Tension, mystery, intrigue, horror… gross. These are the first things that popped into my head when I first booted up my preview build of Total Chaos, a new survival horror game from Apogee Entertainment and Trigger Happy Interactive. What originally started out as a very popular Doom II mod has evolved into a fully fleshed-out survival experience. It has crafting elements, cramped and dimly lit corridors, and, like any good horror game should, eerie sound design. In our roughly hour long hands-on preview, we delved into the depths of Fort Oasis, learned about the mystery surrounding the abandoned mine, and most importantly, had a great time.
The preview started me off on a coast guard ship caught in a storm. After some creepy dialogue and radio chatter, I awake at Fort Oasis, where the full game will take place. I explored a bit, eventually coming across an open sewer grate to enter the main facility. In typical horror game fashion, the spaces are tight, dark, and anxiety-inducing.
The movement feels good. There are no sprint or jump buttons, but the character feels like they haul ass around the map naturally, retaining some of that Doom II DNA. Instead, clicking shift allows me do a stamina-based dodge. This comes into play later on, as I’m bobbing and weaving to escape the monsters chasing me down. This is a survival game akin to something like the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. series (albeit on a much smaller scale). This means scarce resources, extensive inventory management, and immersive crafting mechanics. As you progress, your hungry meter will start to increase, reducing the amount of stamina you have at your disposal. I found some apples scattered around the environment, chomped away to satiate my hunger, and was back to it.
Anxiety-Inducing Exploration
It’s easy to get lost in the labyrinthian factory portion of Fort Oasis. Green neon glowsticks are the “yellow paint” of Total Chaos; find those, and you’re headed in the right direction. But, like any other game, exploration is encouraged and rewarded. You should stray off the beaten path to collect items for survival and to experience more of the game’s story. Like almost any other horror game, story exposition and details are told through files, notes, or journals scattered around. This is a great way to learn about the events that transpired before my arrival.
After a tense puzzle involving finding a key and pulling multiple switches to unlock the door to the next area (tense because pickaxe I had equipped broke from smashing boxes out of my way and I was being chased by ghoulies), I found myself underground. Another intuitive puzzle was solved, and this is where the “horror” in survival horror came into play. I’m running through a pitch black hallway with jail cells on either side. Out of nowhere hordes of the monsters from before appear with an ear-piercing screech. The game doesn’t shy away from jumpscares or tension, and this moment was heightened when branching hallways forced me to choose the correct path. One path leads to safety, while the other has more monsters. Choose wisely or its game over.
Combat Needs Some Getting Used To
I escaped certain death, emerging from underground to precious sunlight on the other side of Fort Oasis. After some more exploring and a terrifying run in with a new electrified monster, I eventually stumbled upon a crafting bench. Here, my hard-earned resources are finally given practicality. I can combine rags and glass bottles for healing items and repair and improve my pickaxe. After crafting my sturdy new weapon, I can finally engage in combat without the need to flee.
Attacking with melee weapons does feel a bit clunky, but the landing a hit feels good. It feels like something you might experience in an Elder Scrolls game. You can dodge enemies with the shift key, and they can dodge you as well. Make sure you time your hits right and anticipate a dodge. Power attacks deal extra damage, and there’s a meter on screen when charging it up that indicates when to let go. Guns are present in the trailers and promotional material, but were sadly nowhere to be found in this preview build.
A Fun Yet Derivative Experience
After some more pulse-pounding exploration, my time with Total Chaos came to an end. I fell in a pit of giant, mutant spider-like creatures that promptly killed me. The original GZDoom-based mod from 2018 has a huge following for a reason, and Total Chaos being born from that is a huge win for the survival horror community. It feels like if S.T.A.L.K.E.R. and Dementium: The Ward spawned a horrifying baby, blending survival mechanics with a macabre horror setting to grotesque perfection. I’m really looking forward to getting my hands on the finished product when Total Chaos releases in Q2 2025 for PC via Steam, with a VR version also in development.
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