Huntdown is a love letter to late 80s/early 90s sci-fi action, complete with odes to arcade-style action and nods to the Godparents of the side-scrolling shooter genre, Contra and Gunstar Heroes.
In Huntdown, players are launched face-first into the grit of the criminal underbelly of a futuristic metropolis. Bounty hunters are the only faction with the stones to take down criminal organisations and players can jump straight into the action with a roster of three guns for hire to choose from. Our favourite was the amazingly named ‘Anna Conda’.
If that isn’t enough 80s/90s action for you then we’d recommend taking some classes in the action cinema of the era. Or just brush up on the works of Stallone, Willis and van Damme to gain some context.
An Actual Story
In an unusual but ultimately justified decision by Easy Trigger Games, a solid story-line has been included. Jokes aside, it’s nice to see an arcade title with attention to narrative elements between the title and ending screen. The overall voice-acting work is marvelously cheesy yet believable given the genre.
The meticulous pixel art is what gives Huntdown its striking and nostalgic aesthetic. Everything in Huntdown is a handcrafted tile or texture, from cutscenes to gameplay. Animations aim to be faithful to Huntdown‘s target era yet still appear fluid. The game’s sprites work well with the geometry of the level design.
That level design is another highlight of Huntdown. Featuring various levels of platforms to run n’ gun on, the title brings elements of strategy to the table. The placement of everything in Huntdown is deliberate and considered, furthering that need for strategy. Players will almost always find cover during bullet-hell moments but when to move (sometimes to where) is the harder part.
Shoot, Slash, ‘Splode
Players start with a throwable weapon, a basic ranged weapon/melee combat, the ability to jump and dodge. Higher grade weapons are dropped by gang members, such as shotguns, automatic rifles and more.
The controls feel tight and engineered for the experience. Boss battles see a massive difficulty spike typical of the genre but are eventually overcome with a bit of practice and grit.
My one complaint with boss battles is the similarity in environments. Although the level design works it would’ve been nice to see boss battle arenas mixed up a bit more.
Synth Rock Classic
The soundtrack is a beautiful 80s synthwave masterpiece that instantly transports players back a good thirty years. And it’s yet another reason why Huntdown is a shining example of retro-style indie gaming done right.
Whilst the gameplay is enjoyable right up until the last mission, there isn’t much in the realm of replayability once the game has been cleared with all three bounty hunters. Maybe we’ll be lucky enough to get a sequel, DLC or update with some more features implemented.
The Promise of a Co-Op Classic
Whilst it wasn’t possible to try out the co-op feature due to lockdown and my cat being more of a AAA snob, this is a great reason to keep Huntdown in your library once lockdown is lifted. Then again, friends and family could stand outside my window with a Joy Con and play at a push…
Huntdown is a joy, especially for action film fans. Its art direction, sound and tight controls pull from the best of its pixelated predecessors.
And if I have another daughter I am naming her Anna-Conda…
