Huntsman

Developer: OnTheHouse Studios

Publisher: Ten Image Publishing

Released on: PC (Steam)

I don't consider myself an arachnophobe. Here in the UK, we don't have any deadly spiders, and unless you live out in the sticks, you don't see them that often, either. But then, they are very good at hiding from humans, although the arachnids of this game from OnTheHouse Studios don't seem too bothered. And why should they be? We're the prey now.

Huntsman begins in the parking lot of a nondescript office building. You've taken a job as a night security guard, slipping in via a worryingly ajar back door. After making your way to the security office, it's not long before the titular spider makes an appearance, much to the shock of both player and their character.

There are four types of spiders in Huntsman, each entangled in some genetic experimentation plot that evokes Weyland-Yutani's weaponisation machinations from the Alien movies. The Huntsman stalks the player; colourful Orb Weavers hang menacingly from the ceiling, waiting for a careless human to wander underneath; Trapdoor spiders lurk underground; and there's the patient Tarantula, waiting coolly for you to accidentally adhere to one of its many webs.

The spiders themselves are exquisitely designed, inciting both fear and disgust as they lurk around the dark corners of the environment. In a thrilling yet horrific twist, sprinting encourages the Huntsman spider in particular to make a beeline for the player, leaving it as a last option. Much better to calmly stroll away. Yeah, right.

It's a short game, and one that doesn't quite live up to its initial thrills. There's hardly any exploration of the Jurassic Park-style 'they didn't stop to think if they should' scientific shenanigans, and little evidence of what has happened beyond a few cocooned bodies.

Spider legs also frequently clip through walls, neutering the fear factor, though I can imagine engineering eight-legged creatures in a heavily walled environment is not easy.

As I type, it's currently on offer on Steam, and at just a shade under ten pounds, there's comfortably enough gameplay on offer. It does feel like there's a lot more that could be done with the concept, and the devs have hinted that this might not be the last we see of this world. Until then, Huntsman feels like a missed opportunity, albeit one with some splendidly staged moments and plenty of potential.