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Killer Frequency

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Killer Frequency
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
EngineUnity[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.

Overview

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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

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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

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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]

References

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  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. ^ a b c Cervantes, Reyna (2023-06-12). "'Killer Frequency' Review – Unique Slasher Experience Delivers a Retro Good Time". Bloody Disgusting!. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  5. ^ a b "Killer Frequency Review (PC)". Softpedia. June 2023.
  6. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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.
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