--------------------------- Texas Chainsaw Massacre FAQ --------------------------- VERSION 1.0 Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Cypher. Mail me at das189@mizzou.edu if you so desire with comments and questions. TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE is copyright 1974 by Vortex Pictures. TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE for the Atari 2600 is copyright by Wizard Video. ------------------------------------------------------------------ I. The Origin of the Game A. There's a Texas Chainsaw Massacre video game? Who made this? B. Why is it so rare? C. Is it any good? D. Where can I find one? II. The Game A. The Object of the Game B. The Controls C. Obstacle Strategies D. Slicing 'n Dicing Tips E. The Ending III. Version History IV. Other FAQs by Cypher ------------------------------------------------------------------ I. The Origin of the Game A. There's a Texas Chainsaw Massacre video game? Who made this? Yes, there's a TCM game, based on the movie of the same name. It was produced by a company called Wizard Video for the classic Atari 2600 system back in the early '80s. Wizard only made two games in their brief life - this and the HALLOWEEN game, also based on a classic horror film. Then they went out of business, and were never heard from again. Both of their games are now very hard to find anywhere. B. Why is it so rare? Because retailers wouldn't display it on the shelf along with their other Atari 2600 games. The TCM game, along with the Halloween game, were both kept out of sight behind the counter at most retail outlets. As a result, few people were even aware they existed, and no one bought them. Hence, Wizard Video went out of business. Why were they kept behind the counter like that, you ask? Because then, just as today, parents were concerned about violence in video games. As such, when parents' groups learned of the blood the games contained, they pushed to get them off of shelves. And off of shelves they went. Nevertheless, retailers continued to keep these games as well as certain pornographic Atari games behind the counter for interested older gamers. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre game was actually seen as particularly offensive. This was no doubt because you played as the murderous Leatherface, on a quest to chop up innocent women. No, I'm not kidding. C. Is it any good? Well... not really. The novelty of playing as the bad guy will keep you coming back, but I can't really say it's a quality title. Wizard Video's HALLOWEEN game is much better, though. D. Where can I find one? Collector and enthusiast shows are your best bet. You could also check out the Ebay and Yahoo! auctions in the hopes of getting lucky. Be prepared to pay a pretty penny for it wherever you go, however. For those of you who like a cheaper and less legal approach, nearly every Atari 2600 game ever made is online somewhere in ROM format. But I'm not condoning this kind of activity, nor am I telling you where to go, so don't even ask. Be forewarned that it's illegal to download these ROMs. ------------------------------------------------------------------ II. The Game A. The Object of the Game You are Leatherface. Here, in this field in the backwoods of Texas, numerous young women are fleeing from you and the chainsaw you brandish, screaming as they run. They think they can get away from you. They obviously haven't seen many horror movies. Your object is to run left or right, racing through the field, dodging various obstacles, bearing down on the fleeing girls and eventually reducing them to a bloody pulp. The entire time, your chainsaw is idling. Its fuel is constantly draining. Revving it up to chop up a victim or to cut your way out of an obstacle that you stepped into only drains it faster. You must slaughter as many girls as you can before your fuel runs out. You have three lives, and thusly, three attempts in which to kill as many girls as you can. When you run out of fuel, a life expires, and you are resurrected with a fully fueled chainsaw, ready to kill all over again. Once your three lives run out, the game is over. There's no way to kill every girl. They just keep coming. The object is to score as many kills, and points, as possible. You get 1,000 points for every kill. When you pass 10,000 points - IF you pass 10,000 points - the game speeds up. Leatherface runs faster in whatever direction you push him, sending the obstacles careening your way at an alarming rate. There is no way to earn extra lives or fuel. B. The Controls Push left or right to run left or right. Push up or down to dodge obstacles or align yourself with a potential victim by moving up or down. Push the button to rev your chainsaw. This will drain your fuel even faster than regular idling, so be warned. You should only rev your chainsaw to chop up a victim nearby, or to cut your way out of an obstacle you stepped into. C. Obstacle Strategies Four kinds of obstacles fly at you - brambles (or possibly barbed wire, hard to tell), cow skulls, fences and wheelchairs. Wheelchairs come at you the fastest. The others all move at an equal speed. As such, if you see an oncoming line of obstacles, get out of the way of the wheelchairs first. They'll fly by faster, allowing you to then move back into position to avoid the other, slower obstacles once they've gone by. Leatherface begins the game facing left. Take that as a hint. Always run LEFT, not RIGHT. Running left gives you more space between you and the edge of the screen, and therefore more warning time as an object comes at you. If you really need more challenge, however, feel free to run right and see where it gets you. If any part of Leatherface collides with an object, you're stuck there. You can't move, and any prey you see before you will run offscreen. Once they're offscreen, they're gone, and you'll have to find a new victim. Plus, in order to get out of being stuck on the object you hit, you'll have to cut through it by revving your chainsaw, wasting valuable fuel. In short, avoid obstacles at ALL costs. Obstacles only come at Leatherface because he runs at them. Therefore, if you think you won't be able to avoid one, the solution is simple - stop running. Press straight up or straight down to manuver around it, then continue your pursuit. Even if you lose your prey, you save valuable fuel in the process. This is all especially important to remember after you pass 10,000 points and the obstacles speed up. Be sure to avoid the obstacles at all costs. By this point, you'll likely be near the end of your game, so it's more important that you save your fuel for the victims than waste it on cutting your way out of an obstacle. D. Slicing 'n Dicing Tips When you see a victim appear, that high-pitched whistle is her scream. Keep aligned with her. No new obstacles will appear in line with the victim. Charge at her, but don't rev the chainsaw until you've almost made contact. It not only saves fuel, but it also leaves her unprepared to dodge the spinning blade. She'll go down faster that way. On the other hand, sometimes the victim will sidestep you, and get around you, appearing on the other side of you. Don't be afraid to turn around and backtrack. If she does it again, follow, revving your chainsaw each time you're beside her. Don't let up until she's a bloody mess. E. The Ending In the end, you'll run out of fuel and lives. As previously stated, there's not way to replenish either one. So, what's up with that final screen? Basically, one of your past victims has come back to life and kicks Leatherface in the butt in retaliation. It was seemingly Wizard Video's attempt to lighten the bloody proceedings, and therefore lessen complaints. I guess it failed. ------------------------------------------------------------------ III. Version History Version 1.0 - 11/27/00 - Whole FAQ written and put onto GameFAQs. ------------------------------------------------------------------ IV. Other FAQs by Cypher Autolycus character FAQ for XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS - TALISMAN OF FATE on Nintendo 64. ------------------------------------------------------------------ This FAQ is copyright 2000 by Cypher.