The perfect type of game for this IP.
Disclosure: IllFonic provided the game for review.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space started as a 1988 movie and grew into a cult classic. The game captures the essence of the film’s blend of horror and comedy, and delivers something that feels both nostalgic and new. IllFonic took what it learned from its previous asymmetrical multiplayer games and upped the ante.
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Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game Review: A Love Letter to a Cult ClassicWant to play it? Check the price on Amazon (also on PS5) or see every option in Where to buy.
Story
There’s no traditional narrative here. Instead, the game takes the spirit of the film and drops you into it as either a Klown or one of the desperate humans, each side with its own objectives and survival strategies. The story is in the world itself and in all the callbacks to the movie. If you’ve seen the film, you’ll get a lot out of it. It’s a love letter to the fans and feels like an extension of the story, showing what might have been happening in between the movie’s scenes. They honored the movie, and I think they nailed it.
Gameplay
The gameplay is fluid and the controls are responsive. I never felt frustrated. If I missed as a Klown, it was because I needed to aim better or track humans who were dipping and dodging.
Your game is wildly different depending on your side. As a human, you’re hunting for spark plugs, gas or a key card to escape, and you have to stay quiet, because once the Klowns find you it goes from “let me find something” to “let me survive.” The parts and escape routes are randomized, so you can’t memorize your way out. This is also a big departure from other games of this type, where you’re just creeping around. Find a wrench, a knife or a shotgun and you can take the fight to the Klowns, especially if you group up, since it’s seven humans against three Klowns. Humans can hop out of windows while Klowns have to take the door. Knock a Klown down and it just gets dizzy, but hit it on the nose with something sharp or a gun, like in the movie, and it’s out for a while, which buys you time to escape. Those mini Klowns will grab you if you aren’t paying attention, but if you see them, you slap them up.
As a Klown, there are different types with different speed, strength and health. Basically all the guns from the movie are here, including the popcorn gun, which leaves a popcorn trail when you hit someone. You can super jump to any part of the map you or another Klown has visited, balanced by a timer. Hang cocoons on the machines from the movie, up to four per station, to level them up and send out more lackeys. For me, which side is more fun is a toss-up.
Visuals
It’s a visual treat. The lighting is a wow factor, with natural shadows and reflections that change as the action unfolds. The Klowns are spot on, from their grotesque grins to their outlandish outfits. The iconic locations are pulled straight from the film, and it’s like stepping into a high-definition version of the movie. When I saw Debbie’s house and its steps in the suburbs, I lost it. Big Top Burger, the police station recreated beat for beat with the cell in the back, the footprints planted around the world: the callbacks are everywhere. The cars are authentic to the ’80s, too. There’s plenty of customization, unlocked as you progress.
Sound
The audio is a direct callback to the film’s iconic score, and it sets the perfect tone for the chaos. The sound effects mix whimsical and horrifying: honks, cotton candy squishes, and those squeaking Klown shoes. When you’re playing a human and hear that squeak, it’s “oh snap, which direction is it coming from?” Each weapon has a signature sound, so when you’re hiding, you know exactly what’s going down nearby.
Verdict
I had a blast, and I’m so glad they made this game. Killer Klowns is the perfect type of game for this IP, and the IP boosts the excitement because everything gels so well. It’s smooth, I had no controller issues, and I didn’t run into any bugs I can remember. I’d love to be able to change your character or weapons between matches, though. Right now you’re stuck with whatever you set as active, and switching means leaving matchmaking and losing a fun group. Not a big enough deal to impact my score, and IllFonic has plenty of post-launch plans.
Image: IllFonic / Teravision Games
More on OnPoint: Halloween: The Game Review: Michael Myers Finally Feels Right and Gears of War: E-Day Review: The Coalition Built a Showpiece With a Heart.
The verdict: Amazing
The perfect type of game for this IP.
Pros
- Faithful, callback-packed recreation of the movie
- Two wildly different sides to play
- Humans can fight back
- Gorgeous lighting
- Iconic, tense audio
Cons
- Can't change character or weapons between matches without leaving matchmaking
Where to buy
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