Headhunter (video game)
Encyclopedia
Headhunter is a video game developed by Amuze
for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2
video game console
s. The Dreamcast version of the game was only distributed in Europe
, by BigBen Interactive
.
For the majority of the game, the gameplay
is that of a third-person shooter
as players control protagonist
Jack Wade. Jack travels between the main levels
of the game on his motorcycle
, and these sections take the form of a racing game
, with the motorbike's acceleration
and braking
controlled using the sensitive analogue trigger buttons
of the Dreamcast control pad.
Music for the game was composed by Richard Jacques
and recorded at Abbey Road Studios
. In 2004 its sequel
, Headhunter Redemption, was released on Xbox
and PlayStation 2
.
in a city
similar to Los Angeles, California
. Criminals
are punished for their crimes not only by serving time in prison
but by having their internal organs
surgically removed (if they lost to another prisoner in an underwater arena) and transplanted
to benefit the wealthier members of society. Officially responsible for law enforcement are the Anti-Crime Network (ACN) organisation and their employees, the bounty hunter
-like Headhunters. In order to prevent damage occurring to the criminals' organs as they are apprehended, conventional firearm
s have been banned, replaced by Electric Neural Projectile (ENP) gun
s that fire special bullet
s which do not damage flesh but instead emit an electrical charge that causes severe pain
in victims, paralyses
muscle
s and eventually kills
the brain
. According to the game, ENP technology was developed by Biotech and the main manufacturer of ENP handgun
s is Smith & Easton (a reference to the firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson), although the technology can also be used with grenade
s, proximity mines, rocket launchers
and other explosives.
The game begins with Jack escaping from a secret laboratory
, but soon after going outside he faints
and falls unconscious
. He wakes up in hospital and learns that he is suffering from amnesia
and that although he was once the very best Headhunter, his license
has now been revoked. In order to investigate the murder
of ACN founder Christopher Stern, he must re-earn his Headhunter licence by taking part in virtual-reality tests (called LEILA tests) and capture some of the most dangerous criminals in the city. Throughout the game, Jack is aided by Christopher Stern's daughter Angela and his old boss Chief Hawke; although he also finds that his main rival to the title of best Headhunter is the unpleasant Hank Redwood.
The game's storyline progresses through standard FMV
cutscene
s, propaganda
commercials and satirical news
broadcasts (presented by the fiction
al Bill Waverley and Kate Gloss).
; major similarities include the emphasis on stealth-based game
play (such as the ability to snap enemies neck
s from behind and to press the character
's back
against a wall
and look around corner
s), Jack's favoured method of communication being through a Casio
wristwatch videophone
, presented similarly to the Codec sequences of the MGS games, and the LEILA test sequences being similar to the MGS VR Missions. Puzzles in the game, as well as the final boss battle and a mansion area near the end of the game, also drew some comparisons to the Resident Evil
series.
The game also had players ride a motorcycle to reach the destination points of Jack's next mission within the city which was somewhat reminiscent of the Grand theft auto series
. Another notable aspect is the character Grey Wolf, who shares some plot similarities with the character Greyfox of Metal Gear. Also Jack Wade is the name of a character from the movie Goldeneye
.
Amuze
Amuze was a video game studio located in Solna, Sweden. The studio was founded in 1996 by John Kroknes and Stefan Holmqvist. Amuze is best known for developing the game Headhunter and its sequel Headhunter Redemption.-Games:...
for the Dreamcast and PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
s. The Dreamcast version of the game was only distributed in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, by BigBen Interactive
BigBen Interactive
Bigben Interactive is a French video game publishing and accessory development company. It is based in Lesquin, France.The company had a part based in the United Kingdom, which was responsible for the distribution of some of the later Dreamcast games in Europe in fall 2001 and early 2002, including...
.
