Twins could use a Visual/Audio update to build interest
Introduction
The Twins are the least played Killer is DBD. There are a lot of reasons for this, the awkward switching between Charlotte and Victor among them, weird add ons, some other odd interactions with hooks, etc.... However gameplay-wise the Twins are decently strong, especially after healing nerfs.... so what else is contributing to them not being played?
Lore/Horror Presentation is Lacking
My opinion is completely subjective, but I feel like what let's the Twins down more than anything is their presentation. While we do have that awesome audio effect when releasing Victor, and their chase music is pretty darned twisted and creepy, the Twins themselves don't quite carry the same intimidating vibe as their Killer counterparts.
When we compare to the constant twitching and phasing hiss from Spirit, the awkward chirping head movements and loud screeching of crows from Artist, the loud roars from Oni with the blood effects spilling off him, the thudding feet of Nemesis and his massive size, or even just the angry grunts, furious march and distant loud snaps of traps from Trapper, the Twins kinda fall a little flat.
The lore paints them as a tragic duo, relentlessly pursued and persecuted for the crimes of being deformed. The pain and suffering they endured makes us empathetic to them... and gives fertile grounds for a tormented, hate filled, vengeful pair, but doesn't give them much of an aura of power.
How they/their power looks
https://youtu.be/ejXASYoHJ5o?si=u8nl_k5PrNxHY6rhVictor does a lot of the horror lifting for Twins. He is a creepy deformed little monstrosity with menacing growls and horrible screeches, but he still at the end of the day does come across like a small undead Gremlin, that cant carry it on his own.
Charlotte is pretty hulkingly large for a woman, at least by normal person standards. This despite the contradiction that her lore would have you think she would be a half-starved, sickly young woman, who grew up malnutritioned and weak from lack of food, living in squalor, constant blood letting/poisoning from being intertwined with Victors rotting corpse... However whatever, she's big. Her pale eyes help... but outside of that and the big hole in her chest, she is pretty normal... she doesn't really carry much intimidation factor in her own right.
This issue is compounded by the fact their "Power" is basically Victor being undead... We don't get any sense of why they are strong or what supernatural powers they possess. We assume its a result of the cult worship they were subjected to, but there is nothing in game that really sells this idea to us.
What I would like to see
I would propose that the visuals and audio of Charlotte and Victor be updated to clue us in to WHY they make a fearsome pair: -
- When in chase with Victor still in her chest, have Victor get excited, start grunting and pointing, as if excited at being on the Hunt. Have this give us a feeling of Victor being the one driving the hunt.
- When channelling Victor, have Charlotte looking up at the sky with her eyes and mouth open, in an entranced state, with a mystical blue or blood red glow coming out of them or something. Similarly for Victor give him glowing eyes while being controlled.
- While separated, have Charlotte look and sound enraged by being seperated from Victor. Have her lumber angrily while Victor is gone, chattering to herself and growling/grunting during chase at survivors (no extra speed, just visual and audio changes). Have Victor meanwhile curl up in a fetal position, as if he is calling for Charlotte to protect him. This sells the idea they are a duo with differing but aligning motivations. If a survivor kicks him in this state, have him as part of the animation sit up and hiss, as if it's an act.
- Also consider having cultist runes spread across both Victor and her limbs and back and begin glowing when separated, to sell the idea she is bonded to him.
- Add a global enraged scream from Charlotte after kicking Victor. You can even consider giving her a small temporary speed boost and having her eyes continue to glow for a duration to indicate she is enraged at survivors for attacking Victor if that would fit gameplay changes.
Conclusion
Along with cleanup of their power, I think this would go a long way to helping the Twins feel more intimidating and powerful, rather than the sorrowful and lost characters they feel currently.
The runes would give us a sort of explanation as to why Charlotte is much bigger and powerful than she should be, and the enraged grunting and global screams would generally make her feel more of a presense to be feared in the world, driven on by her sibling for all the pain and suffering they witnessed and endured.
I feel having something akin to these changes would sell the concept far better, and interest more people in playing them, even if their gameplay isn't as strong or as easy to pick up as others.
That's my take on it anyway.
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