Far Cry 3 is a few days away from release, but reviews have started rolling on. And boy, it’s impressive. Everyone’s praising Far Cry 3 greatly, pointing out errors in the online and co-op department, but praising the excellent campaign and the thought provoking story and the themes it tackles.

Some sites like EGM and Eurogamer have even given it an astounding 10/10. Eurogamer calls it “the new apex predator of open-world shooters”.

Check out all the reviews for Far Cry 3 that have yet been put up live below:

Eurogamer- 10/10

The Globe and Mall (Toronto)- 10/10

EGM- 10/10

Computer And Video Games- 9.4/10

MondoXbox- 9.3/10

Multiplayer.it- 9.3/10

SpazioGames- 9/10

Eurogamer Italy- 9/10

Game Informer- 9/10

OXM UK- 9/10

Worth Playing- 9/10

VideoGamer- 9/10

Eurogamer Sweden- 9/10

Canadian Online Gamers- 9/10

GameSpy- 9/10

The Escapist- 9/10

IncGamers- 9/10

Strategy Informer- 9/10

IGN- 9/10

Gamer.no- 9/10

JeuxActu- 9/10

OXM- 8.5/10

Edge- 8/10

Hardcore Gamer Magazine- 8/10

Far Cry 3 currently has a Metacritic score of 91 for the Xbox 360, 88 for the PC and 92 for the PS3.

We will be posting our own review soon, so stay tuned.

Assassin’s Creed 3 is now out in the US and will be releasing worldwide in just a few hours, and the reviews for one of the most anticipated games of the year have started coming in.

They’re good! The scores have been solid and promising, and while the game is being criticized for plenty of technical issues, bugs and glitches, its story, naval battles and enjoyable gameplay are being lauded, as everyone would have expected.

The reviews are given below (all scores have been translated to a 10-point scale):

G4 TV: 10/10
There is so much story, so much multiplayer, and so much stuff to do that your average 10 hour game should be terribly ashamed of itself. In this economy, you can’t do better than Assassins Creed III.

Digital Spy: 10/10
With a campaign offering anything up to 70 hours worth of gameplay, not to mention a comprehensive multiplayer mode, Assassin’s Creed 3 is one of the most complete action-adventure games we’ve ever played.

3DJuegos: 9.7/10
This game is an amazing new iteration for the Assassin’s Creed saga, a worthy successor to its awesome predecessors, and an epic tale where you can enjoy the incredible amount of work that Ubisoft surely invested on it. Here the American Revolution feels alive and fresh, and it comes with a multifaceted and human hero: the memorable Connor.

Game Informer: 9.5/10
An overwhelming experience in its own right, Assassin’s Creed III is the crown jewel on an already excellent series, and it sets the mind reeling about the potential for where the story goes from here.

GameTrailers: 9.2/10
While it’s a little slow to get going, Assassin’s Creed III is a rewarding, elegant game on many levels. It understands that everyone plays open-world games differently, and provides plenty of incentive for players to tackle its quandaries how they see fit. The sheer variety, overall quality, brisk pacing, massive amount of content, and satisfying story make it easy to forget its few rough spots. Heady and well-informed, Assassin’s Creed III is the polar opposite of a guilty pleasure. 

SpazioGames: 9/10
Assassin’s Creed III is an amazing game, period. Tons of stuff to do, tons of animals to hunt, the magnificence of the Frontier and the pleasure to sail and be a privateer makes this game the best of the series so far.

Gameblog.fr: 9/10
Assassin’s Creed III might not be as revolutionary in itself as the historical period it covers, and it still has some shortcomings that may annoy old timers of the series and newcomers alike, but its generosity, the unbelievably high quality of its writing, particularly the character of Connor, the political and societal questions it weaves into its Templar / Assassins storyline, and the overall generosity of its content more than make up for it. It may feel constricted inside our current hardware, but manages nonetheless to push back its limits, combining the proven formula with new gorgeous elements both in the solo and multiplayer aspects.

Eurogamer: 9/10
The biggest and richest Assassin’s Creed game to date – maybe not the best, but a place where, for want of a better expression, everything is permitted. 

IGN: 8.5/10
Not everything about the game gels together convincingly and the missions’ unnecessary prescriptiveness sometimes undermines the sense of freedom that the rest of the game works so hard to create. But it achieves so much that you can’t help but respect it; no other open-world game has ever given us a setting that’s as impressive to observe or as full of things to do as this.

