LTTP: Bulletstorm...on par with/ if not better than Vanquish

[Marcus Brutalius]

After skipping this game last gen I finally jumped in, now that it's free on PSPlus. Boy, what did I miss.
Yeah, my title says it all, I think this game is even better than Vanquish when it comes to over the top shooting. Hell, it's even better than Doom 2016. In that regard I feel this game was always overlooked in Gaf and Era threads.

Here's why it's better than Vanquish:
- both games are short, but Vanquish gives us far too few scenarios where all of the game's systems really shine (sniping section, too many bullet sponge enemy encounters...). Don't get me wrong, bulletstorm has some of those "brakes" too, but it has overall more of the non-stop action.

- Bulletstorm has the most fun sniper rifle ever in a videogame. It's basically Batmans remote Batarang combined with a sniper rifle...so good. All of the weapons feel good, far better than Doom 2016 if you ask me (Glory kills were Dooms mvp)

- gore and the joy of kicking enemies into stage hazards. You have to play it to get it, watching gameplay doesn't sell the game at all.

- sliding + kick = Vanquish

- trash writing done good. It'a a mix of Vanquish, Gears, Doom...but I got a few chuckles out of the non-stop profanity. It's stupid fun and never tries to be serious (unlike Gears), although there is a interesting story here with some drama set-up.

Give us a sequel please. With all the run and gun shooters being revived over the last years, this game could finally get some appreciation.

 

[Soapbox Killer]

Nothing is better than Vanquish.

 

[MeltedDreams]

Nothing is better than Vanquish.

.

 

[SugarWater7521]

Idk if it's better than vanquish but it's fucking cool and fun

 

[stumblebee]

I played this game back in the gap and played through the first hour or so on the PS4.

- Man that writing is bad. Remember that part in the beginning where Grey is monologing some deep shit about taking down that ship before he thrusts his ship into it? Super flowery and weird when you consider that character.

- It's been a long, long time since I've played a game that didn't have sprint on L3.

- Yeah it's super fun. Leashing someone and then kicking them feels super, super good.

 

[Marcus Brutalius]

I played this game back in the gap and played through the first hour or so on the PS4.

- Man that writing is bad. Remember that part in the beginning where Grey is monologing some deep shit about taking down that ship before he thrusts his ship into it? Super flowery and weird when you consider that character.

- It's been a long, long time since I've played a game that didn't have sprint on L3.

- Yeah it's super fun. Leashing someone and then kicking them feels super, super good.

Yeah, that's one of the cons for sure. On the other hand, you're character moves fast enough without sprint and sprinting is kind of pointless when you
can enter sliding by double pressing X. Still a bummer.

 

[IronicSonic]

This comparison is interesting. I think Vanquish is the best TPS ever, even above RE4 or Gears series. The gore and overall aesthetic really turns me off though.

 

[NeroPaige]

Vanquish is probably the game I'd replay. I'm not even good at it.

The story, like bayonetta, is so bad is brings it down overall though.

 

[Formless]

Nah. Doesn't come close to touching Vanquish imo.

 

[super moustique]

How's the OG version compared to the new one ?

 

[Silky]

Well yeah Bulletstorm actually has levels designed around it's mechanics instead of Vanquish.

 

[Ehoavash]

Yeah just played it the other day. Im shocked how fun this game is.

The story/dialog is garbage but man that sliding gameplay is sooooooooo goooood

One thing though L3 to crouch sucks :/
Also how do I hide behind walls without crouching ??

 

[Principate]

Well yeah Bulletstorm actually has levels designed around it's mechanics instead of Vanquish.

This just makes me think you didn't understand the full extent of what Vanquish's mechanics were...

 

[Peltz]

Interesting. I never gave Bulletstorm a chance but I adore Vanquish for the most part. Maybe I'll try it.

 

[Gunny T Highway]

It is not better than vanquish, but Bulletstorm is a great game.

