Supermassive has always done good work. They’ve done a great job carving out their terrifying niche in the interactive drama genre. Where games like Detroit: Become Human and Heavy Rain up the ante with their dramatic mysteries, Until Dawn and the Dark Pictures games fall squarely within the horror genre. It seems only fitting that they’d work on something for Behaviour Interactive to do with Dead By Daylight. That something is The Casting of Frank Stone.
While it’s not my favourite game by any means, it’s hard to argue that Dead By Daylight has done similarly phenomenal work in bringing both modern and classic horror icons together. And while The Casting of Frank Stone’s premise is strong, I’m not entirely sold on the idea of an original story told within the world of Dead By Daylight. It’s familiar Supermassive territory, and the prologue I’ve played makes me think it might be too familiar.
The Casting of Frank Stone follows four young filmmakers who’ve arrived in Cedar Hills to begin filming their amateur horror films. They choose a dilapidated, run-down steel mill to tell their story in, but naturally, it’s a locale haunted by the town’s violent past. The titular Frank Stone has left a blood-soaked legacy behind, and such legacy has allegedly left scars, both emotional and physical, on the families of those within Cedar Hills. At first glance, it might be a typical story about a slasher set in the eighties, but given the lore surrounding Dead By Daylight’s evil Entity, there’s undoubtedly more to it.
I say surely because this demo isn’t particularly interesting, nor is it putting its best foot forward for the game. Like many Supermassive games, the demo is presumably the opening sequence of the full game. Rather than the eighties with our four aspiring filmmakers, the opening prologue occurs several years prior. This is the period where Frank Stone was most active, and perhaps the actions we take in the demo will have more significant ramifications on how the plot plays out as time goes by.
But it’s all starting to become formulaic. The distant, past event that influences the future. A menacing presence that, while physically dead, might still have some presence today. However, this prologue only shows us a little of what will make The Casting of Frank Stone unique, if anything.
The demo follows Sam Green, a policeman called to investigate a missing child. Through events unseen, Sam’s investigation has led him to Cedar Hill’s Steel Mill. It’s immediately apparent – Supermassive has a strong knack for building mood and atmosphere. The Steel Mill looks enormous from the outside but dark and claustrophobic on the inside. It’s an outstanding achievement in presentation already, and a considerable step up from what I’d imagine most Dead By Daylight players are used to. But it’s then quickly made clear how much of The Casting of Frank Stone borrows from some of Supermassive’s best.
As Sam converses with one of the workers, dialogue options appear on-screen, allowing him to respond however the player chooses. How you react to people alters your relationships with others and will influence later events in the game. It’s typical for these kinds of games, but those wanting more can find extended story drops through collectibles around the mill.
There’s not much action throughout the demo, though when it does happen, the almost-signature Supermassive quick-time events follow. Those who play Dead By Daylight will know what to expect here – it’s similar to a skill check – hitting a button while an indicator appears on screen to ensure your character survives. Once again, like Supermassive’s games, sometimes completing a QTE won’t always be the most desirable outcome. It’s a cheap way to get you thinking on your feet, but it admittedly works. Despite this, none of the exciting applications of such a mechanic really shine in this demo of The Casting of Frank Stone.
Throughout the demo, many easter eggs can be discovered that harken back to the storied lore that Dead By Daylight has introduced in its previous chapters. But they’re inconsequential enough that even newcomers could approach Frank Stone without worrying about missing out on anything. I suspect that the central story will revolve around the mysterious Entity that’s loomed over the events established in the rest of Dead By Daylight, but once again, the opening prologue doesn’t give players a lot to work with.
It’s not all middling, though, with the presentation shining from the start. Supermassive has built so many worlds across so many periods now that it comes as no surprise, but it is encouraging to see Supermassive potentially nail telling another tale across many periods. But presentation can only carry a game so far, and while this game looks excellent and, once again, better than Dead By Daylight ever has, it doesn’t feel like it’s doing all that new.
That’s where I came away from my brief time with The Casting of Frank Stone. I still need to meet the four filmmakers we’ll presumably play as, and I’ve no clue where the story is going. And not in a good way. It feels formulaic, almost to a fault. While I’m sure I will play this with friends with Supermassive’s much-adored co-op multiplayer and have a good time, this opening prologue has done little to pique my interest.
The Casting of Frank Stone launches on September 3rd for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
