In the Hunt

In the Hunt[lower-alpha 1] is a 1993 scrolling shooter arcade game developed and published by Irem. Versions for the PlayStation, Sega Saturn and PC were also released. The player assumes control of the Granvia, a submarine tasked with overthrowing the Dark Anarchy Society before they activate their doomsday device. Gameplay involves shooting enemies, collecting power-up items, and avoiding collision with projectiles. It ran on the Irem M-92 hardware.

In the Hunt
Developer(s)Irem
Publisher(s)Irem
Designer(s)Kazuma Kujo
Artist(s)Akio[1]
Platform(s)Arcade, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, PlayStation 4, Sega Saturn
Release
  • WW: April 1993
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemIrem M-92

The game was conceived by Kazuma Kujo, and designed by the same group of people that later went on to found Nazca Corporation, the creators of the Metal Slug series. Kujo was inspired to create a water-based shooter, with player-dependent scrolling and simultaneous multiplayer being its main focus. The overall concept of submarine warfare was inspired by Kujo's leisure with a water fountain. In the Hunt was met with mixed reception from critics since its initial release, specifically the home conversions; common complaints were towards the lack of innovation and slowdown, although it was praised for its detailed graphics and gameplay. Nevertheless, it has since gained a cult following.[2]

Gameplay
The Granvia fighting Cave Man, the game's first boss (arcade version).

In the Hunt is an underwater-themed scrolling shoot 'em up game, with its gameplay described as a cross between Metal Slug (1996) and the classic shooter R-Type (1987).[2] The plot involves an organization named the Dark Anarchy Society (D.A.S.) attempting to launch a superweapon over a post-apocalyptic earth. To stop this, a submarine named the Granvia is deployed to stop the D.A.S. and protect what is left of the planet.[2] The game does not scroll automatically, as the player is able to move the Granvia at their own will.[2] In each level, the objective is to destroy enemies, avoid their projectiles, and defeat the end level boss.[2] The Granvia begins the game with forward-moving missiles, which defeat most enemies with one hit. Missiles can be launched upwards to destroy enemies above the player.[2] Destroying specific enemy types rewards the player with a power-up, which give the Granvia access to new weapon types. Weapons include a powerful machine gun, a wave cannon, and a "cracker" shot that launches a barrage of bullets at enemies.[2] Some enemies drop red orbs embossed with stars, which award bonus points when collected. The game has multiple endings.[3]

Development and release

In the Hunt was designed by a group of Irem employees that would later go on to found Nazca Corporation, the creators of the Metal Slug series.[2][3][4] Kazuma Kujo served as its designer, writing the concept and overseeing development of the project during his time working at Irem.[4] Kujo stated that plans for a shoot 'em up title had already been settled by the management at Irem, however he decided to make it for co-op play but disliked genre conventions such as forced scrolling and wanted the thematic to be different instead of the standard space motive found in other shooters at the time.[4] The concept of playing as submarines was inspired during Kujo's leisure near a fountain which, after hearing the water sounds, prompted him to pursue the idea.[4]

In the Hunt was first released in arcades in April 1993, running on the Irem M-92 board.[2] The game was ported to various platforms including the Sega Saturn and PlayStation in 1995 by Tsuji Jimusho and SIMS respectively, followed by a Microsoft Windows version in 1997 by Xing Entertainment.[2][5][6] A Super Nintendo Entertainment System conversion was shown at the 1994 Consumer Electronics Show in a playable state, but it was never released.[2][7] In 2019, Hamster Corporation digitally re-released In the Hunt for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, published under their Arcade Archives series.[8]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed In the Hunt on their June 1, 1993 issue as being the sixth most-popular arcade game at the time.[20]

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the PlayStation version a positive review, with their four reviewers particularly praising the huge number of enemies on-screen for the bulk of the game and the minimal slowdown.[12] GamePro were also positive in their assessment: "The very detailed graphics are supported by audio that's loaded with blasts. The controls are sluggish but mostly accurate. This sub floats above other PlayStation shooters like Galactic Attack [sic - Galactic Attack was released for the Saturn, not the PlayStation] and Jupiter Strike."[21] Maximum expressed enthusiasm for "little innovations" like the mine powerups and the King Canute boss, but nonetheless concluded the game to be "an all-too familiar mission." They also criticized that the game is too easy, short, and lacking in replay value,[18] all criticisms that were shared by one of EGM's reviewers.[12] A reviewer for Next Generation actually praised the game for having some mild slowdown, saying that it reflects the phenomenally high level of action going on. However, he generally panned the game for the slow movement of the player's submarine, and concluded that "while very young gamers might enjoy the lightshow, the lethargic tempo and lack of originality are sure to put anyone over the age of 10 to sleep."[16]

