

Usually, a boss battle will require some element of timing, dodging, and patience, as players learn the attack patterns of their opponent.

Where Huntdown really shines, though, is in its boss battles. It can become overwhelming and the game is no pushover even on the normal difficulty, but carefully choosing when to fight and when to be more cautious makes for satisfying encounters. And eventually things get very frantic, as players try to dodge advancing attacker and bullet fire whiling simultaneously the herd of enemies in front of them. The game carefully peppers new enemies throughout each of the 5 levels so that nothing ever feels too repetitive. So much of what makes Huntdown exciting is that players don’t know what to expect next. One level might have players dodging ninjas and samurai robots, while another features Mad Max-esque cars with a “concrete surfer” in tow. Throughout the levels, players will encounter a variety of enemies with clever designs, cool weaponry, and that require unique strategies to beat.

Players will first take out four key henchmen in the hierarchy of the gang before eventually taking on the leader. 1 Suspects are a Samurai-influenced futuristic group.Įach of the game’s four areas is separated into 5 levels each with a boss at the end. The Heatseekers are an Elvis-inspired motorcycle club. The Misconducts favor the subway and love hockey. The Hoodlum Dolls are the game’s version of punk rock fans, with brightly colored mohawks, ripped jeans, and a love of pop culture. Those surroundings and environments are split into four main categories themed after a different gang. At first, direct conflict is the quickest and easiest path to victory but as players progress and the difficulty ramps up, they will need to better use their surroundings. They can duck behind boxes, step into an open door, or leap above their targets to flank. Unlike Contra or any of the side scrolling shooters of the era, Huntdown allows players to use the terrain to their advantage. They can hold one of the unique weapons at a time and use them for specific enemies or sections. Alongside those starting weapons, players will also pick up a variety of other weapons (and throwables) with limited ammo. Whereas John Sawyer requires a more deliberate and considered approach that takes advantage of the cover available in the game. For our playthrough with Mow Man, for example, it was relatively easy to keep moving forward and eliminating enemies along the way. John Sawyer’s weapon is stronger than the other two, but it is also the slowest.ĭepending on who players choose, they will find a different playstyle that works. While Anna’s weapon is burst fire, Mow Man’s is a weaker single shot pistol that fires as quick as players can tap the trigger. Each has a default weapon that favors a slightly different play style.

The basic setup for Huntdown puts the player in control of one of three bounty hunters: Anna Conda, John Sawyer, or Mow Man. Part Robocop, part Contra, and a little bit of Blade Runner, Huntdown presents players with a fast-paced side scrolling shooter/platformer that can be punishing at times but is consistently a joy to experience. What is really cool, is that they have also made it so you can play this with your buddies online too.Developer Easy Trigger Games’ Huntdown is a love letter to 80s video games with a splash of modern flair. You can play side by side with a buddy in some local co-op which in a game like this is always a lot of fun. However, they have also made sure that you can play this game with a friend too. I do think that running through the drug dealing and murdering scum of HUNTDOWN on your own is a great deal of fun. This is where the best players will really shine as the more stylish that you play the better Killing With A Friend You can get points by killing enemies, but you can get extra points by pulling off combos, going on a kill streak, throwing fools off buildings, and so on. There are around 20 levels in the game and getting to the end of the game is cool, but it is really the high score that is driving you forward as you play. What I liked about HUNTDOWN was the way that the game was very challenging, but at the same time, it was very skill-based. There is a great selection of weapons and the game is very challenging. It is a 2d run and gun-style shooter where you want to keep moving and keep shooting. This game felt as similar to Contra as any other game that I have played before. Each gang has their territory, but you get to play as one of three bounty hunters who is looking to clean up the city and make a quick buck covered in blood along the way. The gangs in question are the Hoodlum Dolls, Misconducts, The Heatseekers, and the No 1 Suspects.
