The Entity Grows Hungry
Over the years I’ve had a love/hate relationship with Dead By Daylight, the asymmetrical horror game from Behaviour Interactive. But when I saw that Supermassive Games, the creators of Until Dawn and The Dark Pictures were making a horror game set in the universe of DBD, I immediately became excited. With this being a game by Supermassive, you can expect a horror focused story where your decisions in the game alter the outcome of the story. The Casting Of Frank Stone is an original story set across three timelines spanning 64 years from 1960 to modern day 2024. The plot intertwines these three timelines to perfection as a core cast of intriguing and engaging characters deal with the events of the past and present. Without giving too much away, the game follows the titular Frank Stone from his murderous rampage in the 60’s to his subsequent apparent demise and his resurrection attempts at the hands of a mysterious woman and the entity. This is accompanied by a film crew in the 80’s attempting to film a horror production at the scene of Stone’s crimes. I specifically have mentioned the entity due to the fact that Supermassive have leaned so heavily into the lore of Dead By Daylight it will be difficult for newcomers to properly understand at times. But for veterans of the franchise, there are so many easter eggs and nods to the game which is so wonderful. Every layer of the story is dripping in lore one way or another, from the entity itself to the characters, items and locations.
Like other Supermassive games, the plot is yours to shape and mould. Dialogue choices are back and each sentence carries weight and ramifications for the future. Supermassive are the kings of this style of horror game and it does not disappoint. It is violent and unpredictable and creates real tension as you wander through derelict areas and crawl through sewers. In terms of jump scares, there are not as many as I would have liked, but the overall creepy feel to the game will be enough to satisfy horror fans. I found this game to be their most unforgiving, with some choices I had initially thought to be minor, subsequently proving fatal. Each of the core five characters can be killed at virtually any moment past the prologue and that creates great tension and fear in every choice they make. I love every single game Supermassive has created and this is no exception, though I do have some qualms with the plot, particularly its ending.
Again, to avoid spoilers I don’t want to reveal too much but I felt the final third of the game was rushed and incomplete in many ways. I did not think I was nearing the end of the game and then only to see everything shift into 6th gear unexpectedly. This was disappointing as I wanted more time with the wonderful cast of characters so I could learn their motives and develop relationships. Having finished the story now three times, each ending did feel varied and different but they all lacked a definitive conclusion. But perhaps this is intentional and leads to more stories or continuations of this game. It’s a testament to the game that I wanted to play the game again and again and with over sixteen possible endings, I’ll be back for more. I just wish it was longer and allowed for more development of the characters and overall plot.
Hit That Skill Check!
If you are unfamiliar with previous Supermassive games, it is important to understand expectations when it comes to gameplay. For the majority of the game you are merely walking around investigating the areas you find yourself in, whilst choosing dialogue options. Like previous games, quick time events (QTE) return but with a twist, as they are modelled after the Dead By Daylight skill check mechanic which makes the game really feel part of the franchise. That is the meat and bones of gameplay; it is not going to be for everyone but for someone like myself who has played every Supermassive game, I adore this style. I love going through every nook and cranny of the environment to find collectibles and expand the narrative through texts and images you can pick up. Each of these collectibles adds weight and context to the story which really helps flesh out the narrative for both veterans of DBD and newcomers to the franchise.
There are some new quality of life improvements and additions Supermassive have implemented in The Casting Of Frank Stone. Again without spoilers, using a film camera in the game never felt so unique! Along with this, the developers have created the plunderers instinct tool which allows you to scan the environment for collectibles in that area. For someone like myself who loves to explore, this is a fantastic addition as it allowed me to be sure I had collected everything. Along with this, the addition of a prompt to let you know you cannot return to this area, is also welcomed. The final addition I loved in this game was the cutting room floor. The cutting room floor is unlocked after you finish your first playthrough and allows you to see your choices and the paths they created. This is wonderful as not only does it show your choices but it allows you to return to each specific scene to change and alter the outcome and see the results. Lots and lots of replay ability! I only wish like other Supermassive games I could have played the game alongside a friend since the lack of online co-op is a very strange choice.
Beauty In The Brutality
The Casting Of Frank Stone is a fantastic looking game. Supermassive have nailed the aesthetic and look of all three timelines. Each timeline looks and feels different, with the 80’s being my particular favourite. Environments are detailed and stunning; I could look at the Cedar Hills Steel Mill or the Manor all day long. Character models and animations are also top notch; this is Supermassive’s finest work and they should be lauded for the effort they have made. Lighting is also brilliant and helps accentuate the horror and keeps the tension sky high. When the characters show and display emotions, it looks incredible and really helps immerse you in the story, employing fantastic use of motion capture. The many many death animations are also gruesome and on the occasions I ended up getting a character killed, the deaths really hammered home the mistake I had made. It excites me for the next Dark Pictures game as everyone in Frank Stone looks and feels superb; this is a masterclass in presentation and design.
Similarly, the audio design and soundtrack of Frank Stone is wonderful. The voice acting on display here by the cast is stellar and really makes you care about these characters and their journey. Screams and cries are blood curdling and add true dramatic effect to each scene. Along with the voice acting, the sound design is first class with just simple effects like footsteps echoing in an abandoned workshop or doors being slammed in a chase scene. Every sound could have been taken straight out of a film; they sound so good. The musical soundtrack is also superb as it ebbs and flows with real purpose during intense moments. Supermassive always have good solid horror soundtracks and this continues with Frank Stone. This is accompanied by classic Dead By Daylight sound effects such as picking up an item or repairing a generator. For fans of the franchise, these are really cool moments that bring a smile to your face.
Verdict
The Casting Of Frank Stone is an evolution of the formula Supermassive Games have been cultivating for years. A strong diverse cast with wonderful voice acting helps propel the intense and chilling moments on display in this horror tale. Great quality of life improvements and innovations create strong benchmarks for interactive games. Whilst a rushed and muddled final act and the lack of co-op hurt the games overall appeal, there’s more than enough for horror fans to enjoy. Dead By Daylight fans will have an absolute blast with this game, as I did. See you in the fog!
