If
you happen to be searching for a different sort of online/multiplayer
game, then look no further! The Ship has finally docked after its
inaugural voyage, and is ready to be boarded by PC gamers everywhere. As a
passenger on a free cruise, you'll have to outwit your fellow shipmates
and either hunt them down or be hunted yourself in order to win this
devilishly fun and addictive game. Just remember to pack your bags
lightly, because the odds are you won't live long enough on The Ship to
even unpack.
It takes a truly innovative title to
make this PC gamer go 'Wow', simply for the fact that after all of these
years of video gaming I've pretty much seen it all. Or, at least in my
pathetic little mind, I thought that I had. So, when I was first began
reading posts on various gaming community boards about the independently
produced PC title known as The Ship I didn't really pay too close
attention. As the months rolled on down the paths of time, I started to
notice more posts concerning this eclectic game, and I started to get the
itch in the back of my skull that marks the inquisitive aspect of my
personality.
While
re-installing a copy of Valve's software downloading program Steam in
order to get the latest Half-Life 2 Episode, I ran across The Ship
unexpectedly in the downloads section. For a mere $19.99 the game was
offered up to me as bait…and I took it, hook, line, and sinker. To say
that I was unexpectedly pleased with the game is just a mere
understatement. In fact, The Ship is one of the best PC games I've had the
opportunity to play this year.
The premise behind the game is a rather
simple one, to be completely honest. Then again, some of my most favorite
games are simplistic in nature (can you say PONG boys and girls?). Players
are invited to a free luxury cruise by the mysterious benefactor known
only as 'Mr. X'. Once aboard, players are forced to join in a sick and
deadly game of cat-and-mouse with their fellow shipmates. Each player is
given a target to assassinate, but are also themselves targeted for
assassination. With only a name and a gender, players must search the ship
for not only their intended victim, but also for a weapon to kill them
with. To keep things even more interesting, players must also juggle their
standard bodily functions and needs, including eating, drinking, sleeping,
mood, cleanliness, defecation and urination. So, not only do players have
to worry about things like taking a shower and eating, they also have to
check out each and every other player up close and personally in order to
find out whom their intended target is.
To add salt to the wound, players cannot
simply run up and attack their targets brazenly. If you decide to brandish
a weapon in public and are seen by more than just your intended victim,
you'll be arrested, thrown in jail, and fined a hefty amount of money (did
I mention the Policemen and securities cameras stationed throughout the
ship?). As money is the key to actually winning the round in The Ship,
losing any bit of cash during the course of a game can be a very painful
situation.
The whole of this title screams of a
very creative design team. Not only is the premise behind the game
inventive, the surrounding features of The Ship also have a genuinely
fresh and original feel to them. The 'Art Deco' designs behind the
graphics and characters are the major stand out features, giving the
visuals a real stand-out quality. That coupled with the retro sounds of
early 1930's vaudeville styled music played throughout the ship, you get a
very retro vibe to the in-game play.
Even the myriad of items and weapons
found in the game that can be used as tools of assassination have a very
interesting aspect about. While the usual bits of first-person shooter
inspired items of mass destruction can be found (revolver, Tommy Guns,
knives, etc.) The Ship goes out of its' way to deliver even more ingenious
bits of carnage to the player. While the list is a tad bit long (as are
the ways you can kills someone) my personal favorites included the manikin
arm, the flare-gun, and the always lethal exploding purse.
To
wrap things up, I have to once again eschew how much I enjoyed playing The
Ship. It is one of the most fun and original FPS titles to come out in
years, and I've clocked more than my fair share of hours on this online
game since I found the hard drive space on my computer. The only real
downfall I came across were the lack of servers on the internet for the
game. However, as the word has gotten out just over the past few months,
more and more dedicated game sites have popped up, providing more places
to play the game against real people online. So, if you happen to be a fan
of FPS gaming, but are not afraid of trying something just a tad bit
different, do yourself a big favor and download The Ship. You won't be
disappointed.
- Jim McHugh
Grade: A
