Computer game review
Xbox 360 / PS3 / PC
Release date Out now

A secret black-ops army called Dead Echo police the galaxy. But when Grayson Hunt and his cyborg partner Ishi Sato are wrongly discharged from the force they attempt to take revenge on a corrupt General…

It’s shaping up to be a great year for games. After the excellent Dead Space 2, Bulletstorm is another unqualified success.

Set on the planet Stygia, a former resort world now overrun with man-eating plants, mutants, criminals and huge monsters, the main aim of of the game is to find a way off the planet while battling the General's forces. As the story progresses you're joined by Trishka, a female warrior with a sinister tale to tell.

All signs point to Bulletstorm being a bog-standard shooter featuring the usual roll call of over-the-top big guns. But the game really marks itself out by offering players the chance to nab points using a variety of "skillshots". These are achieved by causing mayhem in the most creative and destructive ways possible, from gunning down an opponent mid-air to executing an enemy after shooting him squarely in the nuts. As you earn points, you can upgrade your character, unlock weapons and access even more creative moves and exaggerated skillshots.

There are many other highlights too: taking control of a remote control dinosaur is as much fun as it sounds, while a shootout on a runaway train is a frenetic and tense experience. The rough-edged humour is laddish and delightfully raw, and the story is compelling and twisted. Jonathan Wilkins

VERDICT: 9/10
Daft but fun romp.