Fun is sometimes an underappreciated element in gaming. Despite the lack of story, content and countless other things, many would say Destiny is a great game, simply because it’s fun. In the case of Bulletstorm, you have a world defined by the concept of action, fun and insanity. Several years later we’re back to revisit the adventure with Bullstorm: Full Clip Edition. With the cult classic revamped for the latest generation, is it time to correct this mistake or is it a sad attempt to score easy money?
Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition tells a tale of revenge and redemption. After finding out your squad wasn’t killing terrible people, but civilians who were problematic, Greyson decides to rebel. This choice had negative consequences for the team, resulting in them being wanted criminals. Sometime later they run into a special ship that Greyson believes might have their former leader. The attack results in both ships going down and Greyson’s squad paying the price. Several die, with Ishi being critically wounded. He forces Greyson to put aside his quest for revenge to save Ishi.
From there the story juggles these two main things and tosses Ishi’s new views on life to the forefront. It doesn’t make for the most compelling tale, but it’s certainly amusing all the same. If only for the fowl language and silly one liners.
Like an action movie, Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition’s main attraction is the, well, action. Almost everything you do is graded, with countless tricks, secrets and silly moves to discover. These kills are referred to skillshots, which is how you upgrade your gear, abilities and so forth.
The nice thing about the skillshot system, is that it makes the ridiculous gameplay feel far more engaging. In addition to simply shooting an enemy, you can kill them while sliding, kicking/pulling them into a hazard, blow up things around them or just kick them and then shoot them. Part of the fun is figuring out how creative you can be. Instead of pulling someone to an explosive barrel, you can kick it at them and blow up multiple enemies or blast someone in the crotch and end their misery.
Besides being fun, the world is filled with things to play with, absurd situations and one liners that are sure to make action fans happy. Sure, sometimes it gets a tad on the excessive side, but that is the charm of Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition.
Along with story mode, there is also a challenge and online mode. Challenge mode makes interesting use of the games core mechanics. Instead of simply sending you to fight enemies or deal with harsh situations, you need to make use of what you’re given. One might require a specific gun and a certain type of kill, where as another forces you to use the world to your advantage. These makes for a thrilling mode, since they require more than simply overcoming an enemy and the included leaderboard gives you something to work towards in the long run.
As for the online mode, I would say Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition’s online mode is one of the most unusual and enjoyable multiplayer modes I’ve played. To put it simply, online is a cooperative shooter with competitive elements that favor those who play cooperatively.
For starters, multiplayer is basically a hoard mode with unique maps, its own skillshots and other things. The idea is to get the highest score on your team to win. However, the most valuable skillshots require teamwork, so it isn’t enough to steal kills, get the most valuable targets and be the best. The overall winner might end up being the person who sets up the most skillshots, since both players receive points for said kill. This makes for a lot of fun, since it pushes teamwork, without forgetting that someone has to win.
Despite all the good things Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition does, it’s weak in terms of an enhanced edition. For better or worse, it’s basically a straight port with an additional mode. The special mode, which is free with preorders, allows you to play as Duke Nukem with new one liners. It’s a nice thought, but other than that there isn’t anything new.
Verdict
Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition is a great game that will appeal to anyone looking for a crazy FPS game. Sure, the story is sort of pointless, but the jokes and overall tone is more than enough to keep you interested. Combine this with one of the most enjoyable multiplayer modes out there and you have a shooter that is quite likely to please.
[Editor’s Note: Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition was reviewed on PS4 platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]
