Finding Frankie Review
Finding Frankie
Publisher: Perp Games
Developer: Perp Games
Genre:
PEGI: 16
Comments:
With the prevalence of mascot horror and indie thrillers in the gaming industry, Finding Frankie endeavors to blend the thrill-seeking excitement of parkour with the spine-chilling terror associated with a twisted game show. Created by Superlou, this brief yet captivating adventure challenges players to complete an obstacle course in a life-or-death scenario, aided by the spooky cartoon mascot Hogan.
The game begins with a familiar but sinister plot: you’re one of the lucky few enticed into playing at the Finding Frankie gameshow, receiving your ticket from an unknown source. The competition starts with a vibrant display but soon becomes an ordeal. The show has turned into a death trap due to the involvement of Frankie, the beloved mascot, and his unsettling companion Henry Hotline. The prize? Survive, and you could potentially earn $5 million.
Finding Frankie is essentially a first-person, horror parkour platformer. Imagine Poppy Playtime meets Mirror’s Edge. As you run through walls, swing across bars, and jump over killer gaps, you’ll be trailed by sentient mascots. Mastering the mechanics of movement and verticality can be challenging, but they become apparent upon practice. Some of the game’s best moments are chase scenes, where the music reverberates and the tension builds. Unfortunately, the level design is often lopsided, with poorly placed scenery leading to injury, and time-limited switch puzzles being particularly unfair on console controllers.
Finding Frankie is visually stunning. Safety colors and liminal design create an atmosphere reminiscent of empty stores, cafes, and nightclubs. The music is also excellent, alternating between fast jingles and racing chase tunes. This game has the ability to evoke strong feelings, even if it doesn’t always maintain them.
It takes roughly two hours to complete Finding Frankie. Its reduced duration could actually benefit it. The game’s collectible system and built-in timer make it a welcome surprise for speed runners and completionists, as well as players who can’t escape.
Trying to find Frankie is like playing catch-up. Its combination of parkour and horror is a refreshing contrast, as is the exceptional visual and audio design. However, unremarkable mechanics, vexing level design, and unproductive tools (such as the mostly useless Deputy Duck scanner) hinder its potential to be great. For those seeking a horror-themed game, Finding Frankie is worth checking out due to its budget and unconventional approach.
Pros:
- Unique parkour-horror hybrid
- Strengthened visual and audio capabilities
- Memorable chase sequences
Cons:
- Irritating controls and level design
- Very short runtime
- Underdeveloped mechanics
Trailer
Article By Kevin Austin
Kevin Austin has been in gaming journalism in one way or another since the launch of the Nintendo Gamecube. Married and father of 3 children he has been gaming since the ripe age of 6 when he got his first NES system and over 30 years later he is still gaming almost daily. Kevin is also co-founder of the Play Some Video Games (PSVG) Podcast network which was founded over five years ago and is still going strong. Some of his favorite gaming series includes Fallout and Far Cry, he is a sucker for single player adventure games (hence his big reviews for Playstation), and can frequently be found getting down in one battle royale or another. If it's an oddball game, odds are he's all about it.
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