Hollow

It’s hard to deny the ambition that Hollow brings to the table, and it’s certainly carving out its own niche on the Switch too. Despite this, Hollow feels like an exercise in tedium. Some players may be able to suffer through the slow moving yet brief story, but ultimately it’s an average experience that even genre fans will struggle to enjoy.

I have to say, a game like Hollow has so much potential and it could have been one the best horror games on the Nintendo Switch had some basic aspects had been right, such as the movement and combat. But what it ends up being is a game that doesn’t have many redeeming features or qualities. It’s too slow and lethargic, the display is a little off-putting after a while and it doesn’t run well playing in Handheld mode, which is a major feature of the Switch.

As far as space-set survival horror games go, Hollow sets the standard for a new low.

Hollow, as a game, is an effective horror experience plagued by some poor goal communication with the player. It has clear issues but at its core, Hollow is a technically impressive game built on generally good gameplay. As a port to Switch, this game is unfortunately an abysmal mess.

Hollow is an incredibly ugly game with the kind of plentiful technical issues that make it actively difficult to play. Those with a masochistic streak might derive some pleasure from its abrasiveness and its downbeat tone, but most Switch-owning horror fans would be much better served playing through Resident Evil Revelations and its sequel for the umpteenth time.

Hollow could have the most terrifying monsters ever chasing you through its dimly-lit hallways, and it would still suck on account of the fact that said chase would take place at the slowest speed imaginable, and give you ample opportunity to be reminded of what an eyesore it is. As I said up top, credit to the game for having such a clear vision of what it wanted to be, but the gulf between idea and execution couldn’t be any wider than it is here.