Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer Review

Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer tells the story of the X Slayers, an organization hunting The Psyko Sindikate, a group of evil, sick and twisted humanoid looking to wreck havoc in order to take over the world and enslave humanity. They also managed to find a way to use the X Slayers’ Hack Blood, a special power that allows them to protect humanity.

Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer is a typical boomer shooter akin to classic DOOM games and Wolfenstein 3D series where the plot is pretty inconsequential and you’re only goal is to killing everything, find hidden secrets and hunt down keys to unlock door to progress through the levels and sometimes access the aforementioned secrets.

The protagonist does have a reasonably decent arsenal of weaponry whether it be a special sword, double pistols, minigun; among others. You’ll also find health items and ammo scattered through each area. In a nice little twist, the shotgun requires glass as a ammo (the game doesn’t tell you this; you need to guess) meaning breaking windows and mirrors will give you some ammo. Additionally, each level does have a map… which you need to collect the various pieces of to access it and find your way.

Along with the typical and odd arsenal of weapons, you also have access to Hack Blood. While the game doesn’t clearly explain how this works and what’s the purpose of it, it’s a magical green force that shoots out a Sonic Boom-like attack of your S-like shaped sword. It can be a lifesaver when in a bind and out of ammo.

I can only assume that the game’s presentation is intended to be a joke; it looks like a result of the early 2000s Chex (yes the based on the cereals) games had a baby with Duke Nukem. Even for a throwback early 2000 shooter, the game visuals aren’t nothing special and I can only this was intended, but while it does its job, it’s not the best idea as far as I’m concerned. The soundtrack, much like the visuals, is outdated and not in an endearing way. The voiceovers are equally cringe, beyond funny.

As much as I tried to find ways to enjoy this game, the flaws were more prominent than the fun parts. The map, once you collect the pieces, feels completely useless. It shows the destination, but even if you don’t collect the pieces, it’s obvious where to go as soon as you run into a locked door. Also, while I understand *why* this was done, hunting keys is an outdated, boring and frustrating mechanic by today’s standards. Sure, having to find one key to unlock the door to the exit is one thing, but multiple keys it’s frustrating. Also if you move around too fast, it’s easy to miss hidden paths.

Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengance of the Slayer is a pretty mid gaming experience. Sure it’ll feel the void of players craving more old school experiences like 1990s DOOM, but everything feels outdated; from the gameplay to the childish humor. It’s mediocre at best and hunting down keys to open doors is an infuriatingly boring gameplay mechanic. If you’re craving big dumb fun to turn off your brain and play, Slayers X: Terminal Aftermath: Vengeance of the Slayer can fill a few hours, but if you’re looking to experience classic FPS experiences, try the original DOOM games. Worth a try given it’s on Gamepass; but it’s hard justifying buying when the original DOOM games are available for cheaper.