Slain: Back From Hell

GameSpewJoseph Sale

9/10

Leading up to the re-release of Slain, Wolf Brew posted a marketing caption: UPGRADED, OVERHAULED & REDEEMED. Does Back From Hell “redeem” the initial disappointing release? In my eyes, absolutely. Like a medieval sinner turned to a life of holy demon-slaying knighthood, it claws its way back into the light over a pile of steaming gore-matted corpses. And if that’s not metal, I don’t know what is.

Video ChumsA.J. Maciejewski

7.9/10

Indie developers rarely capture the true spirit of old-school games. Thankfully, Slain: Back from Hell feels like a long-lost SNES game complete with enough frustrating elements that would make even the Dalai Lama throw his controller.

Nintendo World ReportJames Dawson

7.5/10

Slain: Back from Hell is not a game that everyone will enjoy. It’s difficult and requires a lot of patience to see it through to the end. It’s also not a very long game. My first playthrough clocked in at around seven hours, though better players could certainly finish it more quickly. There’s also nothing new to do once you’ve slain Vroll. But if you have a thing for the difficult platformers of yore, Slain: Back from Hell is a satisfying blend of what made those games great.

DualShockersLeif Conti-Groome

7/10

Slain: Back from Hell is that mural on that beaten down van painted by someone sporting a mullet; the first time you walk by you quickly glance over and think, ‘hey, that’s cool.’ But after going by a bunch of times you notice the faded colors and the incomprehensible scene of violence going on. It’s like the artist wants you to take the time to appreciate the art but, honestly, it’s not worth the effort. There are a few spots that stick out like a segment where a warrior turns into a wolf or the bright blues and reds that border the fresco. But really, there are no secrets to be found here (a...

Slain: Back from Hell is a unique fish in a sea of pixel-art platforming throwbacks. The level design for the most part is well-done. The difficulty suits the atmosphere created by the music and art style. I mentioned earlier that Slain awoke a part of my past-self. Needless to say, it was fun to feel a similar adrenaline to what I felt as a 17-year-old. It felt like Wolf Brew reached into my brain, and plucked out a combination of my favourite things growing up. If the element of luck was reduced some of the checkpoints a little more forgiving, this would be essential.

TheSixthAxisSteve C

6/10

Overall, Slain: Back From Hell is a fun game. Despite the critical tone of much of this review, I very much enjoyed my time with Bathoryn and will be going back to try and unlock the rest of those no-hit boss achievements. It is best to go in with a clear idea of what to expect, however, which is a no-nonsense old-school hack and slash platformer fuelled by heavy metal.

The OuterHavenBy Cody Maynard

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to play a game that took place inside the head of a Norwegian death metal band, then look no further than Slain: Back from Hell. I’m fairly sure no game could come closer; it’s bloody, it’s full of demons and it’s unnecessarily difficult. That’s all part - Read our full Gaming News on The Outerhaven .

Push SquareBrandon Marlow

4/10

Slain: Back from Hell is a game that captures your attention immediately. It's a heavy metal inspired 2D hack-and-slash with some of the most beautiful pixel graphics and art design that you'll see. In an age where games using the pixel-art style are a dime a dozen, Slain stands out from the crowd not only with its metal aesthetic, but with its incredibly detailed and intricate backgrounds. Each new area is given a fantastic amount of depth, and you feel as if you're travelling through a fully realised world.

Worth PlayingBrian Dumlao

3.5/10

Slain! is a gory hack'n slash game where players control Bathoryn, a hero in a Gothic world, seeking to liberate seven great towers.