Introduction

Necromunda: Hired Gun is like if Doom and an over-eager puppy had a chaotic love child in the Warhammer 40,000 universe. It's full of explosions, shady characters, and the occasional shocking plot twist that'll make you question your life decisions-like why you thought a cybernetic implant was a good idea. Strap in as we dive into the grimdark earnings of a mercenary in a world where everyone seems to want you dead. Spoiler alert: They mostly do.

Gameplay

You play as a generic but strangely well-armored mercenary in Necromunda's criminal underbelly-think 'attractive Binance investor' after a nasty breakup. Your journey involves blasting your way through levels, employing all sorts of weaponry, and mastering parkour moves that put most superheroes to shame. The gameplay mechanics can be summarized as: shoot, slide, wall-run, shoot again, and repeat as necessary until you reach the boss. Ignoring the endless foes advancing like a school of fish, you'll find a grappling hook to make traversing levels easier, like a mischievous squirrel in your rock 'n' roll escapade. The fact that you have a combat dog is the cherry on top; just imagine a furry terminator ready to bite off bad guys' faces. Honestly, you'd think the dog plays a bigger role based on the marketing-he's more of a good boy than your sidekick. Are you tired of carefully strategizing your combat? Well, good news-this is a game that loves chaotic gunplay. You'll often find yourself shooting before you even plan the perfect tactical maneuver. Sure, stealth is an option, but so is flipping the bird at common sense and going out in a blaze of glory. Who needs finesse when you can just run in and punch people in the face? Take that, nuanced narrative! It's also worth noting the central hub area, Martyr's End, where you can stock up on weapons and also get the latest gossip on the local mercenary scene before inevitably failing to care about the plot. Prepare for a journey that's so linear it makes a pencil look like a winding road. With mission contracts available, you'll find something for everyone, even if completing them often devolves into scenes from a Michael Bay movie. The various factions are sort of engaging, if your idea of 'engaging' is collecting bounties and hardly remembering why.

Graphics

Graphically speaking, Necromunda looks pretty decent for a game that's part of a franchise that once went for chunky miniatures. The levels within Necromunda are richly detailed, boasting a variety of textures, environments, and colors that feel like they were photobombed by an electric neon after-party. You'll feel a visceral sense of dread and disbelief mingling in every shot you take. The lighting effects significantly contribute to the atmosphere, though occasional bugs might make you feel you're caught in a bad acid trip. For an Xbox Series X/S title, don't expect the most jaw-dropping graphics you've ever seen, because while some parts might ooze brilliance, others may simply... ooze. Character models can be hit or miss, with some tripping through walls like they're all auditioning for a horror movie. Moreover, whether your character or enemies phase through the environment during melee animations is up for debate, introducing new levels to the question: 'What is reality?' Spoiler alert: it's not great.

Conclusion

Necromunda: Hired Gun is fun if you enjoy dressing up in post-apocalyptic combat gear and shooting bad guys while your pup dives into the fray. The fast-paced gameplay keeps you on your toes, and the mercenary theme is a thrilling escape from, well, real life. Critics have been mixed, with some calls for a bit more polish, to which we say: in this grimdark universe, who has the luxury of polish? The endless chaos might be just what you need for a good laugh if you can overlook certain lackluster elements, like the story that feels like it was penned by someone who skipped the last few chapters of whatever book was being read. Enter at your own risk-binding time and your sanity all for the price of a few hours of unapologetic violence. If you're looking for something to scratch that FPS itch with more platforms than you can shake a cyber stick at, give it a shot. Just make sure your pup has a tasty treat handy; it's going to be a bumpy ride. Go ahead, embrace the insanity-welcome to Necromunda!

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