Phantom Hellcat is a theatrical hack-and-slasher that switches perspectives Rock Paper Shotgun Support us Join our newsletter Visit our store Sign in / Create account If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy. Phantom Hellcat is a theatrical hack-and-slasher that switches perspectives All the world's a stage, I hear News by Graham Smith Contributor Published on Aug. 23, 2022 I'd be interested enough in Phantom Hellcat if it was a stylish third-person 3D hack-and-slasher - which it is. But it's also a stylish 2D hack-and-slasher, and the perspective shift - and the odd, theatrical world that it reveals - is the most interesting thing about the 30 second announcement trailer. Watch it below. Watch on YouTube One of the lesser trends from tonight's Gamescom Opening Night Live was cassette players, for some reason. When is it the MiniDisc's chance to be retro cool, I ask you? Phantom Hellcat stars Jolene, and "stars" feels like the right word given that Jolene stumbles into a cursed theater and is set upon by evil props. The theatrical framing seeps into each part of the game. Jolene's combat abilities, for example, can be remixed by popping on different character masks, and you'll unlock new abilities as you fight through each stage on the way to rescuing your mother. The 2D moment that sold me on the concept in the trailer above shows Jolene running through what looks like a broken castle, while behind her clouds hang on wires and a clockwork day/night cycle spins. Other stages will apparently flit through varied settings, with the press release referencing "a Transylvanian bibliotheque castle possibly full of vampires" and noting that other settings will be "inspired by pop culture." Phantom Hellcat is being developed by new studio Ironbird Creations, an internal developer established by Polish publisher All in! Games. Both studio and game were announced this evening during Gamescom's Opening Night Live. There's no release date yet. For more Gamescom coverage, be sure to check out our Gamescom 2022 hub for all the latest news, impressions from the show floor and more. More News Jack King-Spooner's next handcrafted game has a teaser demo out Judero brings chat and action in the Scottish Borders Alice O'Connor 17 hours ago 1 If you were hoping for any Overwatch 2 balance changes then you'll have to wait until season two The next season begins in December CJ Wheeler 18 hours ago 3 The Dead Space remake will chuck random Necromorphs at you as you wander the Ishimura In space, no one can hear you proper bricking it CJ Wheeler 18 hours ago 8 Valve register mysterious new Neon Prime trademark in the US It doesn’t seem to be for a particularly colourful Steam Deck CJ Wheeler 20 hours ago 11 Latest Articles What are we all playing this weekend? Well? Alice O'Connor an hour ago 21 Past Wordle answers Here's an archive of previous Wordle words Ollie Toms 2 hours ago 1 Wordle answer today (Saturday 15 October) Hints and the answer to today's Wordle word Rebecca Jones 9 hours ago Overwatch 2 hero tier list Which are the best heroes in Overwatch 2? Ollie Toms 16 hours ago Supporters Only You're probably better than me at One Many Nobody You go on without… uh, you? Sin Vega 17 hours ago Supporter podcast - The Nate Files episode 13: dry bones Bad science is also FUN science! Alice Bell 18 hours ago Japanese dating show Love Wagon has surprising parallels with Yakuza and Persona My new obsession Ed Thorn 2 days ago If you're hankering after Bayonetta 3, Valkyrie Elysium might be a good substitute It's not out on PC until next month, but the console demo has been a surprise charmer Katharine Castle 1 week ago 4 We've been talking, and we think that you should wear clothes Total coincidence, but we sell some clothes Buy RPS stuff here