Written By: Luis Vox
What was once birthed as a "Doom II" mod has mutated into its own hellish monstrosity. Using the GZDoom source code, developer Trigger Happy Interactive has built a nightmare all its own, adding 3D models, rendered environments, and an overall enhanced experience.
The opening minutes of "Total Chaos" set a bleak tone. The unnamed main character answers a distress call off the coast of an island known as Fort Oasis. Suddenly, his boat is caught in a storm and capsizes. He later awakens on the island’s shore, injured and with his boat in disrepair. After some time, he manages to heal himself and repair the vessel. Just as he prepares to leave, an ominous transmission crackles through his radio. Is it connected to the original distress signal? That question pulls you deeper into the mining colony at Fort Oasis and further into a descent of pure darkness.
WATCH THE OFFICIAL GAMEPLAY TRAILER FOR "TOTAL CHAOS" BELOW
PLAYABILITY
At first glance, "Total Chaos" has a very old-school visual style, reminiscent of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 era. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Unfortunately, many of the locations are bland, dark, and visually similar. There is no real map or waypoint system, making it very easy to get lost. There are a handful of outdoor areas that offer brief moments of respite from the gloom, but not nearly as many as you might hope for. The game also introduces a sanity mechanic that alters environments at certain points, which helps shake things up visually.
The combat is frantic and stressful in the best way possible. There is never a moment where you feel truly powerful enough to control the situation. It gave me "Condemned: Criminal Origins" (2005) vibes, which I appreciated. Every enemy is capable of killing you, often in groups, so being overwhelmed is common and occasionally frustrating. The enemy AI is surprisingly smart. Enemies flank, throw objects to distract you from other attacks, and dodge frequently. Keeping a cool head and planning ahead is essential. Most weapons are crafted, but durability is a core mechanic. Weapons and items break constantly, adding to the frantic nature of each encounter. The crafting system itself is serviceable. You need blueprints before building items, though some things that feel like common sense can’t be crafted without the proper schematic.
There are multiple survival mechanics to manage at once. Alongside health and stamina, you must also monitor hunger and bleed damage. Weapon crafting and durability play a constant role, and inventory weight management is another factor. I spent most of my playthrough over-encumbered, which can be a major issue in sections where movement speed matters. There is an item that permanently upgrades certain stats, but its effects are mild and very limited. Best advice: if something hasn’t proven consistently useful, discard it. Juggling all of these systems adds layers to how you approach environments and confrontations, making planning ahead a necessity.
STORY
The story takes some time to fully reveal itself, with the mystery slowly painting a tortured and painful picture as you approach the end. Unfortunately, the overall direction of the narrative didn’t surprise me much. There are multiple layers to the story, and nothing is quite as simple as it initially appears. The Silent Hill influence is immediately noticeable, with themes of loss, guilt, and psychological trauma ticking all the familiar boxes. The voice acting is serviceable but uneven. At times, the delivery doesn’t quite match the tone of the events, though it never dips into outright embarrassment.
Atmosphere is where "Total Chaos" truly shines. The game is consistently creepy and unsettling. There is nowhere you ever feel completely safe, and the tight corridors and claustrophobic environments maintain a constant sense of unease. You always feel like something is watching you.
FINAL WORD
Overall, "Total Chaos" is an interesting and chaotic experience, though not a stellar one. It does many things right, but can be frustrating at times. The lack of a map or clear objectives makes it easy to get lost and waste time wandering in circles, and the relentlessly bleak tone may turn some players off.
We give "Total Chaos" 3 Psycho Therapy Pills Out Of 5.
"Total Chaos" is currently available digitally for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
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