Slaughter Void is not a top-down dungeon runner for the faint of heart. In fact, this is the kind of game where once you start a level, you mustn’t pause even for a millisecond to catch yourself. One misstep, and say goodbye to Earth and hello to the back of the line to get into Valhalla. Which leads me to asking a simple question to the folks on the game’s leaderboards who’ve conquered many of these levels in under 15 seconds: HOW?!?!?!?!

Developed by Dread Night, Slaughter Void has the vibe of 1970s/1980s Heavy Metal comic books. Oozing with black light vibes and brimming with Iron Maiden-like spirit, the game has you running a gauntlet of levels killing everything that moves. Wizards, warriors, and frightful mutants roam these areas, charging towards you with furious rage as soon as you show up on their radar. Die, and find yourself all the way at the beginning of the level. Live, and move one step closer towards becoming the sort of legend they write songs about!

One look at Slaughter Void’s gameplay mechanics, and you’ll instantly be reminded of Hotline Miami. Just as it was in that classic Devolver Digital game, this one has you running at full speed towards enemies that want to make quick work of you. Its neon-colored worlds and people may also bring to mind that classic top-down shooter. However, where the neon is more like Knight Rider in Hotline Miami, Slaughter Void’s neon colors are more influenced by He-Man and Thundercats. And like those classic cartoons, it’s all about swords, arrows, and battle axes.

Both the best and worst part about Slaughter Void is how challenging it can get. The levels (six main ones and a final boss fight) offer a nonstop foray of violence and chaos. Enter one area, and be met with charging warriors and baddies, all with the desire to turn your tale into a mere footnote. On one hand, it’s a heart-pounding action gore fest that’ll make fans of Conan the Barbarian salivate with glee. However, you quickly see why each area is split into two 3-part sections rather than a full six-episode binge.

To put it bluntly: this game is freaking brutal! Blink, and you die. Get yourself cornered, and you die. Press the wrong attack button, and you die. Cough, and…well, you get the gist of it! It’s not called Slaughter Void because your hero is killing everything left and right; it’s titled that way because you’re entering a realm where death will greet you over and over again in the most violent of fashions!

And yet, it calls you back into the madness every time. Just when you get close to finishing up, something will come and push you back to the beginning. But like the Devil on your left shoulder, it whispers to you, “Give it another go. You’re almost there.” The worst part: the angel on your right is in cahoots, cheering you on as you get your face bashed in and your kneecaps broken!

As you play, you can collect skulls that will help you earn better weapons and power-ups. The blacksmith can forge swords and double-handed prongs. When you rescue The Huntress, she can give you fireballs and ghostly skulls. Charms can be earned through Snakess, ranging from more powerful kicks to the ability to automatically respawn once if you die. All of these sound great, but earning skulls requires being super quick on your feet and ending the levels in under 20-40 seconds. Fail to do that, and you may find yourself stuck with the same stuff throughout the entire game’s three-hour runtime.

Control-wise, Slaughter Void can be a tricky beast. Moving around is great, and using your main weapon is easy. But when it comes to booting enemies, using arrows, or unleashing a bloody powerful attack, it can be a button masher! However, as of this writing, there’s a slight problem with the left control stick button. In some occasions, when you die and have to push it to restart, it doesn’t work. When that happens, you’ll have to start the levels all over again, which is a real pain in the ass!

PROS:

• Brutally difficult in places
• Controls may cause hand pain

FINAL THOUGHTS:

With a warrior’s call and a killer mindset, Slaughter Void is an excellent throwback to cult classic comics, metal music, and fantasy video games. Yes, it’s a tough cookie to master, and you may need to give your hands a break after each three-leveled area. But if you aim to be spoken about in the same breath as Thor and Odin, then Slaughter Void will see to it that you become a god amongst men!

Promotional consideration provided by Jared Lugo of Stride PR. Reviewed on the PC via Steam.

Want to become a “Slaughter Void” legend? Give the game a try yourself! First one to nab this Steam Code gets a free copy: CCPBA-N9LVV-GPW35