With the hide-and-seek genre reviving in mainstream gaming, Uuvana Studios has decided to mix the uprising gaming style with an established favourite: horror. They have thrown them both in a blender and outpour the deliciously enticing HOUND: AUTOMATON.

The crux of HOUND: AUTOMATON circles around a 1vsMany approach, where one player is assigned the role of The Hound, a futuristic death-inducing robot, while up to a max of 15 other players are human survivors with one combined goal: HIDE! In a world where technology has taken an unexpected turn, a robotic entity known as the Hound pursues human survivors. Gather up to 15 players for an exciting game of cat and mouse where roles can change instantly!

As of this writing, the game currently has two playable maps: Abandoned Warehouses, with their next to non-existent lighting and a plethora of conveniently human-size hiding places and Misty Cemeteries, with Churches that give off a “Probably shouldn’t enter here vibe” resting alongside some graveyards that echo “This next grave is for you”.

Your nerves, heart rate, and stress will thank you when the round ends! What will surprise you is just how detailed these maps are. Some multiplayer horrors skip out on world detail to focus on character models and attack effects. Whereas HOUND: AUTOMATON manages to do both with graphics that will have you questioning if you’ve slipped into a movie!

But what’s a horror game if not for its armchair gripping, lip biting, eye clenching intense audio?! Fortunately, HOUND: AUTOMATON sounds are so meticulously accurate that you’ll feel incredibly immersed on a borderline VR level!

When playing as a human and doing your best Rambo impression by blending into the surroundings, each step, leaf rustle, dirt stomp, twig snap, breath, and sprint is recorded and delivered so well that you could swear it was lifted from iconic horror movies themselves.

There is a killer (no pun intended) soundtrack when browsing the main menu, and all its additional options. But what makes the game experience even more frightful happens in-game, as there is next to NO soundtrack to listen to.

Some gamers may view this as a negative, but this minus turns out to be a huge plus for HOUND: AUTOMATON, as you must pay close attention to the looming of The Hound and the deafening blasts of their weapon as it echoes off into the darkened night!

What sets HOUND: AUTOMATON out from the rest is their fast-paced rounds. Gone are the days of camping on a building for over 20 minutes only for the host to rage quit, Hound: AUTOMATON sets their rounds at around 5-7 minutes, ideal for group/party setups.

Though our time with HOUND: AUTOMATON was minimal, due to not enough people online wanting to join up for their own virtual fight-for-your-life experience, what we did experience will sit with us for the rest of our gaming days. Seriously, when you first boot up the game and you get a look at “The Hound”, pack a fresh set of underwear.

For fans of multiplayer horror and hide-and-seek style gameplay, HOUND: AUTOMATON has you covered. With its unique approach, heavily detailed maps and incredibly fast-paced action, you’re in for a head-racing, sweat-producing thrill ride!

Written by: Brutaleo