Killer Frequency

Last updated
Killer Frequency
Killer Frequency cover.jpg
Developer(s) Team17
Publisher(s) Team17
Producer(s) Christoper Chester
Designer(s)
  • Harry Scholefield
  • Matt Houghton
  • John Lappin
  • Jack Wilson
  • Gavin Hood
Programmer(s)
  • Niklas Hansson
  • Andrew MacKinnon
  • Laurie Dobson
Writer(s)
  • Harry Scholefield
  • Matt Houghton
  • John Lappin
  • Jack Wilson
  • Cash DeCuir
Composer(s)
  • Conor Tissington
  • Danny Hey
Engine Unity [1]
Platform(s)
Release
  • WW: June 1, 2023
Genre(s) First-person horror, adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Killer Frequency is a 2023 first-person horror-adventure game developed and published by Team17. The game takes place in a small town in 1987, where players control a DJ who acts as an impromptu radio dispatcher when a serial killer returns to terrorize the town's residents. The player must take calls from the survivors and solve various puzzles to help them escape the killer. It received mostly positive reviews from critics, who praised its gameplay and comedy horror elements.

Contents

Overview

Killer Frequency is a first-person adventure game with murder mystery elements. [2] The game takes place in 1987, [3] and its aesthetics are heavily based on 1980s nostalgia, including neon color palettes and a wood paneled environment. [4] [5] The art style has been described as reminiscent of cell-shaded animation. [6] The plot is inspired by slasher films, [4] and the game includes references to numerous horror films including The Fog , Friday the 13th, and the Scream franchise. [7]

Players take the role of Forrest Nash (Josh Cowdery), [8] a formerly popular DJ and radio host from Chicago who relocated to the small town of Gallows Creek after his career declined. [9] Forrest must become an impromptu dispatcher when The Whistling Man, a serial killer, returns to terrorize the town thirty years after his supposed death. [10]

Throughout the game, the player character takes calls from victims of the slasher and instructs them on how to escape by solving puzzles and problems that they face. Players must successfully complete these puzzles using clues and information found around the studio to prevent the victims from being killed. [11] [12] Aaron Riccio of Slant Magazine described its mechanics as "sort of reverse escape room where you provide the vital hints to help others get out alive." [13] The survival of the victims and outcome of the game is dependent on the player's choices and ability to solve these puzzles. [6]

Development

The game was Team17's first virtual reality game. [14] On June 1, 2023, the game was released on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Quest 2. [15] [16]

Reception

The game had a mostly positive reception and has a score of 81 on Metacritic indicating generally favorable reviews. [17] Critics praised the game's balance of tension and campy, comedy horror. [18] [12] [10] Softpedia awarded the game 4 out of 5 stars, praising the quality of its voice acting and gameplay, but criticizing the final act as being "rushed". [5] Reyna Cervantes of Bloody Disgusting praised the game's use of the slasher genre, comparing it favorably to horror films such as The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 . [4] Rachel Watts, writing for Rock Paper Shotgun , praised Killer Frequency's gameplay and puzzle elements. [18]

Related Research Articles

Survival horror is a subgenre of horror games. Although combat can be part of the gameplay, the player is made to feel less in control than in typical action games through limited ammunition or weapons, health, speed, and vision, or through various obstructions of the player's interaction with the game mechanics. The player is also challenged to find items that unlock the path to new areas and solve puzzles to proceed in the game. Games make use of strong horror themes, such as dark mazelike environments and unexpected attacks from enemies.

<i>White Day: A Labyrinth Named School</i> (2015 video game) 2015 video game

White Day: A Labyrinth Named School, known on mobile platforms internationally as The School : White Day or The School - White Day, is a 2015 survival horror video game developed by ROI Games and Gachyon Soft. A remake of the 2001 game of the same name, it was initially released for Android in November 2015 in Korea, and iOS on the following month. A port for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 was released in August 2017, published by ROI Games in Korea, PQube in North America and Europe, and Arc System Works in Japan. It is the second remake of White Day, with the first being a 2009 2D adventure-horror game utilizing still images for mobile phones titled White Day Mobile, which was released only in South Korea by Ntreev Soft, who shares the copyright of this game.

