With Hunt: Showdown, developer Crytek brings its own version of a battle royale game to the market and mixes PvP elements with survival horror to create an exciting multiplayer shooter. The game blends Resident Evil, PUBG and Red Dead Redemption to create a remarkably different gaming experience set against the backdrop of a rotting Louisiana in the 19th century.
The basics of Hunt: Showdown resemble those of other genre contributions. You choose your loadout, spawn in a sprawling level and fight other players for the victory. The trick is, you're not alone. In abandoned huts, fog-shrouded swamps and dark forests, in addition to zombies, numerous other opponents are waiting for you.
A terrible power has invaded the country through dimensional rifts and turned human and animal into fearsome mutants. Your mission, as the titular Hunter, is to kill a very specific creature. To do this, you collect and combine clues to find the target's hiding place so you can collect the bounty. Various archaic weapons are available to you. The selection ranges from revolvers to shotguns to crossbows. For close combat, there are axes and knives available, some of which can be combined with firearms. A bayonet attached to a rifle makes it suitable for close combat and increases the damage caused to the opponent. If you want to survive in the wilderness around Stillwater, your mind is the best weapon.
In Hunt: Showdown you should act with caution so as not to scare off your prey. The game's soundscape wonderfully underlines the action with enemy screams or footsteps that make you plan your next steps. The use of firearms can attract enemies to you or scare animals, which in turn attract opponents. This all creates a tactical depth that must be taken into account. When you have finally killed the main target, you have to reach a target location at the edge of the map. In addition to the remaining human opponents, the mutants that are still roaming around have to be overcome. Here Crytek turns the battle royale formula upside down. In Hunt: Showdown it is not about eliminating all enemies, but about fleeing after the mission has been fulfilled. This gives the whole thing a fresh look and can lead to unexpected alliances during a game if you unexpectedly receive help from another player.
Up to three players can enter the swamp together and a game is limited to a maximum of twelve players. While groups of players fight and thin out, solo players can search for tips on the target's whereabouts. This is supported by the level design, which, with its mixture of villages in bemosted swamps and forest areas with high grass, offers the player different approaches.
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