When two names as distinctive as SUDA51 and SWERY come together, expectations inevitably run high. Hotel Barcelona, developed by White Owls and published by CULT Games, is the result of this unusual collaboration – a surreal and blood-soaked 2.5D slasher that draws heavily from cult horror cinema while layering in roguelike mechanics. On PlayStation 5, it feels like both a celebration of these creators’ eccentricities and a divisive experiment that doesn’t always land, but when it does, it leaves a memorable mark.
The setup immediately sets the tone. You play as Justine, a rookie federal marshal whose mind is fused with Dr. Carnival, a serial killer whose voice and powers haunt every action. The hotel, positioned somewhere on the eerie borderlands of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, serves as a gauntlet filled with deranged killers and twisted arenas. It’s a premise steeped in pulp and excess, and while the story is more excuse than deep narrative, the constant presence of Justine’s dual identity injects some intrigue into the otherwise linear progression.
Gameplay is where Hotel Barcelona tries hardest to distinguish itself. Battles rely on quick reflexes and tactical positioning, but the standout mechanic is the “Slasher Phantom” system: each time you die, an echo of your last run replays your moves in real time, potentially damaging enemies or shielding you from harm. It’s clever on paper and can create moments of thrilling synergy, especially in boss fights, but it doesn’t always feel as refined as it should. Some runs become chaotic and cluttered, leaving strategy overshadowed by visual noise. Still, the risk/reward balance of building momentum through repeated deaths gives the game a masochistic appeal that fans of roguelike experiments may appreciate.
Combat is enhanced by the blood mechanic, where aggression fills a “Skull Gauge” that lets you unleash devastating special attacks. It’s a satisfying flourish that plays into the game’s gory aesthetic, though the balance can feel uneven – bosses often swing between punishing difficulty spikes and anticlimactic defeats. Controls are generally responsive, though a lack of precision in movement sometimes makes tight platforming sequences more frustrating than fun, especially in later levels. The addition of online multiplayer – both in co-op and PvP invasions – adds variety, but the systems feel tacked on compared to the single-player core.
Visually, the game embraces its B-movie inspirations with exaggerated violence, grimy environments, and grotesque enemy designs. Each of the seven zones takes cues from horror subgenres, offering everything from haunted mansions to industrial laboratories. The art direction is stylish, if inconsistent, with some areas dripping in atmosphere and others coming across as flat or underdeveloped. Audio fares better: the soundtrack leans into synth-heavy horror themes that complement the action, and voice work gives both Justine and Dr. Carnival distinctive personalities, though repetition sets in quickly across longer sessions.
In the end, Hotel Barcelona is exactly what one might expect from a collaboration between SUDA51 and SWERY: strange, messy, and undeniably unique. It thrives when its eccentric mechanics and grotesque aesthetics click together, delivering chaotic fun that feels unlike much else on the market. Yet its flaws – uneven pacing, imprecise controls, and an occasionally shallow structure – mean it won’t appeal to everyone. For those who relish experimental design and can forgive rough edges, it’s a memorable descent into blood-soaked madness. For others, it may feel more like a missed opportunity than a genre-defining slasher.
Score: 6.8/10
Press Play Media 