Back from Hell review, but I’m sad to say that I didn’t love it – however, I’m very interested to see what Wolf Brew Games release
I highly recommend that you add Slain: Back From Hell to your PlayStation 4 collection today. Writing this Slain: Back From Hell was the highlight of my week and I’m sure it will entertain you as well for several hours. If you’re a fan of games such as the old-school Castlevania series and want to face a very challenging release, then this game is a must-have for you.
Visuals-wise, Slain: Back from Hell for Nintendo Switch is one of the most '80s Metal videogames in existence. Unfortunately, the actual gameplay just doesn't cut it, as the controls often feel unresponsive and the level of challenge unfair. Want to play a Heavy Metal-powered Castlevania? Just play a Castlevania title with Iron Maiden on the headphones.
It's also not a very long game. My first playthrough clocked in at around seven hours, though better players could certainly finish it more quickly. There's also nothing new to do once you've slain Vroll. But if you have a thing for the difficult platformers of yore, Slain: Back from Hell is a satisfying blend of what made those games great.
In my honest opinion, I would say you could pass on Slain: Back from Hell—it simply isn’t a must-play. If you happen to have the extra cash, and are looking for something mildly enjoyable, then you could definitely do far worse—there are moments of pure, sidescrolling fun in this game and the art and style add to the appeal—but I wouldn’t go out of my way here. The best thing that can come from throwing some cash at this game is that the developers might be encouraged to make another game, and next time, make one with a little more depth and reward. Assuming you’re like me, with limited financial resources, and you’ve got your eye on another game, then, by all means, get that other game.