Four years ago, horror fans and Friday the 13th fans worldwide experienced a collective sensation of sheer excitement as Gun Media released Friday the 13th: The Game. The game sparked a newly-found interest in the Friday the 13th franchise as a whole, as everyone’s favorite man in a hockey mask returned to their screens. Only this time, you could be Jason. In this review, I will break down the (not so) obvious pros and cons of this interactive, knife-wielding madness that took the horror world by surprise.

About Friday the 13th: The Game

Friday the 13th: The Game is an asymmetrical, multiplayer survival horror extravaganza that places players on various maps as teenage camp counselors trying to escape Jason Vorhees. The third-person game, developed by IllFonic and published by Gun Media, saw a digital release in May 2017, followed by a disc release in October of the same year. Its release received tremendous publicity, selling over 1.8 million copies in its first three months, and anticipation from life-long fans of the horror genre. 

Of course, over time, and with a lawsuit preventing the development of new content, the game’s popularity has decreased throughout the years. Even so, it provides a sense of authentic gaming which allows you to feel like a counselor trying to survive on Camp Crystal Lake, plus the chance to joke around with your friends and to have a good time (killing them all.)

The Story

The game’s story echoes the Friday the 13th film franchise in which an adult Jason Vorhees, who drowned in the lake as a young boy, sets out to kill any and all camp counselors that return to Camp Crystal Lake. Spoiler alert: He’s seeking revenge for the decapitation of his mother, Pamela, whose severed head and sweater are kept in Jason’s run-down shack.

Gameplay

Friday the 13th: The Game (2021) - PC Gameplay 

In Friday the 13th: The Game, players can guarantee an interactive experience that tests their unique survival skills. Players can also expect lots of bloody violence as the chance of watching their fellow counselors get killed one by one is possible at the hands of Jason. There are seven playable maps in the game, from Packanack Lodge to Higgins Haven, each individually eccentric.

Players are allowed to escape the map that they are on via repairing the boat or car, by escaping with the police, by allowing the 20-minute time limit to expire, or simply by killing Jason with the help of Tommy Jarvis. One significant feature that the game does not include is the ability to create and stylize your own character, which has received a fair amount of criticism. Instead, players choose their desired counselor from a diverse, pre-made lineup.

Combat Stance

Friday The 13th The Game - Fighting Jason Tips and Tricks

A fan favorite of this game is the strong use of combat stance. In time for battle, both Jason and the counselor can fire up their combat stance, which can help both in attacking and dodging attacks. Attacking Jason can be accomplished via a helpful list of weapons, both sharp and not. A major goal in this game is for players to work together in hopes of completing their task of either killing Jason or escaping. Checking cabins for weapons and other useful resources, such as the fuse for the phone to call the police, is essential for players to survive.

In a more recent update by the developers, a patch was put into effect which gives Jason the ability to not be stunned for the final ten minutes of a match. In simpler terms, hitting Jason with a simple weapon such as a pipe or flare gun will not harm him. However, any counselor (including Tommy Jarvis) can stun Jason by shooting him with a shotgun. However, the shotgun only includes one bullet, so you’d better not miss. This patch makes it even more difficult to defeat Jason when attempting to escape, giving him a much-needed boost of power.

Overall mission

The mission of the game is quite simple: survive. The game provides an excellent adventure for players, as there are numerous ways to escape the selected map. Another way the game provides adventure is the ability for counselors to fight back against Jason by stunning him with weapons such as a baseball bat or lead pipe. One of the most interesting and exciting ways for counselors to battle Jason is the opportunity to kill him.

Of course, you’re going to need Tommy Jarvis, who returns to the game as a counselor that was either murdered or escaped. A player using a female counselor can then steal Pamela’s sweater from Jason’s shack, put it on, stun Jason with the sweater and allow Tommy to deliver the final blow with a machete or axe.

Graphics

Friday the 13th Game –PC Min vs. Max Graphics

For a game with a specific set of the 1980s, the graphics certainly stand on their own two feet. The appearance of blood splatter and weapons ripping through organs is one to admire. In addition, the game pays a strong tribute to the authenticity of the film franchise with the design of the maps and virtual cabins.

The graphics particularly shine when it comes to the actual acts of violence and murder that Jason commits to the scrambled counselors. With this, his sadistic kills appear first-hand. Whether it’s using his spear to slice through his victim’s spine, or using his fists to crush their head, it’s truly a graphical sight to see.

The developer

One of the biggest gripes of the game, developed by IllFonic, is the overabundance of glitching. The game is known for its extra buggy nature, such as characters hovering mid-air or body parts poking through walls. However, the developers stay up to date by implementing patches where they can and overall try to improve gameplay. Before the game was smacked with a heavy lawsuit, plans for Jason X were on the horizon, which many fans encouraged and were excited for.

Unfortunately, due to the lawsuit between series co-creator Victor Miller and the developers, no new content is to be added to the game as of November 2020.

Current price

As of today, the price of the game on the PlayStation 4 store is listed at $14.99. The game is available on most gaming consoles, such as for PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and even the Nintendo Switch. Luckily, the game often goes on sale, with the chance to buy it for a considerably less amount.

In-app purchases are also available, with players having the opportunity to change their counselors’ attire in the form of the Spring Break Swimsuit pack and Costume Party clothing pack, as well as the Emote Party pack which adds several dances and movements. As for Jason, players can purchase packs such as the Machete Kill, Pig Splitter, and Pick Axe, all providing new specific grabs for Jason to use.

Pros:

• Ability to fight back against the killer
• Pays tribute to the classic film franchise
• Numerous ways to escape/survive

Cons:

• No new content
• Buggy gameplay
• Loss of Jason’s stun ability (final 10 mins)

Overall, the game is still a fun, exciting place where friends can get together and wreak havoc as Jason Vorhees. Despite being released four years ago and grouped with a heavy lawsuit, lobbies are still full every single time a match is searched. The game provides a particular sensation of nostalgia that's hard to explain into words, but still has its fair share of issues such as bugginess and lack of updated content. 

FINAL VERDICT: 6.5/10

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