Looking back on it, 2011 was an amazing year for gaming! The Mortal Kombat reboot, Portal 2, Skyrim, Rayman Origins, the list goes on and on. There were so many grade A titles being released it’s not surprising that some may have been missed. One of those games for me was Bulletstorm. People Can Fly’s humorous take on the sci-fi FPS genre always interested me. I’m honestly not sure how it slipped my radar. I even somehow missed 2017’s Full Clip Edition remake. At the end of August this year, People Can Fly and Gearbox shadow dropped Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition onto the Nintendo Switch eShop. Having wanted to play it for 8 years, all signs pointed towards it being my time.
Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition is essentially a “Game of The Year Edition”. It packages up the Full Clip Edition along with its DLC Duke Nukem’s Bulletstorm Tour. Unfortunately, the multiplayer portion of the game was removed entirely. I don’t mind its omission, although it is sad that the Switch port lacks some content. Full Clip Edition enhanced the original game reskinning and revamping it for the current generation. Duke Nukem’s Bulletstorm Tour is exactly what it sounds like. You can additionally play the game as Duke instead of Grayson Hunt, Bulletstorm’s actual protagonist. Duke adds nothing to the story, besides a crude performance by voice actor Jon St. John. I ultimately decided that I was going to experience the game the way it was intended, so I went with Hunt.
Bulletstorm stars Grayson Hunt, leading member of an elite group of assassins known as Dead Echo. Their mission was to protect and serve the Confederation and its General, Victor Sarrano. That is, until discovering Sarrano lied about the identities of their targets. Dead Echo assassinated innocent people under the impression they were incredibly dangerous. Deciding for his whole squad, Grayson vows revenge on Sarrano for his deceit. The group then disbands for a life of rogue space pirate drunkenness.
Dead Echo is eventually tracked down and attacked by the Confederation. Sarrano’s attack proves successful and manages to wipe out most of the team. Grayson manages to escape unscathed. However, his contemptuous colleague Ishi Sato nearly dies. The group’s doctor sacrifices his last moments to attach cybernetics to Ishi, saving his life. Although, the robotic processor chip installed in Ishi’s head starts to seek control of his consciousness. It’s up to Grayson and Ishi to seek revenge on Sarrano and the confederation. The narrative is filled with colorful language and dynamic characters, that brings a ton of life into Bulletstorm‘s apocalyptic world.
I was initially concerned that the controls of Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition would feel outdated. While the controls were smooth and responsive, the layout took some getting used to. Running is dedicated to holding the “A” button and using only the left analog stick. I really wish they had used a more traditional control scheme. Besides that one quarrel, the remainder of the controls felt like a traditional first-person shooter.
Bulletstorm manages to freshen up the FPS genre by offering a unique melee system. Pressing the left bumper will cause Grayson to whip out his Energy Leash which grabs the targeted enemy and brings them closer. Enemies lunge towards you in slow motion, giving many options for disposal. Pressing the “B” button causes Grayson to kick. Kicking also temporarily slows down your foe, allowing for a more thought induced kill. You can either shoot them with an arsenal of weapons or kick them into nearby objects. Bulletstorm incentivizes using these “skillshots” by offering up points, which can then be used to upgrade weapons. Some may be as simple as pulling off a headshot. Others, such as laying fire on the jugular, are as sadistic as the game’s dialog. Most emphasize using various objects that allow for environmental kills. There are over 130 different skillshots to fulfill, some being incredibly unique. The upgrades available for weapons vary from increased ammo capacity to extra strength charge shot capabilities.
As the game progresses, it continues to feel fresh by introducing new gameplay elements. One minute you’re mowing down waves of enemies with an armament subsystem. The next you’re using a homing sniper rifle to kill far-away foes. There was one moment, in particular, that truly stuck out to me. You control and fight alongside a gigantic robotic Godzilla, cheekily named Waggleton P. Tallylicker. Other weapons cannot be used, forcing Grayson to solely rely on his radio-controlled monster. This is the only time we see Waggleton, which is a real shame.
Thankfully this port plays with little, to no, slow-downs. While it only runs at 30 frames per second, it was consistent throughout. I played mostly docked, and, from what I experienced, handheld mode appears to run smoothly. Graphically, however, Bulletstorm has taken quite a hit. The surroundings are colorfully vibrant; however, character models look a bit muddy. I understand this game initially released in 2011, but it’s a supposed port of the remaster. I also noticed quite a few flat textures when pressed against the wall. The game is by no means ugly, it’s just not the prettiest experience on the Switch.
Bulletstorm managed to hold up well for its Switch debut. The controls were smooth and responsive, the characters were comical, and the story was incredibly entertaining. After waiting nearly 8 years, Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition ended up being an incredibly memorable experience. Any Switch owner, interested in a well-polished shooter, should pick this up!
Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition is available now, digitally on the Nintendo eShop, for $29.99. A digital copy of the game was provided for the purposes of this review.
