Just thought I’d give a little heads up as this is one of those quirky little games that have a tendency to fly under the radar. It’s based on the Source engine, though it’s nothing like Half-Life. It can be played alone vs the computer AI or multiplayer over Valve’s Steam.
The basic idea is this: You’re on a 1920’s Style Luxury Liner-type ship. You are given a target of a single other person on the ship you are to murder. You can kill them with a wide variety of different objects from swords, guns, knives, down to frying pans, unbrellas, hammers, and maniquin arms – all of which you must find. You can’t kill the person in front of any of the (computer controlled) crew of the ship, security guards, or security cameras. If you even flash a weapon in front of those things, you lose money and get sent to the brig for a set period of time depending on the seriousness of the offense. You also can’t just kill any passenger you see since you lose (a lot of) money for killing an innocent.
What keeps your target from just camping out in front of the security guards? Every character gets little The Sims-style “needs” that have to be fulfilled. Anything from going to the bathroom, talking to others, eating, drinking, entertainment, and even the nerve-wracking sleep (your screen blacks for a solid 30 seconds and you’re totally vulnerable). This is also where money comes in as you use your cash on hand (and in bank account) to buy stuff.
The game boils down to exploring around the ship for useful items, searching for your target and following them or luring them into vulnerable situations. The actual killing is actually quite brief and easy to do, consisting of either firing a gun or swinging your object. Doesn’t particularly require the twitch reflex of most online multiplayer FPSs (it is First Person Shooter, did I mention that?) The graphics are very cartoony Sims/The Movies style.
Of course the “twist” to the game is that while you are doing all this hunting and stalking around the ship for your prey, you are also being hunted by someone else who has your name as their target! There’s also a thing about changing your clothes/appearance to throw off your would be trackers. I can explain that if you want, but hopefully you get the basic idea of the game.
Check it out – The Ship. It’s $20, available for download on Steam.
Anyone playing it? Anyone interested? I’d love to play with some Dopers. It’s a pretty fun little diversion and I always appreciate developers trying something new in terms of game play.