We Were Here is a franchise of cooperative first-person adventure video games, created by the Dutch studio Total Mayhem Games.

<i>Worms Rumble</i> 2020 video game

Worms Rumble is a 2020 action game developed and published by Team17. As a spin-off of the long-running Worms series, the game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in December 2020 and for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in June 2021.

<i>Maid of Sker</i> (video game) 2020 survival horror video game

Maid of Sker is a 2020 first-person survival horror game developed and published by Wales Interactive. The game is set in 1898 in the Sker Hotel, on an imaginary island called Sker Island. The protagonist, Thomas Evans, is invited by his lover, Elisabeth Williams, to uncover the mysteries of the hotel after she notices her family's strange behavior. While exploring the hotel, Thomas learns cult followers called "The Quiet Ones" control the place. He finds notes and gramophone records scattered around the hotel that reveal the history of Elisabeth's family.

<i>Evil Dead: The Game</i> 2022 video game

Evil Dead: The Game is a 2022 asymmetric survival horror game developed by Saber Interactive and published by Boss Team Games. It is part of the Evil Dead franchise. It features Bruce Campbell as Ash Williams, along with most of the original cast reprising their roles.

<i>Maquette</i> (video game) 2021 video game

Maquette is a puzzle-adventure video game developed by Graceful Decay and published by Annapurna Interactive. The game takes place in a recursive world where every action on a table is recreated in the larger area outside. The game was released in March 2021 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Windows, with a version for Nintendo Switch as well as Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S launching in May and July 2023, respectively.

<i>Silt</i> (video game) 2022 video game

Silt is a surreal underwater puzzle-adventure indie horror game developed by Spiral Circus and published by Fireshine Games for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, in which the player controls a deep-sea diver who can possess the diverse marine life that enters their vicinity. It was released on June 1, 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Puppet Combo</span> American video game developer

Puppet Combo is an American independent video game development studio founded by Benedetto "Ben" Cocuzza in 2012 as Pig Farmer Games and based in Brooklyn. Puppet Combo's games, such as Nun Massacre (2018) and the critically acclaimed Murder House (2020), are mostly survival horror games developed solely by Cocuzza and modeled after early PlayStation games and VHS. They are also frequently inspired by 1980s horror films, specifically grindhouse and slasher films. Puppet Combo primarily releases their games through Patreon and Itch.io. Cocuzza launched Torture Star Video, a video game publisher for lo-fi horror games, in 2021.

<i>The Persistence</i> 2018 video game

The Persistence is a survival horror video game developed and published by Firesprite. Originally released for the virtual reality headset PlayStation VR in July 2018, the game was released for PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One in May 2020. An Enhanced version of the game was released for PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S in June 2021.

<i>MADiSON</i> (video game) 2022 video game

MADiSON is a first-person horror video game developed and published by the Argentine studio Bloodious Games. It was released on July 8, 2022, for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. A Nintendo Switch version was released on August 26, 2022.

<i>Moving Out 2</i> 2023 video game

Moving Out 2 is a 2023 video game developed by SMG Studio and DevM Games, who also developed the previous game. Players attempt to move objects across various levels without hitting objections. It combines elements of strategy, puzzle, and party video games. Team17 published it for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

<i>Chasing Static</i> 2021 video game

Chasing Static is a video game released by Headware Games, the studio of independent developer Nathan Hamley. Described as a "psychological horror short story", the game is an exploration-based horror adventure game set in an open-ended Welsh countryside. A demo of the game was released as part of the 2021 horror game compilation Haunted PS1 Demo Disc, curated by independent developer Breogán Hackett. Chasing Static received a mixed reception from reviewers, with praise directed to the game's presentation, writing and atmosphere, and criticism of its short length and ending. In January 2023, the game was ported by publisher Ratalaika Games to consoles.

