Regardless of my cowardly tendencies, I occasionally enjoy jumping out of my comfort zone to get my heart pumping. It may keep me up at night, but for the most part, it always brings on a sense of thrill that other genres haven't quite hit. My nightmares as of late have now involved clowns, thanks to my horrific preview of Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game. And, I mean that in an entirely good way. 

I sat down with the team behind the game, IllFonic and Teravision Games, and played a few rounds through its online multiplayer. It didn't take too long for me to be immediately immersed in its vibrant, terror-filled world. Although I hadn't seen the '80s cult classic that inspired the game, I could sense its deep respect and homage to its origins. Elements like Crescent Cove, Balloon Dog, and Cocoons serve as powerful reminders of the game's root??s. But fear not, whether you're a die-hard fan or a newcomer like me, the game is designed to cater to both parties.

A killer of a time

You'll take on the role of a Killer Klown or Human. The goal is simple: Kill everyone in your way as a Killer Klown, or discover a way out as a Human. It plays somewhat similarly to asymmetrical horror games such as Dead by Daylight and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, with a 3v7 face-off between Klowns and Humans. As someone who's played DbD, I could see a lot of similarities between the two, but Killer Klowns feels much more w??himsical with its incredibly dark humor and carnival settings.

I got to take on the role of a Killer Klown the first time around. Never thought I would breathe a sigh of relief to be a murderous clown, but I was glad that I didn't have to stress of the Human side. It's also intriguing to experience it with two othe??r players (who are also killers), which feels tremendously different from other horror games I've partaken in. The most I've seen was two killer??s at a time, so having three feels more like a party.

One standout feature was the method of locating targets. Instead of relying on a special ability, you must look for sound pings to detect nearby players. This adds a realistic touch, forcing me to rely on my virtual killer instincts. Fortunately, I didn't always have to rely on that since my teammates would often shout out Human locations via Discord chat. I'm curious to see if voice chat will be available with the official launch because that would definitely set it apart from Dead by Daylight, which doesn't have this feature.

Even ??if the Humans are more objective-oriented, Killer Klowns do have a sub-task of collecting Cocoons. They can be used on generators to get an early start to the Klownpocalypse,&nbs?p;or to unlock more lackeys. However, since this is the only other objective you can do, aside from killing, it may get tedious over time. There's only so much you can do as a killer, but maybe a new update could provide more content for the Klowns.

Despite it potentially being tedious, the one thing that never gets?? old is the cinematic takedowns. These are just as brutal as any classic horror kill. They not only add to the game's visual appeal but also provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment as a player. Depending on the tool ??????????????????????????on hand, the eliminations differ, providing a variety of blood-curdling scenes. In true clown fashion, the weapons and items are just as wacky as the killers.

There's an abundance of objects to utilize, from a Mallet to a Popcorn Launcher to a Cotton Candy Raygun. Diversity in tools makes the game far richer, providing new ways to take d??own human trash. To give you an example, the Pizza Box allows you to disguise yourself as a, you guessed it, pizza box. Now, I don't think I'll ever look at pizza boxes the same.

It's unlike any weapons I've used in classic horror games, which have typically used traditional tools such as knives and chainsaws. Having these zany guns makes things much more exciting and new, adding a touch?? of humor to the game. I've had my fill with hacking and slashing in other games, so having a weapon like a Popcorn Launcher gives it some extra flair.

Killer Klowns also have the unique ability to jump almost anywhere on the map. I've never s?een a fast-travel feature in a horror title, which is another thing that sets it apart from others in the genre.

Humans can be just as deadly as the Killer Klowns

When it was finally time to face my fears of clowns, I took on the Human role. Given that the Killer Klowns can use sound ??pi?ngs to find you, you'll need to keep track of that with the Noise Generation bar.

Jumping into a survival horror game can often be overwhelming. However, Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game eases the stress with the Meeting Point. Begin??ning a match this way, where players can meet with others and unlock escape poin??ts, feels much more collaborative and accessible. 

