The Ship

 PC
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 479 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 310 out of 479
  2. Mixed: 47 out of 479
  3. Negative: 122 out of 479
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  1. JoeBlow
    Dec 31, 2006
    7
    Great concept, and the art in the game is very nice. Lots of richly detailed maps, and great amount of weapons. However, Source's terrible melee hit detection really makes the game frustrating at times, and sometimes the camera zones can be very glitchy. The good outweighs the bad, though. Tons of ways to dispatch your quarry, and all of them are uniquely satisfying. Hunt and Great concept, and the art in the game is very nice. Lots of richly detailed maps, and great amount of weapons. However, Source's terrible melee hit detection really makes the game frustrating at times, and sometimes the camera zones can be very glitchy. The good outweighs the bad, though. Tons of ways to dispatch your quarry, and all of them are uniquely satisfying. Hunt and Elimination mode can both be very tense, and sometimes you can get very paranoid about who may be your hunter, killing random innocents out of excess paranoia. I'm surprised the game can create such tension. It's too bad not very many people are playing, however. Hopefully the retail release will bring in more players.… Expand
  2. PandymenL.
    Oct 23, 2006
    8
    I have played the Ship since right after its release. It has always been a very good game. The gameplay and the thrill of the hunt is addictive. However, the one downside is the general lack of servers. It caused me to stop playing the game. As long as a decent-sized community continues to come to play, the game will remain as one of the best multiplayer experiences out there.
  3. D.K.
    Jul 23, 2006
    5
    Great game but to get in to play takes way way to long.
  4. LeanderP.
    Aug 11, 2006
    7
    Funny game, good concept, might need some work on the graphics and some more maps. I bought the game a few days after it was released. I had no problems with the game what so ever. Ofcourse there were some bugs but not so drastic that it affected the gameplay. So in the end: For a little bit of cash, a pretty funny and descent game.
  5. RyanB.
    Aug 12, 2006
    8
    This is a very fun game. You can very easily waste an hour or 2 plaing it before you know what's up. While it is a bit clunky it's still fun.
  6. chuppa
    Aug 19, 2006
    5
    this game is ok nothing special. It has far tom many bugs to make it fun. Not great but average. One big problem is there are never any more then 70 people playing it so not really great multiplayer too.
  7. JasonK.
    Sep 11, 2006
    8
    Apart from the lag after every kill and the quite odd camera view, every aspect of this game is quite acceptable. The graphics are quite astonishing as well as the pure intesity of being hunted down while you hunting as well. I would definintly recomend buying this game if you are a Sims, and fps fan.
  8. SteveB.
    Sep 24, 2006
    8
    Great game. Unique concept, and entirely fun. Only real downside is the slower pace and lack of servers.
  9. ZachC.
    Oct 17, 2007
    8
    Its a fine game although it has its share of glitches it will get better and thats why i gave it a 8 instead of its deserved 10, but it was a interesting game which is hard to stop playing and if u do stop its because of the glitches, you for some reason become bored, or the spawners and the counterstrike players are running amok killing everything which is annoying unless an admin is on. Its a fine game although it has its share of glitches it will get better and thats why i gave it a 8 instead of its deserved 10, but it was a interesting game which is hard to stop playing and if u do stop its because of the glitches, you for some reason become bored, or the spawners and the counterstrike players are running amok killing everything which is annoying unless an admin is on. But even with the said issues its still an interesting new type of game play and I highlly recemmend it!!!… Expand
  10. JHunter
    Feb 14, 2007
    6
    Toggling between items in inventory and weapons was a little cumbersome. My mark would sometimes walk away from me while I was trying to figure out how to get my gun out of my pocket!
  11. DaveW.
    Aug 25, 2007
    8
    You can't help but be amazed at that Outerlight have managed to pull off with The Ship. For such a small truley independant studio, they've crafted one of the most original multiplayer experiences to be had on the PC. This game proves that independant development is where the originality really is in the games industry. The only problem with this game stems from the lack of You can't help but be amazed at that Outerlight have managed to pull off with The Ship. For such a small truley independant studio, they've crafted one of the most original multiplayer experiences to be had on the PC. This game proves that independant development is where the originality really is in the games industry. The only problem with this game stems from the lack of players, but it is understandable. Hopefully Outerlight will be able to bring their next offering to a larger audience and refine the concept to perfection.… Expand
  12. gobbybobby
    Jun 19, 2013
    10
    This is a fantastic game, be sure to play it online as the AI are not the brightest, but its still playable offline. its a shame it didn't sell so well, I only recently discovered it and Loved it. the GFX look really good for its age, cheesy, but solid gameplay make this one of the best games I have ever played. There are plans for a squeal too, so watch out for that!
  13. Klewer
    Nov 15, 2012
    7
    An enjoyable single player that introduces you to the gameplay and mechanics of the game against an average AI. The multi player is fantastic and plenty of fun however the game never really quite found the audience it deserved.
  14. stranglehold
    Jul 1, 2013
    7
    I still believe in this, and with further tweaks it could yet become a fine murder game. Buy the pack on steam and give it a try. If you haven't played this game yet, you're missing out greatly.
  15. RateRationizer
    Dec 7, 2013
    8
    Great Game A wide variety on weapons many different maps to play in I would consider this revolutionary for First-Person-Shooters mainly because of the ideas and good detail. There are some bad things such as horrendous Artificial Intelligence that will get stuck in doors or get in your way. You should buy this great game it's not expensive it is only $20.00 on Steam and I wouldGreat Game A wide variety on weapons many different maps to play in I would consider this revolutionary for First-Person-Shooters mainly because of the ideas and good detail. There are some bad things such as horrendous Artificial Intelligence that will get stuck in doors or get in your way. You should buy this great game it's not expensive it is only $20.00 on Steam and I would happily give this game an 8 out of 10… Expand
  16. Blazington
    Jun 26, 2014
    6
    Once you understand how everything works and get a feel for the game, it is a positive mixture of frustration and hilarity. Don't skip the tutorial or you'll wonder what the hell is going on.
  17. Berignus
    Jun 10, 2014
    10
    This game is by fare one of my favorites, and for many a classic. It's somewhat dead now since so many new games have come out, but there's still a handful that play. The concept is simply awesome, no game has ever come close to this. The map is easy to follow and it's simple enough for a young adult to get into. It's a thrill that not many games give because you're constantly beingThis game is by fare one of my favorites, and for many a classic. It's somewhat dead now since so many new games have come out, but there's still a handful that play. The concept is simply awesome, no game has ever come close to this. The map is easy to follow and it's simple enough for a young adult to get into. It's a thrill that not many games give because you're constantly being stalked one or more people throughout your lifespan.

