I bought this game a couple of days after it released in early access in 2018 and have revisited it on and off over the years.
I really wanted Hunt to succeed, but every time I come back, I remember why I didn't continue playing, and things haven't gotten better over the years.
Let's start with the GOOD: on paper, the core gameplay loop is actually great. Give me an objective-based extraction shooter over a loot-based one any day!
BUT (and here's the BAD): this quickly gets overshadowed by a plethora of issues the devs have failed to address:
- Negative and unsportsmanlike behaviour is 'meta'. You may want to say "git gud," but there's something deeply wrong when the dominant strategy revolves around cheesy tactics, bush camping, and other borderline exploitative practices. This seems to be even more the case in higher MMR.
- There is no real balance. The latest attempt at balancing loadouts feels like an overcomplicated solution. - it's patchwork thinking instead of addressing the root cause.
- I do have to give credit where it's due: the engine upgrade made the game feel much smoother. Unfortunately, that improvement has been overshadowed by persistent server issues...
- The content has become stale. I'd even go so far as to say some of the recent additions are harmful to the core experience. The latest update (Road to Hell) completely undermine the game's core loop of tracking monsters and gathering clues... And the optimal strategy is rushing the balloon, fortifying that position, and farming kills. If I wanted to play king of the hill, there are much better games for that.
As for the UGLY: the monetization feels completely out of balance and unworthy of a premium game that also sells battle passes. I bought several skins, but honestly, the coolest ones are the default hunters with hunter progression. I don't understand why the developers don't make those the premium offering. I don't want another dark, borderline pay-to-win skin. I'd happily pay for the opportunity to unlock a skin I can lvl up through skill - that would actually feel rewarding. The current monetization just feels lazy and predatory.
The frustrating part isn't that the game has flaws (all live services do!); it's that, after years of updates, many remain unsolved. It's like putting a patch on a festering wound. It may look OK, but under that, the meat is rotting. At this point, I no longer believe that crytek is interested in fixing the issues that matter most.
In the end, the game feels like an empty shell of what it could have been. I really wanted to love this game, but after eight years, I don't think I'll be coming back.
On the bright side: it's not too long now until Hunger comes out, something fresh to sink our teeth in!
Final note and to echo a friend's review: credit your ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ devs who worked on the game, crytek!
