Ephemeris of the Mind (Game Review) Friday the 13th: The Game
Time to read: 2 min read
Game Cover
Platform played on: Xbox One
Review
In this asymmetrical multiplayer survival horror, one player assumes the role of serial killer Jason Voorhees while up to seven other players assume the role of different counselors. The goal of Jason is simple: hunt down and brutally dismember the counselors. The counselors, while avoiding Jason, must try to escape via different options such as repairing cars, calling the police, or just surviving until the timer runs out.
Trying to escape from Jason as a counselor
This game is clearly made for fans of the Friday the 13th film franchise, filled with easter eggs and details that a true fan would appreciate. Unfortunately, I’ve never watched any of the films and I just enjoy playing games before the servers go offline. Despite this, I felt the game has a great atmosphere and is actually pretty balanced in its gameplay. Playing as Jason is very difficult, especially if the counselors work together, but at the same time, the counselors can’t really kill Jason (unless they get extremely lucky and are also very well-organized), so this optimizes for many interactions between Jason and the counselors. I also enjoyed the strategic aspects of the game such as building your Jason/counselor to optimize for a certain gameplay style. The game also ports over many of the themes from the films, such as the gruesome (and creative) ways Jason executes counselors and the awesome 80s nostalgia. As with many of these multiplayer games, playing with friends is the best way to experience Friday the 13th: The Game.
Hunting down counselors
While the game, like the films, is a cult indie hit, there are definitely some issues, such as the outdated graphics and the very spotty servers (prepare to be kicked). The lack of single player content is also not ideal; the only interesting single player mode is where you play as Jason in different challenge scenarios and there is no single player way to play as a counselor. I also experienced some gameplay issues such as getting stuck in the game and having my progress not save.
Conclusion
A low budget but fun game.