I loved Bulletstorm when it first released back in early 2011. The over-the-top action style, with testosterone filled masculinity flowing through all the male characters, witty dialogue, and genuinely fun gameplay all had me hooked from the get go. Sadly, the game did not seem to get the mass appeal it deserved back then. So, when Gearbox announced a fully remastered version of the game, called Bulletstorm Full Clip Edition, I was all for it.
For the purposes of this review, we’ll be keeping aside the recent kerfuffle that Gearbox got into with regards to their publishing deal with G2A. Lets give Bulletstorm its due credit.
You play as Grayson Hunt, the average space marine looking for revenge, while also trying to get himself and his crew off-planet where everything that moves, and even some things that don’t are out to kill them. The story in itself is nothing worth writing home about, and might feel cliched, but Bulletstorm manages to main a crass tone so consistently that you end up laughing more often that you should. And eventually the world, the protagonist, the enemies, and your buddies all come together as cohesive whole, which, in a way, start fitting together and making sense.
At first look, Bulletstorm looks similar to Gears of War in tone and style, which is understandable given that it was made using the Unreal Engine by Epic and People Can Fly. However, Bulletstorm is strong on the attitude front, which is it’s most appealing factor. That’s not to say that the gameplay is any slouch. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.
For a game called Bulletstorm, ammo is not that plentiful. Instead, early in the game you are given a ‘leash’ of sorts with which you can pull enemies towards you, kick them and as they fly away in slo-mo you shoot them in the face with utmost satisfaction, which even six years later never gets old. The shooting mechanics, enemy AI, level design, and encounter design all still hold up really well, which is a testament to how good the game was originally.
And adding to all of that are the enhanced visuals which bring out some beautiful vistas and scenic views across the planet Stygia. The new lighting, enhanced textures, all of it running on Unreal Engine 4 do wonders for this game in hiding its age. There are some issues which were pertinent to games of that time and genre, specially how linear the game feels. However, its the same linearity that lead to some spectacular set-piece moments.
There’s little here apart from the single player however. The multiplayer is still kind of weak, and the co-op won’t be attracting a lot of people. The Duke Nukem Tour that comes as part of the pre-order bonus is a fun off-shoot, but I wish they had added that as part of the base game, given that this is a remaster. It may not be to everyone’s taste, but hearing Duke’s voice is always a pleasure. Well, maybe not always, but mostly.
Bulletstorm Full Clip Edition is an immensely fun game. And fun is the key here. It’s not overly deep, or tactical, or strongly story driven. What it does, it does really well, with strong gameplay, likable characters, and beautifully updated visuals. And hey, you get Duke along for the ride.
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