Info about The Casting of Frank Stone™:

Official game description:
The Casting of Frank Stone™ Deluxe Edition
==========================================
**The Casting of Frank Stone Deluxe Edition includes:**
*   The Base Game
*   Instant access to The Cutting Room Floor, a new feature that allows you to return to key decision points in the story and change their outcome or track down collectibles you missed
*   8 Exclusive Costumes
Purchasing the Deluxe Edition of The Casting of Frank Stone will unlock exclusive rewards in Dead by Daylight via your Behaviour Account\*, including:
*   "Frank Stone Mask" Cosmetic for The Trapper \[DELUXE EXCLUSIVE\]
*   "Frank Stone" Badge & Banner \[DELUXE EXCLUSIVE\]
*   3 Rellik Doll Charms \[DELUXE EXCLUSIVE\]
*   "Murder Mill" Shirt Cosmetic for all Original Survivors released before May 7th, 2025.
*   "Murder Mill" Badge & Banner
*   2 Million Bloodpoints
\*A Behaviour Account with linked entitlements to both _The Casting of Frank Stone_ and _Dead by Daylight_ is required to claim rewards.
About the Game
==============
Purchasing the **Standard Edition** of The Casting of Frank Stone will unlock exclusive rewards in Dead by Daylight via your Behaviour Account\*, including:
*   "Murder Mill" Shirt Cosmetic for all Original Survivors released before May 7th, 2025.
*   "Murder Mill" Badge & Banner
*   2 Million Bloodpoints
The storytelling prowess of Supermassive Games meets the Dead by Daylight universe in a haunting horror game that won’t soon be forgotten.
The shadow of Frank Stone looms over Cedar Hills, a town forever altered by his violent past. As a group of young friends are about to discover, Stone’s blood-soaked legacy cuts deep, leaving scars across families, generations, and the very fabric of reality itself.
A Mystery of Cosmic Proportions
-------------------------------
In the depths of an Oregon steel mill, the gruesome crimes of a sadistic killer spawn horrors beyond comprehension. Delve into the mystery of Cedar Hills alongside an original cast of characters bound together on a twisted journey where nothing is quite as it seems.
Choose Your Fate
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Every decision you make shapes the story and impacts the fate of the characters within it. Brimming with emotional gut-punches and high-stakes horror, discover how a simple decision can become a truly heart-wrenching dilemma.
An Immersive Nightmare
----------------------
For those who find comfort in the unknown, and glee in the grotesque, Supermassive Games’ cinematic storytelling brings new levels of emotion, immersion, and intensity to this darkly rich universe.
A World Beyond The Fog
----------------------
Experience a never-before-seen look at the wider world of Dead by Daylight, Behaviour Interactive’s acclaimed multiplayer horror game. Filled with spine-chilling twists, this dark original tale is certain to haunt you long after it’s over.
\*A Behaviour Account with linked entitlements to both _The Casting of Frank Stone_ and _Dead by Daylight_ is required to claim rewards.

Release date: Sep 3, 2024

Categories: Narrative Adventure, Choice-based Narrative, Interactive Fiction, Psychological Horror, Multiple Endings, Character Interaction, Exploration, Easter Eggs

