Exploring the Best Horror Games with Texas Chain Saw Massacre Developers, Their Game's Final Girl, and Hopes for Texas Chainsaw 2
The creators of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre draw inspiration from an iconic horror game, crafting an immersive experience that pays homage to the genre's classics Join their chilling journey and discover their plans for a potential sequel to this bone-chilling game
Just over two months ago, Gun Interactive released the Texas Chain Saw Massacre game, featuring the iconic character Leatherface. This follows their success in 2017 with the Jason Voorhees game, Friday the 13th: The Game. As Halloween approaches, we had the opportunity to sit down with Gun's president Wes Keltner and creative director Ronnie Hobbs to discuss the horror genre, the process of adapting the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, and the creative freedom they have with the series.
When Gun announced that they would be publishing a Texas Chain Saw Massacre game, fans of the movies were excited to see Leatherface included. However, with a total of nine films in the franchise, including sequels, reboots, and even sequels to the reboots, there was uncertainty about which elements would be incorporated. The most recent addition to the series, Netflix's 2022 film Texas Chainsaw Massacre, acted as a sequel to the original movie, similar to 2018's Halloween, disregarding the events of subsequent films.
All other content except for the original film is currently not accessible for the game, regardless of our desire for a Chop Top skin from the second film.
Keltner clarified, "We only possess the rights to the 1974 film. That was the agreement offered to us. Each of the different films is owned by different companies. So it's not as simple as requesting a specific film like 'I'd like to have Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2,' and having it sent to you. There are multiple entities involved, and it is necessary to locate who still holds the rights."
Both Keltner and Hobbs are open to incorporating other films into their project, if given the opportunity. Additionally, they are fans of several movies in the franchise, including the often underestimated Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 from 1986.
"The first installment is serious and brutally shot, almost resembling a documentary. In contrast, the second one is more theatrical and extravagant," Keltner explained. "By theatrical, I mean that each character is portrayed as an exaggerated version of themselves. It's a lot more enjoyable, light-hearted, and absurd. I believe that some people disregard it because it deviates from the tone and impact of the first film, which had a significant influence on cinema as a whole. If you ask yourself, 'How can we surpass that?' I think the entire team realized that it was impossible. Therefore, they decided to take a completely different approach. And I believe they succeeded in achieving that."
Keltner and Hobbs acknowledged that while working on Texas Chain Saw Massacre, they neglected to keep up with the latest horror movies. Instead, they dedicated their attention to the horror films of the time, ensuring they fully embraced the unique elements that defined 1970s horror, including even the typography displayed on screen, as stated by Keltner.
"As you spend four consecutive years working on a project, it tends to consume your present world, and suddenly you realize that around 30 horror films have been released and you haven't watched any of them," Hobbs explained.
Since the release of the game, both individuals have been striving to catch up. Hobbs recently completed Mike Flanagan's final Netflix series, The Fall of the House of Usher, expressing his admiration by stating, "I absolutely love it, and anything Mike Flanagan does is always amazing." Additionally, they both expressed their fondness for Pearl, the recent prequel to X, which features Mia Goth.
As passionate creators of horror games, they also possess a profound appreciation for horror games themselves. Hobbs and Keltner mentioned titles such as the Amnesia series, PT, the Resident Evil franchise, and even the Subnautica games as some of their favorite video game scares. However, there exists another game that holds a special place in Hobbs' heart and serves as a source of inspiration whenever it is required.
"When I seek inspiration, I turn to Silent Hill 2, which, in my opinion, stands as the greatest horror game ever created. I find myself drawn to its essence and strive to reimagine it in my own unique way. It's important to reflect upon the past and examine what they achieved, taking elements from it and infusing them into my work. In this industry, there is a tendency to become overly modern, excessively grand, and excessively wild. That's when horror games transition into action-packed experiences. It becomes necessary to constantly raise the stakes, per se, to keep the intensity alive."
Hobbs cites both Pyramid Head from Silent Hill 2 and Tyrant from Resident Evil 3 as chilling adversaries that rely on terror rather than action-driven gameplay. He highlights the impact of moments like Pyramid Head silently pursuing you in a corridor or Tyrant dramatically bursting through a wall as examples of how horror can be achieved without heavy reliance on action.
Despite having some action elements, Texas Chain Saw Massacre fails to overshadow the horrifying events taking place on screen. Gun and studio Sumo Nottingham have gone the extra mile to deliver a nostalgic slasher experience.
However, one cannot help but ponder about the game's "final girl," a recurring character in slasher films. To everyone's surprise, the final girl in Texas Chain Saw Massacre may not be the one you initially anticipated.
Ana is introduced in the game as the leader of her group of friends who are on a quest to find her missing sister, presumably murdered by Leatherface and his strange family. She embodies the classic "final girl" archetype, possessing a unique ability to endure more damage and survive, just like a true final girl would. Ana has a compelling backstory and the determination to overcome the challenges and seek vengeance for her sister. Unfortunately, in Hobbs' mind, these qualities make her the perfect target for the game. However, rest assured that Ana is not the first one to face the consequences. Hobbs already has a planned order of kills in the game.
Hobbs explains, "The male characters are going to be the first to die. They are overly protective of the female characters, and Leland will go out of his way to rescue people. Sonny will inevitably be dragged into this as well." He continues, "So Leland, for his excessive bravery, will die first. Sonny will end up as collateral damage. Then it's the turn of the three girls. Unfortunately, Connie will die because she remains in one place for too long, trying to pick locks and such. After that, Ana will meet her demise, and Julie will be the one to survive."
Is there anyone who actually survives a Texas Chainsaw Massacre? According to Hobbs, not really. He adds, "[Julie] ends up dying later on, so no one really makes it out alive."
So, if all else fails, why not make your Halloween more thrilling by playing Texas Chainsaw Massacre and challenge yourself to eliminate the victims in the correct sequence. The game is currently accessible, including on Game Pass, and the newest DLC pack features a Leatherfacer skin created by the renowned horror icon Greg Nicotero.
Editor's P/S
As a long-time fan of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise, I was thrilled to hear about the release of the new game. I was even more excited to have the opportunity to sit down with the developers and discuss their creative process.
I was particularly interested in learning about their decision to focus on the original 1974 film. I think it was a wise choice, as that film is the most iconic and influential in the series. I also appreciated their openness to incorporating elements from other films in the franchise, if given the opportunity. I'm a big fan of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, so I would love to see some content from that film in the game.
Overall, I was very impressed with the developers' passion for the horror genre and their commitment to creating an immersive and terrifying experience for players. I can't wait to see what they do next.