You can find a few tools here, amongst other areas, to fend against the Killer Klowns. I went with the most horror-stricken weapon: the frying pan. Who knew that kitchenware could be so deadly? I probably could have played the sneaky part better, but it's fun to give the Killer Klowns a taste of their own medicine. It felt like Killer Klowns catered to any type o??f? player, whether you are as quiet as a mouse or the loudest noise-maker ever.

Taking down the Killer Klowns is incredibly satisfying as a Human, especially when you hav??e the whole team joining in. Nevertheles??s, the fear of being hunted never truly goes away, considering that there are two more killers who can rain down on the group's parade.

Items can also be used as key ingredients for your great escape. The escape tactics are, by far, the best part about being a Human. It's much more th??an just starting up generators; it can involve various points of interest. For instance, if you use the boat to escape in one playthrough, you can switch things up by taking the bridge the?? next time.

Each escape route generally shares the same objective of finding specific objects around the map. I only got the chanc??e to do the boat route, requiring a gas can and spark plug. The other escape paths have their own unique items to grab, including keys for a locked mechanical door or a keycard for the bridge. Given that the tasks share a similar object-finding mission, I could see it becoming tedious the more you pl?ay.

On the other hand, it's still exhilarating to search and locate these items with the threat of the Killer Klowns. Even if Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game plays into its humoristic tone, it's still very much a horror game. I found it utterly terrifying to look for one tiny object as the group of murderers kept taking my team down one-by-one. The opposing side can also mess ??up plans by clogging exits with their sticky cotton-candy substance.

When things start ??coming together, it does feel truly rewarding to find the necessary items for the escape. Yet, it can sometimes be a double-edged sword. During my time playing, I had just enough objects to leave with the boat, but unfortunately, my teammate couldn't reach it, on account of them being wrangled by a clown. It was there that I had to make the devastating decision to escape without them, leaving the team with a bittersweet victory.

Most of the escape routes have a time limit, including a countdown that shuts a door down for good. This forced me to question whether I'm a team player or someone who needs to fend for themselves. Given that you can leave teammates high and dry with escape routes, it makes it feel like there's a touch of PvP in its online co-op. Will you play it l?ike everyone men for themselves? Or, will you get everyone to safety?

While I enjoyed my time being alive as a Human, I found it entertaining to be on the dying side. Dead Humans can take the spectator route and play a few minigames to give the living buffs. I'm a sucker for simple minigames, and Killer Klowns From Outer Space: The Game knows exactly how to keep you entertained. It even has traditional carnival games, like whacking Klown heads, to add more to the game's theme??. 

Some horror games can sometimes be a bit tedious, but I believe Killer Klowns has enough variety to keep you on the edge of your seat. The developers have indicated that there will be much more to explore with loadouts and ranks. A level-up system will likely keep things more interesting, so I'll have to see what this will have in store. I also hope that more skins and weapons are planned for Killer Klowns From Outer Space The Game's roadmap. A Halloween event would be perfect,?? too, or maybe even crossover with other famous horror clowns. (Pennywise, anyone?)

Playing the preview has inspired me to watch the film. Fans of this cult classic will undoubtedly enjoy finding all the Easter Eggs, and trust me, there's plenty to go around. Even those who haven't watched the movie will still have some fun with its hide-and-seek or hack-and-slash playthroughs. It may just be your? next weekend multiplayer horror go-to.

You can look forward to Killer Klowns From Outer Space The Game when it arrives on J??une 4, 2024 on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.

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Meet the roster of Killer Klowns

If you can't get enough of some creepy clowns, you're in for a treat �a new trailer for the Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game just dropped, and it's got all the spooky, grotesque weirdness we've come to love and expect from such an IP. The 50-second teaser doesn't give much of anything in terms of gameplay footage, but it does introduce us to the cast of Killer Klowns in the game's lineup (hence why it's titled "Meet the Klowns"). This trailer gets us up close and personal so we can get a better look at the Klowns'?? character models, as well as their weapons �one of which is the iconic popcorn gun from the 1988 film.