    It's one of the games that you MUST play before it dies completely.    … Expand
  18. bacisnipertop62
    Jul 19, 2014
    6
    Jeu assez fun entre pote ou même tout seul . Le but est simple démonter tout les autres passager sur le bateaux et être le dernier survivant sur le bateau . Mais pas aussi simple quand on a des caméras et des garde dans les couloirs . De plus font trouver de quoi tuer quelqu'un ( poêle , couteau, armes a feu , rasoir , ...) . Mais vous devriez aussi penser a vos besoin : Manger , boire ,Jeu assez fun entre pote ou même tout seul . Le but est simple démonter tout les autres passager sur le bateaux et être le dernier survivant sur le bateau . Mais pas aussi simple quand on a des caméras et des garde dans les couloirs . De plus font trouver de quoi tuer quelqu'un ( poêle , couteau, armes a feu , rasoir , ...) . Mais vous devriez aussi penser a vos besoin : Manger , boire , se laver , dormir ) Bref.. si vous voulez vous amuser avec des potes , prenez le !… Expand
  19. UncleEd
    Dec 15, 2017
    7
    The Ship is the first online battle royale video game that I can remember, a genre that became extremely popular 11 years later due to likes of PUBG and Fortnite. Agatha Christie and The Sims seem to be other influences and the game combines all these elements rather well. iT is built on source engine and has a beautiful art deco style.

    The Ship multiplayer is quite distinct from single    The Ship is the first online battle royale video game that I can remember, a genre that became extremely popular 11 years later due to likes of PUBG and Fortnite. Agatha Christie and The Sims seem to be other influences and the game combines all these elements rather well. iT is built on source engine and has a beautiful art deco style.

    The Ship multiplayer is quite distinct from single player and thus, should be reviewed separately.

