I’m surrounded by three people, each trapped in a vertical cot. We’re staring at each other from respective cages as we plunge into the depths of our prison, having been pressganged into resolving the warden’s monster problem. It won’t be long until we’re at each others’ side, tiptoing past sleeping abominations. It won’t be much longer until we’re screaming and scurrying away, after one of us wakes them up.
I’m playing co-operative survival horror game GTFO at a preview event in Copenhagen. The wholesome lights of the Christmas market I just walked through outside contrast with the virtual gloom and steel that now surrounds us, as well as the assault rifle I’ve chosen to deal with its denizens. Bullets are scarce, and supposed to be something of a last resort. We burn through a lot of ammo in the first room.
GTFO, the new co-operative alien shooter from Payday lead designer Ulf Andersson, will be making its way to Steam early access next Monday, 9th December.
Originally announced in the hazy days of 2017, GTFO is the work of developer 10 Chambers Collective, a studio whose members previously worked on both the first Payday game and its sequel. It's described as a co-operative action/horror FPS for up to four players, and promises "edge-of-your-seat suspense, team-based puzzle-solving and high-intensity combat".
All that unfolds within the sinister bowels of a vast underground complex overrun by terrifying creatures, and the result is an experience that looks to occupy a space somewhere between Left4Dead and Aliens, which sounds pretty appealing to me.
A minute into this developer playthrough of GTFO, a co-op alien shooter full of dark corners, future tech, and flickering lights, and I m sold. The little team of four opens a door and spots an alien scout inside. Then they close it and reconsider their options. A game about carefully avoiding conflict as a team and then making a democratic decision on how to proceed? Sign me up.
They resolve it by making alien jam with hammers, which I also fully support.