This is our first in-depth look at the gameplay classes of Klowns players will face up against in the game, whose names are Trapster, Tracker, Scout, Fighter, and Tank (and anyone familiar with role-based multiplayer games can probably guess what those classes might play like based on their names alone). The official Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game website has a full rundown of each class, the character associated with it, and wh?at to expect from each of th??eir kits, so make sure to check it out if you really want to dig into the details.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtyJ-QDnkik

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game was announced at Gamescom Opening Night Live back in August of last year, and long-time fans of the movie were thrilled, including some of us here at Destructoid. It's a 3v7 multiplayer horror game, where players take on the role of either townspeople who must defend their home of Cresent Cove or the evil alien clowns who are hell-bent on destroying it. The development team at Good Shepard Entertainment also includes the executive director of the Friday the 13th game Randy Greenback, who will be serving as the executive director of Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game as well.

The only news we have regarding a release date is that the game should come out sometime in 2023, but in the meantime, you can wishlist Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game on Steam. If you just can't wait, you can also join the beta via the official website as well.

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Knock my block off

When it comes to unpredictable gaming announcements in 2022, nothing is going to beat the news that 1988's Z-movie Killer Klowns from Outer Space was being adapted into a modern-day video game �While it sti??ll something of a leftfield concept, Teravi?sion Games has offered up a little more info on how accurately the developer is hoping to recapture the grotesque gory glory of the source material.

In a new blog post on the official website, Teravision details some side-b??y-side comparisons focusing on the locatio??ns, weapons, and, of course, the Killer Klowns themselves, showing the attention to detail being applied to the new asymmetrical adventure. While the characters and settings all look pretty superb, perhaps the best element on show here is the recreation of the film's aesthetic �its visual tone, its heightened use of vulgar color, and its unsettling emphasis on the juxtapositioned shadows.

It's looking pretty faithful, that's for sure. Check out the?? comparison shots in this new trai??ler.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqS8joebwLo

As for the game outline itself, it is believed that KKfOS will be a chase-and-fight multiplayer title in the vein of Dead by Daylight, Predator: Hunting Grounds, and the upcoming Texas Chain Saw Massacre. A team of Crescent Cove civil?ians will take on the Cirque de Puree itself, attempting to prevent the Klown invasion while staying one step ahead of their clumsy gloved hands �lest you end up a ball of ??cotton candy or a mound of acid cream pie. It's a fun idea, and it will be great to see the title in action as it continues along the road to the big top.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is currently in development for PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms. Interested goofballs can sign up for a future beta over on the official website. In the meantime, read more about the original movie and how i??t ca?me to fruition right here.

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In Space, No-One Can Eat Ice Cream

Of all of the announcements, of all of the franchises, of all of the adaptations, I wouldn't have put a single penny on this one. And yet, here we are, less than 24 hours from the Gamescom Opening Night Live presentation and the news that somebody, somewhere, decided to put pen to paper and sign a contract to produce a brand new video game, in 2023, based on Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

Asymmetrical horror games are all the rage right now, despite being something of a mixed bag and a niche market. Major franchises such as Friday the 13th and The Evil Dead have both had a shake of the multiplayer scythe, while Behavior Interactive's Dead by Daylight is a?? literal who's who of horror's grimmest superstars, having played host to Freddy Krueger, Michael Mye?rs, Hell Priest, Leatherface, and Ghostface, among others.

But Killer Klowns from Outer Space? Now there's a real outlier.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilwcOZTBa64

Independently produced in 1988, Killer Klowns from Outer Space was written and directed by New York-based siblings Charles, Stephen, and Edward Chiodo, who had, since an early age, developed a love for claymation, prosthetics, animatronics, and all manner of practical special effects. Having cut their teeth in the film industry designing the homicidal fluffballs of Critters (1986), the brothers decided to try their hand at producing their own special-effect-laden take on the horror-comedy genre, that had blown up big time in the wake of Ivan Reitman's seminal classic, Ghostbusters (1984).