Meristation: 8.5/10
Following lessons by masters Altair and Ezio, Connor brings key new features to the Assassin’s Creed series. Naval battles and leafy wilderness areas full of animals and tall trees fit nicely with the well-built historical setting of this American Revolutionary War. Expansive and spectacular, only marred by inexcusable bugs, reduced draw distances, a slow-paced beginning and several AI flaws.

OXM: 8.5/10
Bottom line: does the game live up to AC II? Well, no. Ezio’s grand introduction is pretty damn hard to top, at least in terms of story content and franchise innovation. But that doesn’t invalidate Connor’s journey by any means. Assassin’s Creed III’s newly refined gameplay and incredibly rich setting are captivating stuff, and we’re excited to see what adventures lie ahead for our new hero.

Machinima: 8.5/10
There’s a certain amount of diminishing returns on the mechanical evolutions made but the fresh, authentic setting along with a brand new protagonist go along way in rekindling the fire.

GameSpot: 8.5/10
Other games stimulate emotion with manipulative music and teary monologues; Assassin’s Creed III rouses your mind and your heart by giving you a glimpse into its characters’ souls and letting you judge them on their own merits.

Gamer.no: 8/10
Exploring the beautifully rendered American east coast during the 16th century is a delight. The woodland nature areas provide a atmosphere and a sense of freedom that’s been lacking in the series previous installments. Variation in quests, innovative and well developed systems are the game’s strongest parts.

Polygon: 8/10
Even knowing that I’ll encounter issues that make the game occasionally infuriating, I want to go back. And that, despite Assassin’s Creed 3’s flaws, is more than I can say for most games.

Gamereactor Sweden: 8/10
Not the masterpiece we were waiting for, but still an impressive action game with superb art direction.

OXM UK: 8/10
The strongest aspect of ACIII is the more mature moral tone.

ComputerAndVideoGames: 8/10
A gargantuan, lavish historical epic, let down by shoddy mission design. Great, but not the revolution we were hoping for.

Edge: 8/10
A refreshed, rejuvenated Assassins’ Creed; a solid foundation upon which the yearly iterative release cycle can be maintained; and a sprawling, detailed adventure to enjoy.

GamesBeat: 7.9/10
Assassin’s Creed III capitalizes on its historical setting in ways few other games do, hitting several perfect notes and even throwing the best curveball in recent memory. As a crescendo piece, it misses the mark completely. Occasionally iffy controls and a few mystifying design choices also knock down an otherwise solid effort.

Destructoid: 7.5/10
Cohesion (or lack thereof) is the main issue with Assassin’s Creed III. There are dozens of secondary elements which make up the content of the game, but they offer little in terms of reward and rarely contribute anything to the Assassin/Templar conflict. While the game is often quite fun, beautiful to look at and empowering to the player, it doesn’t offer much challenge beyond the endurance necessary to complete all of the single-player campaign elements.

OPM: 7/10
In a year when Dishonored and Hitman: Absolution have shown just how well stealth games can be realised, Assassin’s Creed’s take on unseen murder is stuck in the past – doubly so when we were led to expect so much more. We were promised a revolution, but very little has changed.

Joystiq: 7/10
It’s sad to see the game lose sight of its assassin role-playing ideals in favor of bombast, bomb blasts and pig herding, so I hope this is but a momentary stumble while the franchise regains its balance. Trim the excess, remember the central thrust (hint: it’s with a knife) and then you’ll have a great game again.

VideoGamer: 7/10
As extraordinary as the scale and scope of this huge production can be at times, you’re left with a bloated reminder that bigger isn’t always better.

Metacritic- Xbox 360: 85 with 15 reviews | PS3: 87 with 7 reviews

Stay tuned to this page, we will be updating it regularly as we come across more reviews.

We will also be posting our very own Assassin’s Creed III review soon, so keep checking back to GamingBolt. In the meanwhile, you can read our preview.

Have you played Assassin’s Creed 3 yet? How do you like it? Fire away in the comments section below!

The scores for The Darkness II went live yesterday, and our review will be up soon as well. The game has received some good scores, ranging from exceptional to decent, and you can check out the prominent ones below.

The game was released on February 7th in the US, and will release on February 10th in the EU. The Metacritic is currently at 79, which shouldn’t please 2k Games, but oh well.