For the majority of the game, the gameplay
Gameplay
Gameplay is the specific way in which players interact with a game, and in particular with video games. Gameplay is the pattern defined through the game rules, connection between player and the game, challenges and overcoming them, plot and player's connection with it...
is that of a third-person shooter
Third-person shooter
Third-person shooter is a genre of 3D action games in which the player character is visible on-screen, and the gameplay consists primarily of shooting.-Definition:...
as players control protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
Jack Wade. Jack travels between the main levels
Level (computer and video games)
A level, map, area, or world in a video game is the total space available to the player during the course of completing a discrete objective...
of the game on his motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
, and these sections take the form of a racing game
Racing game
A racing video game is a genre of video games, either in the first-person or third-person perspective, in which the player partakes in a racing competition with any type of land, air, or sea vehicles. They may be based on anything from real-world racing leagues to entirely fantastical settings...
, with the motorbike's acceleration
Acceleration
In physics, acceleration is the rate of change of velocity with time. In one dimension, acceleration is the rate at which something speeds up or slows down. However, since velocity is a vector, acceleration describes the rate of change of both the magnitude and the direction of velocity. ...
and braking
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
controlled using the sensitive analogue trigger buttons
Button (control)
A push-button or simply button is a simple switch mechanism for controlling some aspect of a machine or a process. Buttons are typically made out of hard material, usually plastic or metal. The surface is usually flat or shaped to accommodate the human finger or hand, so as to be easily depressed...
of the Dreamcast control pad.
Music for the game was composed by Richard Jacques
Richard Jacques
Richard Jacques is a British music composer. He is best known for his video game music, most notably for numerous video games created by Sega.-Early life:...
and recorded at Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios
Abbey Road Studios is a recording studio located at 3 Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London, England. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of British music company EMI, its present owner...
. In 2004 its sequel
Sequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
, Headhunter Redemption, was released on Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
and PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
.
Plot
The game takes place in the near futureFuture
The future is the indefinite time period after the present. Its arrival is considered inevitable due to the existence of time and the laws of physics. Due to the nature of the reality and the unavoidability of the future, everything that currently exists and will exist is temporary and will come...
in a city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
similar to Los Angeles, California
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. Criminals
Crime
Crime is the breach of rules or laws for which some governing authority can ultimately prescribe a conviction...
are punished for their crimes not only by serving time in prison
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
but by having their internal organs
Organ (anatomy)
In biology, an organ is a collection of tissues joined in structural unit to serve a common function. Usually there is a main tissue and sporadic tissues . The main tissue is the one that is unique for the specific organ. For example, main tissue in the heart is the myocardium, while sporadic are...
surgically removed (if they lost to another prisoner in an underwater arena) and transplanted
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
to benefit the wealthier members of society. Officially responsible for law enforcement are the Anti-Crime Network (ACN) organisation and their employees, the bounty hunter
Bounty hunter
A bounty hunter captures fugitives for a monetary reward . Other names, mainly used in the United States, include bail enforcement agent and fugitive recovery agent.-Laws in the U.S.:...
-like Headhunters. In order to prevent damage occurring to the criminals' organs as they are apprehended, conventional firearm
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s have been banned, replaced by Electric Neural Projectile (ENP) gun
Gun
A gun is a muzzle or breech-loaded projectile-firing weapon. There are various definitions depending on the nation and branch of service. A "gun" may be distinguished from other firearms in being a crew-served weapon such as a howitzer or mortar, as opposed to a small arm like a rifle or pistol,...
s that fire special bullet
Bullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
s which do not damage flesh but instead emit an electrical charge that causes severe pain
Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensation often caused by intense or damaging stimuli such as stubbing a toe, burning a finger, putting iodine on a cut, and bumping the "funny bone."...
in victims, paralyses
Paralysis
Paralysis is loss of muscle function for one or more muscles. Paralysis can be accompanied by a loss of feeling in the affected area if there is sensory damage as well as motor. A study conducted by the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, suggests that about 1 in 50 people have been diagnosed...
muscle
Muscle
Muscle is a contractile tissue of animals and is derived from the mesodermal layer of embryonic germ cells. Muscle cells contain contractile filaments that move past each other and change the size of the cell. They are classified as skeletal, cardiac, or smooth muscles. Their function is to...
s and eventually kills
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
the brain
Brain
The brain is the center of the nervous system in all vertebrate and most invertebrate animals—only a few primitive invertebrates such as sponges, jellyfish, sea squirts and starfishes do not have one. It is located in the head, usually close to primary sensory apparatus such as vision, hearing,...
