The market for nostalgia is thriving, fueled by generations who fondly remember classic games, films, books, and cultural touchstones. These consumers seek to relive those experiences, often through remakes or re-releases. While these updated versions can evoke familiar feelings (as seen in Final Fantasy VII Remake, which offers familiar content but a significantly different gameplay experience compared to the original), some developers opt for a different approach. They create entirely new titles that emulate the aesthetic and gameplay mechanics of 80s and 90s games, as seen with titles like Guacamelee!. Huntdown falls into this latter category. Developed by the Swedish studio Easy Trigger and published by Coffee Stain Studios (now part of THQ Nordic), it’s a compelling co-op shooter that captures the spirit of the era.
Huntdown is a side-scrolling platform shooter with straightforward mechanics. Players utilize cover, leaning to strategically engage enemies with gunfire. Levels are well-paced, culminating in boss encounters that demand pattern recognition, reminiscent of classics like Castlevania (NES), Midnight Resistance, and Rush’n Attack. The game also incorporates elements of Double Dragon and Final Fight, such as recurring enemy types and destructible environments.
The game’s aesthetic is presented in a detailed 16-bit style, embracing a pixelated, neon-cyberpunk-dystopian atmosphere. The visuals combine striking sunsets with gritty metallic cityscapes, and vehicles reminiscent of the Lamborghini Countach. The synth-heavy soundtrack, paired with its self-aware, postmodern tone and film references, is evocative of David Sandberg’s Kung Fury. While the on-screen action can become visually busy with molotov cocktails, gunfire, and collapsing structures, the overall experience delivers a potent dose of 16-bit era nostalgia.
Like many of the best games of its inspiration, Huntdown offers a significant challenge without feeling unfair (at least on normal difficulty). Mastering enemy patterns, especially during boss encounters and later level sections, is crucial for progression – a hallmark of the genre. New players might initially find the game difficult, but pattern recognition allows for optimized playthroughs. However, Huntdown shines brightest as a co-op experience. The game’s balance is finely tuned for two players, providing increased firepower while retaining the core difficulty. Furthermore, the ability to revive fallen teammates within a 20-second window offers valuable opportunities and fundamentally alters the gameplay dynamic. While enjoyable solo, the game is significantly enhanced by the presence of a co-op partner, ideally experienced locally. Sharing the challenge and triumph over difficult bosses is a key element of its appeal.
For enthusiasts of the genre, or those with fond memories of its heyday, and who have a potential co-op partner, Huntdown is highly recommended, particularly given its reasonable price of SEK 199 (and availability on most platforms). While still a solid experience on its own, it reaches its full potential in co-op mode. For dedicated fans, an arcade cabinet edition is also available, reflecting the game’s clear inspiration from arcade classics.
While expansive, immersive role-playing adventures exceeding 100 hours have their place, sometimes a more immediate and accessible gaming experience is preferable. Huntdown delivers genuine gaming joy that’s quick to pick up and provides a satisfying, focused experience.
