[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r4JpEly21E[/embedyt]   The Battle Royale genre is in full momentum. New games are popping up every where. Even big franchises are looking at ways to add a Royael Mode to their game. Its getting harder to come up with new and innovative ways to evolve this genre. The people at Crytek have taken a crack at this new genre with their own version called Hunt: Showdown. Taking place in the Louisiana swamps, you and a group of bounty hunters have to rid the swamp of evil creatures.   Hunt Showdown Is a Battle royale game where you can play solo or up to 5 teams of 2 (10 players a round). while that is a small number of players for a battle royael game, Hunt has different mechanics the player has to deal with while dealing with enemy players at the same time. The main objective is to collect the bounty. Before each round, the player will choose a contract for a bounty. Bounties are like AI bosses and each contract will reward different amounts of gold and experience depending on difficulty and how high of a level you are. Not only that the entire map is filled with zombies and not just one touch and there dead zombies. Hunt Showdown has a wide range of  of zombies. They react to sight and sound as well, gun shots, traps and speech. Making each approach to danger become strategic. The aiming  is a bit different from most shooters. You walk around the map with your gun in a casual/holstered state for walking around. There are 3 stages of aiming. From holstered, you bring your gun to your hip, then to your shoulder and finally down the iron sights or scope if your gun has one. Use the Melee to gun butt enemies back to gain some distance. Before you start a match you have to recruit a hunter. Recruiting costs gold and you can hire multiple hunters at the same time. Hunters load outs can vary from one having a lantern to see in the dark, the other may have a shotgun, or even a Winchester Rifle. Or better yet a healing item in their inventory. This is  an important tool and you need to make sure you are prepared. You must be extra cautious though. Death Is Permanent!!! If a hunter dies in-game, he’s gone for good and you’ll have to hire a new hunter. Losing all your hunter progress and gear. You don’t necessarily lose everything if your hunter dies.  There is an overall leveling up system called your bloodline level. Which also unlocks rewards as you progress. You gain XP for your bloodline no matter what, win or lose.  

  The player starts a round randomly on the map. You start with a few items and a gun. You gotta use an ability called Dark sight  to track your bounty but you have to find 3 clues first and then your bounties position will appear on the map. This game is especially fun in coop and really pulls the players into the game with proximity chat.  You and your partner have to stay within a certain distance to hear each other. Same goes for enemy players as well. They can sneak up on your conversation if your too loud, or vice versa.  The game play sounds are creepy as hell! this game sounds like a horror movie from hell and the graphics are incredible. Zombies and the setting of a terrifying swamp are provided by the amazing Crytek engine. For those who have played the game already… how about that menu music.   Hunt: Showdown is still in early access on steam but it gets updates frequently. Load times can be lengthy and some matches feel empty and your just fighting AI. Hunt: Showdown has some tremendous potential. If you have a partner it’s definitely easier when some one is watching your back.  It’s always more fun to run around with your buddy killing zombies, leveling up and collecting gold. Hunt: Showdown is only $36.99 on steam.  Fans of survival shooters should check this game out 100%.