The Showdown Effect

Overview

The Showdown Effect is a 2.5D side-scrolling, multiplayer, skill based action brawler from Arrowhead Game Studios, the makers of Magicka. The gameplay draws influences from Soldat, Worms, Hunter Hunted and Super Smash Bros. just to name a few. Stylistically, conceptually and thematically, the game draws influences from action movie genre of the 80s and 90s, as well others.

The game features eight playable characters, all stereotypical clichés of the archetypal action hero, each with his/her own unique abilities.

The game also has an integrated feature to live stream matches to a Twitch.TV channel.

Characters

All character chosen in the game operate the same in their basic abilities such as a jump, a roll, a sprint and other basic abilities. Where the characters diverge is in their special abilities.

Name	Special Abities	Cost
	Personal Shield: Dutch becomes nearly invulnerable for two and half seconds.	Free
	Rocket Boost: Hailey launches herself vertically into the air or when accompanied with a roll at a 45 degree angle.	Free
	Frag Grenades: Hank chucks a grenade that deals serious damage.	Free
	Blood Bath: Mizu enables a lifesteal that's cool down is reduced with every successful hit while active.	Preorder Bonus
	Poison Flask: Edmund throws a flask onto the ground that creates a mist of deadly poison.	1,500 AC
	The Hunt: Leona's speed slightly increases and she can now see enemies through walls as smoky clouds.	1,500 AC
	Doughnuts: Lance consumes doughnuts recovering a quarter of his health instantly and a quarter of his health over time.	1,500 AC
	Fury Kick: Mr. Shur Foo performs a flying kick dealing moderate damage and stun to his enemy.	1,500 AC

Game Modes

Features four different free for all and team based game modes, as well as customizable rule sets and game modes.

Name	Description
	Free-for-all where the last player alive. Near the end of the match a timer is started and a sudden death is initiated.
	Each death of a teammate in team elimination turns the respawn clock back 5 seconds. When the entire opposing team is dead at the same time the round is won.
	The Expendables is a mode that pits the Showdown cast against a group of Henchmen. The players on the 'Expendables' side have a respawn timer while the Henchmen do not. The round ends when all expendables are eliminated.
	One Man Army pits a one man army against a large group of Henchmen. The henchmen that kill the One Man Army becomes the replacement as a result. Just like in The Expendables, in One Man Army henchmen respawn in perpetuity.