Movies of War

Even three months after its release, I still find myself shocked at the sheer level of survival horror mastery that Sam Prebble and Trigger Happy Interactive were able to achieve on last year’s Total Chaos. As I mentioned in my original review, going from a Doom 2 total conversion mod to competing with AAA titles as one of the most unique experiences in horror gaming was one of the most impressive feats of 2025, but one thing I failed to bring up in that review was the bittersweet feeling that came from finally saying goodbye to the game once it was over (an appropriate sentiment given the story’s subject matter. Don’t get me wrong, Total Chaos’ expansive levels and alternate endings make it easy to revisit, but I felt like I had thoroughly exhausted the novelty of the experience during that first nightmarish playthrough. However, this finality didn’t stop me from craving more punishment, as well as the emotional catharsis that only hyper-violent horror gaming can provide once you come back to beat up a monster that had previously given you trouble. Thankfully, it seems like the Trigger Happy team heard my prayers, and Total Chaos has now been updated with a much-anticipated New Game+ that does a lot more than just remix enemy and item locations. Inspired by the similar post-game mode from the original mod, this latest update turns the established game experience on its head, which is why I believe it warrants an updated review. The main story of Total Chaos remains relatively untouched, with players taking on the role of Coast Guardsman Tyler Scott as he returns to Fort Oasis in order to confront the island’s (and his own) dark past. However, the New Game+ update provides extra context about Tyler’s time on the abandoned mining colony before the events of the game. There’s also a brand-new and incredibly intense final chapter culminating in an alternate ending that perfectly complements the finales found in the main game. Right off the bat, the biggest difference once you start up a new game is how the levels cut out much of the presentation and story elements that slowed the pace in the original campaign. In the New Game+ mode, you are dropped straight into the action, with the game fully expecting that you still have all of the skills that helped you beat the campaign. Beyond the faster pacing and surprising (if often mean-spirited) placement of enemies, the new mode also features a relentless stalker in the form of The Hunter. Much like Mr. X in the B scenarios of the original Resident Evil 2, the Hunter pursues players throughout the map and can only be temporarily stopped – never defeated. In essence, this new (and eerily designed) monster functions as both a timer and an added resource drain, as you’re forced to waste precious supplies in order to fend him off while also having much less time to fumble around areas looking for items. The base game already featured a handful of pursuer enemies in certain areas (such as the SCP-like creatures that only move when you’re not looking and that one library monster), but The Hunter stands out as a constant threat that isn’t limited to controlled set-pieces. This is both a blessing and a curse, as some of these tight spaces obviously weren’t designed for a permanent monster, and the janky nature of the game’s physics can sometimes trap you in unwinnable situations, but in general, The Hunter makes the game so much more intense that you wonder why he wasn’t included in the original campaign to begin with! Gameplay-wise, the new mode gives you access to late-game weapons and blueprints earlier (and there’s also the addition of statues that keep the Hunter at bay, though not regular monsters). However, the biggest change is really just how fast-paced things get as the game assumes that you’ve been here before, with the difficulty escalating beyond anything you’ve seen before and often bordering on unfair. While the majority of the new narrative additions happen in the new aforementioned new chapter “Reckoning” (which I won’t spoil here but believe me when I say that the developers kept the freakiest reveals for last), the entire New Game+ experience feels like a natural escalation of the main game, with the Hunter chases standing out as some of my favorite gaming memories in a long time despite a frustrating amount of jank. All in all, I’d argue that the New Game+ update is a lot more than an afterthought meant to please fans of the original mod, with the narrative and mechanical additions making this an essential addition to Total Chaos, so long as you can stomach the increased difficulty in a game that was already unforgiving to begin with. That being said, when you consider the added unpredictability of The Hunter and the leaner presentation, I think it’s safe to say that fans will be returning to Fort Oasis in this new mode for years to come. Total Chaos’ New Game+ will be available on March 16. Related Topics:Apogee EntertainmentEpic Games Storegog.comNew Game PlusPCPlayStation 5steamsurvival horrortotal chaosTrigger Happy InteractiveXbox Series Luiz H. C. Born Brazilian, raised Canadian, Luiz is a writer and Film student that spends most of his time watching movies and subsequently complaining about them. 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