Killer Frequency Review

June 12, 2023

It’s always great when a well respected developer takes a first step into VR, and Killer Frequency sees Team17 entering the VR medium. I was very interested to see what their first VR game was going to bring. I have now experienced a radio DJ’s odd night on the job, the question is was it worth tuning in for?

STORY

In Killer Frequency you are placed into the shoes of Forrest Nash, a once big-time radio DJ, who is now hosting the late-night show on KFAM 189.16, in the small town of Gallows Creek. However, this late-night show takes a turn like no other, as you receive a call from the police, explaining the Sheriff has been killed, the deputy is incapacitated and they need you to take over the dispatch line and take any calls. It soon comes to light The Whistling Man, a serial killer is back prowling the towns streets on the 30th Anniversary of their supposed death. But, can your radio show call in help the town folk avoid becoming killers next victim?

GAMEPLAY

The game will start with a tutorial, which is cleverly disguised as a sound test before you go live. This will teach you about using all your equipment at the DJ booth and introduces your co-host – who you build great rapport with through the night. This is a massive part of the gameplay, as you take calls, play records and adverts throughout your late-night show.

You then take the call from the police as you go on air, and she explains the situation around the Sheriff’s death and is soon approached by The Whistling Man. This introduces you the core of the gameplay, which is taking calls and trying to help members of Gallows Creek escape the killer over the phone by giving them directions. As mentioned in the story, this is going to be a night on air like no other, as the town folks lives are in your hands.

Outside of speaking to people on the phone line you are going to get some slight puzzle elements, these normally work around finding items to help, for example; a magazine or newspaper, a map of the town or even a map of the building they might be in, which is faxed to you. These items are going to be important to helping them survive, so they cannot be overlooked or the situation being left to chance. However, one disappointing area is these are not time restricted, meaning you can take as long as you want looking and returning to your post will then see them call back for further instructions. For me it would have been better if they were time restricted as the killer is actively hunting them and at times I was left thinking, if this was in real-life they would have easily found them in that time.

With this all being carried out over the radio station call in section, when you are waiting for the next call you are going to be playing records and advertisements to pass the time and keep the show going. This also allows you time to find out more about your co-host and bring some humour into the game. In the situation you are in this lightens the feeling and mood of the game when needed, and also does play into the tropes of the 80’s slasher movies, with you being able to throw in cheesy punch-lines every now and then.

PRESENTATION

One style I really like in VR when it is done well is cell-shaded graphics, this is something that works well and especially allows games to look great on the standalone device. The team have hit the style on the head and it looks great inside in headset, and certainly suits the 80’s time-frame and setting. With the Neon lights all shinning around the station, the lighting really making you feel like you are on the late-night slot and the cell-shaded design being done right allowing you feel immersed in the setting created for you.

One thing that Team17 have excelled in with Killer Frequency is the use of audio. Considering it all takes place inside of the Radio station, it does create quite an eerie atmosphere – that does build tension as The Whistling Man gets closer to the station. Outside of the atmosphere, all the dialogue is very well voice acted for each call you take and this really helps sell the narrative of the story. With this narrative bringing in a lot of 80’s humour and tropes of slasher movies of that era. Adding to all this a great 80’s soundtrack created for the game, with the records you are playing really suiting music of that time. All of this bringing a great level of immersion of being it the radio station setting and the 80’s.

COMFORT

I am not sure if Killer Frequency can be played seated, but there was no crouch button and if sat down I always seemed at crouching height – even when resetting the view. When it comes to movement, you will only get snap-turning, which I know might put off a few and maybe outlines the in-experience of Team17 developing for VR. However, as someone who is normally put off by snap-turning, with the tetherless design on the Quest 2, I just found myself turning physically.

LONGEVITY

I have only played though the entity of the game once which took me around five-hours. However, there is three endings to the game – all depending on how many survive the night and the actions in your interview with The Whistling Man. If you can make the time to play it all again, you could try and witness all endings, but that will all depend if you want to or can be bothered to this – if not, you could always look online for the other endings you have not seen.

REVIEWED USING META QUEST 2

For the purposes of transparency, this review was created using a review code provided by the company or their respective PR company. The use of a press code does not affect my judgement of the product.

REVIEW OVERVIEW

Killer Frequency is Team17’s first foray into Virtual Reality, and they have taken a great first step. The game might not be to everyone’s taste, as it is very narrative based in the ilk of games like Gone Home, but, if you like games that have a really solid narrative story this could be perfect for you. With all the cheesiness of the 80’s, mixed with horror, humour and tropes of the slasher movies from that time, it is a thrilling night to be the DJ on the late-night show slot.