Sega Saturn Magazine described the game as unoriginal and outdated, but enjoyable, with a strong sense of tongue-in-cheek humor and ingeniously designed boss fights. They concluded, "Nothing particularly new or exciting here, but In the Hunt is good fun to play, featuring loads of exciting battles and explosions."[19] Scary Larry of GamePro found the Saturn version does not hold up well to either the PlayStation version or recent Saturn shooters such as Panzer Dragoon II and Darius Gaiden, particularly due to its frequent slowdown. He nonetheless concluded it to be "a great rental" and "a good buy if you're feeling nostalgic."[22]

Notes
  1. Known in Japan as Undersea War (Japanese: 海底大戦争, Hepburn: Kaitei Daisensō)

References
  1. Yamamura, Tomomi (3 August 2020). ""大切なことはアイレムと『R-TYPE』に教わった"『メタルスラッグ』プログラマー濱田慎一氏が語るアイレムのあのころ、ナスカのあのころ【ゲームの思い出談話室・第3夜】". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  2. Battrick, Thomas (21 May 2020). "In the Hunt". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  3. "2003 R-Type Final Interview". shmuplations.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  4. Szczepaniak, John (January 2012). "The Making Of: Metal Slug". Retro Gamer. No. 98. Imagine Publishing. pp. 24–31. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  5. "T-HQ ships first PlayStation title -- In The Hunt; company also releases Disney's Pocahontas for Game Boy". TheFreeLibrary.com. Business Wire. 20 March 1996. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  6. "Checkpoint - Events And Software Releases". Computer and Video Games. No. 176. Future Publishing. April 1997. p. 49. Archived from the original on 17 February 2017. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  7. "SNES at the Show". GameFan. Vol. 2 no. 3. Shinno Media. February 1994. pp. 75–80.
  8. Moyse, Chris (23 November 2019). "Aquatic '90s shmup In the Hunt returns on PS4 and Switch". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  9. "In the Hunt for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. 2019. Archived from the original on 9 December 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  10. Weiss, Brett Alan (1998). "In the Hunt (Arcade) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  11. "Testscreen - In the Hunt (PlayStation)". Edge. No. 29. Future Publishing. February 1996. p. 73.
  12. Baran, Andrew; LeFebvre, Mark; Desmond, Mike; Williams, Ken (February 1996). "Review Crew - PlayStation - In the Hunt". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 79. Sendai Publications. p. 34. Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  13. "海底大戦争 (セガサターン) - ファミ通.com". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 366. ASCII. 22 December 1995. p. 32. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  14. Halverson, Dave; Loe, Casey; Des Barres, Nicholas (February 1996). "Viewpoint - In the Hunt - Saturn". GameFan. Vol. 4 no. 2. Metropolis Media. p. 18. Archived from the original on 13 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  15. "In the Hunt". IGN. Ziff Davis. 25 November 1996. Archived from the original on 15 October 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  16. "Finals - PlayStation - In the Hunt". Next Generation. No. 14. Imagine Media. February 1996. p. 156. Archived from the original on 7 July 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  17. Gipp, Stuart (13 December 2019). "Arcade Archives In The Hunt Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  18. "Maximum Reviews - Sony PlayStation: In the Hunt - An obscure Irem coin-op conversion". Maximum: The Video Game Magazine. No. 4. Emap International Limited. February 1996. p. 152. Archived from the original on 8 September 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  19. Allsetter, Rob (June 1996). "Review: In the Hunt". Sega Saturn Magazine. No. 8. EMAP. pp. 68–69. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  20. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 450. Amusement Press. 1 June 1993. p. 25.
  21. Nihei, Wes (April 1996). "Quick Hits - ProReview: In the Hunt (PlayStation)". GamePro. No. 91. IDG. p. 88. Archived from the original on 4 January 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
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