THE jury is still out on old games that are repackaged for new consoles.
Is it money for old rope or is it worthwhile giving popular titles and cult hits a lick of paint with revamped graphics and extra features for new and old players alike? Xbox and PlayStation owners will have lots of different answers to that but if there is one game that deserves another shot it is probably Bulletstorm.
Not so much because it did not reach its full potential on the previous generation of consoles but because when it was first released it was unfairly ignored. Despite this, Bulletstorm’s gameplay dynamics were hugely refreshing at a time when first-person shooters were taking themselves far too seriously.
You can use a whip-like ‘energy leash’ to pull enemies towards you or slide into them to activate a slow-motion score attack mode. From electrocuting them on live wires to kicking them into spikes, the more outrageous the kill, the higher the score.
And with handgun that set foes on fire to a harpoon that can skewer enemies like a shish kebab it is certainly not a game for kids. Six years after its initial release it still one of the most inventive shooters out there.
Add to that a Gears of War aesthetic, an arcade feel, crass humour and a ridiculous revenge story on a planet of feral tribes, carnivorous plants and bounty hunters and it somehow just works. The graphical overhaul is noticeable on the ‘Full Clip Edition’ and it runs smoothly throughout on the Xbox One version tested. If you love first-person shooters Bulletstorm demands your attention but the arguably misjudged £45 price point for an ‘old’ game is bound to put many off.
DAVID MORGAN
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