From the archives: This article originally ran in PC Gamer #330 (UK, May 2019). You should still play Bulletstorm, which is frequently 90% off on Steam.
Bulletstorm, often dubbed the “stupidest game ever made,” presents a façade of crass humor that belies a deeper self-awareness than many of its contemporaries. The narrative does not cast players as heroes; instead, it introduces us to Hunt, a flawed leader whose arrogance and thirst for vengeance have cost him dearly. By the end of the game’s prologue, he finds himself grappling with the loss of two squadmates and the agonizing transformation of his friend Ish, who now battles both an AI controlling his body and the persistent pain of his RoboCop-like existence.
This theme of self-awareness is not merely subtext; it is woven into the dialogue. Characters like Trishka, the leader of Sarrano’s special forces, are unreserved in their criticism of Hunt, while he himself is acutely aware of his shortcomings. His bravado often serves as a mask for his desperation to save his last living friend, seeking a sliver of redemption amidst the chaos he has created. The addition of Duke Nukem as a playable character in the 2017 Full Clip edition felt disingenuous, as Bulletstorm is a game that, despite its surface-level absurdity, engages with its characters on a much deeper level than the one-dimensional Duke.
No jumping allowed
To label Bulletstorm as merely an “old-school” first-person shooter would be a misstep. It embraces modern mechanics, featuring regenerating health and aiming-down-the-sights, while its characters possess a complexity often absent in the genre. However, this ambition is not without its pitfalls. One notable limitation is the absence of a jump function; players can only mantle over certain obstacles. This curious omission feels particularly restrictive in a game that revolves around executing stunts with firearms.
While the environmental design of Bulletstorm is nothing short of stunning—showcasing crumbling sci-fi cityscapes—the level design tends toward simplicity, often consisting of expansive, linear corridors adorned with clever decorations to create an illusion of complexity. Yet, this simplicity is the only aspect where Bulletstorm falls short of its apparent depth. Beneath the layers of bloodshed, profanity, and toilet humor lies a remarkably inventive shooter, set against a unique sci-fi backdrop, brimming with enough action to fill a game twice its length. Bulletstorm may wear the crown of the “stupidest game ever made,” but it does so with a cleverness that is hard to ignore.
