Most readers should be familiar with what an asymmetrical multiplayer horror game is. It's a genre that's become famous thanks to one particular game (that will be the subject of many comparisons in this review), Dead by Daylight. In the genre, players learn the definition of teamwork (and suffering) while trying to escape the villain's clutches. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre is one game that fits this genre, for better and worse.
There are differences, of course. Some of them will be pointed out throughout the review. However, I still feel like it's important also to highlight the experience I've had with the game before launch. Our editorial team was given some review codes to play the game and experience the thrill of being the members of the Family or the Survivors seeking a way to escape them.
Let's start with the perspective of someone without any familiarity with asymmetrical multiplayer games. While playing the game, I began to look for how easy it would be to pick up and play for anyone in a casual setting. Some of the things that stood out to me were the ways the game tried to deliver its tutorials.
However, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre also has a few problems when introducing new players of the genre to its mechanics and systems. For example, the loadout and skill tree systems were very poorly explained. Not only that, but some of them weren't even explained at all, and finding how to work with them amounted to guesswork. It also doesn't help that upgrading things such as characters can be a bit of a chore since it's done from the main menu instead of during the Preparation Phase.
The game is also a bit obtuse and confusing with its level design. A lot of times, some of the people who weren't aware of how this kind of game works were confused and often were majorly fighting the map itself since they didn't know where to go or exactly what to do. Not to mention, many areas loop around themselves, making things even more confusing. This is something that goes away the more you play it, but that applies to every other game. I didn't stick to Freelancer in Hitman - World of Assassination for so many hours due to a bad first impression.
I think that some tweaks are going to be needed in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's UX design when someone who understands what the hell is going on in Final Fantasy XIV and the convoluted plot in the Zero Escape series doesn't understand what to do in the game without an hour of reading and sorting through tutorials or guides that may or may not be available on a Google search.
Adding to this problem is the fact that characters are invested individually. As such, if you place your Skill Points on a character like Leland, you have to pray that the other players didn't do so and allow you to select the character. Since the game doesn't have shared Perks, you will more likely than not end up having to quit and re-queue if the character you invested the most into is picked by someone else or have a second character upgraded beforehand.
From the perspective of someone with plenty of experience with games like Dead by Daylight, the impression left by the game is actually better. Every perk is generic, which means that leaning into a particular Family member (or Leather Face) or Victim will have the same set of buffs attached to them that will cater to their particular playstyle. With that said, the whole of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre leads to more of a skill-based endeavor that can outpace Dead by Daylight by a long shot.
Every character has a unique trait that becomes paramount as part of the team. Leland can shoulder charge assailants to stun them temporarily, The Cook has a seeking ability, Connie can unlock things faster, and so on. Selecting the right character is much more important in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre than in Dead by Daylight because of this from both sides.
Now, when it comes to balance, some players might already have figured out that there will always be some sort of "level disparity" in Texas Chainsaw Massacre matches. The higher level characters are, the more likely they are to have game-changing upgrades and thus, they will mow down anyone that is either inexperienced or simply outgunned. This is why I mentioned having a second character upgraded would be a better strategy since having one particular character would heavily limit successful queues.
Items are also pretty plentiful, and every map feels like it can be studied easily compared to other games. With that said, it's also worth noting that some matches may feel like they are skewed to the side of the Family rather than the Victims. However, once the meta evolves, plenty of players will have better chances at taking on the Family as map layouts are mastered.
Overall, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre may have an upward struggle on its hands while trying to keep up with Dead By Daylight. In terms of star power, DBD has the bigger advantage. Dead By Daylight is a game where Albert Wesker chases Nicholas Cage throughout Midwhich High School as he teams up with Ash Williams. Meanwhile, Texas Chainsaw Massacre has proximity chat shenanigans that allow players to blast Never Gonna Give You Up as Leather Face does a Flex Tape demonstration as he saws a dude in half.
Of course, it's almost needless to say that anyone who enjoys Dead by Daylight will undoubtedly enjoy this game. At times, it feels like a love letter to the fans of that game. This title is also a more skill-based endeavor compared to DBD and, because of this, can offer more possibilities of a comeback from the least-expected sources. Ultimately, it's a fun and digestible experience that should be treated as such. You can also try it on Game Pass if you have an active subscription.
Reviewed on PC (code provided by the publisher).
WccftechContinue reading/original-link]
