Behavior Interactive is a renowned development studio that has carved its name in the gaming industry with the asymmetrical horror game, Dead by Daylight. Released in 2016, the game quickly gained widespread recognition for its gameplay, pitting a group of survivors against a powerful killer in a deadly game of cat and mouse. With its ever-expanding roster of iconic horror characters, chilling maps and intense gameplay mechanics, Dead by Daylight has solidified its position as a unique and thrilling gaming experience that continues to captivate players around the world. With its release, the studio is the leader in the asymmetrical horror genre.
While various companies have attempted to compete, none have managed to endure. Titles like Video Horror Society, Last Year and Evolve surged onto the scene with strength, only to quickly fizzle into obscurity. Others lingered a bit longer, capitalizing on the nostalgia associated with their namesake IPs, such as Evil Dead: The Game and Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed. Despite these contenders incorporating elements that players desire from Dead by Daylight, they often fall short.
Some players crave the ability to confront their killer head-on, while others relish the rotation of villains to unveil fresh horrors, as the killer gains strength. These contenders incorporate those aspects, yet they remain underdeveloped. Many suffer from a lack of diversity in player choices, and their available maps are often severely limited, fostering a sense of monotony. Consequently, the initial surge of migrating players typically retreats to Dead by Daylight, venting their grievances on Twitter along the way.
Gun Media isn’t a newcomer in the genre by any means. This was the creative force behind the notably successful Friday the 13th: The Game, which emerged as a formidable challenger to Behavior Interactive’s dominance, offering a sought-after experience. Players could play as either the infamous Jason Voorhees or any of the numerous campers, with a plethora of gruesome kills to unlock as they advanced. A rare opportunity even existed for campers to vanquish Jason, breaking the curse, albeit through a demanding and elaborate process.
Regrettably, the ongoing legal entanglements that ensnared the Friday the 13th franchise escalated shortly after the game’s launch, leading to a complete cessation of all game-related production. While players could still partake, the creation of new content was legally prohibited. Consequently, Friday the 13th: The Game dwindled away, leaving its player base disheartened.
Now, Gun Media makes a triumphant return with its latest offering: The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. While maintaining the essence of an asymmetrical horror game, Gun Media appears to have heeded the calls of Dead by Daylight players, introducing novel elements to their framework. Departing from the conventional setup of one killer versus four survivors, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre employs a twist of three killers confronting a quartet of victims. Should you opt to tread the path of the killer, you can embody the original roster of family killers, comprising The Hitchhiker, The Cook and the iconic Leatherface, himself.
However, the game introduces a fresh dynamic by introducing two exclusive characters: Sissy and Johnny. Each of these killers boasts distinct roles, with some capable of inflicting substantial harm upon ensnared players, while others assume supportive functions.
On the survivor side of the equation, every player harbors their own distinct strengths and weaknesses, yet they all share the common objective: to escape the compound. The avenues for achieving this goal are numerous, removing the solitary end-game scenario reminiscent of Dead by Daylight. This intriguing augmentation engenders compelling scenarios in which teamwork can either yield resounding triumphs or tragic (and gory) defeats.
I had the privilege of being granted early access to the game’s technical test during the early days of summer. At that point, Gun Media’s roster only extended to playing as the core three killers and a handful of survivors. Given my preference for playing as a killer in Dead by Daylight, I predominantly devoted my time to this side of the equation. It didn’t take long for me to recognize a slew of gameplay issues. Bugs surfaced, causing complications like server disconnects, victims suddenly teleporting due to latency glitches and phantom button inputs yielding unintended outcomes. Yet, despite these hitches, the game retained its enjoyable factor.
Almost my entire week was spent immersed in gameplay, actively participating in forums and eagerly seeking details about the game’s impending release. Eventually, the unveiling date was unveiled: August 18, 2023.
Following the conclusion of the technical test until the official release date, Gun Media embarked on an earnest endeavor to implement alterations, while absorbing feedback from the player community. The studio addressed and rectified bugs that had surfaced. Notably, the default setting for generators utilized by the family to secure one of the exits was reset, relieving the pressure of an early killer presence requirement. Moreover, the overarching latency concerns for certain survivors were successfully resolved. The inclusion of new characters, notably Sissy and Johnny, expanded the roster. Essentially, as many issues as possible were corrected, while still managing to incorporate quality-of-life enhancements into the game.
And the results are evident. At present, I find myself thoroughly engrossed in the game (furnished for review by Gun Media), and my appreciation for nearly every facet of it is growing. Once more, I’ve assumed the role of the killer, as I’m not yet prepared to venture into the survivor’s perspective.
Each member of the family boasts a distinctive identity. Leatherface inflicts substantial damage, but mastering the chainsaw proves to be a challenge. Additionally, his imposing stature renders him incapable of navigating confined spaces and scaling ladders. The Cook excels at detecting players, due to his exceptional hearing, yet his pursuit speed is notably sluggish, and his strikes deal minimal damage. Standing out as my personal favorite among the killers is Sissy, one of the game’s unique characters. She exhibits impressive swiftness and possesses the capability to poison victims during their attempts to recover or flee. Her agility, respectable damage output and capacity to gather significant amounts of blood to sustain Grandpa solidify her as a formidable adversary to contend with.
While my appreciation for numerous aspects of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre is great, a few concerns do warrant consideration. Presently, the game features a mere three maps. While it might take a while, players could inevitably become fatigued by the limited variety. As familiarity with the compounds deepens, matches could become notably swift, particularly against newcomers trying their hand at the game. Additionally, the absence of a player ranking system enables higher-level players to mingle in matches with less-seasoned participants. Furthermore, I’ve encountered a recurring bug that intermittently ejects me from the game after every two or three sessions, necessitating a restart of the game from my desktop.
These aspects, combined with the restricted character selection, are surely on Gun Media’s radar, and I’m hopeful they’ll diligently address them. Hopefully, their response will be swifter than that of certain other companies that have since vanished from the industry.
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre could potentially emerge as a strong contender, challenging Dead by Daylight‘s reign as the premier asymmetric horror game. It’s undoubtedly a title worth keeping a close watch on. Despite confining their focus to a single intellectual property, Gun Media has demonstrated a willingness to inject fresh elements into the gameplay. As the holiday season passes, it will be interesting to observe whether The Texas Chain Saw Massacre sustains its momentum or is sacrificed to the Entity known as Dead by Daylight.
Here’s to wishing Gun Media the utmost success in their endeavors.