Hollow Demo

Sci-fi horror games can be quite memorable under the right conditions, especially when you think of classics like Alien vs. Predator, or more recently, DeadSpace. Obviously, aliens can get a bit boring after a while, especially since there are only so many ways they can be designed. On the other hand, horror games are more about the atmosphere than the monsters themselves, so the genre can always have something to offer.

Hollow is a first-person horror game with a bit of action and quite a bit of exploration, in which your main goal is to survive and find out more about a derelict mining station. The adventure is not very original in terms of plot or gameplay mechanics, but the atmosphere can get to you after a few minutes. Even so, the game needs more work in the writing department, because the awful grammar might interfere with the fun.

In short, the action takes place on a mining spaceship named Shakhter-One, which had some kind of incident. You play the role of a ship pilot who was supposed to transport resources from the station back to Earth, but he wakes up on the ship with no memory of who he is or what’s his job. This is probably the biggest cliche in the genre, and it’s very difficult to take the game seriously after such a poor introduction.

Gameplay-wise, Hollow is not particularly impressive in this regard either, although the mechanics are fluid and enjoyable most of the time. Your main goal is to explore the ship and be on guard for the jump scares that try to raise your heartbeat. Granted, some of the situations are pretty scary, although it depends on your experience with the genre and your mood while playing.

The puzzles can be a bit too annoying sometimes, such is the case of the computer interface that’s too blurry to actually see what you need to do. However, the graphics as a whole are quite enjoyable, especially in terms of textures, lighting and post-processing effects. Not much can be said about the sound at this point, but it would appear that the voice acting is decent so far.

Hollow is not quite the experience the developers brag about, especially in terms of atmosphere and story quality. However, it can still be a decent horror flick if the puzzles are refined and the jump scares are not as predictable.