Hunt: Showdown is a bit of an odd duck. It's an extremely tough game to get into, and the entire experience is rather clunky, from its menus to its gameplay. Despite this, Hunt: Showdown is a unique and atmospheric multiplayer game that's earned a dedicated player base, and a new map coming soon promises to make the game even better.
For the last few months, Hunt: Showdown developer Crytek has been teasing a new map called DeSalle. Hunt could loosely be considered a member of the battle royale genre, but it's closer to something like Escape from Tarkov. As such, it currently has only two maps, even though it has been nearly two years since its release out of early access. DeSalle is a big step for Hunt: Showdown, not only because of the inherent increased variety a new map brings, but also because it's a chance to capitalize on and evolve Hunt's gameplay.
Hunt is, by design, already fairly varied in its encounters. A maximum of 12 players can be in one game, organized into solos or teams of two or three. The core gameplay loop, which revolves around players hunting one of Hunt: Showdown's four bosses while killing NPC monsters and facing off against exceedingly deadly player opponents, is conducive to unpredictable and sometimes protracted shootouts. Despite this randomness, its two maps feel quite similar - a sentiment that appears to be adequately addressed with the upcoming DeSalle.
The DeSalle Map's Verticality Is A Big Change For Hunt: Showdown
Click here to watch the trailer.
The two maps currently playable in Hunt: Showdown are noticeably lacking in verticality. Any change in scenery from a new map would be more than welcome, but the footage shown so far is particularly exciting for its added heights. The newest DeSalle teaser from Crytek takes place exclusively in a quintessential Old West town, complete with a saloon. Such a claustrophobic and consistently vertical location doesn't exist in Hunt's other maps. Some of the larger points of interest have a comparable number of buildings, but nothing that approaches urban like DeSalle appears to.
Previous footage has shown the rest of the map to be similarly varied. A quarry, a haphazard train yard, and a multi-story dry dock combine to make a map that's seemingly attempting to provide some real novelty. Additionally, DeSalle appears to be conducive to all of Hunt's many valid playstyles, in regards to PvP. Sharpshooters will have vantage points, while players who prefer to get up close will have plenty of cover and rooms to hide in. The seemingly more hilly wilderness between strongholds should also generally provide a new dynamic to PvP fights. In all, DeSalle is poised to contribute greatly to the unique experience of playing Hunt: Showdown, providing some much-needed variety while maintaining the game's strong aesthetic.