Check them out below:

Cheat Code Central – 92

The Darkness II is everything I wanted a sequel to The Darkness to be. It’s almost excessive in its violence, the combat is addicting, the hand-drawn Graphic Noir art style is gorgeous, and underneath it all is a game with a heart and a truly interesting story. Jackie’s a supremely messed-up individual, but we still love him because of all the crap he’s willing to go through in order to save Jenny. If you’re looking for any of these things, The Darkness II won’t disappoint.

EGM – 90

Better A.I. and combat mechanics than the first Darkness, gorgeously painted environments, and the same ol’ omnipotent snake-headed dark force makes for one heck of a game play combination.

Official Xbox Magazine – 90

The Darkness II’s copious gore might upset sensitive stomachs, but it’s vastly superior to its predecessor in every respect, spinning a frantic, fantastic neo-noir nightmare you won’t want to end. Even those who ordinarily dismiss horror with a shake of the head should give it a shot.

Everyeye.it – 88

The Darkness II is not an absolute masterpiece but, with its style and fast paced action, it can conquer so many player’s hearts. Cooperative gameplay, in the end, adds a lot of replay value to the product.

SpazioGames – 85

The Darkness 2 it’s an intense shooter, and while it may not be the most brilliant or the best designed, it’s definitely a great experience that FPS fans will appreciate.

BigPond GameArena – 80

The characterisation, acting and story are all spectacular – and the way it works to create connections between the player and the characters within should be taught in schools, if such schools existed. The gunplay is frantic but at the same time you feel powerful, and the art style doesn’t strive towards realism because it doesn’t need to.

Giant Bomb – 80

Nothing in The Darkness II’s story line feels out of place or unnecessary. It doesn’t digress needlessly into side missions or other time-wasters designed to just keep you playing for longer stretches. Instead, Digital Extremes believed in the strength of both its combat system and Jenkins’ script to inspire players to play through it again once the credits roll.

Games Radar (in-house) – 80

While it lacks some of the openness and emotional pull of its predecessor, The Darkness II is a highly polished, immensely fun shooter that delivers a stellar mix of over-the-top gore, furious action and clever, character-focused storytelling.

IGN – 80

Despite some problems with polish and a story that takes time to develop into something great, The Darkness II ends up as an early treat in the new year. The narrative elements help the pacing considerably, breaking up Jackie’s engaging and brutal murderfests.

Destructoid – 70

The Darkness II succeeds far more than it fails. The single-player experience features some genuine emotion in its narrative, something games which don’t feature skull-extricating tentacles rarely manage to accomplish. And while the Vendettas cooperative multiplayer content feels lackluster by comparison, it’s not bad either and serves to pad out this short but otherwise delightful game.

GameTrailers – 74

The Darkness still packs plenty of gut appeal, with limbs being sheared and torsos torn asunder. Alas, players cannot sustain themselves on gore alone. Ultimately, the ultra violence will whet your appetite for bloodlust, but fail to slake your thirst for a truly great game.

Edge Magazine – 70

It’s derivative, gratuitous and needlessly profane, but beneath the gruesome veneer lies a tale of – believe it or not – genuine tenderness.

Eurogamer – 70

Ultimately, it’s this unique style that makes The Darkness 2 worth your time. After years of chest-beating military domination, the FPS genre is starting to show signs of life in more eccentric ways. Everything old is new again, so by concentrating on character, story and giddy comic-book excess, The Darkness 2 is a more compelling offering in 2012 than it would have been in 2008.

GameSpot – 70

Levels are linear and predictable, focused on ushering you from one straightforward encounter to another so that you can go crazy with those deranged arms of yours. If you are a fan of the original game, bear this in mind: The Darkness II is a fun, very short FPS without the authentic atmosphere and subtle touches that made its predecessor so intriguing. Still, if you’ve got a lust for virtual blood, The Darkness II leaks enough of it to satiate you.

Tell us what you think in the comments section below.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution releases in a day in North American regions, and three days after that in Europe. The reviews, though, have already started to come in, and they have nothing but good things to say.

Rather than you having to go through the entire internet, we have compiled links to all Deus Ex: Human Revolution reviews here. We will keep updating this post, so keep checking back! If we have missed out any links, let us know via your comments.

