Last week, Easy Trigger Games and Coffee Stain Publishing released their 80’s inspired project called Huntdown. This run-and-gun style game is action-packed, filled with excitement and feels like it was dug up from a time capsule.
Prior to its release, Huntdown implemented minimal marketing efforts to the public. This videogame, in my opinion, flew very under the radar and should receive more publicity than it is earning. Huntdown is a diamond in the rough that begs consumers to fall in love with 80’s clichés and synthesizers all over again.
Plot
In a futuristic and fallen dystopia, crime is at an all-time high. Violence between cops and gang members are at a standstill, and the help of three bounty hunters is the key to restoring world peace. There are four gangs that control the streets: The Hoodlum Dolls, The Misconducts, The Heatseekers and The NO.1 Suspects. In total, each gang has five levels with five different bosses, resulting in a grand total of 20 bounties.
Each bounty hunter provides a sense of uniqueness and individuality. The playable characters possess personalized handguns, containing unlimited ammo, and secondary throwable weapons that are just as deadly.
Jon Sawyer, a cyborg with a vengeance for killing, looks like any futuristic antihero in an action film. His on-screen presence screams the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator (1984) and Sylvester Stallone’s Cobra (1986). The voice acting and style of Sawyer is a nice compliment to convey an authentic bionic man.
Anna Conda is a fierce, cold-blooded killer. The ex-commando and firearms expert is a tribute to Private Jenette Vasquez from the sci-fi film series, Aliens (1986). When playing as Anna Conda, expect lethal throwing axes and snappy one-liners as you maul your way through hundreds of enemies.
To complete the trifecta, there is the recon droid that is Mow Man. A love child of Darth Vader and Robocop, Mow Man yields a pistol that is accompanied by throwing knives. Together, all three bounty hunters form a ragtag team to clean up the streets.
Gameplay
The gameplay is the true heart and soul of this title. There are options for both single player campaigns as well as in person co-op. The mechanics and controls of this game, although very simple, is engaging and alluring to all types of gamers. The 2-D world offers a balance of both straightforwardness and tactical fighting.
The move list for Huntdown is quite short: players move from left to right, firing weapons only result in straight shoots, and additionally you can jump, slide and dash. Specialized weapons allow players to pick up one addition gun or melee object of their choice. Ammunition is scarce, but to be able to test numerous firearms makes the game that much more enjoyable.
There is a lot of engagement with the world around you when playing Huntdown. Holes in the walls provides cover for our protagonists, as well as boxes and cars scattered throughout. For each mission, there are side objectives that require you to search for suitcases placed all over the map. If you are a completionist, this could be a fun activity, however, tracking down and discovering these tokens felt pointless to me while playing.
Each level is hand designed on a 16-bit engine, and this allows the opportunity for beautiful landscapes to be displayed. The detailing in the background is phenomenal and makes the setting of the timepiece feel legitimate and genuine. Since it is 2020, nothing is complete without a filter. Huntdown provides a CRT filter that makes the game look even more retro, highlighting bright neon colors that pop on screen.
The bosses are one-of-a-kind and offers an extreme amount of variety. Battles with these criminals display interesting character and map compositions as well. No boss battle feels the same and each one also suggests some form of cultural reference. For instance, there is even a level that has a striking similarity to the famous wrestler, Randy Savage (cue the macho man’s signature “Oh Yeah”).
My Personal Experiences
Growing up with parents who loved the 80’s, I have been engrossed in this era ever since I can remember. Because of my love for this decade, I thought this game was an instant classic. The amount of fan service is through the roof, thus making this project a smashing hit.
The level of difficulty is perfectly balanced. The default settings are appropriate to all gamers and the placed checkpoints allowed a fluid journey. I personally died a good amount of times, but I was never frustrated or worn out by my defeats.
Replayability is the biggest drawback that Huntdown has. For single players, running through the game once is all that is needed. The in-person co-op is what will keep this title relevant. Sadly, due to no online system being offered, some individuals will only play this game for the estimated run time of three to four hours.
I believe fans of this project would have paid an additional five to 10 dollars in order to be able to play online. Huntdown tracks personal stats for each level, and to be able to compete with friends on a server would have been a great addition. With this issue present, I felt tracking my performance history to be useless. Same thing goes for completing side objectives, those as well felt inconsequential.
Feelings of nostalgia helped endorse this game tremendously. I usually do not seek video games of this arcade styled run-and-gun, but I am happy it is compatible on both the console and handheld version. When playing on the go, it felt like a flash of the past of the Nintendo Gameboy.
The Final Verdict
Huntdown runs on 60 fps, because of this, everything felt smooth and natural while playing. Additionally, the animation and soundtrack are the perfect complements. When playing, you can tell how much time and effort was placed into the development to make it feel like it was actually made in the 1980’s.
The fighting mechanics made me feel like I was a real bounty hunter. There are settings to determine how much blood and guts will appear on screen, and this will be beneficial for all user preferences. Ramping up my settings to the max had me believing I was just as fierce and dangerous as the likes of Anna Coda, Mow Man, or John Sawyer.
Overall, this videogame is well polished. The game itself has no flaws; the only problem was what was left for those wanting more. This game easily could have been a ten out of ten if additional features could have been added.
Huntdown is great for everyone. If you are a fan of movie references, ferocious action or interesting characters, this game will be up your alley. For the retail price, I guarantee you will love this game.
Final Score: 8.5/10
Check Out the Huntdown Trailer:
Huntdown is available for Xbox One, PS4, Switch, and PC.
For more information, please visit: https://huntdown.com/
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Video games have played an essential role in my life since my parents purchased me my very own GameCube. Countless years and games later, I still have appreciation and love for the gaming community and culture. My passion for a variety of games has kept me close to many friends and roommates over the years. Starting in the fall, I will be embarking on my final year at Michigan State University. I am very excited to see what this year full of gaming will pertain.
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