Gun Interactive recently revealed more information for their upcoming multiplayer asymmetric horror game based on the groundbreaking 1974 film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. The Tobe Hooper classic has been around for nearly 50 years; Texas Chainsaw Massacre has become a major horror franchise, and the hulking Leatherface is one of the most recognized horror movie villains of all time.
The publisher behind the 2017 Friday the 13th: The Game has chosen to turn another classic horror franchise from the 70s and 80s into a multiplayer game adaptation. This is the franchise’s first iteration as a video game since the 1983 release of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre on the Atari 2600 by Wizard Video. The game was met with controversy and sold poorly due to its violent nature, causing many stores to refuse to sell it. Despite this, Leatherface has recently found success in popular games as a guest character or outfit such as Dead in daylight and Call of Duty: Warzone. This asymmetrical contest could be his next big break.
Gun Interactive’s unique concept of asymmetric horror
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre‘s Twitter account has been sharing glimpses of the game for a while now, but more details have come to light through interviews and hands-on previews. The game has an unorthodox style, choosing 3 members of Chainsaw massacre‘s Sawyer family against 4 hapless teens instead of the typical 1v4. Teamwork is vital for both sides if they hope to succeed, with each victim and killer having unique skills and customization options that affect how they play.
There are only two ways for victims to escape the clutches of the Sawyers. Victims can stun the killers or make their way through hard-to-reach places, such as tight holes in the walls, as they make their way from the basement of the Sawyer homestead. Stealth and use of the victims’ environment is encouraged, with inspiration from Sally Hardesty, the last girl from the original film. Slow, meticulous, tactical gameplay is key for the victims as they find and manage items in the environment and open doors in an attempt to escape the Texas sunset home of terror.
Texas Chainsaw Massacre features 3 playable Sawyer characters: The Cook, The Hitchhiker, and Leatherface, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. The family also has NPC Grandpa Sawyer on their side, who can get blood from around the house or directly from the victims themselves. This blood flow increases Grandpa and activates a sonar-like ability that causes him to occasionally scream and tag a mobile victim hit by the explosion. Grandpa can be killed by the victims in an attempt to knock out his ability before the match, giving some balance to an easily abused ability.
The Commitment to an Authentic Slasher Experience
Gun Interactive and Sumo Digital have taken great care to render the original film and use it as the primary source of inspiration for the game’s content and visual style. Every little detail matters to the studios; the developers even got their hands on the original floor plans of the Sawyer house in an effort to be as authentic as possible. Everything was reconstructed, from specific stones in the basement and light switches around the house to the surrounding flora and fauna.
This pursuit of authenticity is also not limited to content and aesthetics. When the Texas Chainsaw Massacre game was announced, it revealed that horror veteran Kane Hodder will be playing Leatherface. While horror fans may associate him with his role as Jason Voorhees in four of the… Friday the 13th movies and the game, he was the stunt double for Leatherface in Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3.
This rendition of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre seems ready to join the faithful custom Friday the 13th and Evil Dead spell. The fidelity to the source material and the Lone Star State, as well as the exciting gameplay previews, are sure to cause a stir among fans of the franchise. Hopefully Sumo Digital and Gun Interactive can continue their relationship with the holders of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre ownership and avoid another unfortunate licensing issue that is beyond their control.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Coming to PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S in 2023.
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