Slain: Back from Hell Reviews
Be prepared to be impressed but also frustrated with the difficulty spikes.
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
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.
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.
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.
Having beaten Back From Hell, I don't really know what else to say. I hope to never return to this game and I wouldn't want anyone to waste their time and money on the endeavor. Whether that is harsh or not, Slain on the Switch is not the version you should buy. If you want to have any hope of enjoying the game, get any of the other versions available (all of which run at 60 FPS and offer customizable controls).
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...
"Highway to Hell."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
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.
Like the inside of Ozzy Osborne's head, Slain is simultaneously gorgeous, intense, chaotic and deeply, deeply frustrating. The presentation is excellent, with every part of the game exhibiting stunning 2D animation that really brings its hellish underworld to life. Where it all falls apart is the gameplay; Slain is simply no fun to play thanks to its painful difficulty level which chokes the tantalizing potential of its combat system. While it has been compared to the Castlevania series – and its combo mechanics call to mind the underrated Mirror of Fate – Slain isn't really worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as Konami's legendary gothic franchise.
Slain: Back From Hell features action and 2D plattforms with a Castlevania like style and lots of potential. Even though it has a great artistic design, it has some issues with the gameplay mechanics and some bugs.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Slain: Back from Hell is a more metal and modern Castlevania that looks and plays great, but is held back by a few sections which feel unfairly difficulty.
Fans who yearn for a strong, classic Castlevania experience will do well to consider Slain: Back from Hell.
Slain: Back from Hell is that mural on that beaten down van painted by someone sporting a mullet; the first time you walk by you quickly glance over and think, ‘hey, that’s cool.’ But after going by a bunch of times you notice the faded colors and the incomprehensible scene of violence going on. It’s like the artist wants you to take the time to appreciate the art but, honestly, it’s not worth the effort. There are a few spots that stick out like a segment where a warrior turns into a wolf or the bright blues and reds that border the fresco. But really, there are no secrets to be found here (and not many in the game). The mural is here to distract you for a short period (6 hours) and once you’re done taking it in, you’ll find it difficult to recall the experience.
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.
Slain ticks off the boxes as a serviceable homage to old school action-platformers. It has relatively tight controls and gameplay and has that 80's/90's difficulty that will make elder millennials jaunt down memory lane. The lack of depth and unreliable technical aspects limit Slain's fun factor, while the writing aims to be both cheesy and Gothic, but cannot serve both masters and ultimately fails. Finally, the achievements... ugh... just don't go there. If you're aching for a throwback to Belmont's heyday and don't care about your achievement ratio, give Slain a shot, but otherwise, give it a pass and catch some z's.
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 is finally the game it set out to be.
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.