An example of asymmetrical games done right.
(REVIEW)
Platforms: Windows, Xbox One, Playstation 4
Publisher: Starbreeze Studios (2016 - Q1 2018)
Developer: bEhaviour Interactive
Release Date: June 14th, 2016
Dead by Daylight is an asymmetrical horror game that can either be a survival experience or an action packed and suspenseful one. Four survivors, one killer and a handful of diverse and randomly generated maps (to an extent). Each match played will be more nerve wracking than the last. Both sides come equipped with unique perks that are tailored to the characters they choose and can affect how a match will play out in their favors. Killers have a particular advantage in this formula and possess a unique power that will determine how survivors outlive the executioner of the match. Whether it be zipping across the map with a chainsaw or narrowly escaping the cudgel of a mad doctor, Dead by Daylight will add a compelling experience unlike any other multiplayer horror game to date.
When I first played Dead by Daylight back on June 14th of 2016, (I remember this very specifically since I got it as a birthday gift) I was immediately terrified, energized and curious. Curious about what this game was and what it would become for me as its player. There was only three killers and four survivors on the release and it stayed this way for a few months. Each came with 3 unique perks and all the killers had a variety of maps accustomed to a specific theme and tone of environmental lighting. It was so damn cool and after my experiences with Evolve and the 4v1 asymmetrical genre, I was actually really excited to see that this category of multiplayer games would be my favorite one of the batch yet.
"The Hillbilly" doing what he does best at the Crotus Penn Aslyum.
Getting right into the game-play, the genre speaks for itself. Four survivors and one killer will spawn into a random preset map. Survivors need to find and power on five generators that spawn randomly in the match and then proceed to open escape gates that will be revealed for a short period of time. The killer will be constantly hunting the survivors and trying sacrifice them on meat hooks around the map to The Entity (the game’s godly sacrificial overlord). Survivors can take two hits before going into a downed state and if they are downed, the killer can hook them up and take away their remaining life. Survivors hooked three times will be sacrificed and removed from the match. This is the game-play at its core and leaves a lot of interesting layers to pile on top of it.
There are perks in Dead by Daylight which enhance the killer and survivor experience by giving them a unique edge in the current cat chases mouse game-play style. Survivors, for example; would be able to heal themselves without another survivor to aid them, run at almost twice their speed to escape chases or even destroy the killer hooks and prevent them from hanging you or your teammates. As for some killer perks, there can be factors that make it so you can move faster while carrying incapacitated survivors, see blood left by injured victims a lot easier or instantly down survivors once all the generators are powered on. These are just a small handful of what both sides are capable of playing around with. Thankfully, the game limits the uses of perks, per player, to just four total so that crazy metas can be controlled.
However, killers and survivors could start the match with some extra equipment to give them even more of an edge. Players can do this by equipping add-ons, items and offerings which are gained through the progression system for each character in the game. Survivors have access to tool boxes, medkits, maps, keys and flashlights. Killers will get add-ons that will make their killer powers do different effects or make them much more powerful overall in their base kits. This is when the game starts to get more interesting. Each survivor can become much more efficient or unlock new altruistic actions for them and their team. Killers can change the lethality of their powers with different playstyle adjustments of specific add-ons. For example, The Nurse is a killer who can “blink” (a short distance teleport) across the map and go through objects and level elevations to get the jump on survivors. Each blink can be held for a certain duration and go a certain length depending on how long the power has been held for. The Nurse can do this twice before putting herself into a short “fatigue” state before being able to blink twice again.. With add-ons, she could potentially go farther in distance based off the default values or even blink up to four times instead of two. Huge game changer in this match-up.
The more hours I sunk into this game in it’s first two months, I started to realize how crazy imbalanced the game could be. The current level design was heavily favored for survivors once you learned the procedural layouts. With perks, survivor escape options and killer behaviors started to spawn the same stale metas of inescapable frustration. I stepped away for a few months then an astonishing announcement came out that Halloween year… the Halloween chapter. Featuring Michael Myers and Laurie Strode for the killer and survivor plus a new map… the infamous Haddonfield. Dead by Daylight’s first licensed chapter… something I did not expect to see coming from this game. I was immediately sold and was convinced this game was not planning on stopping what they had going for them. At least not anytime soon. Since I have been away, about three months since launch, the game changed immensely. Base values for all characters started getting tweaks to fix killer sacrifice ratios, prevent current exploits and toxic behavior in the core game-play and even modify perks to be more relevant in the games updated meta. This was a huge turning point for Dead by Daylight and I was more hooked then ever (see what I did there? Because I die a lot in this game). With bEhavior Interactive focusing on balance so early in Dead by Daylight's infancy, this started becoming extremely reassuring of where it could be ending up in the next few years.
The infamous "Shape" stalking his prey, "Laurie Strode", in the streets of Haddonfield.
