Playstation’s June State of Play was packed with plenty of exciting new titles, many of which were new entries in existing franchises or remakes of old classics. Many of these titles have me quite excited, but I always like to be on the lookout for the next big thing, the unexpected breakout hit that could spawn a franchise of its own. After seeing the trailer for ILL during the State of Play, I think it could be that breakout hit.
ILL is the upcoming debut title from Armenian development studio Team Clout. The new trailer shows our hero waking up from a coma in an eastern European fort that has been overrun by grotesque monsters.
The trailer is labeled as a “story trailer” but we don’t get much story beyond that premise. What we do get are some gorgeously rendered environments filled with some of the ugliest, creepiest, and downright nastiest monsters in video games.
Unlike the maximalist monster designs seen in games like Doom and Resident Evil, the monsters in ILL sit right at the very bottom of the uncanny valley. Naked humanoids covered in blood, faces contorted into hideous smiles. Their near-human appearance makes the violence on display feel even more visceral, and makes the more unique monsters like the giants and the bizarre baby-like creatures stand out even more.
The trailer also gave us a taste of the game’s dialogue, which didn’t land quite as strongly as the gameplay and visuals. Something about the character performances seemed off, a little too theatrical and strangely rushed. It’s unclear if this was an intentional choice or not; on the one hand, it smacks of localization difficulties, but on the other hand, it lightly evokes Half-Life 2, which the developers have cited as a major influence.
Unlike in Half-Life 2, ILL’s unnamed protagonist is quite the chatterbox, delivering all his lines in an exaggerated action-hero cadence that felt a bit out-of-place given the bleak, serious tone of the rest of the trailer. I kept expecting him to drop some Leon Kennedy-style one-liners, but what little we got from him was pretty generic.
Team Clout’s co-founder, Maxim Verehin, said in an interview with Sony last year that “ILL’s focus is on the personal story of the main protagonist. His story is deeply interconnected with what’s happening in the world.” The trailer certainly left us with many questions about who the protagonist is and what exactly is happening in this facility. But more than that, it showed us that Team Clout aims to terrify and thrill us with some top-notch horror action.
Ill is slated for a 2027 release on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
What do you think? Will ILL be able to compete with the likes of Resident Evil and Doom? Or will it be just another zombie shooter to throw on the pile? Head on over to our Discord and join the conversation!
Featured Image: Mundfish (via Playstation)
Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games
The Boss Rush Podcast – A Podcast about Video Games – is the flagship show of the Boss Rush Network and Boss Rush Media. Each week, hosts Corey Dirrig and LeRon Dawkins are joined by friends, fellow creators, indie developers, and industry veterans to discuss the latest in the world of video games, including news, rumors, new releases, and what they’ve been playing. They also answer listener questions, debate important industry topics and Boss Rush Banter discussion points, and feature a rotating weekly segment. New episodes post every Monday.
Follow and Connect with Boss Rush Podcast on Social Media
X/Twitter + Bluesky + Instagram + Threads + YouTube
Listen to Boss Rush Podcast on Podcast Services
Apple Podcasts + Spotify + Goodpods + Amazon + More Links
Thank you for supporting Boss Rush Podcast and the Boss Rush Network
Thank you for watching or listening to The Boss Rush Podcast. If you’re watching this episode on YouTube, hit the Subscribe button, Like the video, and hit the notification bell so you don’t miss an episode! If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, consider leaving us a rating and a review as it helps with discoverability and growth. Support Boss Rush on Patreon for exclusive content, early access and audio versions of shows, become a Patreon Producer, and more. Visit our website for all of our content including reviews, news, daily Boss Rush Banter discussion topics, listicles, features, and more. However you support us, it means so much to us. Thank you for your continued support of the Boss Rush Podcast and the Boss Rush Network.
Leave a Reply