Total Chaos Review

Formidable conversion mods changed into standalone releases aren’t unusual. It’s inconceivable to completely perceive gaming’s complicated historical past with out understanding in regards to the origins of Counter-Strike or DOTA 2, for instance. Now, it’s Whole Chaos’ flip. Constructed on high of the FPS basic DOOM II initially, it’s making a return as a separate, Unity-powered recreation.

After spending a couple of minutes with the unique mod or Whole Chaos’ shiny remake (which has simply been shadow-dropped), it wouldn’t be bizarre to level out solo developer Sam Prebble (Turbo Overkill) has been influenced by the Resident Evil and Silent Hill sequence. Funnily sufficient, he hadn’t performed any of them when he was engaged on the mod, but these unmistakable historical ‘retro survival horror’ vibes are there, making Fort Oasis oppressive in acquainted methods earlier than it transforms right into a extra distinctive setting.

The Silent Hill connections are taken a step additional this time round with the legendary composer Akira Yamaoka including a brand new haunting musical theme on high of the good authentic rating by Whole Chaos mod composers Jason Dagenet and William Braddell, and Apogee’s music group: Chipper Hammond, Tim Stoney, and Mathieu Hallouin. Sure, that is no small venture regardless of Set off Joyful Interactive’s one-man growth effort.

The story has seen little to no modifications: Within the strategy of attempting to reply a misery name, the protagonist is shipwrecked off the coast of a mysterious island referred to as Fort Oasis. It as soon as was a thriving hub, but it surely (unsurprisingly) has a darkish previous, and one thing has simply gone incorrect terribly incorrect. Whole Chaos doesn’t take too lengthy to get issues going (and by that I imply throwing all kinds of horrors on the participant), however its moderately simple horror vibes shortly take a extra psychological flip… and that’s as a lot as I can say.

The aforementioned classical survival horror influences lengthen past the artwork course and the best way by which its (separated) ranges are structured. Rudimentary (and ultimately awkward) stock administration is on the middle of the sunshine crafting and survival programs, and weapons, melee or ranged, are moderately scarce. They’re tried-and-tested design beats to create stress that matches the hopeless atmosphere, and it really works, however the shock (for newcomers) ought to be that Whole Chaos retains a number of what made the unique DOOM video games particular.

Although he’s meant to be a daily Joe, the protagonist is nearly as quick because the Doomguy and even has entry to a beneficiant sprint transfer to evade enemies. Stamina regeneration can also be on the ample facet, so while you don’t have entry to weapons or are simply attempting to avoid wasting treasured assets, legging it’s surprisingly efficient… so long as the loopier stage layouts don’t play methods on you. Whereas the common survival horror recreation has heavy and infrequently cumbersome motion in place so as to add to the sensation of helplessness, Whole Chaos – even in its remake type – totally embraces a brisker pacing in its moment-to-moment gameplay that impacts your complete journey and nullifies the boredom related to backtracking.

Equally, Whole Chaos additionally makes the restricted weapons the participant has entry to really feel sturdy as an alternative of scrappy… despite the fact that they’re very a lot scrappy. Even a pickaxe susceptible to breaking generally is a formidable weapon while you grasp parrying and holding the assault button simply sufficient to ship a sluggish however sturdy blow to the monstrosities that lurk within the shadows. After all, the shotgun is a spotlight, because it’d have been a crushing disappointment to see a online game that started as a DOOM II mod fumble that particular kind of weapon, however impaling enemies with harpoons and blowing them up with TLOU-like nail bombs are pleasant methods to push again in opposition to the relentless horrors too. The crafting system is conventional, and also you’ll be doing a number of it as you enterprise into darker areas full of peculiar foes.

On a primary stage, Whole Chaos immediately clicks collectively, and the additional polish that comes with the engine refresh is noticeable, however what in regards to the extra distinctive programs that give it precise depth? Effectively, all of them work and by no means get in the best way of the exploring, puzzle-solving, and punchy motion, which is greater than I can say about many trendy survival horror video games. Having to maintain monitor of starvation and insanity ranges hyperlinks Whole Chaos to much less apparent relations just like the STALKER and Amnesia sequence, however Prebble well retains the sport by itself separate monitor.

Whereas starvation is there to make gamers not wander round aimlessly for too lengthy and interact with the degrees with out merely making a beeline for the primary targets, the insanity system can considerably alter the exploration and development by means of the later, extra complicated ranges. I’m not into the concept of spoiling what which means in a assessment that ought to promote you on enjoying a largely incredible recreation, so belief me on this one. It’s the uncommon kind of horror title that’s deceitfully easy and is aware of the best way to deploy twists each time you start to determine the way it performs and behaves.

Many of the recreation’s bolder swings occur on that entrance, and the revisited areas are what make it a definite iteration of a recreation that’s been upgraded with a number of respect for the acclaimed DOOM II modification. Although the reminiscences of my time with the unique Whole Chaos are blurry and distant, I can inform this remake could be very conservative, and which means veterans may be anticipating greater a shake-up. Regardless of loving my time with it, missed alternatives to correctly reimagine the fabric abound. I’d be mendacity if I stated I don’t wish to immediately replay your complete factor although, particularly now that I can blast by means of its trickier puzzles (there’s no escaping them).

Lots will probably be written in regards to the stellar presentation, which was purposefully saved the correct amount of eye-catching after Prebble switched from UE5 to Unity. It evokes the unique modification’s visuals and ups the constancy, but it surely’s not overly complicated or as shiny as trendy refreshes which take issues too far, destroying the unique inventive imaginative and prescient within the course of. Because the solo dev remained in control of the entire thing, all of it feels cohesive and satisfactory; that is one entrance the place I admire leaning in the direction of what already labored completely. A adverse is the surprising lack, at the very least proper now, of correct graphical choices on PC past decision, AA options, texture high quality, and lite post-processing results, which makes the scaling throughout completely different builds poor. On the time of writing, Steam Deck barely stays inside the 25-30 FPS space, so don’t immediately bounce on this one in case you’re maining Valve’s transportable machine.

As we close to the top of 2025, many may be considering the yr’s greatest video games are behind us, however Whole Chaos (and several other different indie surprises which have launched this month) is an effective reminder we shouldn’t begin closing our lists solely as a result of the upcoming occasions everybody will probably be tuning into have. Though I personally may’ve gone for a extra refreshing reimagining, that is little question a brand new cult basic I actually hope horror followers will admire.

Whole Chaos is accessible now for $24.99 on PC (Steam), Xbox Collection X/S, and PS5. It’s additionally obtainable day one on Recreation Move for consoles, PC, and cloud.