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The Casting of Frank Stone Review: Supermassive’s Best Since Until Dawn
In this The Casting of Frank Stone review, discover why Supermassive Games’ latest horror title is being hailed as their best since Until Dawn. With gripping choices and haunting visuals, this game is a must-play!
Cedar Hills police officer Sam Green charges into the blazing inferno of the Cedar Steel Mill furnace, illuminated in an intense crimson glow. Towering above a wailing baby on a catwalk, Frank Stone, wearing a bloodied metal mask, dominates the scene as smoldering flames rage below. This chapter from The Casting of Frank Stone was part of my preview last month. In it, Sam is hooked on a metal pipe, reminiscent of Dead by Daylight, and has only his fists and a flashlight to fend off the menacing killer. Previously, I was determined to save the baby, nailing every quick-time event. But this time, I let him fail, knowing it’s essentially a tutorial and assuming Sam couldn’t die… right?
Well, he didn’t die, but he didn’t come out unscathed. His eye was gouged out, and instead of freeing himself from the pipe, he collapsed with it still embedded in his shoulder, causing permanent damage. Just as Frank held the baby over the burning fire, I shot him square in the head. In my earlier preview, Frank fell into the flames alone, but this time, both he and the baby plummeted to their deaths.
The Casting of Frank Stone, a Dead by Daylight spin-off from Supermassive Games, is in the vein of Until Dawn, The Quarry, and The Dark Pictures Anthology. However, this title excels in offering meaningful player choices that significantly impact the narrative. I was amazed at how even the smallest details accumulated to completely alter the story’s direction, perfectly encapsulated in the first chapter.
While your choice between running up the ramp or climbing the ladder to reach Frank leads to the same outcome, the real differences stem from minor moments like the QTEs. Due to my failures, Sam will now be missing an eye and will carry a permanent injury throughout the game. The failure to save the baby will exacerbate his PTSD, making him even more obsessed with the mill and distancing him further from his role as a father. It’s not just about opening new narrative branches but deeply altering the character’s journey based on your decisions.
In a game driven by choices, it’s refreshing to see the focus on these subtler moments. The payoff comes hours later when you realize how a seemingly inconsequential decision had a wide-reaching impact. This slow-burn approach adds significant replay value, as every little detail is worth exploring.
One of the standout features in The Casting of Frank Stone is the Cutting Room Floor, a timeline that tracks every decision made in the game. These decisions are initially blacked out until discovered, but you can see how many players chose each path and how many you’re missing. You can revisit specific scenes to replay choices, altering characters’ fates and uncovering hidden storylines. This feature is a blessing, as it eliminates the need for a full replay to experience everything the narrative offers.
However, there is a risk of making choices feel too mechanical by revealing all paths. Thankfully, the smaller details prevent this issue. Instead of binary choices opening new paths, you must figure out what the blacked-out boxes represent by revisiting earlier chapters, unraveling the mysteries of the story.
The game spans three distinct time periods: 1963, 1980, and 2024. In the 1980s, we follow an amateur film crew, including Linda, Jaime, and Chris. In one chapter, Jaime’s death seems inevitable depending on your choice, but the Cutting Room Floor reveals a third option that can save him. Reflecting on earlier chapters, I realized that the firecrackers Chris found at the drugstore could be the key. Replaying the chapter, I ensured Jaime bought them, and when I revisited the crucial moment, a QTE allowed Jaime to survive.
While the Cutting Room Floor is an innovative feature, it’s not perfect. Unfortunately, you can’t simply jump ahead after changing a choice to see its ramifications. You must replay the game from that point onward, which can be tedious when trying to alter a specific event several chapters ahead. Despite this, The Casting of Frank Stone remains a gripping horror game with a story that stands on its own while expanding Dead by Daylight’s world.
The game masterfully blends various horror genres, from slasher to psychological horror, making it a true homage to a century of horror cinema. With a cast of compelling characters, it’s one of Supermassive’s best works since Until Dawn. Jaime and Chris’s evolving relationship is a highlight, as is the character development across different eras, even though some characters, like Madi, don’t get the attention they deserve due to the large cast.
While I won’t spoil the story, the twists and turns are incredibly satisfying, thanks to meticulous foreshadowing. The less you know about Frank Stone, the better, as the mystery enhances the experience.
The Casting of Frank Stone is among Supermassive’s finest games, with a strong cast, a captivating story, and thoughtful interactions. Not only is it the best game since Until Dawn, but it also surpasses that modern classic in many ways.
Final Verdict: 4.0/5
Platform: PS5
Pros:
- Focus on small details with long-reaching consequences rather than obvious binary choices
- One of Supermassive’s strongest casts to date
- Captivating story with meticulously foreshadowed twists
- Gorgeous cinematography and visuals that evoke various horror genres
- The Cutting Room Floor feature adds depth to the narrative
Cons:
- Cutting Room Floor could be less tedious, especially when revisiting past choices
- A large cast means some characters don’t get enough development
By focusing on the intricate details and providing a deeply engaging narrative, The Casting of Frank Stone offers a unique horror experience that stands out in Supermassive’s impressive lineup.