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Every so often, an absurdist game will take the internet by storm. Examples include QWOP, Goat Simulator, Untitled Goose Game, and now, Handcop. These games tap into a refreshing sense of simplicity amongst the gaming industry's push towards increasingly technologically advanced games. The absurdism is key to their success, and this brand of indie game has even received acclaim from the art world, with QWOP being featured in a special gaming exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
There is a definite appeal to this type of bizarre concept indie game, and while an initial instinct may be to dismiss them as trivial, they are indicative of a real desire for creativity in gaming. Handcop has players assume control of a disembodied hand, much like The Addams Family cousin It, who runs around holding a large gun. Of course, the concept is comical, as it is intended to be, but as is often the case with these indie games, the work behind the design and gameplay is more thoughtful and complex than it may first appear.
Handcop's Development And The Initial Concept
Handcop is being developed by Jeff Ramos, who has plenty of experience in game development. Ramos initially posted a gif on Twitter and Reddit of the main character of Handcop, McWrist. While many thought it was simply a joke, the posts attracted a huge amount of buzz and went viral. The news that this is more than a throwaway joke and that Ramos is actually developing a game about Handcop is welcome news.
Ramos has since confirmed it is indeed a comedy shooter and takes heavy influence from some iconic '80s buddy cop films and shooters like Max Payne. The camp '80s style is the perfect material for the game to be a pastiche of. However, unlike absurdist games like QWOP and Goat Simulator, Handcop is intended to play smoothly and look polished. Undoubtedly, the mechanics will be comical and absurd in concept, but the actual gameplay aims to feel like the player controls an actual hand rather than using any ragdoll physics. This shows the care Ramos is taking with this game, and how it goes far beyond just a joke post on Reddit.
Handcop's Gameplay
A short gameplay trailer that Ramos released shows that the game is indeed a glossy, '80s inspired shooter. There's plenty of neon lighting and witty quips to help recreate the '80s atmosphere. Ramos has also been pretty clear that the fact the character is a hand will be incorporated into the gameplay, and there will be stealth, melee, and satisfying combat all while playing as McWrist. Ramos has also joked that this is the first "fist-person shooter" game. It's hard to argue with the design of McWrist, who wears a typical '80s detective outfit and traverses the imagined '80s style world with ease. It's worth noting as well that the enemies aren't hands, just McWrist. Whether this will be addressed in gameplay remains to be seen, but regardless it is reminiscent of the absurdism in games like Octodad: Dadliest Catch.
Indie games are often more revealing of the type of games people would love to play if given the chance than AAA games are. While there's plenty of room to analyze the absurdist trend in indie games, it's important to recognize that on a surface level they are just really fun. Having a game like Handcop can be a welcome relief from the sometimes taxing AAA epics and the stresses of real life. At the end of the day, having a game about a disembodied hand starring in an '80s detective epic is fun, inventive, and appealing, especially when the developer has put in the level of care that Ramos has.
Handcop is currently in development.