Bullet Run Review

Bullet Run is a multiplayer online first person shooter built around a reality television show. In other words, you play it as if it were any other shooter game, but while you do so commentary is also active as if the battle was being broadcast to an audience. The idea is somewhat comparable to the film Gamer, with you, the player, as the controller of the actual individual in the game, but without the criminal element of the movie. The game has been developed by Acony Games and is run by Sony Online Entertainment. It is free to download and play, with some optional and purchasable extras available.

Bullet Run does not have any tutorial for you to learn how to play the game, and so to begin with grasping the controls of the game and getting used to the weaponry puts you at a bit of a disadvantage to other players. The controls however are relatively simple and so this is not an issue that will bother you for too long. In game you are able to use an arsenal of real world weaponry, including a variety of assault rifles, sniper rifles, shotguns and handguns. Alongside this however you are armed with some extra technology such as stimulant injections to improve your performance for a short time or heal you, and various destructive abilities similar to the kill streak rewards of the Call of Duty franchise. This combination has been fitted together comfortably and works nicely in the environment of the game. You can also customise your appearance in the game so that everyone looks somewhat unique. You do have to advance through the game to unlock more items, but there is a good selection once you get going. This adds a more personal feel to the game and allows you to be better integrated with it. Naturally of course, it also allows you to show off your progression to other players, which is always a bonus.

The actual combat of the game is not by any means the sharpest of all first person shooters but is not bad at all. The main things that you will find stand out very quickly are that you can die quickly and that actually maintaining a good aim can prove a challenge in itself initially. Once you get used to how this all works however you can quickly make good progress in your battles. A key element aside from just killing the other team however is how you do it. The game works around having to try and put some style into your kills in order to impress the fans that are watching the show. The more that you are able to do this, the quicker you can progress in terms of level in the game. How this style is calculated is not entirely clear, however it is a nice touch and adds to the reality show theme of the game. One thing that is strange when playing however is the maps. At present, these are quite small and relatively similar to each other, and do not look like a show is being filmed in them other than some cameras around the edge of the map which outline the border and some aircraft which could be filming. This does not effect gameplay as a whole, but some more obvious equipment about the place might have helped to develop the theme in the mind of the player.

The graphics of Bullet Run have been well developed. They are not stunning by any means, but for a free to play game that needs to be capable of maintaining several players in a fast paced online battle they are as good as the really need to be. The people look realistic and the landscapes look good, so there is not really much to complain about. Some of the equipment in the game and the weaponry effects are not quite as sharp as some players would like, but this doesn’t affect the enjoyment of the game. You can change the graphics setting to from low to very high as best suits your system, so the game is fairly well suited to anyone who wishes to play, and can be adapted to avoid lag in this way when playing online. The servers that the game runs on seem quite capable of handling the games anyway, but if you feel that lag is an issue then lowering the graphics a little may well help. The options also allow you to change controls to your personal requirements if you are not getting on with the default setup. In terms of audio, the game is pretty average. The sound effects, like the graphics, are realistic enough but are by no means cutting edge. The guns sound like guns, but don’t expect to feel like you are actually firing a real one. On the other hand, the commentators which provide voice over for the game have clear voices and, most thankfully, not annoying ones that will get on your nerves. It is fair to say that their comments are somewhat limited as you will hear the same ones repeated in games, but not to an extent where you will get to annoyed by it. To make some sort of comparison, if you are a fan of FIFA games then you should get on with the commentary just fine.

Overall, Bullet Run is an online shooter well worth giving a try. Since there is no costs to get or play the game, there is no real risk in having a play with it, and it can be quite enjoyable, particularly if you enjoy the genre. As long as your expectations are not too high you will be pleased with the way the game plays and looks. It may not look as sharp or be as immersive as a shooter such as Call of Duty, but it also won’t send you to your wallet to play it, so there isn’t an awful lot to complain about. Bullet Run is a well made game with a new and unique theme to it and a good potential for the future, and will likely grow quite quickly as people try it and word spreads.

Gameplay

An interesting theme which brings the player into a new environment for a first person shooter. The maps are quite small and limited at present, but hopefully new ones will emerge in the near future. Playing and controlling the game is not too difficult once you have had time to learn.

Graphics

By no means the best graphics for a first person shooter on the market, but for a free to play online game it is hard to frown at them and they are by no means bad. Players and maps look quite realistic and gameplay is not brought down by graphics in any way.

Sounds

Sound effects are on a par with the graphics for the game; not the greatest but realistic enough. The commentary in the game helps add to the theme and is a nice touch, but some repetition should be expected.

Overall

For a free to play online multiplayer game, Bullet Run is a good first person shooter and players have nothing to lose by giving it a go. Hopefully the game will also be updated, grow and improve as time goes on.

Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.