Hooked on You: Dead by Daylight Gets Sexy
You wake up on a tropical island surrounded by killers that have spent hundreds of hours knocking you to the ground and hanging you on hooks to feed an unholy eldritch abomination. But in this beautiful paradise, the one thing they have on mind is love. Or murder. It’s honestly a toss up.
This is the fantastic premise behind Behavior Interactive’s newest release: Hooked on You, a dating simulator that lets you date four of Dead by Daylight’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. A game I can’t believe exists but has been welcomed with open arms by the notoriously thirsty fanbase of Dead by Daylight.
This dating simulator / visual novel drops you in the lap of The Trapper, The Huntress, The Spirit, and The Wraith. Four killers who you might never expect to see wearing bikinis, swimming trunks, and whatever it is that Trapper’s wearing.
Over the course of a few days, you’ll woo them, indulging in sexy beachy activities while learning about their history and the existential angst that drives them to kill. It’s a fun game with lots of light, comedic dialogue. Each of the characters offers an interesting archetype that you won’t usually get a dating sim, and there’s a hint that there’s something going on beneath the plastic beach-resort façade.
Like there’s some sort of entity keeping killer and survivors alike trapped here. Almost like time has lost all meaning and death is not an escape. Hmmm.
Anyway.
What Hooked on You does best is its great visuals, good music, and interesting world building and characterization. The dialogue has its golden moments. It’s snappy, hilarious, and fits the caricatured killers. But where the game falls short is the over-narration and pacing.
The entire game is a gag. That’s obvious to anyone who knows anything about Dead by Daylight. But Hooked on You is intent on reminding you it’s all a big joke with constant interruptions that breaks the flow of an otherwise great summer romance.
But what was even worse, the part of this game I abhorred, was the truly awful mini game. Yeah, I get it. It’s like the generators in Dead by Daylight. That’s a cool reference! But the games are laggy, inconsistent, and never really give you a chance to get your bearings before speeding up. It’s great that you can still “win” every route, even if you fail every mini game, but I wish they’d been done a little better. Or maybe I just suck at anything timed. Both are possible.
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Would I still recommend it? Hell yes, I would. You absolutely get your money’s worth. And even if the narration is a little over the top, it’s still a great ride.
You can find Hooked on You on Steam for $9.99 USD. A total steal for what is hours of content if you choose to do every route. So far, I’ve romanced Muscle Mama Huntress and the Perpetually Pessimistic Spirit.
Gaming
Lovecraft Meets Junji Ito in WORLD OF HORROR
WORLD OF HORROR is a cosmic horror roguelite game developed by Paweł Koźmiński and published by Ysbryd Games.
WORLD OF HORROR is a cosmic horror roguelite game developed by Paweł Koźmiński and published by Ysbryd Games. The game is available on macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. This review will cover the Steam (Windows) version of the game.
You must explore the strange goings on around Shiokawa, Japan. It appears that eldritch forces have influenced the town in incomprehensible ways. So, attempt to comprehend these forces and maintain your sanity to save the town. Plan your investigations, choose between cases, and fight for your life.
There are a few game modes but three difficulty spikes. The easiest is a specific case with some random events. This mode teaches you the basic mechanics of the game. The harder difficulties give you access to an apartment and choices on which case you investigate. Completing objectives earns you customization options for the customized mode.
What I Like About WORLD OF HORROR
Running on GameMaker Studios, the pixelated aesthetic shows influences from Lovecraft and Junji Ito, though the latter more so than the former. WORLD OF HORROR haunts its viewers with its aesthetic, allowing the pixels to evoke those horror legends.
Random generation remains a key feature of the game, with various options and choices giving a massive variety. Your character also has some limited customization to access perks and further development. I will bring up some weaknesses later, but it is surprisingly vast. Adding to this variety, WORLD OF HORROR provides mod accessibility.
The combat allows for a great deal of thought and planning. You select your character’s actions within an action bar and perform the tasks (or combos) to beat an opponent. This JRPG style provides variety in action that makes it engaging and unique.
The random generation and variety make each playthrough different. You might acquire a devastating katana in one playthrough only to bleed out unceremoniously in another.
While not a terrifying gaming experience, WORLD OF HORROR strives to provide an eerie and intense experience. At this, the game is a success. The weird and unnerving collide to invest the player in this strange world.
Tired Tropes and Triggers
Body horror deserves a mention, but the aesthetic and pixels doesn’t particularly evoke realism. Regardless, many designs evoke body horror.
Aside from this, here are some points of consideration. First, WORLD OF HORROR uses JRPG turn-based combat, which seems a point of division among some gamers. However, there are enough interesting mechanics and complexities beyond clicking an action and waiting your turn.
Second, WORLD OF HORROR isn’t a cult detective. You’re experiencing events and choosing how your character responds. Some sage wisdom I heard for WORLD OF HORROR is to focus on the whole campaign instead of a single case. Failing a case isn’t a game over, so prioritize your character’s longevity.
What I Dislike About WORLD OF HORROR
Only a few issues hindered my experience. Some scenarios replay on a single case, let alone a playthrough, which becomes repetitive. Some scenarios have multiple solutions to add variety or require perks to access new options, but that’s not always true. This issue makes the randomization taxing at times.
This next issue is likely a bug or an oversight. After losing my reason (sanity), I found myself still able to investigate despite the game claiming that means death. An unrelated event finished me off, but I can’t help but assume this is a bug.
Final Thoughts
WORLD OF HORROR has its quirks but earns massive replay value and surprising depth. It’s a unique and ambitious indie title worth the price. If Junji Ito’s style or cosmic horror is your particular brand of horror, WORLD OF HORROR delivers an experience you’ll likely enjoy. Though this combination synergizes well, few games combine these elements successfully.
(4.5 / 5)
Step into the mind-bending world of Eldritch Automata as we sit down with Game Designer Nick Francia at GenCon 2024!
Uncover the secrets behind this Lovecraftian mecha-masterpiece and get a glimpse of what’s to come.
In this exclusive interview, Nick Francia shares:
• The intricate game development process • Inspirations behind the eerie Lovecraftian elements
• Unique mecha-infused gameplay mechanics Calling all Lovecraft fans! Dive into a world where eldritch horrors meet steam-powered marvels.
Eldritch Automata promises an unforgettable gaming experience that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
👉 Ready to embrace the madness? Check out our playable demo at a con near you! #EldritchAutomata #GenCon2024 #LovecraftianGaming #IndieGameDev
Prepare for a spine-chilling experience as Jim Phoenix delves into the shadows with Trick or Treat Studios at GenCon 2024!
In this exclusive interview, we uncover the terrifying secrets behind their latest bone-chilling creations: “House of 1000 Corpses” and “Halloween II” board games.
These games aren’t just about rolling dice – they’re about immersing yourself in the blood-curdling atmosphere of beloved horror films. With unique survival (and kill!) horror mechanics and cooperative gameplay, you’ll feel the terror coursing through your veins with every move!
But wait, there’s more! With the Kickstarter to House of 1000 Corpses shipping soon, we have an in-depth review coming up for that game, Halloween II–AND…Chucky. BOOMMM!!!
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