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Needs Improvement; summary: The game suffers from significant technical issues, particularly related to alt-tabbing and multi-monitor setups, which severely impact the user experience. Additionally, the game design heavily relies on external resources for lore and puzzle-solving, leading to frustration among players.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback reveals significant issues with the game's performance on the Steam Deck. Key problems include frequent crashes, poor optimization, and the need for extensive settings adjustments to achieve playable frame rates. These issues severely impact the user experience, making the game difficult to enjoy without considerable tinkering. Additionally, there are mixed feelings about the storyline and character development, which may not meet all players' expectations.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence consistently suggests that users find the game overpriced at its full price. Many reviewers mention that they felt the game was only worth purchasing at a significantly reduced price, typically around $10 to $20. The general sentiment is that the game does not offer enough content or quality to justify a higher price point.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 8.0h
  - Story completion: 5.5h
  - Session length: 1.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple accounts of playtime durations. Several reviews mention completing the game in around 8 hours, which supports the `gameCompletion` metric. One review specifically states a first run took about five and a half hours, which aligns with the `storyCompletion` metric. Additionally, a mention of spending the first hour optimizing the game suggests a typical `sessionLength` of around an hour. There is no strong evidence provided for `endgame` hours.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow and boring start with repetitive gameplay, but it becomes more enjoyable when played in co-op mode with friends, particularly for fans of the Supermassive style and DBD players.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Co-op mode with friends
  - Time to anchor: 0h 30m
  - Friction: slow start; repetitive gameplay; pacing issues; boring gameplay mechanics; tedious walking
  - Unlock drivers: playing with friends; co-op mode
  - Conditions: fans of the Supermassive style; DBD players; playing with friends; co-op mode
- Player Archetypes:
  - Budget-Conscious Gamer (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Value for money
    - Playstyle: Thorough exploration, but only if the game is purchased at a price they deem appropriate.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: Bargain hunter; Price-sensitive gamer
    - Reference games: Until Dawn; House of Ashes
  - DBD Lore Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Exploration of the DBD universe and its lore
    - Playstyle: Narrative-driven, enjoys exploring different paths and outcomes.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: DBD fan; Lore enthusiast; Horror game fan
    - Reference games: The Quarry; Dark Pictures Anthology; Until Dawn
  - Narrative Horror Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Engaging narrative and exploration of different paths
    - Playstyle: Thorough exploration, enjoys narrative-driven games with multiple outcomes.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Horror game fan; Narrative-driven gamer
    - Reference games: Until Dawn; The Quarry; Dark Pictures Anthology
  - Completionist (sale)
    - Motivation: Unlocking all achievements and exploring all possible paths
    - Playstyle: Thorough exploration, enjoys replaying games to unlock all achievements and explore different paths.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Achievement hunter; Completionist
    - Reference games: The Quarry; Dark Pictures Anthology; Until Dawn


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging and well-developed story (weight 0.37): The story is frequently praised for being dark, engaging, and well-developed. Players appreciate the character development and the intriguing beginning, even though it starts rough but improves significantly in the later chapters.
- Rich in Dead by Daylight references (weight 0.34): The game is filled with Easter eggs and references that fans of Dead by Daylight will appreciate. These references are subtle and non-intrusive, adding a layer of enjoyment for those familiar with the DBD universe.
- Positive overall impression (weight 0.27): Players generally have a positive impression of the game, describing it as good, interesting, and worth playing. The game is seen as a good adventure with enjoyable elements.
- Meaningful choices and multiple endings (weight 0.18): Players appreciate the meaningful choices that affect the story and lead to multiple endings. These choices add replayability and depth to the gameplay experience.
- High-quality graphics and visuals (weight 0.15): The game features fantastic graphics and animation. The environments are rich and detailed, contributing to the overall atmospheric and engaging experience.
- Enjoyable gameplay mechanics (weight 0.11): The gameplay is described as fun and enjoyable, with interesting mechanics that contribute to a positive gaming experience. Players find the cooperative gameplay particularly engaging.
- Unique art style and plot twists (weight 0.08): The game stands out with its unique art style and plot twists. These elements contribute to the overall interesting and engaging nature of the game.
- Good atmosphere and world-building (weight 0.07): The game excels in creating a strong atmosphere and detailed world-building. This contributes to the overall engaging and immersive experience.
- Enjoyable despite some flaws (weight 0.07): While the game has some flaws, players still find it enjoyable overall. The positive aspects outweigh the negatives, making it a good experience despite its imperfections.

Common complaints:
- Poor story execution (weight 0.28): The story is widely criticized for being muddled, poorly paced, and confusing. Many players found it predictable, underdeveloped, and lacking a satisfying ending.
- Average gameplay (weight 0.22): Gameplay is often described as average, repetitive, and not smooth. It lacks innovation and can feel dull and underwhelming.
- Uninteresting characters (weight 0.18): Characters are often described as unlikable, boring, and lacking depth. This issue contributes to an overall unengaging narrative experience.
- Unsatisfactory ending (weight 0.17): The ending is frequently mentioned as frustrating, rushed, and incomplete. Players feel it lacks variety and is poorly executed.
- Unskippable cutscenes (weight 0.17): The inability to skip cutscenes is a common complaint, especially for players replaying the game or those who want to avoid forced extra playtime.
- Technical issues (weight 0.15): The game is plagued with various technical issues, including bugs, voice acting and lip-sync problems, and performance-related issues like stuttering and lag.
- Weaker than similar games (weight 0.09): The game is frequently compared unfavorably to other titles like Dark Pictures, Until Dawn, and Detroit: Become Human, often seen as not as deep or engaging.
- Lack of horror elements (weight 0.08): The horror aspects of the game are often criticized as weak or non-existent, failing to deliver the expected level of dread and tension.

