When Behaviour Interactive announced that they would be publishing a Supermassive Games game set in Dead in the airy of day universe, I was skeptical about how it would work. This is a developer that makes amazing horror games, but I wasn’t sure how the opulent story of this asymmetric horror title could translate to Frank Stone’s Cast.
We recently had the opportunity to play a demo of Supermassive Games’ upcoming title, and I’m pleased to say that the game lived up to expectations in every respect.
Frank Stone’s Cast is a story set in Dead in the airy of day universe and inextricably linked to its history. I don’t want to spoil how that works, because you’ll see for yourself if you play the demo, but I do want to make it clear that this isn’t a game that does its own thing in a beloved world with an established history. It takes that history and breathes life into it in a fresh way, while still making it feel familiar, like it’s always been part of the multiplayer game you love.
Classic cast of characters and mechanics
The game begins with a terrifying opening in a sawmill. Policeman Sam Green shows up looking for evidence of a missing infant and enters the night watchman’s booth to talk to Tom. It doesn’t take long before you take control and begin to understand what the game is all about. Sam wants answers, but Tom is not forthcoming. You can choose his approach, whether he is curious or skeptical, changing the conversation path and the future options you can access.
Sam soon notices some alcohol in the drawer, which makes him (and you) question Tom’s answers without saying a word. You can bring up the alcohol issue as a choice or leave it alone. Tom is the type of person who seems to have a brief fuse, so I decided to leave it at that and ask more questions. Deciding to be polite with Tom, I don’t hear any regret from him as Sam starts looking around the mill. He just says to watch out for his dog.
Conversations are just one aspect of gameplay Frank Stone’s Cast. Shortly after meeting Tom, I have full control over Sam and can wander the mill grounds at will, searching for a way in. The lighting, sound design, and well-timed audio cues kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the game.
Some survival horror games miss the mark on atmosphere, making you feel at ease while exploring because you don’t know if you should be scared or know you’re protected. This game forces you to be on guard, like someone is watching you all the time.
Exploring is definitely something you should do. The demo is full Dead in the airy of day Easter eggs to find in nooks and crannies. From chess pieces with lore entries to full busts of the game’s original killers, each one is contextualized to fit into the world. The chess pieces, for example, all fit into a toolbox that will fill up as you find each one, and the busts look like likenesses carved by the titular killer I’ll soon meet.
After entering the mill, Tom catches up with Sam, and the pair find Tom’s dog. The “friendly” animal takes one look at the men, growls, and runs away. It has been eating rancid meat off the ground, which upon closer inspection appears to have at least an ear.
Tom greets Sam without a word of anger, but I know that if I had been less careful in my earlier conversation with him, this situation could have gone very differently. I can’t aid but wonder if, had I pointed out his drinking, he would be yelling and annoying his dog now.
The tone of the game changes now as the couple realizes that the missing child may be in the mill. In the next section, you have to find a tool to move the grate and enter a fresh area, and some QTEs (quick-time events) are shown, making the game much more interactive than a regular movie.
Opening doors or examining items always requires an extra click or swipe, and the surprises that scare Sam trigger the same skill meter. Dead in the airy of day and operate the same sounds for successful controls. All of this makes the game a more physical experience, but it will certainly appeal more to fans of Behaviour Interactive’s asymmetric horror out of pure nostalgia.
Deep in the mill, Sam meets the one and only Frank Stone, and you get a taste of what the combat and more intense encounters will be like. Stone is a huge guy and is quick to disarm Sam, which means you’re on the defensive. You can fend off the killer with quick strikes or well-placed punches, but the action ends in what might be the best moment of the entire demo for me: a good old-fashioned hook.
The ending of the demo gives a taste of what will happen next in the story and is something Dead in the airy of day fans should see for themselves, so I won’t spoil it. Even if you haven’t played or don’t like this multiplayer horror, there’s a lot to love here. It’s a horror game from start to finish, but it’s more of an evolution of the type of releases Supermassive Games is known for.
Throughout the game, you get hints about moments that affect the story. They tell you that your fate has been changed, but it’s not until after the fight with Frank that I see the message that my fate has been sealed. I suppose these earlier moments open or close different paths, but the bigger, more poignant ones change something much more impactful.
I love good horror games and Frank Stone’s Cast has all the hallmarks of something like that. It feels fresh, scary, unsettling, and engaging. I can’t wait for the next chapter, and the next, until the finale. Even then, I know I’ll be loading up a fresh game to try out all the different choices, or using Cutting Room Floor to speed up the process.
If you want to dive into a fresh horror game with potential, check out Frank Stone’s CastDemo from August 26, 2024 Couple in front of him September 3, 2024 release date. If you’ve been longing for something to keep you busy, Silent Hill 2: Remakethat’s it.