IncGamers- 100/100
“Despite the quality of the combat, the emphasis on gameplay options, the diverse set of augmentations and the substantial side-missions, what will stay with me about Human Revolution is its focus on creating a rich, believable world filled with interesting characters, themes and conflicting ideals. The mere fact that it aims for such lofty narrative heights is commendable, the fact that it achieves them is worthy of celebration.”

1UP- 100/100
“It’s rare that I play a game that doesn’t just let me play the way I like, but actually showers me with prizes for doing so, and I love it.”

Official Xbox Magazine UK- 100/100
“Human Revolution stands proudly alongside the best in cyberpunk fiction, in any medium let alone just games… So few games allow you to carve a subtly unique path through every single encounter and, while major plot points remain the same, you’ll feel like your journey was your own.”

Digital Spy- 100/100
“Fans of the series will be delighted at just how much Eidos Montreal has gotten right with this prequel, from the dark cyberpunk visuals to the open-ended puzzle solutions. It tells an epic story full of twists and turns, set atop an incredibly challenging gameplay experience.”

Worth Playing- 97/100
“It is a brilliantly constructed game that sets up a world and then sets the player loose, allowing you to explore as you see fit. From the art direction to the genre-bending gameplay, Deus Ex: Human Revolution is a landmark in game design that is sure to be referenced in the years to come. Buy it without hesitation.”

Strategy Informer- 95/100
“Challenging, addictive, immersive… provided you like stealth-based action – there hasn’t been an action/RPG this good in a long while.”

Gamer.nl- 95/100
“Human Revolution might not be as revolutionary as the original was back when it came out, but the main elements of this series is still as exciting and downright unique as it was ten years ago. This is how a game that wants to tell a story should be: interactive and focussed. On top of that, Human Revolution takes place in one of the best virtual worlds ever. Some technical hiccups don’t get in the way of this impressive experience.”

Gaming Target- 95/100
“There’s plenty of exploration to be had in the cities built on top of each other (think: Futurama), challenging gameplay that requires thought-out strategy and 21 categories of game-defining augmentations. I love how augmentations are so well tied to Adam Jensen’s multi-layered, sci-fi narrative as well as the gameplay.”

Destructoid- 95/100
“With its flowing, open approach to mission structure, thoroughly engrossing story and gorgeous visuals, this is the kind of game that all others should strive to be. While there are some elements that don’t feel quite as developed as they should have been, and augmentation is more Hobson’s choice than true choice, Human Revolution provides a level of quality that only the most adamant cynic could fail to be impressed by. More importantly, it is everything a fan of Deus Ex could want in a game.”

Gamefront– 95/100
“DXHR is just a joy to play, despite its somewhat anti-climactic final level and its slight tendency to overpower the player as time goes on with a few too many augments, weapons and credits. It would be a great game without its narrative; it would be a great narrative without its gameplay. Melded together, DXHR becomes the premier single player experience this year, and possibly for the last few years. Maybe even for this whole console hardware generation. This is a game you must play.”

PC Gamer- 94/100
“A dark, cool, and beautiful revival of an incredible game.”

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK- 94/100
“Massive, ambitious and thoroughly brilliant, Deus Ex Human Revolution turns out to be three different games at once, and all of them are outstanding.”

ComputerAndVideoGames- 94/100
“Massive, ambitious and thoroughly brilliant, Deus Ex Human Revolution turns out to be three different games at once, and all of them are outstanding.”

Games Master UK- 94/100
“It is a great shooter, it is a great stealth game, and those parts come together to make it a great RPG. It’s a once-in-a-generation kind of game, and the first game in a decade to do everything the original Deus Ex did, and to do almost all of it better.”  [Oct 2011, p.88]

LazyGamer.Net– 93/100
“Deus Ex Human Revolution is a triumph, obviously created by people who understand and love the original Deus Ex. Incredibly well crafted, it’s a smart game for smart gamers.”

SpazioGames- 90/100
“The task of reviving one of the milestones of gaming wasn’t easy at all, but Eidos Montreal ultimately did it, filling its creation with care, love and choice. Complex, replayable, and offering a wide range of different gameplay experiences, Deus Ex: HR doesn’t come flawless (long loading times, occasional bugs, forgettable boss fights), but it’s a game that fans of the original don’t want to miss, as well as everybody else looking for a game that makes you really play with it.”

Joystiq- 90/100
“An imperfect, complex and ambitious reminder of what a game can be when it’s unafraid.”

