Terrifier: The ARTcade Game Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 & PC)

While Terrifier: The ARTcade Game isn’t quite like having your mutilated brain mushed with a fistful of mashed potatoes, it is a bit like having a few teeth yanked from your mouth. It isn’t that the game makes for a poor representative for the cult villain; it’s that it lacks the weight of the ever-famous dumpster bag of tools and tricks, gags and quips. Perhaps it’s missing something, or maybe, just maybe, I waltzed into it with the hopes that it would be something much, much more. In reality, though, the gruesome affair never really came to fruition, and after a brief stint as one of horror’s most established killers, it soon hit me that I wasn’t enjoying it, but merely tolerating it for the sake of waxing an old flame that screamed for a bit of Art.

Of course, Terrifier: The ARTcade Game could have ventured down a number of avenues, and it could have made for a pretty convincing Dead by Daylight doppelgänger. And yet, this isn’t that sort of game; it’s a sprite-heavy 2D romper stomper that, although still in possession of that signature gore and ill aesthetic, prefers to bathe in the simplicity of a rather dated format that doesn’t quite capture the beating heart of Art and his twisted sideshow theatrical appeal. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fun to honk on the nose once or twice, but the novelty soon wears thin and the third squeeze essentially brings about a rather awkward sensation that keeps you wanting just a little bit more of an authentic reaction.

With all of the above said, I will say this: if you’re a die-hard fan of the cult horror saga, then you should find more than enough here to curb your grotesque obsession with mindless violence and creative killings. If, however, you’re hell-bent on sinking your teeth into the vein of a full-fledged video game adaptation that harbors more bite than bark, then you might be sorely disappointed with just how little this side-scrolling sideshow brings to the big top. Sorry, Art.

Art Is Subjective

If you were hoping to plummet into a bottomless pit that bends and weans to the beating heart of an arc-heavy narrative, then bad news — Terrifier isn’t the best surface for you to bury your hatchet. Like the movies—an anthology that also lacks the basic bone structure of a digestible story—the game doesn’t really tap into anything special. No, what the game does is hand you the trash bag and face paint, and then tells you to merrily slog through a selection of levels to kill, vandalize, and ultimately tear the world limb from limb in a souped-up temper tantrum that is, at least in the eye of the beholder, befitting of the antagonist’s core characteristics.

Essentially, what you have here is a short stage-based corridor hopper that builds its foundation around the likes of Streets of Rage and other arcade beat ‘em ups. However, in this game, you take to the weighty boots of the dubious killer—a villain who, unlike most iconic characters in the horror spectrum, lacks the depth and finesse to establish themself as an absorbable force that pops in a video game format. With that, there is no real dialogue, and there are no intriguing twists to help flesh out the narrative or its elusive backstory. Here, it’s just you, the world, and a haggard bag of tricks. It’s Terrifier, basically — and you’ll either love it or you’ll hate it.

Pulp Galore

On the opposite side of this rather lopsided palette is a surprisingly in-depth beat ‘em up that checks a lot of boxes. Granted, it isn’t the most original game of its kind, though it does come equipped with a solid batch of game modes, weapons, stages, and, true to the spirit of the franchise, a ton of dark humor to flesh out its gruesome crevices. The stages, too, come with a good selection of enemies and bosses, as well as some surprisingly “elegant” combos and finishing moves. It’s pulpy, is what I’m getting at here. In other words, if you’re vaguely familiar with eighties beat ‘em up games—vibrant retro aesthetics and chiptune anthems included—then you ought to know what you’re getting into here.

Sadly, there are a couple of issue that need addressing here. For example, there is no exit option, meaning, you cannot flee the game unless you force quit and reboot it. Secondly, there is no sprint toggle, which means that you also have to spend your time sluggishly tiptoeing through stages in a rather dull and tedious manner. Thirdly, the UI often struggles to remove and/or implement key features or prompts, meaning that you aren’t always given an indication as to what you’re looking to accomplish. Small things, but things that also dampen an otherwise weirdly enjoyable gore fest.

Verdict

Although Terrifier: The ARTcade Game does capture some solid beat ‘em up theatrical moments and the signature gore-core charm of the cult classic horror saga, it also falls short in a lot of crucial areas, thus making it less of an authentic adaptation and more of a sideshow attraction with a few missing limbs. Of course, there is some useful gizzards to pluck away at here, and not to mention some surprisingly palatable combat mechanics that compliment a faithful Art the Clown. Yet, even with all of these minor strengths, it seemingly lacks the substance and cutting-edge suite of a more-ish gore-core beat ‘em up.

Let it be said that, as far as video game adaptations go, Terrifier: The ARTcade Game does earmark its spot as a good romper stomper title. It isn’t perfect, and it does fall short of a satisfactory massacre, but it does, on the other hand, deliver a solid challenge and a ton of great Easter Eggs that ought to appeal to fans of the franchise and beat ‘em up fans alike. If that’s enough of a reason for you to don the tiny hat and trash bag for a couple of hours, then you should be more than happy with the materials that this gory centerpiece brings to the spotlight, warts and all.