Hellraiser: Revival reviewed: praised by Screen Rant, called clunky but fun by Radio Times
Two reviews of the Saber Interactive horror game Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival agree it suits franchise fans and is very gory. Screen Rant calls it a must-play, while Radio Times finds it clunky and bug-ridden.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival, a first-person horror game developed by Saber Interactive, has been reviewed by Screen Rant and Radio Times. Screen RantN “Saber Interactive has used its signature survival formula to adapt the horror franchise faithfully” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Radio TimesN “it’s all wrapped around what’s essentially a very straight forward horror FPS” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 1Radio Times says it is available now on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PC and Xbox Series X/S. Radio TimesN “Hellraiser: Revival is available now on Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2Both reviews describe the plot: players control Aidan Lynch, who tries to rescue his partner Sunny after she is taken to the Cenobites' Labyrinth. Screen RantN “The game puts players in the shoes of Aidan Lynch as he tries to bring his girlfriend Sunny back from the Labyrinth” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Radio TimesN “which leads to the Cenobites taking his partner Sunny to the labyrinth” Read at Radio Times ↗
Centre · 2Screen Rant says the game jumps between the Labyrinth and a cult-owned BDSM club and deals with addiction and fentanyl use. Radio Times says Aidan wakes in a torture room run by a group called the Scarlet Church. Screen RantN “jumping back and forth between the Labyrinth itself and a cult-owned BDSM club” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Radio TimesN “Waking up in a torture room led by a very BDSM-positive group, the Scarlet Church” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2Both reviewers say the game is very gory and sexual in content. Radio Times adds that it depicts clear consent, which it calls something to be applauded. Screen RantN “The game is grotesque, gratuitously violent, sadistic, insanely gory” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Radio TimesN “Though we will say Hellraiser: Revival’s depiction of clear consent that runs through is something to be applauded.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2Both reviewers say the Genesis Configuration (the Configuration) is used in combat, with Screen Rant praising its telekinesis for hurling saw blades and nails, and Radio Times describing it as a gravity gun of sorts powered by 'suffering'. Screen RantN “The Telekinesis feature is just pure fun, allowing players to grab saw blades and nails” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Radio TimesN “becoming a gravity gun of sorts and allowing you to send saw blades and nails at your enemies” Read at Radio Times ↗
Centre · 1Screen Rant gives a strongly positive verdict, calling it 'an absolute must-play for hardcore horror nuts and Hellraiser cultists alike' and 'horror at its best'. It says the story may be one of the strongest in the franchise and presents the game as a return to form after the 2022 Hulu reboot. Screen RantN “this is an absolute must-play for hardcore horror nuts and Hellraiser cultists alike”“If you've been waiting for the Hellraiser franchise to return to form after the controversial 2022 Hulu reboot” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Centre · 1Radio Times is more mixed. It calls the game 'clunky, tired' and reports 'pretty hefty bugs', including falling through the floor several times, weak enemy AI and a slow start of a few hours, but says it is 'by no means a bad game'. Radio TimesN “It’s a little clunky, tired and – at least in our run through – full of some pretty hefty bugs, leaving us falling through the floor on multiple occasions”“it’s by no means a bad game – just one that, perhaps fittingly, offers some pain with its pleasure.” Read at Radio Times ↗ Centre · 2Both agree that the gameplay is not innovative and that it suits franchise fans best. Screen Rant says puzzles are elementary and the mechanics borrow from other horror games, while Radio Times says it does not push boundaries but has fun to offer, and newcomers may find it harder going. Screen RantN “the gameplay doesn't push the boundaries of the genre in any innovative ways” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Radio TimesN “It doesn’t push any boundaries or try to reinvent the wheel but there’s fun to be had.” Read at Radio Times ↗
Centre · 1Radio Times also notes that Doug Bradley returns as Pinhead and calls him one of the best parts of the experience. Radio TimesN “Doug Bradley is back as the iconic Pinhead” Read at Radio Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both are centre-labelled review pieces. Screen Rant is enthusiastic and pitches the game at hardcore fans. Radio Times is a lighter, wry review that weighs the series fidelity against technical flaws.
- Emphasis
- Screen Rant stresses atmosphere, fidelity to Barker, gore and themes of addiction. Radio Times stresses bugs, pacing, combat and Doug Bradley's performance.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Screen Rant does not mention bugs or technical problems. Radio Times does not discuss the addiction themes or the Hulu reboot.
- Charged language
- “An Absolute Nightmare”“Sex, sawblades and plenty of suffering”“clunky”
- For example
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“Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival is horror at its best; a terrifying foray into the Labyrinth that fans of the franchise cannot skip.” — Screen Rant
“The clunky new horror game is out now.” — Radio Times
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The game is a gory, sexually explicit adaptation of Clive Barker's Hellraiser universe.
- Players control Aidan Lynch to rescue Sunny from the Labyrinth.
- The gameplay is not innovative but offers fun, especially for franchise fans.
- Newcomers to the franchise may find it harder going.
Where accounts differ
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Overall quality and polish
- Centre
- Screen Rant calls it 'horror at its best' and an essential play; Radio Times calls it clunky, tired and bug-prone with inconsistent pacing, though still enjoyable for fans.
North America1 outlet
Screen Rant gives an enthusiastic verdict and frames the game against the 2022 Hulu reboot and American social issues.
“a haunting soundtrack (when it matters)” — Screen Rant
Screen Rant
UK and Ireland1 outlet
Radio Times gives a mixed, jokey verdict with attention to bugs and pacing.
“you’ll need to be willing to look past it’s inconsistent pacing and spotty gameplay experience” — Radio Times
Radio Times
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Screen RantN · · Opinion
Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival Review - An Absolute Nightmare (In The Best Way Possible)
Celebratory Enthusiastic review presenting the game as a faithful, terrifying return to form and a must-play for fans.
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Radio TimesN · · Opinion
Hellraiser Revival review: Sex, sawblades and plenty of suffering
Mixed Wry review crediting the story and Pinhead but criticising bugs, clunky combat and uneven pacing.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 7 Oct 13:00 First Screen RantN Clive Barker's Hellraiser: Revival Review - An Absolute Nightmare (In The Best Way Possible) Opinion
- 9 Oct 14:33 +49h 34m Radio TimesN Hellraiser Revival review: Sex, sawblades and plenty of suffering Opinion
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.