Drawn to Death
{{short description|2017 third-person shooter video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}{{Infobox video game
| title = Drawn to Death
| image = Drawn_To_Death_logo.jpg
| developer = The Bartlet Jones Supernatural Detective Agency
San Diego Studio
| publisher = Sony Interactive Entertainment
| director = David Jaffe
| producer =
| designer =
| programmer =
| artist =
| writer =
| composer =
| engine = Unity
| released = April 4, 2017
| genre = Third-person shooter
| modes = Multiplayer
| platforms = PlayStation 4
}}
Drawn to Death was a 2017 online multiplayer third-person shooter{{cite news|last=Matulef|first=Jeffrey|title=David Jaffe reveals arena shooter Drawn to Death|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-12-06-david-jaffe-reveals-arena-shooter-drawn-to-death|work=Eurogamer|date=6 December 2014|access-date=2014-12-11|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924142452/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-12-06-david-jaffe-reveals-arena-shooter-drawn-to-death|url-status=live}} video game developed by The Bartlet Jones Supernatural Detective Agency and San Diego Studio and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment for the PlayStation 4.{{cite web|last=Silva|first=Marty|title=Drawn to Death / 6 Dec 2014 PSX 2014: David Jaffe's Drawn to Death Revealed|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/06/psx-2014-david-jaffes-drawn-to-death-revealed|work=IGN|date=6 December 2014|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=1 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201002451/http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/12/06/psx-2014-david-jaffes-drawn-to-death-revealed|url-status=live}} Conceptualized by God of War creator David Jaffe, It allows four-player multiplayer in an arena shooter type setting and is reported to be set "inside the pages of a teenager's notebook", as such, it features a hand-drawn-looking visual style.{{cite magazine|last=Reiner|first=Andrew|title=David Jaffe Walks Us Through Drawn To Death|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/07/david-jaffe-walks-us-through-drawn-to-death.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101160556/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/07/david-jaffe-walks-us-through-drawn-to-death.aspx|url-status=live|archive-date=January 1, 2015|magazine=Game Informer}}
The Bartlet Jones Supernatural Detective Agency would shut down in 2018, making Drawn to Death its first and last game.{{Cite web |last=Handrahan |first=Matthew |date=2018-02-28 |title=David Jaffe's The Bartlet Jones Supernatural Detective Agency closes down |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/david-jaffes-the-bartlet-jones-supernatural-detective-agency-closes-down |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}} Sony announced that the game's servers would be closing on March 25, 2019, rendering the game unplayable.{{cite web |title=Support for games you can play online |url=https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/legal/gameservers/ |website=PlayStation |accessdate=13 October 2020 |archive-date=21 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421042713/https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/legal/gameservers/ |url-status=live }}
Gameplay
Drawn to Death was an arena shooter set in a teenager's high school notebook.{{cite web |url=http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/6/14528762/drawn-to-death-release-date-ps4-david-jaffe |title=Sketchy shooter Drawn to Death coming to PS4 in April |work=Polygon |date=6 February 2017 |access-date=14 April 2017 |archive-date=19 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219002807/http://www.polygon.com/2017/2/6/14528762/drawn-to-death-release-date-ps4-david-jaffe |url-status=live }} The world and action embodied the juvenile tone of the child's illustrations. Players would pick a sketched character and drop them into environments drawn upon the book's pages. Each character had its own behaviors, passive tendencies, buffs and special attacks.{{cite web|last=Schulenberg|first=Thomas|date=December 6, 2014|title=Drawn to Death is David Jaffe's sketchbook arena shooter|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/12/06/drawn-to-death-is-david-jaffes-sketchbook-arena-shooter/|publisher=Engadget (Joystiq)|accessdate=December 29, 2017|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924144430/http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/06/drawn-to-death-is-david-jaffes-sketchbook-arena-shooter/|url-status=live}}
Like previous games by David Jaffe, especially the Twisted Metal series, the arenas were made to feature multiple secrets to be used as weapons against enemies. Weapons and gameplay mechanics represent a juvenile tone. One weapon was "a lizard that doubles as a flamethrower," a power-up in the game summons the child's hand to interact in the game world. The action is said to be "fast and frantic, allowing players to sprint, double-jump, and reach high vantage points with ease".
Regarding the potential of a weapon progression system, Jaffe says "skill should be the only determining factor. If you've been playing this for a year, and I just come in and I'm awesome at these types of games, the only reason you should win is you know the map better and are more comfortable muscle memory wise. It should never be because you have better weapons."
