You know something is hot when you can successfully mix a little arcade style fun and explosive intensity first-person shooter.
That mix has become known as Bulletstorm.
Bulletstorm takes place in a futuristic paradise setting where a confederation is being protected by an elite band of epic mercenaries known as Dead Echo. When Dead Echo member Grayson Hunt, voiced by Steve Blum, and Ishi Sato discover that they had been working on the wrong side, they betray their squad commander and end up being exiled to the edges of the galaxy and attempt a drunken induced revenge mission which goes horribly wrong and then begins the main storyline of the game when they crash land on a planet called Stygia.
The once lush and beautiful resort planet has seen better days, now populated by all manner of mutated maniacs that would like nothing better than to hack your face off. After locating a signal and searching for a way off this stinking cesspool, two major events take place to kick the plot on its merry way. Grayson locates a beacon with an outlawed energy leash, which attaches itself to his left hand, and he learns that the General and some of his crew actually survived. Now all that stands between him, revenge and getting off this accursed rock is a planet filled with snarling psychopathic sociopaths. In the words of Charlie “I’m winning” Sheen, “Bring it!”
Bulletstorm isn’t your regular first-person shooter. There’s no real cover mechanic and all weapons have a distinctly unconventional twist and charged fire. Players utilize a sizable arsenal consisting of over-the-top combat moves and incredibly large weapons. Bulletstorm also has a variety of "skillshots". The skillshot gameplay system rewards the player for creating and inciting mayhem in the most creative way possible. The more unusual the skillshot, the more points players receive to upgrade their character, unlock weapons which allow the player to perform even more creative moves and exaggerated skillshots (insanely fun). If you keep repeating these epic creative moves your character will have what they call a max out, this means your character has been maxed to his very best, and will gain more skillshots with a one shot kills.
Some of the skillshots are truly magnificent and there are some brilliant set-pieces to compliment them. You outrun a gigantic wheel on a train line that is ever-so-close to bowling you over. You’ll control a robot Godzilla and lay waste to a bunch of banditos; you fight an enormous Hekaton dinosaur that makes King Kong look like a play toy and a Venus fly trap that wants to nom your insides. The bosses are inventive and diverse and the weapons all have interesting slants, like the Bouncer firing cannonballs of doom, the Penetrator shooting off massive impaling drill bits and the sniper rifle, Head Hunter, with bullets you can guide for the last seconds and even make go boom with a charged attack. These are all really cool concepts.
One not so major problem is the way the game handles. It constantly penalizes you for doing what it is you’re supposed to. It constantly throws Gatling gun gyrocopters at you with little or no cover and then almost laughs as you die. I felt like the level designers at times were taking the piss and it really did start to annoy. You also don’t get many of the choicest charged fire options until very late in the game, and while I appreciate they’re encouraging replay value, it just ends up annoying the crap out of you. It’s like someone setting a generous buffet in front of you and only letting you eat as its getting cleared away.
All in all this made my list of most anticipated of 2011 and no doubt a lot will agree with its inclusion.
The crazy bone-crunching bloodbath scenario is a fairly common sight in Bulletstorm. If the screen isn't caked in claret as a result of a crashing lift it'll be drenched in blood because of a nearby carnivorous plant with poor table manners or a giant 'Hekaton' behemoth who's swatted a few fresh corpses straight into your face.
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FINAL WORD
There's no poo-flinging in Bulletstorm's world, but there's more than enough blood to rival fellow macho shooter shocker Duke Nukem Forever, ensuring those with a taste for torture are going to be very well catered for once we welcome 2011.
The most innovative first-person shooter in years, Bulletstorm is as addictive as it is bold. Beyond every crude one-liner and the unashamed gratuity of its violence, it's a game full of hidden depth and simple thrills of gaming past.
I am almost certain this game will be the most fun someone can ever have with a FPS and this will stand to be the case for a very long time to come!
More one liners to make Duke look like a school boy! Please don’t hurt me Duke fanboys :'(
That mix has become known as Bulletstorm.