Dead by Daylight, now in 2018, has added almost 3 times the amount of content it has had since its initial launch. With 7 new killers, 8 new survivors and maps all bundled together, this title has found a way to keep it’s fans and newcomers absorbed into the fog. Each new update of these content editions, called chapters, add pretty big element changes to the core game-play and it is always impressive to see it play out on each release. For example, the latest Saw chapter (based off the popular horror franchise, “Saw”) was able to add an element that has only slightly dwindled in the game previously before… constant anxiety. The Killer is “Amanda” The Pig and for the survivor, Detective David Tapp. For killer game-play, The Pig is the next stealth based killer since The Wraith and her game-play revolves around a level anxiety that does not exist with any of the killers… imminent death. Killers hunt, incapacitate and hook survivors. The Pig adds an extra step… trapping the survivor. After downing a survivor she can place a reverse bear trap on a survivor's head and once the next generator is powered or all generators are on, the trap starts ticking and if time runs out… so does your match. The trap will snap and instantly kill the survivor. No more hooks needed. It is a premise of adding new objectives and emotions after two years that keeps me interested in Dead by Daylight's potential. Making even more unique and diverse game-play elements in such a simple core concept.
Four hundred plus hours later, Dead by Daylight keeps me coming back as both the seasoned survivor and killer. My progression of the game has revolved around playing my favorite characters and earning bloodpoints to try other characters I may not have invested into earlier. The Bloodweb system keeps all the points in your game relevant so that you can build towards play-styles and characters you want to play or experiment with. The bloodpoints are universal, so you never have to exclusively play one side or the other. This is another big strength of Dead by Daylight. You can play however you want, when you want. You are constantly rewarded for just playing and you never have to be stuck playing something you do not want to devote yourself into. If you want to solely play as survivor, the game will not make you get a “chance” at playing the next round as one or put any pre-requirements in front of you. You select your role, the character of your interest, then you jump right in. Same applies to the killer. And as mentioned before, all bloodpoints from both sides can be used for whatever you wish to work into. Dead by Daylight even added a Daily Ritual system for it’s player base after the first year. The intention is to get everyone trying new things or keeping the challenges fresh. It also highlights opportunities into trying a new perk build you may not have thought about before or trying a character you may have disregarded prior. Players are rewarded large amounts of bloodpoints to spend if they complete these challenges so it is definitely worth trying out the Daily Rituals as they come in.
Official trailer for "The Saw Chapter" featuring "Dwight Fairfield" and "The Pig". (NSFW)
It is really remarkable how well bEhaviour Interactive has translated horror into a multiplayer experience and the biggest strength lies in it’s human experience. Each player you encounter, survivor and killer, will always be another player… no AI substitutions. The experiences of Dead by Daylight demands the human psyche to make it the game that it is. Human mistakes and predictions make the, edge of your seat suspense moments, extremely memorable and exclusive to each round you play. There is also no voice communication built into the game-play. With no voice communication, nobody will be yelling at you to be doing certain objectives and the only focus you will have is what is front of you in that time. It is a design choice I highly respect and it really keeps the player immersed in the involvement of Dead by Daylight’s nature. The world is encroached in heavy visual cues and auditory driven apprehension. Repairing a generator then hearing the subtle but ever so looming heartbeat of the killer approaching really sets the stage for the game and forces you to think quickly and truly survive. Or looping around a wall as a killer only to hear the grunts and pains of the victim you were chasing so that you can get that next satisfying swing on them. It really captivates both play-styles in a hasty and truly reactive involvement within the game-play.
From the start, Dead by Daylight was a solid game but did not have a lot left to offer once peaking in all the features that were on release. Now, the game possesses the amount diversity it needs to truly create endless possibilities of how you will interpret each match. Also, with bEhavior gaining full control of the game after buying the IP from it’s publisher, the new road map they have laid out for 2018 should continue to create even more fresh and terrifying experiences. I highly recommend Dead by Daylight for horror fans and players alike who enjoy getting a good rush out of their game-play. It is, and has become, a well designed title in its lifetime and is continuing to impress its player base, and myself, with more balance and content updates. The addition of matchmaking is also enjoyable for people who want to que up with their friends and see if you could all escape. There is also a private lobby mode if you want to just have a crazy murder party with friends as well.
Snuffy's Closing Statement:
Genre:
My favorite asymmetrical multiplayer game on the market. Playing solo or with others, the game-play stands strong no matter what side you choose.
Game approved!
Dead by daylight is a fantastic game that is enveloped by astute sound design, immersive contextual tells and sinister environmental arrangement to create diverse variation and captivation in it's game-play. Although undoubtedly unbalanced, Dead by Daylight embraces this flaw and makes up for it with familiar and amazingly original unique characters who all bring a new layer of challenge and intrigue to the fog. With a promising future, now has never been a better time to jump in.
Give Dead by Daylight a chance to make your own horror movie experience. as the killer or survivor, it is a bloody good time.
This review was played primarily on PC (Ultra settings) but also on Xbox One and Playstation 4. Console versions are optimized much less efficiently and can possibly give killers a clunky interpretation of its game-play. Note, all images provided were taken from official press releases advertising "Dead by Daylight" or recorded in game with an owned version.
Disclaimer: I was not paid nor offered any incentives to write this review by the accompanying publisher, developer or any outside force. This is solely for personal production and interest. My opinions and recommendations are based off my personal interpretation of the product and it's design.