Development
Drawn to Death was pitched and has been in development since early 2013.{{cite web|last=Jaffe|first=David|title=Drawn to Death, a Hand-Drawn Arena Shooter, Coming to PS4|url=http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/12/06/drawn-to-death-a-hand-drawn-arena-shooter-coming-to-ps4/|work=PlayStation Blog|date=6 December 2014|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=5 August 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150805191209/http://blog.us.playstation.com/2014/12/06/drawn-to-death-a-hand-drawn-arena-shooter-coming-to-ps4/|url-status=live}} It was announced at the PlayStation Experience keynote opening ceremony on December 6, 2014. Drawn to Death is David Jaffe's first project at his new studio The Bartlet Jones Supernatural Detective Agency. where he acts as director.{{cite web|last=LeBoeuf|first=Jeffrey|title=Twisted Metal Creator Announces Next Game|url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/138933-Twisted-Metal-Creator-David-Jaffe-Announces-Drawn-to-Death|work=The Escapist|access-date=2014-12-11|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924052159/http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/138933-Twisted-Metal-Creator-David-Jaffe-Announces-Drawn-to-Death|url-status=dead}} A trailer was shown with its announcement, and a playable alpha was available.{{cite web|last=Haas|first=Pete|title=Twisted Metal Creator Reveals Drawn To Death|url=http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Twisted-Metal-Creator-Reveals-Drawn-Death-68805.html|work=CinemaBlend|date=7 December 2014|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=11 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211072253/http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Twisted-Metal-Creator-Reveals-Drawn-Death-68805.html|url-status=live}} A second promotional video was released on December 11 on Jaffe's YouTube account, where a game character reads through Giant Bomb negative user comments about its announcement and insults them.{{cite web|last=Hillier|first=Brenna|title=Drawn to Death trailer advises you to #GoFuckYourself|url=http://www.vg247.com/2014/12/11/drawn-to-death-trailer-advises-you-to-gofuckyourself/|work=VG247|date=11 December 2014|access-date=11 December 2014|archive-date=11 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141211081046/http://www.vg247.com/2014/12/11/drawn-to-death-trailer-advises-you-to-gofuckyourself/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.giantbomb.com/forums/drawn-to-death-674188/drawn-to-death-character-responds-to-giantbomb-com-1501937/?page=1|title=Drawn to Death character responds to Giantbomb comments|last=|first=|date=10 December 2014|website=www.giantbomb.com|publisher=|access-date=|archive-date=25 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125193601/https://www.giantbomb.com/forums/drawn-to-death-674188/drawn-to-death-character-responds-to-giantbomb-com-1501937/?page=1|url-status=live}} The game's development budget was $12 million.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x9mlJnVDzM|title=GABBIN+GAMES MARCH 1st-2021! UNCHARTED Movie Worry? Deathloop Amazes! My Sonic Design! MORE!!!|website=YouTube|time=12:53|date=March 2, 2021|accessdate=March 3, 2021|archive-date=August 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827223429/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x9mlJnVDzM&feature=emb_logo|url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|MC=56/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/drawn-to-death/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=Drawn to Death for PlayStation 4 Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=February 19, 2018 |archive-date=February 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217095929/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/drawn-to-death |url-status=live }}
|Destruct=6/10{{cite web|last=Devore|first=Jordan|date=April 11, 2017|url=https://www.destructoid.com/reviews/review-drawn-to-death/|title=Review: Drawn to Death|website=Destructoid|access-date=September 6, 2024}}
|GI=5/10{{cite web |last=Marchiafava |first=Jeff |date=April 7, 2017 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/games/drawn_to_death/b/playstation4/archive/2017/04/07/drawn-to-death-review-game-informer-ps4.aspx |title=Drawn To Death Review |publisher=Game Informer |access-date=April 10, 2017 |archive-date=April 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410001032/http://www.gameinformer.com/games/drawn_to_death/b/playstation4/archive/2017/04/07/drawn-to-death-review-game-informer-ps4.aspx |url-status=live }}
|GameRev=7/10{{cite web|last=Vacheron|first=Griffin|date=April 12, 2017|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/72071-drawn-to-death-review|title=Drawn to Death Review|website=GameRevolution|access-date=September 6, 2024}}
|GSpot=4/10{{cite web |last=Clarke |first=Justin |date=April 13, 2017 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/drawn-to-death-review/1900-6416655/ |title=Drawn To Death Review |publisher=GameSpot |accessdate=April 19, 2017 |archive-date=April 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419201123/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/drawn-to-death-review/1900-6416655/ |url-status=live }}
}}
Drawn to Death received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.
IGN awarded Drawn to Death a score of 4 out of 10, saying "Drawn to Death is a mean spirited, misguided mess that falls short mechanically and wants you to feel bad about yourself." Push Square awarded it 8 out of 10, saying "Drawn to Death's juvenile presentation belies a nuanced shooter that's frankly a breath of fresh air."{{cite web |last=Barker |first=Sammy |date=April 6, 2017 |url=http://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/drawn_to_death |title=Drawn to Death Review |publisher=PushSquare.com |accessdate=April 9, 2017 |archive-date=April 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170408063912/http://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/drawn_to_death |url-status=live }} Game Informer awarded it 5 out of 10, saying "After a few matches, most players will be ready to move on to a bigger, better game." GameSpot awarded it a score of 4 out of 10, praising the art style and characters but criticising the physics, ineffectual weapons and attempts at comedy.
The game was a runner-up for the "Worst Game (That We Played)" award at Giant Bomb's Game of the Year 2017 Awards.{{cite web |author=Giant Bomb staff |date=December 29, 2017 |url=https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-five-best-worst-cast-and/1100-5708/ |title=Game of the Year 2017 Day Five: Best, Worst, Cast, and Capture |publisher=Giant Bomb |accessdate=December 29, 2017 |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327161843/https://www.giantbomb.com/articles/game-of-the-year-2017-day-five-best-worst-cast-and/1100-5708/ |url-status=live }}
In 2022, Jaffe admitted that Drawn to Death failed critically and commercially.{{cite web |last1=Jaffe |first1=David |title=Twisted Metal 2012...It's Time To Defend Our Child... :) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRWllXa6HgY |website=YouTube |access-date=15 March 2022 |archive-date=15 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315042929/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRWllXa6HgY |url-status=live }}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://drawntodeath.com/}}
Category:High school-themed video games
Category:Inactive multiplayer online games
Category:Multiplayer video games
Category:PlayStation 4-only games
Category:Products and services discontinued in 2019
Category:San Diego Studio games
Category:Sony Interactive Entertainment games