In late 2012, Big Robot successfully kickstarted Sir, You Are Being Hunted, with almost every last stretch goal reached. Then, almost a year later, the game saw the light of day – save for the promised multiplayer component. Being stalked (and often killed) by AI-controlled tweed-wearing robots (wait, what?) can be fun, but no AI can match the wit of a human adversary. Fortunately, the wait is over, as multiplayer is finally here, enabling friend and foe alike to hunt together, or… each other!
Some are in it for wealth, others for fame and fortune, and then there are those who equip themselves with a deadly arsenal to hunt for sport. In this game, whether you’re up against the AI or – thanks to a recent update – other people, it’s the latter. For sport. That’s it. No ulterior motives, no financial gain, no sponsorships or other deals to gain from it.
The hunting grounds are procedurally generated, meaning no one will know what’s what, what’s where, and who’s – well, you get the point. The thing is though, every last one is inhabited by “a raving aristocracy of murderous robots” (and I repeat: wait, what?!). Survival of the fittest? Yeah right. More like survival of the stealthiest, as once spotted, the game of cat and mouse begins, and it’s one you’ll most likely lose. Unless of course, you’re ready for the confrontation, having already scavenged the countryside, acquiring and/or crafting weapons prior.
Sir, You Are Being Hunted is set in a parallel Britain, complete with bleak villages, rocky highlands, bramble-filled woodland, decrepit farms, and crumbling post-industrial landscapes. Made with the remarkable power of our British Landscape Generator, these landscapes are enormously evocative and teeming with detail. Take time to explore, and find that vital hidden flask of tea!
But that was then, this is now, and the introduction of multiplayer certainly adds to the overall experience (or in the words of Big Robot, “you no longer have to die alone”). Fire up a dedicated(!) server, enlist a handful of friends and get ready for a cooperative adventure like no other, because, in the end, only one person can escape. Because of this, you’ll want to watch your back at all times, as alliances will crumble… likely sooner rather than later.
Sir, You Are Being Hunted is available from Steam, GOG.com, and Humble, with a $19.99 price tag.
[Source(s): Multiplayer v1.0 and How To Set Up A Multiplayer Game]