The Ship: Murder Party

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The Ship is a unique multiplayer game. Set on a series of luxury, art deco cruise ships built by Mr X, this devilish game challenges you to kill or be killed. Once you'e on board you're given the name of another passenger whom you must find and secretly murder.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

69%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,673 reviews

humor192 positive mentions

stability16 negative mentions

humor
192 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its hilarious and often darkly comedic situations, particularly when played with friends. Players enjoy the absurdity of the gameplay, which includes creative and funny ways to eliminate targets, leading to unexpected and laugh-out-loud moments. Overall, the game is described as a fun, chaotic experience that thrives on its comedic elements, making it a great choice for those looking to share laughs with friends.
- “With friends, I can still highly recommend this game since it's hilarious to keep lying to all of your best buddies for a change.”
- “The game has a weird sense of humor; I can't explain what it is, but it's both fun and dark. The weird and twisted violence combined with the slow but tense pace of the game can create some of the funniest moments I've ever seen in any game.”
- “I never thought I'd say this, but murdering your friends is hilariously fun.”
gameplay
154 mentions
34 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its unique blend of stealth and social simulation, requiring players to balance between being a hunter and a target while managing various character needs. While many find the mechanics innovative and entertaining, especially in multiplayer settings, others criticize the complexity and occasional tedium, particularly in solo play. Overall, the game offers a fun and engaging experience, especially with friends, but suffers from server issues and some frustrating mechanics.
- “The gameplay is unlike any other, as you must blend in with the crowd and act inconspicuous while keeping an eye out for your target and potential threats.”
- “The gameplay is unique and very funny, with a well-inspired mix between a plain old FPS and a Sims/Second Life simulation.”
- “Highly addictive gameplay mixed with a sense of paranoia and excitement breeds exceptional scenarios that make you think... how the heck am I going to kill this guy with a paddle bat...”
- “But I must say, gameplay is not that cool.”
- “It really, really needs a lot more improvement in terms of balance and gameplay before I give it a yes.”
- “When I first tried multiplayer there were no servers on the internet and nothing for me to do; I made a server for half an hour and explored but no one joined, no gameplay at all.”
graphics
96 mentions
42 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered dated, reflecting its 2006 release, but many players find them charming and fitting for the game's lighthearted, slapstick atmosphere. While some reviews note issues like render glitches and a lack of modern polish, others appreciate the art style and smooth performance, especially on lower-end machines. Overall, the visuals are seen as adequate for their time, contributing to the game's fun and immersive experience.
- “The game's graphics and sound design are top-notch, immersing you in the opulent and grand atmosphere of the ship.”
- “Set on a variety of 1920's era cruise ships, the art style is stylish, lighthearted, and a little slapstick.”
- “You have a decent arsenal of weapons to find throughout the environment in which to off your mark, and the graphics, although dated, are surprisingly smooth given that the game was released in 2006.”
- “Graphics are really outdated and no options menu.”
- “The graphics are a bit dated, and every once in a while there are render glitches.”
- “It has aged slightly well with the graphics looking like they came from an early PS1 game.”
story
86 mentions
33 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around a murder party on a 1920s cruise ship, where players must kill other passengers while avoiding being hunted themselves. While some find the narrative creative and engaging, many reviewers criticize it for being short, simplistic, and linear, often reducing gameplay to repetitive fetch or escort quests. Overall, the single-player story is seen as a fun but shallow experience, with multiplayer gameplay being the main draw.
- “Story: you and the rest of the gang are passengers on board the Northern Star cruise ship, a 1920's art deco behemoth whose mysterious captain Mr. X has decided to strand in the middle of the ocean and host a massive murder fight party.”
- “It's really creative, and the storyline is pretty brilliant.”
- “The single player is a very great story; it's not rich but it is very fun and interesting.”
- “Story campaign is simplistic, short, and linear, so it sucks.”
- “- Single player devolves to little more than fetch/escort quests; doesn't help that the story, though Kafkaesque, is noticeably shallow.”
- “It's quite short and the story is pretty much meh.”
music
28 mentions
36 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the thematic early 1900s soundtrack and its immersive qualities, while others found it repetitive and annoying, leading them to turn it off. The soundtrack is praised for its fitting atmosphere and unique elements, but its looping nature can become grating over time. Overall, it adds to the game's charm, especially in a multiplayer setting, but may not be for everyone.
