“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” Review: A Chilling Multiplayer Experience
In a recent gaming session of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” I found myself immersed in a dark and sinister world filled with horror and suspense. As I navigated through a basement filled with macabre decorations, I couldn’t help but wonder if this game would appeal to my partner as well. With her limited experience in gaming, I pondered the different games and mechanics she had enjoyed in the past, ultimately concluding that the simplicity and unpredictability of “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” would likely captivate her as well.
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” follows a familiar premise – three players take on the roles of the Slaughter Family, aiming to murder four helpless Victim players before they can escape. This asymmetrical multiplayer concept has proven successful in various games, such as “Dead by Daylight,” “Friday the 13th: The Game,” “Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed,” and “Evil Dead: The Game.” However, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” raises the stakes by introducing three players as the killers, adding an extra layer of unpredictability that makes playing as a victim an intensely thrilling experience.
Set before the events of the iconic 1974 movie, the game offers a selection of five Victims and five Family characters to choose from, each with unique abilities and stats. For example, my main Victim, Julie, had the ability to reduce sprinting stamina costs and temporarily confuse the killers. On the Family side, I favored playing as Sissy, a murderer who utilized poison and a cut-throat razor. The various stats and abilities of each character greatly impact gameplay, providing opportunities for strategic choices and creating risk-versus-reward scenarios.
To play “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre,” players must join a public lobby or create a private one with a minimum party size of four. Matches only start when all seven players have joined, which occasionally limited my playing time during the review period. Additionally, the game lacks a tutorial mode, offering only a short video-based overview instead. While I spent time familiarizing myself with the game mechanics through these videos, the lack of hands-on experience added to the intensity of my initial matches.
Playing as a Victim in “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” is a tension-filled experience from the start. Players begin tied up in a large basement, their escape hindered by Leatherface’s menacing presence. The goal is to find a tool to unlock an exit door, triggering a small mini-game. Opening the door generates noise, temporarily revealing your location to all players on the map. Noise is a key factor in the game, with any sudden movements or encounters potentially exposing your whereabouts. Players must navigate the map cautiously, taking advantage of hiding spots and crawling spaces to outmaneuver the Family members. In desperate situations, escaping through a well can be a last resort. As a Victim, the constant threat of Leatherface’s chainsaw charging down the halls keeps the adrenaline pumping.
On the Family side, the objective is simple: slaughter the Victims before they can escape. While being the predator offers a less intense experience, the responsibility of covering a large map with just three players requires constant vigilance. Each Family character has unique abilities to track down or impede the Victims. Cooperation and the efficient utilization of skills become crucial. One interesting mechanic involves feeding blood to Grandpa, who gains sonar abilities to locate moving Victims. The Victims can incapacitate Grandpa, adding a sense of urgency to their survival.
Skills and abilities in the game depend on players’ progress in the Skill Tree and loadout customization. Performing well in matches rewards XP, which leads to gaining skill points and leveling up characters. While this system allows for character progression tied to the player’s account rather than individual characters, it can become a grind after reaching a certain level.
From a technical standpoint, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” shines with its attention to detail. Despite having only three levels, each with day and night variants, the environments are visually stunning. The love and care put into capturing the essence of the movie are evident throughout the game. As players become more familiar with the settings, matches become even more intense, requiring strategic gameplay and skillful decision-making.
Overall, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” delivers a chilling multiplayer experience that keeps players on the edge of their seats. Its simplicity combined with unpredictable gameplay creates a thrilling atmosphere that both fans of the franchise and newcomers can enjoy. While the game has some technical issues and leveling can become a grind, these minor drawbacks don’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the experience. In the end, “The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” offers a chilling and adrenaline-fueled adventure that horror gaming enthusiasts should not miss.