Regardless of being a horror juggernaut for eight years, the world of Dead by Daylight is pretty mysterious. There’s solely a lot we study in regards to the serial killer universe by means of its asymmetrical multiplayer matches. There’s an evil “Entity.” It requires blood sacrifices. Violence ensues.
Behaviour Interactive is lastly seeking to increase that story this September. Developed by Until Dawn studio Supermassive Video games, The Casting of Frank Stone is an interactive horror film in the identical vein as The Quarry. It’s a traditional slasher story a couple of sick killer terrorizing a city stuffed with teenagers, with every participant’s selections affecting who lives and dies. It’s a tried-and-true system for Supermassive, however how properly does that adapt to a very totally different studio’s established horror universe? Based mostly on the prologue demo I performed, it’s a pure (and bloody) match.
The killer in me
The Casting of Frank Stone takes place within the small city of Cedar Hills, at small Oregon burg with a darkish secret. A metal mill on the coronary heart of city is house to Frank Stone, a vicious killer decked out in chains and a welder’s masks. The primary story follows a bunch of teenagers making an attempt to uncover the darkish — and maybe supernatural — thriller of Frank.
That’s not what I see in my demo, although. As a substitute, I’m dropped right into a prologue set within the Sixties, one which each gives a tutorial onsome acquainted narrative techniques and units up the story. I take management of a cop investigating a lacking little one report and head to a metal mill. I rapidly meet a creepy groundskeeper and get a fast reintroduction to what Supermassive does so properly. Detailed character fashions, spirited performances, and an eerie tone pull me in rapidly. I instantly really feel like I’m watching a tense horror film.
After all, I’m not a passive observer. All of Supermassive’s gameplay signatures are accounted for right here. I select dialogue choices that may form my relationship to the groundskeeper, discover the mill in third-person, decide up scattered paperwork that tease out the story, and carry out quick-time actions. Nothing appears like new floor for the studio to date, however that’s high quality contemplating how a lot it has interactive horror right down to a science.
That turns into clear as I get towards the top of the 45-minute demo. Early on, I’m largely simply soaking within the ambiance. I often cease to mash the area bar to pry open a grate or drag my mouse to unblock a door, however these are simply early checks of my reflexes. The strain ramps up when ability checks come into play, the place I must press the area bar on the proper level in a rapidly spinning circle. That comes into play after I select to stroll up a ramp as a substitute of a ladder. A panel falls underneath me, so I must act quick to seize the ledge and keep away from falling to my dying. It appears like essentially the most direct gameplay connection to Lifeless by Daylight to date, calling again to a few of the exact timing required to outlive in that recreation.
The whole lot involves a head within the remaining sequence, the place I lastly come face-to-face with the monstrous Frank Stone simply as he’s about to sacrifice a child. A battle scene ensues and I must work rapidly to purpose a cursor in the fitting spot to shoot, move some essential ability checks, and ultimately wiggle my approach to freedom when Stone impales me towards a wall (one other clear nod to Lifeless by Daylight and its killers’ obsession with hooks). It’s an exhilarating sequence that ends with a grotesque teaser for what’s to return. I’m slightly bummed when the demo ends; I must know what occurs subsequent.
I can in all probability guess the place it’s going judging by how rapidly Supermassive appears to be sticking to its system. The complete recreation will seemingly have me controlling a bunch of teenagers who wind up within the mine combating for his or her lives. I do know that I’ll be altering their destiny with dialogue selections and ability checks. What I’m extra intrigued by is how this all connects to Lifeless by Daylight. That’s not completely clear but based mostly on the mysterious prologue, although I’m certain it would join again to the Entity not directly. After so a few years of slashing teenagers in Lifeless by Daylight, I’m able to see one in all its killers at work exterior of the fog. The Casting of Frank Stone already feels prefer it’ll ship that with a wholesome aspect dish of gore.
The Casting of Frank Stone launches on September 3 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Sequence X/S, and PC.