. According to the game, ENP technology was developed by Biotech and the main manufacturer of ENP handgun
Handgun
A handgun is a firearm designed to be held and operated by one hand. This characteristic differentiates handguns as a general class of firearms from long guns such as rifles and shotguns ....
s is Smith & Easton (a reference to the firearms manufacturer Smith & Wesson), although the technology can also be used with grenade
Grenade
A grenade is a small explosive device that is projected a safe distance away by its user. Soldiers called grenadiers specialize in the use of grenades. The term hand grenade refers any grenade designed to be hand thrown. Grenade Launchers are firearms designed to fire explosive projectile grenades...
s, proximity mines, rocket launchers
Shoulder-launched missile weapon
A shoulder-fired missile, shoulder-launched missile or man-portable missile is a projectile fired at a target, small enough to be carried by a single person, and fired while held on one's shoulder...
and other explosives.
The game begins with Jack escaping from a secret laboratory
Laboratory
A laboratory is a facility that provides controlled conditions in which scientific research, experiments, and measurement may be performed. The title of laboratory is also used for certain other facilities where the processes or equipment used are similar to those in scientific laboratories...
, but soon after going outside he faints
Syncope (medicine)
Syncope , the medical term for fainting, is precisely defined as a transient loss of consciousness and postural tone characterized by rapid onset, short duration, and spontaneous recovery due to global cerebral hypoperfusion that most often results from hypotension.Many forms of syncope are...
and falls unconscious
Unconsciousness
Unconsciousness is the condition of being not conscious—in a mental state that involves complete or near-complete lack of responsiveness to people and other environmental stimuli. Being in a comatose state or coma is a type of unconsciousness. Fainting due to a drop in blood pressure and a...
. He wakes up in hospital and learns that he is suffering from amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
and that although he was once the very best Headhunter, his license
License
The verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license or licence refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.A license may be granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement...
has now been revoked. In order to investigate the murder
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
of ACN founder Christopher Stern, he must re-earn his Headhunter licence by taking part in virtual-reality tests (called LEILA tests) and capture some of the most dangerous criminals in the city. Throughout the game, Jack is aided by Christopher Stern's daughter Angela and his old boss Chief Hawke; although he also finds that his main rival to the title of best Headhunter is the unpleasant Hank Redwood.
The game's storyline progresses through standard FMV
Full motion video
Full motion video based games are video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV-quality movie or animation rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models to display action in the game. In the early 1990s a diverse set of games utilized this format...
cutscene
Cutscene
A cutscene is a sequence in a video game over which the player has no or only limited control, breaking up the gameplay and used to advance the plot, strengthen the main character's development, introduces enemy characters, and provide background information, atmosphere, dialogue, and clues...
s, propaganda
Propaganda
Propaganda is a form of communication that is aimed at influencing the attitude of a community toward some cause or position so as to benefit oneself or one's group....
commercials and satirical news
News
News is the communication of selected information on current events which is presented by print, broadcast, Internet, or word of mouth to a third party or mass audience.- Etymology :...
broadcasts (presented by the fiction
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
al Bill Waverley and Kate Gloss).
Characters and themes
- Jack Wade - The main character also considered to be a believable Los Angeles residential bounty hunter character.
- Angela Stern - Jack's aid who works for the ACN, only to find out they are collaborating with the Wolfpack in order to get weapons for organs.
- Adam - A genetically altered man, made to be perfect. Adam resembles a Giant Man who resembles the superior race, a perverse vision of Blavatsky's work on the ideal AtlanteanAtlantisAtlantis is a legendary island first mentioned in Plato's dialogues Timaeus and Critias, written about 360 BC....
. - Doctor Ernst Zweiberg - the man responsible for creating Adam.
- Eve - A virus which in turn will be released by ACN to destroy the human race and form a perfect one.
- L.E.I.L.A. (Law Enforcement Intelligence and License Approval) - a virtual reality simulator which give ACN bounty hunters a license.
- Wolfpack - a criminal gang in league with the syndicate.
- The Syndicate - An organised crine syndicate led by the mysterious Don Fulci. Serve as the primary antagonists for most of the game.
- ACN (Anti-Crime Network) - the future law system which plans to distribute the virus in shipments of X-Must Energy Drink.
