During Sony’s State of Play event, we got a look into some big titles, like Crash Bandicoot 4, Hitman 3 (also on PSVR), and Braid: Anniversary Edition. One of the more interest-piquing reveals was Sumo Newcastle’s Hood: Outlaws & Legends. Past titles of Sumo include games like LittleBigPlanet 3, Forza Horizon 4, and Hitman 2 – so it’s clear they know how to handle big console releases. Hood itself looks quite interesting: it takes inspiration from the tales of the titular Robin Hood to deliver a complex multiplayer heist game that “blends combat, stealth, and strategy”.
It’s a PvPvE experience: two 4-player teams each clash with each other and with vigilant guards as they vie to pull off a daring heist. The goal seems simple – just steal a treasure chest – but the race to locate it before the enemy team and then escape adds a layer of teamwork and strategy. Different outlaws have different playstyles: some wield ranged weapons like bows, while others prefer to take part in the battle head-on with weapons like sledgehammers. It’s up to your team to coordinate and execute your plan.
Robin Hood (known just as “Hood”) is present, but within the world of Hood he’s more than just a vigilante thief – he’s a legend to the people of Britain, wielding his iconic longbow as well as some other more magical abilities.
“With any legend, the deeds and actions grow with each retelling and so it is with our game,” game director Andrew Williams said. “We took inspiration from popular folklore, but introduced elements of grounded fantasy, which you’ll see in the locations, designs, and characters imbued with magic. We’re eager for you to discover this gritty, brutal universe where myths seep into every corner.”
Hood: Outlaws & Legends is slated for a release sometime in 2021 on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam as well as the next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.