So saw that the Demo for this came out and I’ve been anticipating this, so I figured I’d play through it and share my thoughts!
TERRIFIER’s been represented in Call of Duty’s “The Haunting” (If I Remember The Name) but this was a Big Surprise to see. Not only because seeing the Movies turned into a Pixel Art (They Make The Pun Already, I Don’t Have To) Game first before them trying one with Realism in mind, but because there’s the Halloween and Evil Dead beat ‘em ups that were announced shortly before.
Being a Longtime Beat ‘Em Up Fan myself all these plus Marvel Cosmic Invasion and that new Scott Pilgrim game have me Really Happy!
Speaking of Scott Pilgrim, unlike RetroRealms TERRIFIER is Heavily Inspired by the former with it’s Artstyle and Gameplay.
I can’t give you much plot details so this is gonna be a very Gameplay/Presentation-Focused Review. Unless there’s some in the Trailer or Official News I haven’t seen there’s not much Lore to be found.
Only Slaughter!
Starting of the Demo shows you all the Modes that’ll be in.
But the only selectable options are Arcade and Options. But in listed order there’s:
Story Mode
Arcade
Waves
Versus
Time Attack
Boss Rush
Gallery
Options
Controls
So seeing this after the Slick Ass Bootup Screen and Main Menu, with the Devs’ Logo shifting to Red and dripping with Blood with a VHS Vibe. You know these guys give a Shit and are going Full Throttle.
Selecta Play and Relevo are our Showrunners, they show Great Promise!
So selecting Arcade, you see that up to Four Players can rampage together, though for now the last two slots are locked off. Not sure if it’s because they’re still testing it or because they’re unlocked with New Characters.
Yeah, you’re not just playing as Art the Clown! In the Demo Player One is Art, and Player Two is The Pale Little Girl. Tho if you lose all your Lives you can choose between the two. Unintentional probably but Cool! Gotta try her out still but regardless.
After you’re done listening to the Sick Menu Music you get right in.
No Cutscene, just the Ready Screen as Art cycles in on his Trike. You can absolutely tell Scott Pilgrim is the Main Inspiration. From how the Sprites, the Environments, and the Music is all presented. It’s Scott Pilgrim’s Aesthetic Influence, drenched in Halloween Grunge.
It even starts in a Snowy Street like Scott.
And while as you’ll see I Fucking Love this Game. It’s got Room for Improvement.
Yeah might as well hit this off the Spiked Chairleg, this is a RETRO Beat ‘Em Up. So if you’re more used to Modern Ones like Scott or River City Girls;
Know that this is as slow as Golden Axe’s movement speed. With NO RUNNING.
That’s one of the only Improvements I’ll suggest. Increasing Movement Speed or Adding a Run, honestly the latter preferably because I grew accustomed to the pace easily.
Especially with one Attack.
Brings me to your Moveset.
Notated with PS Controller Buttons, Square’s your Light Attack which can be mashed into a Three Hit Combo ending with an Uppercut that launches Enemies away and has a bit of Recovery. It’s a bit inconsistent but not unreliable.
Next. Triangle is your Heavy Attack as well as your Interaction Button. Art throws a lunging straight that has a tiny bit of Windup but can be put in any Jab String you do that hasn’t resulted in the Uppercut.
Circle is a Dodge. Don’t think it has I-Frames but it could just have a small window of ‘em. Honestly Jumping served better for that I found but it’s a nice backwards dash if you need space quick.
X is Jump. Pretty High but travels a bit slow.
When jumping, you can either do a Kick with Square (Which Made Me Laugh My Ass Of Seeing Art Do), or with Triangle fuckin’ MIKE HAGGAR’S BODY SPLASH. Which increases your Air Acceleration Forward/Down by A LOT. Great Attack + Evasion Tool.
Can’t Jump with a Barrel tho.
Holding Triangle over anything is how you Interact with it. The Demo offers the Spiked Chairleg as your First Weapon. Square Attacks, Triangle Throws. You got a variety of Weapons and Items:
Spiked Chairleg
Police Baton
Barrel/Flaming Barrel
Pizza
And Enemies.
Walking up to Enemies while pressing Square (I Think?) is how you initiate a Grab like most Beat ‘Em Ups. Pummel with Square, Throw with Triangle.
Two more Mechanics to know are being able to hit Projectiles out of the Air and when you defeat Normal Enemies, you can Execute ‘em.
They’ll yell as Blood sprays on the Screen and stains the Ground. This Game letting you drown in as much Blood as your Thrist wants. The Aftermath of the Carnage not disappearing like other Beat ‘Em Ups. As they get back up a Triangle with a receding ring appears.
Get close to the Kill and press Triangle, Art pulls out his Pistol and demolishes their skull. Blood, Eyes, or even Teeth staining the Screen briefly with every Gory Kill and with more Blood with High Combos it seems.
Now it sucks that you only get the Headshot.
But, if you Kill Enemies with a Baton or Chairleg you get to smash the skulls in on the Final Hit everytime. Even on the Big Boys, which is Great because you sadly can’t Execute them. Hopefully on Launch.
Speaking of before I move on from Mechanics here’s Changes I’d like.
1. More Gore: It’s Great as is but could be so much messier. A HYPERREALISTIC BLOOD AND GORE Mode would also contrast Nicely with the Beautiful Pixel Art.
2. More Executions: You guys have Nailed the Aesthetic. Especially with Art and Co. looking Scary and Game Cutesy at once;
But only having a few ways to tear the Terrified apart is a bit disappointing. Along with that.
3. More Moves: Not many mind you I like the Game as is a lot. But at least one or two Unique Input Attacks like Streets of Rage does.
4. More Character Noises: Screams, Curses, Horns
Ok all that out of the way I’ll briefly touch on the Level and Enemy Design.
For the most part both are what you’d expect. Punch Cops. Baton Cops who love staying away and throwing Batons. Big Construction Worker who can block and lift Barrels. And Punks with that and a Slam Jump. Oh and Bikers that occasionally zoom across the Screen.
Only Punch/Kick and Baton Cops can be Executed. Everyone but Bikers can be grabbed. All can Die. Including Pedestrians running by, a Nice Touch. Even get Food of them so they’re Living First Aid!
Level Design is SUPER Linear in this Stage, but you can choose an Easy or Hard Route, haven’t tried the Easy but the Hard really showcases the Fun Chaos throwing more Environmental Objects in, including Beartraps that will Lock an Enemy briefly.
Finally the Boss of this Stage is The Cameraman and his Goons. The Goons are typical Cop Enemies, but The Cameraman will throw Dynamite, try to slam his Camera down onto you, and SHOOTS A FUCKING LASER FROM THE LENS.
Little Tough but not by much.
You get 6 Lives, the other 3 coming from a Continue.
And yeah that’s close to everything I have to say on it.
TERRIFIER fits the Retro Arcade Vibe Perfectly. Which kinda makes sense. So drop on by, The Clown Café’s opening soon!
