HOTEL BARCELONA Review

When you talk about over-the-top gaming experiences, names like Swery65 and Suda51 inevitably come up. These developers have a knack for delivering games that are as unique as the players who dive into them. Their latest collaboration, HOTEL BARCELONA, continues this tradition, offering a roguelite horror action game that is both messy and addictive. It's rough around the edges, yes, but I couldn't put it down, even then. 

What began as a casual idea quickly turned into an epic collaboration. It all started in October 2019 during an event called Travis Monday Nitro 2 in Shibuya, Tokyo, where the two were just chatting about creating a side-scrolling horror game. From that was born HOTEL BARCELONA; there's a lot more to it, but I won't bore you with all the details. 

The team behind HOTEL BARCELONA is from White Owls, the studio founded by Swery 65, and they brought in the team that worked on The Missing Mackfield and The Island of Memories to bring this vision to life. Development began with a focus on creating a side-scrolling action game with horror elements, inspired by classic films like The Blair Witch Project and Wrong Turn, but with touches of the bizarre humor that Suda51 is known for.  

As someone who plays a lot of retro games, I see echoes of classic sidescrollers here, making HOTEL BARCELONA stand out in a sea of generic roguelites. Swery65 and Suda51 have put their heart into this project, creating not just a game but a statement about horror as entertainment.  

The premise is a bloody parody of slasher horror films set in a luxurious hotel on the outskirts of Pittsburgh on the border between Pennsylvania and West Virginia, bringing together the most evil serial killers in the United States. It's almost as if it were a gamer version of a B-movie with an indie budget.  

The story revolves around Justine, a rookie federal marshal who wakes up in this cursed hotel after a car accident and suddenly finds herself possessed by the spirit of a serial killer named Dr. Carnival, who lives as a voice in her head that helps her channel forces to survive. What this does is turn Justine into a divided anti-heroine, fighting not only enemies but also her own mind. 

The balance between beauty and brutality.  

The goal of the plot is to exterminate all the evil killers to escape, but with Dr. Carnival's voice dictating your decisions. I have played through hilarious moments, like Justine arguing with her possession while cutting enemies in half.  

Cinematic influences are at the heart of HOTEL BARCELONA's story, parodying classic slasher films with a "kawaii" Japanese touch. I see it as a fond tribute to works like Halloween or Friday the 13th.  

This parody feels like a critique of the violence in films, yet it maintains a light tone that avoids being holier-than-thou. The story of HOTEL BARCELONA is well thought out, but it can leave you feeling somewhat unsatisfied at times, with certain questions being left unanswered; however, it's unclear whether this was an intentional move or not. 

The gameplay of HOTEL BARCELONA captivates you right from the start with its roguelite loop mixed with 2.5D action. You have to hack and slash your way through procedurally generated levels, dying and restarting to progress. I think this structure is brilliant because it turns every death into a learning opportunity.  

Personally, I appreciate how the game doesn't severely punish you for failure. Instead, it rewards you with phantoms from past runs that fight alongside you. The controls are responsive, featuring a dash, double jump, and light and heavy attacks that flow well. However, I feel that the light combo is a bit lengthy and stiff. 

At the core of the gameplay is the bloody combat system. 

Gameplay involves entering one of five biomes, including dark campsites on a Diamond Lake campsite filled with serial killers, alien entities, and even sharks with AI, forcing Justine to work through infinite time loops where each death takes her back to the beginning. This time loop mechanic is great because it elevates the narrative from a simple slasher to a proper roguelite.  

You constantly need to spill enemy blood to gain buffs to strength and speed, and a skull meter that, when full, activates the Carnival Awakening. It requires an aggressive approach with no room for hesitation, as the blood dries quickly and you lose your powers. I had a lot of fun with this mechanic, as it turns combat into a chaotic dance of melee and ranged attacks. So, the more limbs you sever, the more powerful you become.  

The heavy attacks, despite being slow, are perfect for breaking shields, and in my view, the balance between light and heavy encourages you to tinker with unlockable weapons like kitchen knives or chainsaws. One of the mechanics that impresses me most in the gameplay is the Phantom Slasher, where, after dying, a phantom version of yourself reappears in the next run, replicating the exact movements and attacks of the last run. You can accumulate up to three phantoms to form a spectral team. 

The levels in HOTEL BARCELONA are made up of branching routes that you pick on the map. Each door leads to chambers with prizes like attack boosts, healing goods, or obstacles that change every time you play. This lets you organize your routes according on what you need, like traveling to a speed room if your builds are sluggish. 

The gameplay offers a vast skill tree and unlockable weapons that you can customize between runs. 

I liked the idea to trying out silly weaponry like a chainsaw that rips things into bits. This is a good example of the game's parodic attitude. You may even put Justine in silly clothes, like a cheerleader, as you battle monsters. You may spend a lot of time making constructions better for certain tasks. 

Gambling rooms and bonus stages slow pacing but provide rewards like costumes, money, or retry tickets. Upgrades can be confusing, adding inconsistency to progression. All in all, HOTEL BARCELONA rewards experimentation, that's for sure. 

The 2.5D visuals in HOTEL BARCELONA are a feast for the eyes 

The game blends horror with a cartoonish aesthetic. Blood splatters turn every encounter into a visually satisfying spectacle. Each biome within the hotel has its own distinct theme and personality, from eerie forest campsites to nightmarish rooms with sharks and alien entities.  

The character designs are equally memorable—the serial killers, monsters, and even environmental hazards feel like they've stepped straight out of a horror manga. Lighting and shadow effects enhance the tension. Even the seemingly small details, like debris falling during combat, add layers of immersion.  

But, but, but… as you play, you may experience frame rate dips or glitches, like fights beginning while the level is still loading. Navigating menus is unintuitive, and the game rarely explains itself. Depending on how much you value performance, this could be a dealbreaker for you.   

The sound design of HOTEL BARCELONA is as dynamic as its visuals. 

Combat features satisfying audio cues, making every attack a fulfilling experience. Ambient tracks are thoughtfully designed, mixing tense horror atmospheres with bursts of quirky musical motifs that emphasize the game's horror-comedy tone. Voice lines between Justine and Dr. Carnival will also give you IJBOL moments.  

Environmental sounds also play a crucial role. Boss fights are accompanied by dramatic sound effects that heighten tension. Overall, the audio design reinforces the blend of horror and comedy, making HOTEL BARCELONA not only a visual spectacle but also a compelling entry into its bloody world.  

HOTEL BARCELONA is messy and challenging in ways that leave a lasting impression.  

The memory system turns failure into progress, and the level timer keeps you moving with purpose. Combat needs better feedback, and frame dips can ruin a run. Bosses balance cleverness with pettiness, and biomes hit a fun horror vibe without overstaying their welcome. 

I kept chasing better routes and refining memory runs because the game loop engages a part of your gaming brain you didn't know existed. If any developers could accomplish that, it's Swery65 and Suda51. 

I recommend HOTEL BARCELONA for fans of hardcore roguelites who enjoy high replay value with skill builds and phantom allies that evolve with each death. If you like stylized horror inspired by VHS slashers and don't mind a difficulty that punishes mistakes but rewards mastery, you'll have fun.