Necromunda: Hired Gun looks like an excellent use of the Games Workshop IP. Here’s 5 reasons why you should be excited.
During my teen years, I spent an inordinate amount of time in the Games Workshop. The smell of paint. The excitement around a saving dice roll. Banter about what constitutes line of sight. For a few years, the local GW store was like a second home for my friends and I. During that time, I played almost all of the available games (spending a small fortune in the process) but gravitated towards two in particular: Blood Bowl and Necromunda.
The latter was my favourite. The models were insanely cool, as was the setting. We had an amazing table set up in the store that really leaned into the Forge World element of the planet that was home to some epic battles. While I don’t get the time to play any table top games these days, I’m still fascinated by the worlds and lore of Warhammer 40K and keep up to date on all the game news. Y’know, because I help run a gaming website.
Which brings us to Necromunda: Hired Gun. A first person shooter set on the hive world to which it owes its name, my interest was instantly piqued. I’ve been keeping an eye on it, cautiously optimistic (I’ve been burned by 40K games in the past) that it’ll be great. In this first person shooter, you play as a hired gun that’s taking on jobs for cash. Players can then use that cash to upgrade your arsenal and canine friend to take on more difficult jobs. So far, everything I’ve seen has got me hyped. Should you be excited? Here’s 5 reasons why:
It’s doing the world of Necromunda justice
Of all the worlds off in the darkest reaches of the war-torn future, Necromunda is one of the most interesting. All of the resources that were naturally found on the planet have long been depleted, scorching the lands and making them uninhabitable. The only habitable places are Hive cities, vast industrial complexes built up over thousands of years. Inside the Hive cities and in the Underhive, a plethora of diverse gangs and factions are warring out while the Imperial forces use this planet to create their weapons in the forges. It’s a fascinating jumble of cultures, cults and even genestealers that are all at each other’s throats. By the looks of every trailer for Necromunda: Hired Gun so far, this game is doing the world justice. Crumbling infrastructure, massive industrial facilities, forges and what I think might be an ash train (which link the Hive Cities) are all present and correct. The charisma of the gangs – like cyber punk but more murder-y – shine through as you’re dispatching them too. The world of Necromunda has always deserved a game to really bring it to life. Necromunda: Hired Gun looks like it’s doing just that.
The weaponry has some weight behind it
Warhammer 40K has always been renowned for its weaponry. As you might expect from a fictional future where there is only war, the guns are quite simply badass. Focus Home have released a series of trailers outlining some of the weaponry we’ll get to wield in Necromunda: Hired Gun and they certainly don’t disappoint. The Orlock Heavy Stubber chucks out lead at a hefty pace, perfect for taking on the heavy machinery found around the planet. Timeless classics but not to be underestimated, the Autopistol and Boltgun look to have satisfying sound effects and gratifying stopping power. Then there’s the Sawn Off Shotgun that has that delightful crunch that all good shotguns need. The weapons can be customised too.
There’s a Cyber-Mastiff good boy
You’re not fighting alone in Necromunda: Hired Gun. I’m not entirely sure whether I want to pet this particular dog however. The cyber-mastiff in this game is your partner in murder. Squeeze its squeaky toy and it’ll jet off to chow down on a target ahead. As you progress through the game, you’ll be able to upgrade various aspects of the cyber canine, giving it better abilities. Any game that has a dog companion in it is a winner in my book so that’s a tick in the Pro column for Necromunda: Hired Gun.
Streumon Studio Know How To Make A Good Warhammer 40K Game
The small French developer Streumon Studio are making Necromunda: Hired Gun. Long time Warhammer 40K video game fans might find that name familiar. That’s because they are the studio that developed Space Hulk: Deathwing. I had the distinct pleasure to review the Enhanced version of this game back in 2018 and had this to say “Space Hulk: Deathwing makes very little effort to be accessible to those who don’t know a foam sword from a power sword, instead opting to attempt to be the most authentic recreation of Space Marine Terminator combat to date. In this regard, it’s a true success and the most faithful Space Marine simulator ever created“. You could feel the love that Streumon Studio have for Warhammer 40K and Games Workshop while playing Deathwing. It certainly appears from the trailers that there’s the same level of care present in Necromunda: Hired Gun.
A Tried And Tested Gameplay Loop
By not tying the mercenary lead character to any one faction, there’s the possibility that we’ll get to see and shoot at a plethora of different clubs, gangs, mutants and factions during Necromunda: Hired Gun. Each mission will start from Martyr’s End, the hub of all things bounty-hunting on the planet. From there, you can choose your contract, prepare your loadout, and head out to track down targets across one of the several despicable areas of the Hive.
Success on these contracts will reward the Hired Gun with loot which can be exchanged for cyber-augments to yourself, your arsenal and your four-legged best friend. Kill people, then get better at killing people. It’s a tried and tested gameplay loop that has existed for years. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it strap a shotgun on it and pay it to kill people.
Necromunda: Hired Gun is launching on June 1st, 2021 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC. Pre-order Necromunda: Hired Gun now and get the Hunter’s Bounty Pack to bring the Underhive to heel in style with a unique knife, stub gun, and outfit skin, as well as a new look for your mastiff’s toy. Physical copies for consoles will release June 30th.
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