 

[nded]

It's a shame fast-paced score attack shooters like these never took off. CoJ Gunslinger was the last one I can think of, and it was quite toned down compared to Bulletstorm and Vanquish.

 

[Marcus Brutalius]

How's the OG version compared to the new one ?

60FPS vs. sub 30FPS, 1080p vs. sub 720p, I assume

Well yeah Bulletstorm actually has levels designed around it's mechanics instead of Vanquish.

That's what I'm talking about, my man. Vanquish on paper is the best thing still sliced bread, but I can only remember 3 or 4 encounters (outside of boss fights) where the sliding mechanic really worked because of the level design. Without sliding it was a lesser version of Gears imo. And overloading when using melee...don't know how to put this...as if the devs thought "No, the player shouldn't have too much fun with our game."

 

[Silky]

This just makes me think you didn't understand the full extent of what Vanquish's mechanics were...

I've played Vanquish front to back and Bulletstorm front to back, and I am fully aware as to how Vanquish is designed. Providing an empty/non-obtrusive firing space to compensate for the Sliding/boost mechanic in Vanquish has always been a bad idea, imo and having the centerpiece of Vanquish's combat be centered around bosses instead of individual enemy types (the enemies in vanquish are non-responsive killing fodder) is even worse. Because the gunplay isn't strong enough in Vanquish to compensate for the rest of the game's failings. If nothing else, Vanquish has nailed what it feels like to 'move' around in a game but there are a myriad of other third person shooters that can not only nail the sensation of movement across a combat area, but can ALSO provide really good gunplay mechanics to stand on their own as well.

Bulletstorm, while not a TPS, manages to do that. The design techniques that Vanquish has implemented in their game (beyond boss fights because they're not really in that game) has been surpassed in Bulletstorm, and hell even Warframe manages to do what Vanquish attempts better.

 

[2Blackcats]

Agreed , better then Vanquish.

Great game, hope more people get to play it now.

 

[Larsowitz]

Nothing is better than Vanquish.

Agree to that!!

 

[Tokio Blues]

It's brilliant.

 

[AfropunkNyc]

Bulletstorm is a game i completed. still have vanquish and didn't complete it, though im at the midway of the game and haven't touched in in months.

 

[Marcus Brutalius]

I've played Vanquish front to back and Bulletstorm front to back, and I am fully aware as to how Vanquish is designed. Providing an empty/non-obtrusive firing space to compensate for the Sliding/boost mechanic in Vanquish has always been a bad idea, imo and having the centerpiece of Vanquish's combat be centered around bosses instead of individual enemy types (the enemies in vanquish are non-responsive killing fodder) is even worse. Because the gunplay isn't strong enough in Vanquish to compensate for the rest of the game's failings. If nothing else, Vanquish has nailed what it feels like to 'move' around in a game but there are a myriad of other third person shooters that can not only nail the sensation of movement across a combat area, but can ALSO provide really good gunplay mechanics to stand on their own as well.

Bulletstorm, while not a TPS, manages to do that.

perfectly said, exactly how I feel. No one can sell me shooting at bullet-sponges in slo-mo whilst killing the potential speed of the game as the best shooter ever. Vanquish needed wide open areas, because the cover shooting was the worst aspect of the game.

 

[Teh Radge]

- Man that writing is bad. Remember that part in the beginning where Grey is monologing some deep shit about taking down that ship before he thrusts his ship into it? Super flowery and weird when you consider that character.

"a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to hell"

It's from Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum, keeps it in with the pirate theme.

 

[Silky]

I played this game back in the gap and played through the first hour or so on the PS4.

- Man that writing is bad. Remember that part in the beginning where Grey is monologing some deep shit about taking down that ship before he thrusts his ship into it? Super flowery and weird when you consider that character.

