Gaming Target - Xbox: Hunter: The Reckoning

Written by Ryan Smotherman on April 04, 2002

First Impressions: I reckon this game is goin' to be cool!

Having already secured one quality Xbox title under their belts with NBA Inside Drive 2002, the talented folks of High Voltage are currently hard at work on finishing up their latest Xbox title. Hunter: The Reckoning is the name, and zombie slaying is the game. Much in the same vein as Sega's own Arcade/Dreamcast offering, Zombie Revenge, Hunter: The Reckoning looks to be an enthralling action-packed adventure game set in that classic beat-em-up genre.

The game's setting is being based off a rather unknown paper-Сn-pen RPG known as World of Darkness. And as the name implies, the world is a dark place where all sorts of creatures roam about killing everyday citizens who have a rather distinct disadvantage of not being able to see their reaper. So the killings are described as the work of gangs or wild animal maulings. Seems that the small town of Ashcroft is the latest victim of this evil menace, as it has been over run with the evil beasts and many people are dying. This is where the Hunters step in. Hunters are basically a more powerful form of human that can see the evil beings and can use a mysterious form of magic called УEdgeФ. Not to mention the fact that they are incredibly skilled fighters and each sport their own weapons of choice, which will no doubt be needed.

It appears that not many Hunters showed up to defend the city of Ashcroft, as the game only includes 4 characters to choose from. However, the characters are all vastly different from one another and each has been given a cool title to boot. There's the Avenger, Spencer Wyatt Ц an axe and rifle touting biker, the Defender, Samantha Alexander Ц an ex-police officer who sports both a deadly katana and a revolver, the Martyr, Kassandra Cheyung Ц an oddly dressed young-in who is a master of the double pistols and double daggers, and last but certainly not least, the Judge, Father Cortez Ц a pissed of priest who takes down his foes with a УcrossФ-bow and УcrossФ-shaped sword. Note that each character possesses both a melee and long distance weapon; so depending on where an enemy is you'll always have the right weapon for the job. Each character will also have they own unique blend of Edge sorcery.

Along with the character's default weapons, you'll also be able to pick up a variety of other weaponry throughout the game. These include your standard shotgun, machine guns, and everyone's favorite, the flamethrower. Just be careful, as some of your foes will also come equipped with these weapons. The only thing scarier than a zombie is a zombie equipped with a M-16.

As I said before, the game will play much in the same vein as Sega's Zombie Revenge, and even to a certain extent, Gauntlet: Dark Legacy. You'll go through each level, 23 in all, on one mass killing spree taking down all those that get in your way. From vampires to zombies to werewolves to killer rats, all your typical horror movie creatures are showing their faces, and you'll also have a few run-ins with more powerful boss characters. In particular, one I saw involved a little girl's teddy bear that magically transformed into a massive killing machine. Yeah, just a tidbit freaky.

From a gameplay standpoint, it will have to be seen if High Voltage can keep this game from being stale like so many beat-em-ups before it. The genre is certainly known for some repetitive gameplay, although, the nice range of weapons, the Edge spells, and just the game's premise in general look to be taking the game in the right direction. And just as in Gauntlet, going at it alone won't even compare to what the multiplayer co-op option will bring to the experience. Grab 3 of your friends, pick your Hunters, and then have a monster killing blast. Without a doubt, the title should offer one of the best multiplayer experiences on the Xbox.

Much like Resident Evil and Silent Hill, the developers are working diligently on the game's creepy atmosphere with top-notch visuals and well-done sound effects. The power of the Xbox will bring Ashcroft's environments to life and have extra power to spare for the dozens of highly detailed enemies on the screen at one time, not to mention up to 4 Hunters at once with many different weapon/spell effects. Everything in the game will also be interactive; meaning if it's there it can be broken or smashed to pieces. So far the game is looking really good and is sure to draw you into the World of Darkness. Right now the only question mark remains in whether or not the camera will bring up any problems throughout your adventure.