Despite being based on a fifty-year-old film, Gun Interactive’s The Texas Chain Saw Massacre has proven to be a bona fide hit, boasting over a million unique players during the first 24 hours of launch and being praised by critics as a more polished successor to their Friday the 13th adaptation. As a lifelong fan of the TCM franchise, I think this is amazing news, with the game’s popularity proving that there’s an active fanbase hungry for more Leatherface in popular media.
Of course, regardless of any initial success, the longevity of this new title depends on Gun’s commitment to regular updates – something that may be complicated by the fact that the developers have only managed to license the rights to the original 1974 film. With that in mind, we’ve decided to come up with a list highlighting six additions we’d love to see in future updates to the newest member of the TCM family!
While these suggestions are obviously based on personal opinion, we’ll be limiting them to plausible updates that could be made without borrowing elements from any of the numerous sequels or remakes.
With that out of the way, don’t forget to comment below with your own ideas about what could improve what is shaping up to be one of the best online horror experiences in recent memory.
Now, onto the list…
6. Tie-ins with Future TCM Projects
While any existing Texas Chainsaw sequels are currently off-limits to Gun Interactive, there’s nothing preventing the developers from kickstarting mutually beneficial partnerships with any future projects involving everyone’s favorite chainsaw-wielding killer. I mean, Netflix is rumored to already be developing a follow-up to their surprisingly successful 2022 entry in the TCM franchise, so why not feature some cross-promotional material in the game?
Even temporary cosmetic additions could be a breath of fresh air considering the limited amount of content available in the base game, though I’d absolutely love a playable version of Old-Man Leatherface with different stats and abilities. While this option would still require jumping through some legal hoops, I’d argue that it’s a lot easier than trying to purchase the rights to previous films.
5. More Story Elements
With the exception of Dead by Daylight’s shockingly elaborate mythology, in-depth lore isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind when players think of online horror experiences. That being said, Gun has gone the extra mile and provided us with an original prequel to the 1974 film following a group of friends looking for a missing teenager who fell into the clutches of the murderous Sawyer family.
And while I appreciate the fact that every match plays out like one possible outcome of this simulated slasher flick, my only gripe surrounding these narrative elements is the fact that most of them are told through off-screen supplemental material – something that I think should be addressed in future updates.
Hell, a new “season” of content could even continue the story with more maps and characters leading up to the events of the original movie, maybe even killing off the new members of the family so it makes sense that they don’t appear in the film.
4. Atari 2600 Leatherface
Gun’s Friday the 13th already featured plenty of nods to Jason’s previous interactive romps, but I think it’s worth pointing out that Leatherface’s presence in gaming goes back even further. The first digital Texas Chain Saw Massacre adaptation actually came out way back in 1983 on the Atari 2600, with the controversial title releasing alongside an equally infamous take on John Carpenter’s Halloween.
And like the NES’s purple Jason, the 8-bit Leatherface has already made an appearance as a cult favorite action figure, so why not bring this iconic part of the character’s history into the game as an unlockable extra? If licensing isn’t an issue, they could even negotiate with Wizard Studios to have the entirety of this controversial title included as a nostalgic bonus.
And while they’re at it, the developers might as well add some original Leatherface variants for higher level players…
3. Single Player Missions
Another element that was present in Friday the 13th but sorely missed in Texas Chain Saw Massacre is the inclusion of single-player missions. While they mostly functioned like scripted tutorials paying homage to iconic moments and tropes from the films, they also meant that the game would still have some historic value to future players once the servers inevitably shut down.
At this point, even a game mode populated by bots would be a welcome addition to TCM, even if it’s simply for archival purposes. I’d also appreciate the inclusion of an explorable hub like the Crystal Lake Cabin where we could enjoy the title’s bonus content in something a little more immersive (and creepier) than a static menu.
2. Survivors from the Original Film
It may be an age-old trope at this point, but the presence of a young and relatable “Scooby gang” in Hooper’s original film was actually a bold move back in 1973. That’s why I think it’s a shame that those iconic characters aren’t present in Gun’s adaptation. At the very least, I’d argue that Sally Hardesty needs to be added to the title at some point – if only to celebrate Marilyn Burns’ legacy as one of the very first final girls.
I’d even love to see Franklin make an appearance as a playable survivor, with his disability making for some interesting gameplay opportunities while also serving as a welcome bit of representation for folks who don’t usually see themselves in video games.
1. New Game Modes
Last but not least, it’s pretty clear that The Texas Chain Saw Massacre desperately needs some new game modes in order to keep the experience feeling fresh. While there’s nothing wrong with the current state of mechanical affairs, there’s simply too much potential here for varied gameplay for the developers to ignore.
From a one-on-one slasher simulator where one player takes on the role of a final girl while the other hunts them down as Leatherface in a horrific chase sequence to a mode where survivors can band together to fight back against the Sawyers and possibly kill them, the sky is the limit when it comes to making creative use of the title’s assets.
Only time will tell, but if Gun Interactive continues to support the game, I think the future looks bright for fans of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.
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