When I first tried The Texas Chain Saw Massacre it was a video game that I wanted to like but found very little enjoyment in playing. On the surface level, this game appeared shallow, it was met with criticisms from fans of this genre who would draw superficial comparisons to Dead By Daylight. However, after investing some time I was heavily mistaken and I truly believe Sumo Digital have an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game that could cultivate a sizeable playerbase going forward.

The Texas Chain Saw Massacre perfectly captures the atmosphere and visceral emotions of the original 1974 horror movie. Visually in graphical fidelity and art direction the game is incredibly faithful to the movie. The objectives of the developers were to represent and build upon the original movie, bringing some of the iconic members of the Family back as playable characters and introducing a brand new set of victims to play as. The level of finite detail and attention to care regarding the authenticity of the original movie is astounding. From recreating the iconic chainsaw, to the design of the environments and characters, the crunchy sound design and masterful soundtrack contribute to an oppressive atmosphere that reflects a truly excellent experience.

Sumo Digital also took some creative liberty with the property, introducing entirely original members of the Family to the experience which are certainly welcome. Every Family member and victim is extremely fun to play, encouraging different strategies in playstyle. Of course, this comes with balancing issues but I wouldn't say this causes any of the characters to be broken, it's more so a personal preference of certain characters being exceptional at particular tasks.

The map design is extremely fun, offering several methods of escape which prevents the encouragement of camping behaviour. Somehow they manage to capture the iconic environments of the original movie but appropriating them to offer a fun multi-routed playground offering opportunities for hiding and evading the family, but also offering narrow obstacle-filled hallways which lead to high octane chases. There are also a huge array of perks within skill trees across a variety of different characters that offer unique playstyles and gameplay choices that can tailor to the individual player.

There are some shortcomings however, mostly technical issues and glitches regarding in-game lobbies, player progression bugs, and performance issues. However, despite this, I am convinced this is one of the most interesting premises for not only an asymmetrical horror game but it is yet again another example of a fantastic recent licenced video game, showing that developer passion is key to delivering a successful product.

What I love about this game is that it is entirely a horror experience. Where other asymmetrical horror video games encourage the survivors to interact and engage in chase with the killer, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre's victims are encouraged to be as stealthy as possible, doing your absolute best to avoid the Family. The 4v3 dynamic is also an incredibly good decision in terms of balance and enjoyment. Whilst my time with the game is limited, I have found it incredibly fun to play as either side which I think is difficult for most video games to achieve.