    Single Player

    You can consider the single player mode as a tutorial for the multiplayer and beating it once will probably suffice to rank among the top in online play, as many players seem to ignore the single player campaign and jump into multiplayer with little clue as to how the game plays. That said, unfortunately the single player campaign is also quite mediocre. There is a story and in every mission, you are given some quests that you need to complete, which mostly are designed in a scripted manner. There is no point in playing it in hard difficulty, as it will only make you die instantly when enemies shoot at you. This is a problem because they almost never miss and since the game has a checkpoint autosaving system, the game can become unnecessarily frustrating. You will also find plenty of bugs, but what kept me on playing (and beating) the single player campaign was the charming humour and short duration (it can be easily finished under 6 hours).

    Multiplayer

    WARNING: The online mode is NOT DEAD. To reach active servers, you need to go to Steam and choose View/Servers/Game/The Ship. I can see this is not very obvious to most and many players unfortunately give up after failing to find active servers from within the game menu.

    This is where the game shines. You are given a target and you need to find and follow her/him until you find the opportunity to kill. Many areas within the ship are constantly watched by cameras & security guards and drawing your weapon in those areas will send you directly to jail. In order to score higher than the other players, it is not enough to kill your victims but also kill them with higher scoring weapons designated for that particular game. Therefore, you need to search all the drawers, wardrobes in your vicinity (thus, the battle royale) to find the perfect weapon (which range from rifles to poisoned syringes, from cooking pots to pool cues…).

    But what keeps players from just waiting in front of cameras and playing safe? The Sims elements are merged into gameplay to address this. All players have “needs”. They need to eat, drink, go to toilet, sleep, wash themselves, read, socialize… For instance, to wash your hands, you need to go to a washroom where there are no cameras. In order to find food, you need to search rooms also devoid of cameras and therefore, there is a high risk you will be murdered.

    The Ship is not perfect and it has its flaws. But, the game is definitely unique and fun and there is nothing quite like it. Especially if you have some friends that you can play together, you will get your money’s worth.    … Expand
  20. Chemiker
    Feb 11, 2023
    9
    Очень понравилась, стилистика, и сам геймплей, жаль что в свое время не видел. в 2023г, уже никто не играет (.
    Одиночная часть игры, мне зашла, игра на движке сорс, на родном движке) Быстро разобрался, что к чему, сюжет представляет собой по большей части, подготовку к мультиплеерным схваткам, но со своей изюменкой, и даже заделом на продолжением, и даже очень уместным, но увы (    Очень понравилась, стилистика, и сам геймплей, жаль что в свое время не видел. в 2023г, уже никто не играет (.
    Одиночная часть игры, мне зашла, игра на движке сорс, на родном движке) Быстро разобрался, что к чему, сюжет представляет собой по большей части, подготовку к мультиплеерным схваткам, но со своей изюменкой, и даже заделом на продолжением, и даже очень уместным, но увы (
    Королевская битва так сказать) убей или будь убитым, выживает сильнейший!
    Состоит из 10 миссий разной сложности, одна так ваще на 2 разделена, уровни сложности очень рознятся, ну тут скорее как в халве, на сложной очень сложно!
    Не сказал бы что заскучал проходя, на один раз вполне, шутки, умор, присутствует.
    Так же полностью на русском, без танцев с бубной, запустилось.
    Прошел на сложном, за 4 часа.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

70
#70 Best PC Game of 2006
7
#7 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006
78
#78 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
76

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 24
  3. Negative: 0 out of 24
  1. Jolt Online Gaming UK
    80
    The Ship is a fresh and different slant on multiplayer death-matching; one not dependant on speed of reflexes and advanced techniques. It’s fun and innovative – something that some of the big name games dominating the charts seem to forget about every so often.
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  2. VideoGamer
    80
    While it may not be the refined, leisurely paced kill-'em-up many eager landlubbers might have signed up for, The Ship does quickly prove itself a subtly addictive, relentless nail biter that will only get better as those already aboard learn to rule the bloody waves. Notch this one up as another killer for Steam.
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  3. Yahoo!
    80
    The Ship's mixture of intrigue, subtlety, and cunning makes it the perfect recipe for gamers bored with same-old same-old multiplayer shooters, but it does tend to show its indie roots a little too clearly here and there.
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