- “Very fun and cool soundtrack!”
- “The game has a very special early 1900's theme to it, with fitting music playing in the background and visuals to go along with it.”
- “As long as you have a group of friends to play it with, this is a very interesting game with a hysterical soundtrack based in the 20's.”
- “A fourth flaw was the soundtrack, which I turned off after 13 seconds.”
- “I recommend disabling the music after a while.”
- “Music was thematic but slightly annoying.”
stability
16 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that significantly impact gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. Many note that the remastered version is especially problematic, lacking updates and suffering from severe connectivity issues. Despite these flaws, some players still find enjoyment in the game, particularly when playing against bots, though they acknowledge the dated graphics and controls.
- “Warning: this game and its sequel are dead, buggy as hell, and no longer being updated.”
- “It's way too buggy; the hallways can only fit 1 person in 1 direction.”
- “It's a simple premise, try to kill each other without getting caught, and it blew it in the form of castrating the original game to force people to buy a 'remastered' version and then having the remaster be a horrifically buggy game that was quadruple the price.”
atmosphere
14 mentions
29 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive graphics and sound design, effectively capturing the opulence of the ship and the eerie tension of the late 1800s and 1920s settings. Each map contributes to a creepy, paranoia-inducing environment that enhances the gameplay experience, making it both tense and rewarding. Overall, the combination of thematic elements and realistic details creates a captivating atmosphere that keeps players engaged.
- “The game's graphics and sound design are top-notch, immersing you in the opulent and grand atmosphere of the ship.”
- “What results is a tense, exciting game with a great atmosphere of paranoia.”
- “Each map has a different theme while sticking to a creepy, paranoia-fueling atmosphere.”
- “As the amount of people out for your blood increases, the atmosphere and your sanity darkens.”
- “The 1920's atmosphere is mesmerizing and while the game is slow-paced, it can be very rewarding.”
replayability
12 mentions
50 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game features a variety of maps and modes that enhance its replayability, making it enjoyable for players seeking diverse challenges. However, some users note that the overall replayability may be limited, especially due to dwindling player counts and reliance on AI for solo play. While it offers initial thrills, sustained engagement may depend on having a group of friends to play with.
- “One of the best aspects of the game is its replayability, with different maps and modes that offer a variety of challenges and playstyles.”
- “There are lots of maps, so it's got a good amount of replayability.”
- “Replayability is rarely an issue.”
- “Innovative gameplay provides many thrills in the first couple of games, while unfortunately, replayability is somewhat limited.”
grinding
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be overly tedious and complicated, detracting from the enjoyment of a party game. Many express frustration with repetitive mechanics, such as constant arrests and resource management, which can make the gameplay feel burdensome rather than engaging. While some acknowledge that single-player mode can serve as a learning tool, the general consensus leans towards a need for simplification to enhance the experience.
- “I do think the gameplay is overly complicated for the sake of adding more strategy, but it just becomes too tedious for a party game.”
- “It can get tedious if you constantly get arrested because of the nonsense that the game makes up.”
- “It's not amazing, it's rather tedious, actually.”
optimization
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, users are eager to see how the upcoming HD remake will enhance both performance and graphics optimization. While some players have experienced smooth gameplay by adjusting settings like turning off vsync and limiting the framerate, there is a general anticipation for improved optimization in the remake.
- “The HD remake should be coming soon, and I can't wait to see if they have optimized performance as well as graphics.”
- “I have not had any problems running the game; rather, it has run smoothly after turning off VSync and limiting the framerate.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players report experiencing strong emotional reactions, often feeling tears and sadness during pivotal moments in the game, particularly when faced with significant stakes or loss. The narrative's impact is heightened by personal connections to characters, leading to memorable and poignant experiences.
- “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
- “Tears welled up in his eyes when he realized what exactly was at stake.”
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Character development is characterized by a cartoony design style that blends elements from Team Fortress 2 and Telltale games, contributing to a unique visual identity. However, the reviews do not provide further insights into the depth or progression of the characters themselves.
- “The character design is quite cartoony, something between TF2 and Telltale characters.”