TheSixthAxis- 90/100
“It’s obvious how much time Eidos Montreal has spent on Deus Ex: Human Revolution and behind the wonderful design is a solid game with a plot that will keep you guessing. This is a quality product in the same class as Dead Space 2 and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood and I’m sure it will be in many of the 2011 awards lists.”

PSX Extreme- 90/100
“The camera and control can be a little iffy, the maze-like quality of certain districts can get annoying, and the AI and technical presentation feels somewhat dated. But the gameplay is absolutely stellar. It’s a pleasure to play such a COMPLETE experience. The depth is there, the style and atmosphere is there, the action is there, and the story is there.”

Level7.nu- 90/100
“A futuristic FPS with RPG elements, a great story, interesting side missions and choices that matter.”

Bit-Gamer- 90/100
“The combat isn’t the best you’ll ever play, the dialogue not the punchiest, the stealth not the sneakiest…But that’s missing the point. Human Revolution is a game to take as an entire experience, where you can shift at will from having exciting gunfights to crawling around in vents, and where every victory is all the sweeter for knowing you chose to do it that way.”

NZGamer- 90/100
“As a complete package its clearly an impressive, engrossing experience. Its storyline is excellent, its characterisation, voice acting, score and script are very well done, and its aesthetic is deliciously dystopian. The only fly in the ointment is its binary combat mechanics.”

RPG Fan- 90/100
“There are fumbles present which hint at a larger scope that may have been compromised during development, but the core essence of player choice and flexibility stands true. The sense of reward for each thoughtful approach and calculation brought a smile to my face and made me feel like a complete badass. Just like the original, Human Revolution is at its best when it shuts up and lets you decide how to accomplish your goals.”

3DJeugos- 90/100
“Deus Ex is yet again, more than the sum of its parts, one of the most captivating games in years. It’s a title far from perfect, however is a must play for anyone who is passionate for great Sci-Fi stories and action games.”

VideoGamer-  90/100
“Perhaps the strongest compliment I can pay Eidos Montreal is this: with its grand design, dynamic play and sheer wealth of ideas – not to mention its old-fashioned pre-occupation with air vents – Deus Ex: Human Revolution is reminiscent of the best efforts from the golden era of PC gaming at the end of the 90s. It’s a modern release imbued with the finer qualities of an age gone by.”

EuroGamer- 90/100
“One of those rare games that knows you can’t be perfect all the time, and that you have the right to change your mind about your actions later. It just wants to be played with and enjoyed – and when you finish, you just want to play with it again.”

GamerFitNation– 90/100
“In conclusion, Deus Ex:  Human Revolution is an excellent game. If you’re into Sci-Fi action dramas with a good storyline then this is the game for you. This is a great take on a futuristic spy action drama. The revolution will not be televised, because you’re going to be playing it. Great job Eidos, keep em coming.”

IGN- 90/100
“It’s a visionary, considered piece of work, and while my thoughts drift to the things that could have been and the compromises made due to the possibilities of video games in 2011, they’re just as quick to consider playing through it again.”

Edge Magazine- 90/100
“From its sluggish, restrictive start, Human Revolution opens into a world of scintillating possibility in which your actions’ significance reaches far into the future. And with something like that difficult future approaching fast, Human Revolution achieves a rare accolade: it’s not just a great game, but a timely one.”

Da Gameboyz- 88/100
“Incredibly deep and offers up an action RPG game that will surely please those gamers who enjoy playing games like Splinter Cell and Mass Effect. It is a visually stunning game that features a top notch audio package and a storyline that is engaging.”

Planet Xbox 360- 88/100
“The graphics are really outstanding for a game of this type, and the combat/stealth/social scenarios are second-to-none, giving you a wide range of choices, whether it’s how you play through the game or adapt your body to make situations fare better in your favor.”

GameTrailers- 87/100
“Offers a good deal of mischief to get into, and it’s all backed up by a great stealth system and a solid shooting game. With its variable story, as well as how it encourages you to alter your approach to obstacles, it’s also a game that rewards multiple playthroughs. The future is bleak and at times ugly, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Official Xbox Magazine- 85/100
“While so many stealth games equate any sort of detection with total failure, Human Revolution lets the chaotic consequences of exposure play out in all their unpredictable glory. Shoddy storytelling means that all the sound and fury that results ultimately signifies dreadfully little, but at no point short of death do you every truly lose – you just have a different kind of fun.”