Bulletstorm takes place in a futuristic paradise setting where a confederation is being protected by an elite band of epic mercenaries known as Dead Echo. When Dead Echo member Grayson Hunt, voiced by Steve Blum, and Ishi Sato discover that they had been working on the wrong side, they betray their squad commander and end up being exiled to the edges of the galaxy and attempt a drunken induced revenge mission which goes horribly wrong and then begins the main storyline of the game when they crash land on a planet called Stygia.
Just EPIC!
The once lush and beautiful resort planet has seen better days, now populated by all manner of mutated maniacs that would like nothing better than to hack your face off. After locating a signal and searching for a way off this stinking cesspool, two major events take place to kick the plot on its merry way. Grayson locates a beacon with an outlawed energy leash, which attaches itself to his left hand, and he learns that the General and some of his crew actually survived. Now all that stands between him, revenge and getting off this accursed rock is a planet filled with snarling psychopathic sociopaths. In the words of Charlie “I’m winning” Sheen, “Bring it!”
Bulletstorm isn’t your regular first-person shooter. There’s no real cover mechanic and all weapons have a distinctly unconventional twist and charged fire. Players utilize a sizable arsenal consisting of over-the-top combat moves and incredibly large weapons. Bulletstorm also has a variety of "skillshots". The skillshot gameplay system rewards the player for creating and inciting mayhem in the most creative way possible. The more unusual the skillshot, the more points players receive to upgrade their character, unlock weapons which allow the player to perform even more creative moves and exaggerated skillshots (insanely fun). If you keep repeating these epic creative moves your character will have what they call a max out, this means your character has been maxed to his very best, and will gain more skillshots with a one shot kills.
Some of the skillshots are truly magnificent and there are some brilliant set-pieces to compliment them. You outrun a gigantic wheel on a train line that is ever-so-close to bowling you over. You’ll control a robot Godzilla and lay waste to a bunch of banditos; you fight an enormous Hekaton dinosaur that makes King Kong look like a play toy and a Venus fly trap that wants to nom your insides. The bosses are inventive and diverse and the weapons all have interesting slants, like the Bouncer firing cannonballs of doom, the Penetrator shooting off massive impaling drill bits and the sniper rifle, Head Hunter, with bullets you can guide for the last seconds and even make go boom with a charged attack. These are all really cool concepts.
Rack em up
One not so major problem is the way the game handles. It constantly penalizes you for doing what it is you’re supposed to. It constantly throws Gatling gun gyrocopters at you with little or no cover and then almost laughs as you die. I felt like the level designers at times were taking the piss and it really did start to annoy. You also don’t get many of the choicest charged fire options until very late in the game, and while I appreciate they’re encouraging replay value, it just ends up annoying the crap out of you. It’s like someone setting a generous buffet in front of you and only letting you eat as its getting cleared away.
All in all this made my list of most anticipated of 2011 and no doubt a lot will agree with its inclusion.
The crazy bone-crunching bloodbath scenario is a fairly common sight in Bulletstorm. If the screen isn't caked in claret as a result of a crashing lift it'll be drenched in blood because of a nearby carnivorous plant with poor table manners or a giant 'Hekaton' behemoth who's swatted a few fresh corpses straight into your face.
Visually orgasmic
__________________________________________________
FINAL WORD
There's no poo-flinging in Bulletstorm's world, but there's more than enough blood to rival fellow macho shooter shocker Duke Nukem Forever, ensuring those with a taste for torture are going to be very well catered for once we welcome 2011.
The most innovative first-person shooter in years, Bulletstorm is as addictive as it is bold. Beyond every crude one-liner and the unashamed gratuity of its violence, it's a game full of hidden depth and simple thrills of gaming past.
I am almost certain this game will be the most fun someone can ever have with a FPS and this will stand to be the case for a very long time to come!
More one liners to make Duke look like a school boy! Please don’t hurt me Duke fanboys :'(
