The Casting of Frank Stone Preview
Set in the Dead by Daylight universe, Supermassive’s The Casting of Frank Stone looks to be another terrifying excursion into horror, unsettling characters, and tense choices. I had the chance to play the opening chapter. I was both impressed and disturbed, hallmarks of effective genre storytelling.
Just a Glimpse into the World
The opening chapter of The Casting of Frank Stone takes place in 1963. Cedar Hills police officer Sam Green investigates the disappearance of a child, centering his search in the Cedar Hills (Oregon) Steel Mill. Of course, the nightwatchman is suspicious, creepy as hell, and obviously harboring countless secrets. The Steel Mill is a decrepit warren of crumbling walls, dripping pipes, and shadowy basements. Jump scares? Check. Unsettling, surprising gore? Double check.
The 45-minute prologue, like all Supermassive’s games, has multiple endings thanks to player choice, Quick-Time events, and exploration decisions. If you’ve played Dead by Daylight, Until Dawn, The Quarry, or the Dark Pictures games, you know what to expect. As always, the characters are both iconic to the horror genre and well written and acted.
Although the prologue is set in the 1960s, the game takes place in the 1980s and involves a group of young filmmakers shooting a horror film in the old Mill. It’s a perfect premise for horror-within-horror and Supermassive’s trademark ability to create a range of sympathetic characters, before putting them in harm’s way. Or letting the player kill them off. Fans of Dead by Daylight will catch a lot of references and Easter eggs, which I won’t spoil.
Feeling the Fear
On a monster rig with raytracing at max, DLSS, and all the bells and whistles turned on, the game looks great and hits 50-60 fps in 4K. There was a bit of stutter and screen tearing but it was, after all, a demo and not the final release. When it comes to art and environmental design, The Casting of Frank Stone is a masterclass in horror and creepiness. Character faces are impressively expressive. Music and — especially — environmental audio are very well done and partner perfectly with the visuals to amp up the fear-inducing action.
While I was occasionally shocked and disturbed by the narrative, I wasn’t surprised by the quality of presentation. Supermassive Games knows the genre better than just about any developer. If the small slice of The Casting of Frank Stone is any indicator, the final game is going to be another terrifying time and I can’t wait to play it.
Thank you for keeping it locked on COGconnected.
