A high-octane, over-the-top comic book shooter that's good gory fun.
Gameplay in "Bulletstorm" lacks the cover system of its bigger brother, but inclusion of "the leash" keeps the thrills fresh. A sort of electrified whip, the Leash can be used to pull enemies into traps or towards you where you can kick or shoot them into an oblivions. The kicking mechanic can also be used to push gasonline cannisters or hot dog stands (!) into the bad games. Of course the game's claim to fame is its Skillshot system. Whereas most shooters most creative kill is the headshot, "Bulletstorm" encourages players to discover outrageous killing possiblities with 8 different firearms. You start out with the typical assault rifle, but can carry two additional weapons as you progress. You can major points by killing quickly and creatively which add up to combos. In turn those points can be used to buy ammo or upgrade weapons with charge up shots.
Once you finish the campaign, you can challenge yourself by replaying levels (sans the story) with Echo Mode. It plays a lot like Tier One in "Medal of Honor" in which the sole purpose is to outscore yourself or your buddies online. The sole multiplayer mode is a cooperative horde mode named "Anarchy". Its certainly not a throwaway addition, but it is unforunate there are no additional gametypes. This being a Cliffy B production, I was hopeful there would be numerous modes. Still, Anarchy is simple fun as you and three other players advance through levels by achieving a pre-set score. Unlockables include only cosmetic changes in your avatar's apperance.
Overall, "Bulletstorm"s best features are its campaign and Skillshot mechanic. Shooter fans will be pleased with its setpieces and the Echo mode is a great way to polish your skills. Anarchy, on the other hand, proves to be fun in short bursts of gameplay. Bring on "Gears 3"!