The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is a much-loved old-school franchise. Moreover, this original horror tale is disturbing and stomach-churning. Accordingly, I’m surprised that it has taken this long for a developer to create an asymmetrical horror title. However, here we are, better late than never. Yet, will this fresh take on a well-trodden genre be too little too late?
This asymmetric multiplayer horror title was developed by Sumo Nottingham and published by Gun Interactive. However, unlike its peers, this creepy-ass experience has more than one antagonist. Accordingly, you get plenty of tactical choices and even more jump scares. Furthermore, it has plenty of familiar mechanics whilst remaining pretty faithful to the original ideas. As such, this will be perfect for fans of the film and lovers of this hardcore genre.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre tells a disturbing story.
The Sawyer family is not to be messed with. This slaughterhouse team comprises many slasher stereotypes. As such, they’ll stop at nothing to brutally murder every innocent victim. This is the crux of the action. 3 people must play the gruesome hunters. Whereas, 4 players will be the hunted. This deadly game of cat and mouse is uncomfortable, gory, and gloriously repetitive.
If you take on the role of a family member, one of you must play the part of Leatherface. This chainsaw-wielding maniac is great fun to control. However, the rest of the group is equally enjoyable. There is the Cook and the Hitchhiker, and Johnny and Sissy. Each of these antagonists has its strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, combining each trio delivers unique tactical nuances. Consequently, it is these levels of detail that make playing the family such a joy.
Grandpa Sawyer.
Alongside the classic slasher action, you can use Johnny’s tracker sense or Sissy’s poison ability. Nonetheless, the goal remains the same: kill the survivors and feed blood to Grandpa Sawyer. Classed as the greatest murderer ever to roam the planet, this family head is important. As you gather vials of blood to empower him, the action becomes deadlier. As he becomes stronger, he creates a pulsating sonar that highlights the survivors’ positions.
This increasingly deadly skill enhances the fear factor of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. Additionally, if you are playing the part of a victim, you’ll feel under the cosh immediately. As such, at first, the action feels unbalanced and unfair. Yet, once you get used to your surroundings and the tasks you must complete, you can manipulate the situation to turn the odds in your favour.
Always the victim.
Playing the victim may seem a poor choice. However, in reality, it is a stomach-churning and enjoyable experience. Your team may choose to work together or go it alone. Whatever you decide, you must live with the consequences. The aim when playing a victim is to become a survivor. Yet, to do this requires plenty of planning and a lot of luck.
You must sneak between gaps and hide in convenient locations. Additionally, you must find items to unlock doors or turn off the power. What’s more, there is a host of characters to choose from. Subsequently, each person has a unique ability to assist you as you escape. Therefore, it is best to work together to enhance your chances.
Balanced gameplay.
The family and the victims are beautifully balanced between fearful gameplay and horrific hunting. However, once you master each person’s fundamental abilities, you can turn the odds in your favour. On top of this, there is a detailed skill tree for every playable character. Accordingly, you can improve your passive abilities each time you level up.
Sadly, though, the cosmetic element of the action is somewhat lacklustre. This feature isn’t something that bothers me. Yet, I know people love to highlight their godly skills. As such, those gamers will be disappointed by the lack of additional cosmetics.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is creepy as hell.
Sumo Nottingham has generated a suspenseful and uncomfortable game. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre captures every creepy and atmospheric moment of the 1974 film. Moreover, the original cast of antagonists is well-represented. Consequently, I admired the animation and every brutal moment. Whether you are crawling through tight spaces or being brutally murdered, it is a wonderfully unpleasant experience.
Audio makes a horror title. Consequently, if this is poorly executed, you’ll lose your audience. Thankfully, though, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has exceptional audio! Every bone-chilling sound will keep you in suspense. Additionally, the horrific antagonists will make your blood pressure rise. Alongside this, the blood-curdling scream of Grandpa Sawyer never gets old.
A great tutorial, but a tough learning curve.
This genre is tough to master. Even though the tutorial was thorough and well-considered, I struggled with the basics. However, once you become familiar with each character and your surroundings, things become much more manageable. Furthermore, the aforementioned skill tree helps as well. As such, you will need time and patience to get the most out of this game.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is a love/hate title. Yet, if you adore what you see, you’ll play this for hours on end. Moreover, there are so many unique elements to discover. Subsequently, no playthrough is the same, and this adds to longevity and replay value. My only complaint, however, is the time it takes to join a lobby. Unfortunately, it can be extremely frustrating as players leave unexpectedly. Nevertheless, once you find a good group of players, you can play this all night.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre captures the essence of the film.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is an excellent game if you love Friday the 13th or Dead by Daylight. This tricky but rewarding genre is better with friends. However, it’s fascinating and enjoyable when you are alone. Thanks to the tactical nuances and the challenging gameplay, no playthrough is ever the same. Consequently, I loved it and I recommend that you buy it here! Can you become the ultimate murderer? Alternatively, will you be able to escape the deadly Sawyer family?