Gameplay feedback:
- Story-driven and choice-based gameplay (weight 0.44): The game features a narrative-driven experience with interactive storytelling, branching story paths, and choice-driven gameplay. Players can influence the story through their decisions, which affect character fates and outcomes.
- Mixed feedback on gameplay mechanics (weight 0.22): Players have varying opinions on the gameplay, with some finding it standard and simple, while others criticize the lack of skill-based interactions and the minimal impact of choices on the story.
- Connections to Dead by Daylight (weight 0.19): The game includes numerous references, easter eggs, and connections to the Dead by Daylight universe, enhancing the lore and providing fans with familiar elements.
- Multiple timelines and perspectives (weight 0.11): The story is driven by three separate timelines and multiple character perspectives, adding depth and complexity to the narrative structure.
- Interactive movie-like experience (weight 0.1): The game is often described as an interactive movie or choose-your-own-adventure type game, with exploration, puzzles, and quicktime events.
- Exploration and replayability (weight 0.09): The game includes exploration mechanics and offers high replay value due to multiple endings and choices that affect the story.
- Criticism of story pacing (weight 0.08): Some players criticize the story for being slow-paced and convoluted, with a narrative that jumps between different time periods too quickly.
- Similar to other interactive games (weight 0.05): The game is compared to other interactive storytelling games like The Dark Pictures Anthology and Until Dawn, sharing similar gameplay mechanics and styles.

Performance notes:
- FPS drops and stuttering (weight 0.23): Frequent frame rate drops and stuttering are common issues reported by players, impacting the smoothness of gameplay.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.19): Many players report that the game crashes often, with issues ranging from black screens to constant crashes during gameplay.
- Cutscene performance issues (weight 0.18): Players experience frame rate drops, stuttering, and lag specifically during cutscenes, affecting the overall gameplay experience.
- Graphics and animation glitches (weight 0.11): Players have encountered various graphics errors, texture bugs, and animation glitches, detracting from the visual experience.
- Long loading times (weight 0.11): The game suffers from lengthy loading times and pauses during scene transitions, which can disrupt the gaming experience.
- High system requirements (weight 0.07): The game demands high system requirements, making it challenging for players with lower-end hardware to run smoothly.
- Minor bugs and issues (weight 0.06): Occasional bugs and minor issues are reported, though they seem less frequent compared to other major problems.
- Mixed performance reviews (weight 0.04): Some players report improved performance, while others experience stuttering and other performance issues.

