In the developer diary Kowlong Express: Bringing Forgotten Fragments into Slitterhead, creator Keiichiro Toyama revisits remembered locations and explains how their atmosphere helped shape Kowlong, the fictional city in Slitterhead. He points to Kowloon Walled City as an inspiration—not as the game’s literal setting—and describes a city where disorderly streets sit alongside refined buildings.
What Toyama revisits in the diary
The feature follows Toyama returning to places that stayed in his memory and connecting those fragments to the setting he developed for Slitterhead. Its focus is not a historical tour of Kowloon Walled City; it is a look at how remembered places and urban atmosphere informed a fictional game city.
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In a report on the diary, Bloody Disgusting identifies Kowloon Walled City as one reference, alongside the PlayStation game Kowloon’s Gate and Ghost in the Shell. Toyama says he was drawn to the places’ “energy and dynamism” and to the sense of a less controlled, more chaotic era. He sums up the appeal as a contrast: “What attracts me is the duality. On one hand, you have the disorder and chaotic streets, while on the other hand you have these refined buildings that naturally blend together.” He adds, “I thought it could be interesting to try and replicate that atmosphere in a game.” (Bloody Disgusting, September 20, 2024)
Kowlong is fictional, with real-world and cultural references
The city in the game is called Kowlong. Kowloon Walled City is an inspiration discussed by Toyama, not a claim that the game recreates the historical place or documents its history. The diary’s references also include Kowloon’s Gate and Ghost in the Shell, placing the setting within a broader mix of remembered urban spaces and genre influences.
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How the city fits the game
Slitterhead is a battle action-adventure game set in Kowlong. The player is Hyoki, an entity with no memory or physical form, hunting Slitterheads—dangerous beings that disguise themselves as humans. Steam’s description highlights possession of human bodies, switching hosts to move through the city, blood-based combat, and cooperation with humans known as Rarities. The diary report also describes Hyoki seeking Rarities, infiltrating and tracking dangerous organizations, and confronting questions about its own existence and the Slitterheads. (Steam: Slitterhead)
Release and platforms
Slitterhead was released on November 8, 2024. Steam lists Bokeh Game Studio as developer and Spike Chunsoft as publisher. The diary report announced the game for PC, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, and reported a physical PS5 Day 1 Edition in North America. Current retailer stock and edition availability can change, so check a retailer’s listing for the exact platform and edition before buying. (Steam: Slitterhead; Bloody Disgusting, September 20, 2024)
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