Grayson is a deteriorating character and he constantly alludes to his self destruction throughout the entirety of Bulletstorm. He's a hopeless drunkard that sees every convenient stroke of dumb luck to be beneficial to his survival, when all that does is destroy the last slivers of trust that he has with his friends. He knows he's a fuckup and he's constantly trying to stick his neck out to put everything back together. Once he loses Ishi that's when he realizes he has nothing to lose.

 

[Deleted member 11413]

Eh, I found Vanquish to be much more compelling.

 

[Kinthey]

- trash writing done good. It'a a mix of Vanquish, Gears, Doom...but I got a few chuckles out of the non-stop profanity. It's stupid fun and never tries to be serious (unlike Gears), although there is a interesting story here with some drama set-up

The writing and story is honestly one of my highlights from the game. The constant profanity can get pretty funny and also remains self aware enough


At the same time you also just have proper characters that go through a nice arc over the course of the game, all baked into a simple revenge story that's easy enough to follow. By themselves the elements really aren't unique but you rarely seem them so neatly packaged together in a game.

 

[danmaku]

Bulletstorm felt like a missed opportunity. I thought it was going to be the DMC of shooters, but it really isn't. You have a ton of skillshots, but most of them are environment based, so you can't use them everywhere. In most situations all you can do is whip+kick or environmental kill, that's it. I wanted a lot more flexibility.

 

[Ukraine]

I tried playing Vanquish FIVE times on THREE different consoles. It's a shitty game. I just don't get the appeal.

 

[Principate]

I've played Vanquish front to back and Bulletstorm front to back, and I am fully aware as to how Vanquish is designed. Providing an empty/non-obtrusive firing space to compensate for the Sliding/boost mechanic in Vanquish has always been a bad idea, imo and having the centerpiece of Vanquish's combat be centered around bosses instead of individual enemy types (the enemies in vanquish are non-responsive killing fodder) is even worse. Because the gunplay isn't strong enough in Vanquish to compensate for the rest of the game's failings. If nothing else, Vanquish has nailed what it feels like to 'move' around in a game but there are a myriad of other third person shooters that can not only nail the sensation of movement across a combat area, but can ALSO provide really good gunplay mechanics to stand on their own as well.

Bulletstorm, while not a TPS, manages to do that. The design techniques that Vanquish has implemented in their game (beyond boss fights because they're not really in that game) has been surpassed in Bulletstorm, and hell even Warframe manages to do what Vanquish attempts better.

The focus and bread and butter of Vanquish is close quarters combat stringing those encounters together with the traversal mechanism and hiding behind the cover to take off the heat and using your cigarettes to distract fire away from you when you reengage. Most of the boss fights are purposefully engaged to be quite short if you know what your doing.

That's why what you referring as "empty" space exists. What your wanting would completely break up the intended flow of the game.

 

[stumblebee]

"a sudden plunge in the sullen swell
Ten fathoms deep on the road to hell"

It's from Yo Ho Ho and a Bottle of Rum, keeps it in with the pirate theme.

Hm. Alright, I think that dents that argument. Still sorta think the writing is bad in a mediocre way, but I'll retract that one.

 

[Fisty]

Not really close imo. Nothing in Bulletstorm even approaches Vanquish in terms of mechanics. Challenge 6 in Vanquish was probably the best piece of shooter gameplay in Gen 7. Bulletstorm has cool environment interactions and interesting writing, cant say much more than that imo

 

[Teh Radge]

Hm. Alright, I think that dents that argument. Still sorta think the writing is bad in a mediocre way, but I'll retract that one.

Oh yeah no question, almost the whole thing is pulpy and outright naff.

 

[Shepherd]

I'm not that much of a FPS fan but I really loved bulletstorm. Remember finishing it in under a week back when it worked on PC (I know that there's a new one).

 

[Marcus Brutalius]

The writing and story is honestly one of my highlights from the game. The constant profanity can get pretty funny and also remains self aware enough


At the same time you also just have proper characters that go through a nice arc over the course of the game, all baked into a simple revenge story that's easy enough to follow. By themselves the elements really aren't unique but you rarely seem them so neatly packaged together in a game.