Recommendations:
- Wait for a sale (weight 0.29): Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale before purchasing the game, as it is often considered not worth the full price. This sentiment is echoed across multiple clusters.
- General recommendation with caution (weight 0.26): The game is generally recommended, but often with the caveat that it should be purchased during a sale. Some reviewers suggest trying the game on sale or with the refund option due to mixed reviews and performance issues.
- Recommended for choice-based game fans (weight 0.19): The game is recommended for fans of choice-based and decision-making games. It is also suggested for those who enjoy interactive horror and adventure games.
- Not recommended for certain groups (weight 0.07): The game is not recommended for non-DBD players, people with Attention Deficit Disorder, or those expecting a cool story. It is also not recommended due to game-breaking bugs and lack of replay value.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.27): Players feel disappointed due to a combination of technical issues, poor optimization, and a lack of depth in both the story and gameplay. The game's performance problems, including crashes and bugs, along with a convoluted and poorly developed plot, contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, the lack of meaningful choices, underdeveloped characters, and the game's short length and high price further exacerbate the disappointment.
- Frustration (weight 0.25): Players are frustrated primarily due to frequent technical issues such as crashes, poor optimization, and performance problems. The inability to skip cutscenes, tedious achievement grinding, and unimpactful choices also contribute to this frustration. Additionally, confusing storylines, poor gameplay mechanics, and frequent bugs add to the overall negative experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.16): Players enjoy the game for its rich story, engaging narrative, and connection to Dead by Daylight lore. The atmospheric gameplay, interesting characters, and Easter eggs contribute to a positive experience. Despite some issues, the overall gameplay and story elements provide entertainment and satisfaction.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players are satisfied with the game's overall positive experience, including its engaging narrative and good value for the price. The enjoyable story, unique art style, and references to Dead by Daylight contribute to this satisfaction. Despite some bugs, the game meets expectations and provides a solid single-player experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.06): Players are excited about the game's intriguing story, engaging atmosphere, and connections to Dead by Daylight lore. The fresh mechanics, replayability, and Easter eggs add to the excitement. The unpredictable character survival and enjoyable story and characters also contribute to this sentiment.
- Anger (weight 0.03): Players express anger due to frequent crashes, poor optimization, and game-breaking bugs. The frustrating ending, inability to save certain characters, and the game's poor quality and perceived pandering contribute to this anger. The overall poor performance and lack of fixes further exacerbate the frustration.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Players experience joy from the positive aspects of the game, including its interesting story, engaging gameplay, and cool ending. The enjoyable story and mechanics, along with the fun gameplay, contribute to this joy. The overall positive review and engaging experience add to this sentiment.
- Love (weight 0.02): Players love the game for its engaging story, narrative choices, and connection to the Dead by Daylight universe. The lore, story, and creepy moments, along with the gameplay experience, contribute to this love. The story, DBD references, and graphics also add to the overall positive sentiment.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the game's engaging story, references to Dead by Daylight, and the ability to influence the story and character fates. The positive aspects of the game, including its appeal to Dead by Daylight players and well-developed story, contribute to this excitement. The game's engaging narrative and atmosphere also add to this sentiment.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Players are satisfied with the game's overall positive experience, including its enjoyable story and good value for the price. The game's worth trying despite its flaws, and the improved gameplay experience contribute to this satisfaction. The engaging narrative and references to Dead by Daylight also add to this sentiment.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players express hope for future content based on positive reviews and the potential for more games like this from the world of Dead by Daylight. The anticipation for more material in the same line and the potential for future content contribute to this hope. The reviewer's hope that Jack Stone will be added as a killer in the game also adds to this sentiment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players are highly enthusiastic about the game's narrative and atmosphere. The love for the game and its story, along with the positive narrative experience, contribute to this enthusiasm. The engaging story and atmosphere also add to this sentiment.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgia due to familiarity with Supermassive Games' style and references to Dead by Daylight. The Easter eggs and scenes that evoke memories, along with the familiarity with the game's style, contribute to this nostalgia. The references to Dead by Daylight and the game's atmosphere also add to this sentiment.
- Impressed (weight 0.01): Players are impressed by the game's well-fleshed out and interactive story, along with the adaptation of mechanics from Dead by Daylight. The intriguing concept and immersive atmosphere, along with the well-developed story, contribute to this impression. The game's engaging narrative and atmosphere also add to this sentiment.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Players experience boredom due to the monotonous start and lack of interesting events in the game. The game's superficial nature and lack of tension and connection to other games contribute to this boredom. The slow start and lack of engaging elements also add to this sentiment.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Players feel disappointed due to the game being poorly developed with many issues, including poor story development and gameplay experience. The game being a huge letdown and dull experience, along with the lack of depth in both the story and gameplay, contribute to this disappointment. The technical issues and poor optimization also add to this sentiment.
- Frustrated (weight 0.01): Players are frustrated with the lack of gameplay and excessive cutscenes, along with frequent crashes and performance issues. The game becoming unplayable and the stiff character movement contribute to this frustration. The overall poor performance and lack of fixes also add to this sentiment.
- Confusion (weight 0): Players feel confused due to the disjointed and confusing story, along with language translation problems. The confusing narrative and lack of coherence contribute to this confusion. The overall poor storytelling and lack of clarity also add to this sentiment.
- Surprise (weight 0): Players are pleasantly surprised by the game's plot, which exceeded their expectations. The overall positive experience and the engaging story contribute to this surprise. The unexpected positive aspects of the game also add to this sentiment.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0): Players have mixed feelings due to the game's slow start but excellent finish, along with some positive aspects and several drawbacks. The game's overall experience being a mix of good and bad elements contributes to these mixed feelings. The combination of positive and negative aspects also adds to this sentiment.}