- Biotech - Inventor of the futuristic weapons in the game.
- Grey Wolf - an enemy turned friend of Jack Wade.
- Alan Sharp - President of ACN and occultist.
- Don Fulci - Reclusive leader of The Syndicate.
- Ramirez - a member of The Syndicate who divulges critical information of the connection between ACN and the Syndicate.
- Hank Redwood - a stubborn bounty hunter for ACN.
- Gladiator - a boss
- Underwater Arena - an underwater gladiatorial prison owned by ACN.
- Queen of Hearts - Import/Export ship for X-Must Energy Drink.
Comparisons with other games
Many reviewers of Headhunter stated that much of the game draws obvious influences from other games, most notably Metal Gear SolidMetal Gear Solid
is a videogame by Hideo Kojima. The game was developed by Konami Computer Entertainment Japan and first published by Konami in 1998 for the PlayStation video game console. It is the sequel to Kojimas early MSX2 computer games Metal Gear and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake...
; major similarities include the emphasis on stealth-based game
Stealth-based game
Stealth game, or simply Stealth, is a video game genre that rewards the player for using stealth to overcome antagonists. Games in the genre typically allow the player to remain undetected by hiding, using disguises, and/or avoiding noise...
play (such as the ability to snap enemies neck
Neck
The neck is the part of the body, on many terrestrial or secondarily aquatic vertebrates, that distinguishes the head from the torso or trunk. The adjective signifying "of the neck" is cervical .-Boner anatomy: The cervical spine:The cervical portion of the human spine comprises seven boney...
s from behind and to press the character
Player character
A player character or playable character is a character in a video game or role playing game who is controlled or controllable by a player, and is typically a protagonist of the story told in the course of the game. A player character is a persona of the player who controls it. Player characters...
's back
Back
- People :* Adam Back, British cryptographer* Charles Back, South African winemaker* Chris Back , Australian politician* Ernst Emil Alexander Back , German physicist* Frédéric Back , Canadian animator...
against a wall
Wall
A wall is a usually solid structure that defines and sometimes protects an area. Most commonly, a wall delineates a building and supports its superstructure, separates space in buildings into rooms, or protects or delineates a space in the open air...
and look around corner
Corner
A corner is the place where two lines meet at an angle, and a concave corner of intersecting walls is generally thought to be the least beneficial position to be in a life-or-death situation. From this notion was born the verb to corner, which is used to mean "to back into a corner" and usually...
s), Jack's favoured method of communication being through a Casio
Casio
is a multinational electronic devices manufacturing company founded in 1946, with its headquarters in Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan. Casio is best known for its electronic products, such as calculators, audio equipment, PDAs, cameras, musical instruments, and watches...
wristwatch videophone
Videophone
A videophone is a telephone with a video screen, and is capable of full duplex video and audio transmissions for communication between people in real-time...
, presented similarly to the Codec sequences of the MGS games, and the LEILA test sequences being similar to the MGS VR Missions. Puzzles in the game, as well as the final boss battle and a mansion area near the end of the game, also drew some comparisons to the Resident Evil
Resident Evil (series)
Resident Evil, known as in Japan, is a media franchise owned by the video game company Capcom. It was created by Shinji Mikami as a survival horror game series that was initiated with the eponymous PlayStation title Resident Evil in 1996. Since then, the game series has strayed from its roots to...
series.
The game also had players ride a motorcycle to reach the destination points of Jack's next mission within the city which was somewhat reminiscent of the Grand theft auto series
Grand Theft Auto (series)
Grand Theft Auto is a multi-award-winning British video game series created in the United Kingdom by Dave Jones, then later by brothers Dan Houser and Sam Houser, and game designer Zachary Clarke. It is primarily developed by Edinburgh based Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games...
. Another notable aspect is the character Grey Wolf, who shares some plot similarities with the character Greyfox of Metal Gear. Also Jack Wade is the name of a character from the movie Goldeneye
GoldenEye
GoldenEye is the seventeenth spy film in the James Bond series, and the first to star Pierce Brosnan as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film was directed by Martin Campbell and is the first film in the series not to take story elements from the works of novelist Ian Fleming...
.
External links
- Official Amuze site Note (May 2011): Under construction?