Yeah or that moment where your remote controlled monster dies was genuinely funny...even playing it with the shittier German dub.
And the fact that

Spoiler: spoiler

 

[Aaron D.]

I tried playing Vanquish FIVE times on THREE different consoles. It's a shitty game. I just don't get the appeal.

Yeah, I wouldn't go so far as calling it crap but man did I bounce right off of Vanquish.

Still seems like one of those games that have risen to unassailable status in enthusiast circles.

As such, while I get the association with Bulletstorm, I think the OP might have made a mistake comparing the two as it only invites derision.

Shame 'cause Bulletstorm is a really great title worthy of fond remembrance. But anytime you pit one vs. the other there always has to be winners and losers.

 

[Silky]

The focus and bread and butter of Vanquish is close quarters combat stringing those encounters together with the traversal mechanism and hiding behind the cover to take off the heat and using your cigarettes to distract fire away from you when you reengage. Most of the boss fights are purposefully engaged to be quite short if you know what your doing.

That's why what you referring as "empty" space exists. What your wanting would completely break up the intended flow of the game.

The intended gameplay loop Vanquish provides is still half-baked, but sure things like the cover based setups is good enough to work for fans of that game.

 

[Zhukov]

Ohhh, yeah. It's a good one.

Don't care one bit about the Vanquish comparison, but I loved Bulletstorm.

A big part of it for me was the almost complete lack of pretension. It knows it's a dumb, juvenile game and doesn't pretend to be more than that.

 

[Gernau Morat Gurgeh]

Bulletstorm is the shit. Don't make me kill your dick

 

[Black Chamber]

Nothing is better than Vanquish.

First post wins.

Vanquish is hands-down the best and most intense third person shooter ever made.

 

[NightShift]

Hell no. Bulletstorm makes you use cover.

 

[Raptor]

Bulletstorm having organic enemies instead of Robots alone puts it above Vanquish.

NO satisfaction at all in killing robots in a game where killing is the main focus of it.

Movement felt awesome I give it that but thats it.

 

[Principate]

The intended gameplay loop Vanquish provides is still half-baked, but sure things like the cover based setups is good enough to work for fans of that game.

Nah there's reason why it's regarded as one of the best in the genre years after. Even know you won't be able to find TPS gameplay loop much better than what Vanquish others when properly mastered.

 

[Fisty]

Yeah, I wouldn't go so far as calling it crap but man did I bounce right off of Vanquish.

Still seems like one of those games that have risen to unassailable status in enthusiast circles.

As such, while I get the association with Bulletstorm, I think the OP might have made a mistake comparing the two as it only invites derision.

Shame 'cause Bulletstorm is a really great title worthy of fond remembrance. But anytime you pit one vs. the other there always has to be winners and losers.

I love Vanquish to death, but the learning curve in the game is FAR too gradual imo. You can coast through most of the game on Normal mode just playing like a stock cover shooter, which it absolutely isnt and shouldn't be played as. The devs DO NOT incentivize mobility and close quarters engagement nearly enough at the lower difficulties, which I think is the reason lots of people like yourself maybe didn't "get it" with Vanquish. Not saying the answer is just "make it way harder" but that was definitely a miss from Platinum

 

[tommyv2]

I played Vanquish as a regular cover shooter and found it just decent.
Twice.

Come at me.

 

[Edgar]

Nothing is better than Vanquish.

Majority of games are better than vanquish

 

[Supreme Leader Galahad]

Its a really strong FPS and its guns really work well with the energy leash system for making sick combos. Cant say its better than Vanquish but i would say its as good as DOOM, maybe even better.

 

[DaCocoBrova]

Shut your mouth!

 

[LewieP]

Bulletstorm is a fun game, but let's not be silly.

 

[Carolina Reaper]

No you can say it, it's better. Way better.