So what we get is something of a mix between the Warriors mashed together with Blade Runner and maybe a sprinkle of Total Recall. Yet at the same time, maintains it's own identity as the plot is centred around your bounty hunter thrown into a gang riddled sci-fi city. The 80's feel is no accident of course, as the Huntdown wears a lot of it's influences on it's sleeve. Even the cheesy one liners from the main characters fit the bill. Along with all this is the exception music and sounds, all of which feel ripped straight from an 80's sci-fi action movie. So much so, that every encounter feels unique due to various attack patterns and comedic banter. And the character animation flows vibrantly, bringing a lot of originality to each enemy and boss. The visuals in this game are outstanding! The background is full of life as you move from level to level. But Huntdown pulls it off with incredible style and substance while poking fun at the same time. No shortage of games that rock the retro aesthetic. Give this one a try if any of that sounds like it works for you. Easy Trigger Games made a really impressive package that is challenging, eye-catching, and all types of 80s camp. For me, it clocked in around 9 hours just completing every level and that seems like a perfect length for my enjoyment of this product. Depending on your experience with the genre, this may be a shorter or longer game for you. By its conclusion, Huntdown is a satisfying adventure. I don't have a huge pull to return to this game unless I find myself in the mood. While the first two are relatively achievable most times, the latter is only for the masochists and the dedicated, so I wish there was some other more unique objective for each stage that gave a reason to go back other than the scorechasing nature. Every level challenges you to collect the 3 collectible stashes, kill every enemy, and complete it without dying. Other than some needlessly difficult encounters, the game could probably do for some more objective variation. Overall, even if you aren't a fan of sidescrolling action games, any fan of retro style games will love what's here. The music also is especially fitting, and becomes an excellent backbeat to the thump of the shotguns. If nothing else, the game is worth playing to see the massive amount of effort put into the visuals here it's just that good. Every detail in this game is perfectly crafted, there are so many tiny things you can pick up on, and the backgrounds and set design are drop-dead gorgeous. The game adopts a retro pixel-art style, but Easy Trigger Games really knocked this direction out of the park. There are a few more than frustrating fights, but the game's presentation and core gameplay never held me in that frustration for too long, and I came away with a rush of dopamine everytime you take down one of the baddies. This game is moderately difficult otherwise, but the boss fights demand pattern recognition, smart use of ammo, and good timing. The game's best ideas come from these fights, and they don't budge easily. Each level is capped off with a boss, which each have a lot of personality and have a suprising amount of depth amongst themselves. The level design is top notch, with a perfect amount of light platforming and some hidden secrets and passageways to get better items and hidden "stash" collectibles. The lead up to each boss fight is snappy, and checkpoints allow for quick drop-ins back to the shooting. The enemy variety on top of the foundation of guns ensures that no moment feels repetitive. The criminals have their own distinct set of weaponry and attacks, from one that uses a lot of vehicles for combat, to one that employs samurai. There are 20 main levels in Huntdown, broken up into 4 areas controlled by the different gangs in the city. You are always equipped with a boomerang and a gun with infinite ammo, ensuring you won't run out of options if ammo gets tight, but you also have a kick move which is invaluable when taking on the more hostile enemies. Ripping through crowds of violent aggressors with an automatic shotgun, or throwing a perfectly placed grenade gives the game a wide range, and you are constantly encouraged to pick up something new, as you can only hold one additional gun at a time. The gunplay itself is the game's strongest element, and no weapon felt useless or unable to get the job done. This means mowing down thousands of goons armed with a war room's worth of guns, swords, explosives, and artillery. In Huntdown, you play as one of three bounty hunters taking on contracts to eliminate targets and anyone else who gets in your way. It's goofy and campy, but it manages to be one of the most solid examples of a modern action game in its style. 8h 45m PlayedHuntdown is a throwback action game in the vain of Contra and Mega Man, set to a backdrop of gorgeous sci-fi cyberpunk visuals.
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