It is an excellent time to be a fan of horror video games. In what feels like a much-anticipated revival of the genre, teams are eager and willing to take bold strides in experimenting with established franchises. From Evil Dead: The Game to Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed, the market is suggesting that the interest in multiplayer-focused horror experiences is greater than ever.
Beyond the waves of recently released asymmetric horror multiplayer titles lies a horizon of upcoming video game adaptations of beloved terrifying franchises. Alongside incredible announcements such as Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game came the unveiling of Gun Interactive’s latest foray into the “kill or be killed” space, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Fans can’t wait to see what’s in store with this twisted southern nightmare developed by the team that essentially created asymmetrical horror.
I recently had the chance to go hands-on with several rounds of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and sit down with Gun Interactive’s Matt Szep to get an insight into what makes this horror game special. After relentlessly sawing chainsaws to death, smashing windows and feeding dear old grandpa copious amounts of human blood, my introduction to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre proves that this team strives to deliver a unique offering that is unabashedly faithful to the source material.
What is the Texas Chainsaw Massacre?
For players unfamiliar with the premise of Gun Interactive and its upcoming project from partner studio Sumo Digital, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a 3v4 asymmetric horror multiplayer game in which a trio of bloodthirsty family members face off against a group of potential victims. As the kidnapped innocents, your primary goal is to escape the terrifying confines of an eerie basement and cleverly fight your way to freedom. Unfortunately, Leatherface, The Cook, The Hitchhiker and Grandpa will do everything in their power to kill and eat the victims.
Victims must carefully and silently maneuver iconic locations, such as the Texas ranch from the 1974 classic horror film. This team of four will search polluted environments in search of tools, supplies and signs of the deadly family. With an array of escape routes, survival constantly dangles just out of reach, but can be easily achieved with the right strategy.
On the other hand, The Family must coordinate perfectly to track down and kill the feelings of victims. While many other asymmetric horror games feature only one player-controlled antagonist, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre deviates from this formula by providing three different characters with defined roles. As Matt Szep jokingly noted in our interview, “Whether you’re cannibals or ranchers, everyone has a job.” However, despite the increased numbers, the odds are not always in favor of the killers. The victims are agile and can quickly dodge the towering presence of relatives like Leatherface and The Cook.
What Makes The Texas Chainsaw Massacre Special?
During my time at The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, the Gun Interactive team consistently emphasized the importance of authenticity. From studying the migration patterns of the specific birds in the environments to painstakingly recreating memorable set pieces, these developers take source material incredibly seriously. I am pleased to report that this attention to small details greatly enhances the sense of time and place in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
As I crept carefully through the upper floors of the Texas Farmhouse, I discovered huge piles of feathers. As I shuffled through these fuzz heaps, a cascade of feathers fluttered around me, obscuring my view partially. Makeshift bone alarms also dangle in home doorways, and unsuspecting victims will cause a riot if they pass through them carelessly. The subtle yet impressive amalgamation of visual styling and gameplay direction kept me thoroughly engaged during my victim rounds of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
Another exceptionally delivered part of this asymmetrical horror title lies in the beautifully produced dynamics. Each round of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a bite-sized film in three acts. The discouraging opening scene begins with our victims pulling their pierced torsos off meat hooks and then finding themselves in a basement full of severed limbs and murdered corpses. Literally and figuratively, players start at the lowest possible point.
From here, glimmers of hope are presented as victims emerge from the depths of hell to find rays of sunshine entering through the windows of the home’s main level. The contrast between a beautiful Texas sunrise and looming terror, horror, and blood instantly elevates the scenery in The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. I loved the organic ways horror and beauty complement each other in this experience. In Szep’s poetic words, “There’s nothing like dying at a Texas sunrise.”
What to expect from gameplay and ongoing support.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is remarkably different from many of its contemporaries in the genre. For victim players, there is a greater emphasis on stealth and sound awareness. This means that much of the moment-to-moment gameplay revolves around ducking into the shadows to take cover and sneak around locations undetected. If you enjoy the slower, suspense-driven pace of titles like Dead by Daylight or Friday the 13th, you’ll probably appreciate Gun Interactive’s approach to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
For players who prefer a little more action and drama, it will almost certainly take more of your speed to step into the shoes of a family member. Leatherface has the ability to cut through walls, obstacles and unfortunately positioned victims, while The Cook uses his heightened hearing to track the movements of escapees. All in all, the rigorously considered restrictions on The Family and the victims make for a palpably distinct gameplay loop for each character.
A potential boon to matchmaking lies in the game’s ability for up to three players to line up together as the assassins. In titles like Evil Dead: The Game, only solo players have the ability to terrorize survivors, and with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, there are opportunities for squads to play together on both sides. Hopefully, in addition to launching on Xbox Game Pass, this will ensure a stable, healthy player pool.
I wasn’t able to squeeze out much information about continued support and player progress. The game’s menus suggest there will be a respectable amount of customization and even skill trees. Fortunately, when we speak to Szep from Gun Interactive, it sounds like the team plans to reveal those details in the near future. Meanwhile, the team seems convinced that The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will have long legs.
When is The Texas Chain Saw Massacre coming out?
As it stands, there is no official release date for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, but Gun Interactive has announced its plans to launch the game sometime in 2023 on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, PS5, and PC. This upcoming horror title will also appear in Xbox Game Pass from day one.
While not confirmed, it’s also incredibly likely that The Texas Chain Saw Massacre will offer open and closed beta testing for larger groups of players in the coming months. My limited playtime with this fear-inducing multiplayer project brought a healthy dose of laughter, fear, and blood-soaked sunflowers. I’d like more players to get their hands on Leatherface’s chainsaw.
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