Team17 has done it again! With their latest games coming out, we have been truly spoilt with so many awesome titles and this time I won’t be exploring a world in the future filled with robots nope… We are going back to the 80s, to be precise we are going right back to 1987 when times were different, and we are on the frequency. A first-person horror adventure game so let me all welcome you to Killer Frequency!
Video Killed The Radio Star
Story
Killer Frequency is set in a small town in 1987, the intro to this first-person horror has you running through an alley outside the radio station, being hunted by what seems to be someone whistling eerily. You finally escape only to be met by the same person following you but this time you’re trapped with this individual. You then play as the main protagonist a DJ and host for the radio station KFAM.
Forrest Nash, the once huge success in Chicago relocated to the small town of Gallows Creek after his career declined. It starts like any other game; you play the tutorial and start learning the basics. You are told to host a competition surrounding guessing the type of scream. This changes immensely when you get a call from the 911 operator Leslie, who tells you she needs you to cover all 911 calls that she has diverted to the studio and help people escape a serial killer (The Whistling Man).
You must choose the right answers, guide the victims to safety and fingers crossed everyone comes out of this alive. If you do make a mistake, then unfortunately you will have to listen to the gruesome noises of a knife cutting and stabbing the victims. Not exactly the nicest sound to hear so keep them alive. You will have to explore different scenarios such as helping someone exit a maze using only a maze puzzle or guiding someone on how to hotwire a car. I love the fact this game has so much variety and keeps you on your toes, will 3 endings to achieve, and is packed full of so many achievements and trophies!
I have played this Killer Frequency 3 times now, and I enjoyed it that much that was 3 times in a row. You will need to work closely with your producer Peggy to uncover why the Whistling Man has returned, with a huge mystery to uncover and secrets to be unfolded using information around the studio. Killer Frequency takes inspiration surrounding cult classic slashers such as Friday the 13th, Scream, and many others, with lots of hidden references throughout.
I Going To Be A Scream!
Gameplay
Killer Frequency relies on you completely exploring different parts of the studio, looking for clues such as newspaper articles and papers and more. Each clue gets you closer to solving the mystery of who the Whistling Man truly is and why he has returned from the dead after 30 years. With so many characters to talk to and learn about you will have to work out if these people are truly victims or behind the gruesome murders and mysterious slasher who is terrorising the town.
Each option you pick will affect the story as you progress such as allowing one of the characters to die. The game has a sort of escape room feel to it with you guiding those to safety. You will solve all kinds of puzzles including brain teasers that really depends on your choices such as who to send to save someone who has been attacked. For a horror game, Team17 has made a very eerie environment where you constantly feel like someone is watching you and there is. You will see a small glimpse of the masked killer looking at you down an alley or walking past a window.
Never hear any words but the ominous whistle that sends shivers down anyone’s spine. Killer Frequency has a lot of comedy included with parts that I even found humorous, and a good jump scare now and then. You can also find a few records to collect around the studio that adds to your little music collection, and these can be played straight onto the radio using the record player. With tons of creativity mixed into one, Forrest is truly a lifesaver and everyone’s guardian angel.
What’s Your Favourite Scary Movie?
Graphics and Audio
Killer Frequency has a nostalgic look to it with a mix of Stranger Things. Using a neon colour palette and wood-panelled environment. The art style is cell-shaded animation and cartoonish graphics with a mix of real-life elements such as the music record covers. Graphically the game looks beautiful, with a smooth framerate. The audio is mostly eerie as you are walking around the studio, being pretty much dead quiet with a sound effect here and there.
Music plays through the records you put onto the record players. All 80’s themed which adds to the nostalgia. The best part of the audio side of this game is the voice acting. Josh Cowdery absolutely killed (in a good way) his performance as Forrest Nash. I enjoyed learning more about the characters and in general, all the voice actors smashed their roles. I truly started to connect with the other characters learning more as I progressed. Each character had their own unique style and behaviour. Don’t even get me started on Brian Ponty of Ponty’s Pizza, we don’t like him.
Ch Ch Ch Ah Ah Ah…
Options and Accessibility
Killer Frequency like most games comes with different options that can be changed to improve your gameplay. For gameplay, you can add subtitles and text panels plus the choice of how high the vibration of the game is. The display will allow you to change the brightness, gamma, and contrast. There are no added features for accessibility but with a game like Killer Frequency it’s not needed as the game is fairly easy to control even with one hand.
Final Thoughts
Killer Frequency was such a new type of horror than I am used to. Being a vivid horror fan, especially in the gaming side of things I was so very impressed with the style the developers went with regarding the whole mystery horror genre. I thoroughly enjoyed my playthrough and I couldn’t stop playing, i.e. the reason I completed it 3 times and got all the trophies.
I would highly recommend checking this out and when I get the chance will replay this gem on my Meta Quest 2 once I get a copy! I saved all the souls, can you do the same? Or will it be a Killer Frequency all round? Let’s hope Team17 continues to release such amazing games, I can’t wait for what comes next!
Killer Frequency is AVAILABLE Now On PlayStation 5/PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S/Xbox One, Steam, Switch and Meta Quest
GAMERHUB RATING: FIVE (Out of FIVE) JOYSTICKS
(Thank you to Team17 and Press Engine for providing a code for this review)