Shot in and around the Santa Cruz county of Watsonville, KKfOS ?was created with a relatively modest budget, with much of its $1.8 million USD being used to finance shooting permits, rental vehicles, and the materials for a widely ambitious range of practical effects. Set against the backdrop of the fictional Crescent Cove, the narrative tells a simplistic tale of a party of i??nvading aliens, depicted as hideous and grotesque circus clowns, complete with a "Big Top" shaped flying saucer. Upon their unwelcome arrival, the "Klowns" embark upon a campaign of chaos throughout the sleepy suburb, capturing humans within candy-floss-style cocoons to be used as sustenance on their home planet.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETiSMS4i1as

Going all-in with its circus theme, the Klowns' methods of murder and mayhem reflect that of circus shenanigans. There are sentient balloon animals, tiny cars, human-eating shadow puppets, giant balloons, acidic cream pies, and �the aliens' piece de resistance �the deadly popcorn gun. As the residents of Crescent Cove fall victim to these perilous pierrots, it is up to the obligatory teenage couple in love, Mike Tobacco and Debbie Stone, to find a way to rid the town of this terror lest they become the finale of the Greatest Show not on Earth.

Releasing in the summer of 1988, KKfOS won over the hearts, but not the heads of the day's critics, who were not particularly entertained by the film's flattish, skit-style storytelling, but were undeniably impressed, even charmed by its colorful visuals, inventive design ideas, goofy concept, and over?all sense of sick silliness. Today, despite the film having massed a much larger and more devoted audience as a cult movie, these initial reviews do stand as fair commentary.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space falls down a little on both the "Horror" and the "Comedy" of horror/comedy �it isn't particularly scary and it isn't particularly funny. It is, however, delightfully creative, and a wonderful reminder of a time when practical effects were not only a true and underappreciated art form, but were most definitely taken for?? granted �especially when compared to contemporary times where every single movie is shot against a green screen in an Atlanta car park.

Time has, in its own weird way, been strangely kind to the movie as a whole, mostly thanks to the impressively gross Klown costumes and some nice uses of animatronics, claymation, and standard animation �all blended relatively seamlessly into the live-action. Also of note is the theme song, by punk band The Dickies, which remains a cleverly written and frustratingly catchy?... erm... "banger."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CzLdg0PpLI

There have been several efforts to revitalize the Killer Klowns brand in recent years. Most notably, a 3D sequel was announced in 2012, back at the height of that bizarre "idiots dressing up as clowns at night" phase. This project has seemingly fallen into disarray, with numerous pushbacks and mixed messages as to its completion date. In 2018, the Killer Klowns rights were licensed by SyFy, with a view to m??aking a TV series. Again, nothing is yet to e??merge from this project.

And thus, the charming movie that barely anyone saw, that youngste??rs today might not even know, and that has repeatedly failed to find its way back to the big (or small) screen, has, somehow, been selected to receive a video game adaptation treatment 35 years later. It is?, undeniably, a bizarre and twisted tale, the kind one could only expect from such a strange franchise. So keep watching the skies, watch out for the pint-sized cars, and double-check that pizza delivery. If you ever wonder why the population's going down, blame it on the plunder from the likes of the Killer Klowns.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is currently in development for PlayStation, PC, and Xbox??.

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It's definitely got clowns, and it's definitely creepy

We've seen plenty of games adapted to movies recently, but movies adapted to games have been a less common occurrence. As we learned today from the Gamescom stream, we're getting a Killer Klowns from Outer Space multiplayer horror game based on?? the horror/comedy film from 1988. The movie has had a cult following basically since it came out, and it has traumatized us with creepy clowns for decades.

The Killer Klowns game also has the executive director from the Friday the 13th game attached, so it appears that the horror genre makes for some of the best adaptations. The gameplay will ??feature a 3v7 asymmetrical multiplayer structure, where play??ers must work together to defend the town of Crescent Cove from the evil alien clowns.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ_YJaniCXs

"It's a total bucket list item to get to work on the next chapter of such an iconic ??horror IP," said executive director Randy Greenback.

"When we first heard that someone wanted to make a Killer Klowns from Outer Space game, we all had the same initial reaction: finally," said the Chiodo Brothers, who are executive producing the project. "But nothing could have prepared us for the experience that the Good Shepherd Entertainment and Teravision teams were creating. We are thrilled by the sheer passion these folks share for the world of Killer Klowns and the care they have invested in bringing it to life ??in surprising new ways."

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game is set to release sometime in early 2023 for Steam, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, and PS5. You can also check out the beta now, just go to the game's website for more info.

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