<i>The Last Worker</i> 2023 video game

The Last Worker is an adventure video game developed by Wolf & Woof and Oiffy. Wired Productions published it in 2023 for multiple platforms. It is a satirical take on big tech and has the player perform puzzles inspired by warehouse workers.

<i>Dr. Fetus Mean Meat Machine</i> 2023 video game

Dr. Fetus' Mean Meat Machine is a puzzle video game developed by Team Meat. It is a spinoff of Super Meat Boy and Super Meat Boy Forever. The game was inspired by Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine.Thunderful and Headup Games published it for multiple systems in June 2023.

<i>No One Lives Under the Lighthouse</i> 2020 videogame

No One Lives Under the Lighthouse is a 2020 horror-adventure game developed by Marevo Collective.

<i>Greyhill Incident</i> 2023 survival horror game

Greyhill Incident is a 2023 survival horror game developed by Refugium Games and published by Perp Games. The game revolves around an alien invasion in the fictional town of Greyhill. It was released for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S in June 2023.

<i>Layers of Fear</i> (2023 video game) Horror game

Layers of Fear is a 2023 first-person psychological horror game developed and published by Bloober Team. It is a remake of and sequel to the 2016 game Layers of Fear and its sequel Layers of Fear 2 (2019), combining stories from the previous games with new content. The game was released for Windows, macOS, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and Series S in June 2023. It received mixed reviews upon release.

References

  1. ↑ "Made with Unity Monthly: June 2023 roundup". Unity . 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-06-07.
  2. ↑ Tailby, Stephen (2023-06-01). "Review: Killer Frequency (PS5) - An Intriguing Call-in Murder Mystery". Push Square. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  3. ↑ Davidson, Amy (2020-11-13). "Killer Frequency Is a Free Radio Show Simulator Where Callers' Lives Are on the Line". The Escapist. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  4. 1 2 3 Cervantes, Reyna (2023-06-12). "'Killer Frequency' Review – Unique Slasher Experience Delivers a Retro Good Time". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  5. 1 2 "Killer Frequency Review (PC)". Softpedia . June 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Killer Frequency Review (PS5) - 80s DJ Horror Leaves Us Radio Ga Ga". PlayStation Universe. 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  7. ↑ "9 Horror Movie References In Killer Frequency". TheGamer. 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  8. ↑ Jesus, Brendan (2023-06-13). "Anything You Say Can And Will Be Broadcast In Killer Frequency". Horror Obsessive. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  9. ↑ Seagrave, Richard (2023-06-02). "Killer Frequency Review". GameSpew. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  10. 1 2 "Killer Frequency VR Review: Charmed by the Spirit of Small-Town Radio". UploadVR. 2023-06-01. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  11. ↑ ""A clever slasher puzzler that is well worth the time": Screen Rant's Killer Frequency review". ScreenRant. 2023-06-12. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  12. 1 2 "Killer Frequency Review - Holding The Line". www.gameshub.com. 2023-06-07. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  13. ↑ Riccio, Aaron (2023-06-01). "'Killer Frequency' Review: A Golden Oldie". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  14. ↑ Bailey, Kat (2022-06-09). "Upload VR Showcase June 2022: Everything Announced, Including More Among US VR Gameplay". IGN. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  15. ↑ Wilson, Mike (2023-04-13). "'Killer Frequency' Sees a June 1 Release for PC and Consoles [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  16. ↑ "Killer Frequency launches June 1 for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, and Quest 2". Gematsu. 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  17. ↑ "Killer Frequency". Metacritic. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  18. 1 2 Watts, Rachel (2023-06-23). "Play as a radio DJ whose callers are being murdered live on air in Killer Frequency". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.