IllFonic's Halloween: Becoming the Boogeyman?! You Won't Believe Why!

As a lifelong horror fanatic, and someone who can practically recite "Halloween" (1978) from memory, I've been following IllFonic's development of their take on the franchise with almost obsessive interest. I sunk *way* too many hours into their "Friday the 13th: The Game" back in the day, so the thought of them tackling Michael Myers? That just felt right. Almost a decade after I heard whispers of this project, and having enjoyed their other asymmetric multiplayer titles in the interim, the release is finally just around the corner. September, baby! Just in time to sharpen my virtual Myers skills before the real Halloween hits.

IllFonic's Halloween: Becoming the Boogeyman?! You...

What's really got me excited is that "Halloween" seems to be tweaking the formula IllFonic's known for. Instead of simply running away, the four Civilian players actually have to call in the cops to stop Michael and rescue the town. It's not just a cat-and-mouse game anymore; it's a desperate fight for survival and a battle to protect Haddonfield. Think Laurie Strode, but multiplied by four and armed with whatever they can find lying around.

"Halloween is a special one because it is a true slasher horror game," said IllFonic's chief creative officer Jared Gerritzen. “We wanted to go back to the basic rules, jump scares, lots of gore, tension of what is around the corner; a real back-to-the-basics of what is seriously scary.” And honestly, that's exactly what I want. Give me that raw, unsettling tension, that feeling that *anything* could be lurking in the shadows.

The recent reveal of the Haddonfield Heights map – a lovingly recreated version of the film's iconic neighborhood – only intensified my anticipation. I'm definitely looking forward to playing as a Civilian, experiencing that multiplayer survival horror, but let's be real: I'm *dying* to be Michael Myers. And it seems like his "Shape Jump" ability is going to be a real game-changer. The idea of just popping up out of nowhere, terrorizing those poor, unsuspecting players? Deliciously evil. But Gerritzen is quick to point out it's not just a cheat code.

“[Michael’s] ability to show up in the most insane moments [during films] was not only a great jump scare but a really great way to break up moments,” Gerritzen said. “I noticed he shut the lights off in a scene, and we thought maybe he just wants it dark all the time, and why would that be? Then the idea of how we could play with that as a game mechanic started to form, and Shape Jump, as an ability to move around the map without anyone knowing, was born."

“[Michael’s] ability to show up in the most insane moments [during films] was not only a great jump scare but a really great way to break up moments,” Gerritzen said. “I noticed he shut the lights off in a scene, and we thought maybe he just wants it dark all the time, and why would that be? Then the idea of how we could play with that as a game mechanic started to form, and Shape Jump, as an ability to move around the map without anyone knowing, was born." He emphasized that it's balanced, of course. No direct light, no one looking at you, and bam, you can reappear. It adds a great element of surprise and stalking. “We made some gameplay rules around it for balance purposes, of course. [As] long as there is no direct light and no one is looking at the area Michael is in, then the ability can be used. It really adds a great level of play, [and] the ability has brought a horrifying element of being stalked by Michael and never knowing where he will pop up.”

Shape Jump seems like it’ll require some strategic play, likely needing a build-up through kills. And apparently, bots are playing a bigger role this time. Gerritzen mentioned how they "really add to the body count and allow a Michael player to power up if they desire." This also affects the hero pla-