IllFonic has become synonymous with asymmetric horror gaming, and for good reason. Friday The 13th was a revelation at the time of its release, and with IPs such as Predator and Ghostbusters under their belt, one starts to wonder which would happen first: run out of gameplay ideas, or IP to drive them. I’m happy to say that Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game is no simple rehash or reskin, but a welcomed addition to the IllFonic portfolio, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the full product.
IllFonic doesn’t aim to reinvent the formula that drives these asymmetric multiplayer games, but rather seeks to offer a unique experience while retaining familiarity. “You could swap in the Klowns into any of these games and call it a day, but we wanted more. Killer Klowns was on our very short list of IPs we wanted to work on, and they deserve to be treated with respect,” says Jared Gerritzen, Chief Creative Officer at IllFonic. And respect the Klowns they do.
Killer Klowns has players taking the role of three Klowns against seven survivors. This small change leads to a surprising shift in dynamics, resulting in hilarious and challenging moments. Each of the three Klowns available in PAX East Floor Demo plays differently in some ways, and they complement each other’s abilities well. In our playthrough, fellow Duel Screens Writer Jimmy was playing a Klown with a big ol’ bonking hammer as his second weapon. My Klown was outfitted with a cranking pop gun that inflicted major damage, but had a recharge time that made using the weapon a poignant decision not to be taken lightly. I also had a balloon dog that was used to sniff out hiding humans as it pulled me all around the map. This game blends utility with love for the IP in some really fun and clever ways. Another ability you unlock early in the round is the “Klown Jump,” which is basically a teleport on a cooldown. You slip into a map screen and pick a new location to spring to. If I was having a hard time finding someone, I would open the map and look for another Klown running all over the place in a figure eight, which almost always meant they were chasing someone. So I would jump there and lo and behold! Now it is a 2 on 1! It leads to really fun ‘oh crap!’ moments for humans and ‘we’re gonna get you!‘ moments for the Klowns. Knowing that there will be five total Klowns to mess about with has us itching to clown around with each and see which one we jive with most.
Perhaps one of the best changes to the formula is that the humans/survivors are not severely underpowered compared to the Klowns. This is important not only due to the sheer number of Klowns and tools at their disposal but also because it makes for some ‘chess match’ moments in the end game. Humans can find knives, handguns, shotguns, and more to help fend off Klowns. Each of the weapons proves effective at popping the noses and rendering the Klown down for the count for a bit while the humans dash about. And remember that balloon dog? Well, humans can find a ball to toss, and the Klown’s balloon will chase after it instead of the players. It is WILD. Not only can the humans go toe-to-toe in many aspects, they have a few win conditions that keep the killers on their toes.
The humans have multiple ways of escaping, but only a few can escape at each route. This leads to dynamic strategies that change as the round progresses. The best part is the locations of the escape routes change every time, and each can be in one of 28 locations. This helps stave off “meta” rounds where survivors know where to go right away and the Klowns know the perfect strategy to sweep the round in three minutes. Killer Klowns looks to constantly fight against these ‘pro strats’ from becoming the driving force behind the game’s community. Instead, hilarity and high-octane insanity reign supreme.
While I can see myself being a Klown main, the cat-and-mouse style of the level and objective design will ensure that I all have fun no matter what I do that round. Killer Klowns – the movie – is celebrating 36 years since its release, and I cannot wait for this game to introduce its special brand of lunacy to an entire new generation of fans. You can pre-purchase Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game now on Steam, PlayStation Store, and the Xbox Marketplace with the invasion due on June 4th.
Pre-Purchase Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1556100/Killer_Klowns_from_Outer_Space_The_Game/