Everyeye.it- 85/100
“Deus Ex: Human Revolution does not distance itself from the charming ambiguity of the whole series. The attention to detail of a society plagued by the man-machine moral conflict and the balanced combination of Action-RPG and FPS components can offer a truly deep gameplay.”

Gaming Age- 83/100
“It does a fantastic job of capturing a lot of the gameplay elements that made the original Deus Ex so much fun, and from a story perspective leads into the events of the original nicely.”

Gamespy- 80/100
“Although it doesn’t quite match the lofty excellence of the original Deus Ex, it’s a much better game than Invisible War and a welcome rebirth for a brand that many – including me – thought was long past its prime. Not quite a classic, but definitely worth your money and time.”

EuroGamer Italy- 80/100
“The best card played by Eidos Montreal is the core of the stealth gameplay, and the vast array of augmentations can change drastically the way the player can solve the most intricate security situations. Ok, the graphics and the combat probably aren’t the freshest beverage of this summer, but for 20+ hours of high quality hide and catch, you can drink them anyway and leave the complains for the inevitable DLCs.”

Gameblog.fr- 80/100
“A game which clearly delivers richness and varied pleasures. Granted, it’s not perfect, especially from a purely technical standpoint, and it will probably not surprise as much as its illustrious ancestor did back in 2000, but its generosity, the excellence of its artistic direction and cyberpunk universe, supported by a sublime soundtrack, draw us right in for a long adventure from which it’s very, very difficult to break free. I can’t wait for a follow-up that could be freed from the constraints that clearly limited what the developers ambitionned to deliver originally… because Deus Ex Human Revolution still marks the return of true cyberpunk in videogames. Let’s pray it doesn’t leave us again for another 10 years.”

games(TM)- 80/100
“It may not be as revelatory an experience, and in today’s age feels as derivative as it does inventive, but it still has us excitingly discussing tactics and angles of approach with fellow players long after we’ve finished playing. Surely there’s no greater testament to Eidos Montreal’s success than that.”

Official PlayStation Magazine UK- 80/100
“A curious hybrid: a stealthy shooter with RPG-like exploration and storytelling. It’s not as direct as a sci-fi COD, nor as expansive or open as Fallout. Instead, it’s somewhere in the middle. But that’s also what makes the series special, and Human Revolution does the Deus Ex name proud, providing an absorbing world to investigate and a satisfying freedom to play by your own rules.” [Sept 2011, p.100]

METACRITIC SCORE-
Xbox 360- 89 (based on 21 reviews)
PS3- 90 (based on 10 review)
PC- 89 (based on 12 review) 

Keep hitting us with links to more reviews and we’ll keep updating the page. And stay tuned to GB, we will have our own review soon!

The embargo on Epic's highly awaited Bulletstorm has lifted, and the game is now out. Is it worth getting?

Bulletstorm, developed by Epic Games and People Can Fly in collaboration and published by EA, is now out in stores. And with the embargo lifting, the reviews for the game have started to come in. But the question is, is Bulletstorm all it is being made out to be? Is it the crass, fun, over-the-top shooter that we were looking for, or is it just another disappointing FPS? Well, we have gathered some of the reviews on the Internet below, for you to get the idea how the industry is liking them. Enjoy our review round up!

Review Round Up

Games Radar- 10/10

“Forget your preconceptions of Bulletstorm as a foul-mouthed big dumb action game. It’s an intelligent, nuanced design with fathoms of depth, which marks a return to the importance of player creativity in shooters and simultaneously evolves the concept of interactivity in an FPS world. And with two cleverly complimentary secondary modes, it will have serious legs for a good long while to come.”

Strategy Informer- 9.5/10

“An incredibly welcome breath of fresh air. Never underestimate the simple need to let loose and cause some mayhem, and the skill shot system is exceptionally done.”

GameInformer- 9.3/10

“An exceptional shooter brimming with personality and originality, but the concept is spread too thin in the later levels. New homicidal toys are constantly introduced in the first three-quarters of the game, which makes the final few hours a little stale. Mix in a ho-hum ending and the stellar experience goes out on a bit of a low note.”

ComputerAndVideoGames- 9.1/10

“Yes, its vulgar and obscene nature might rub some people the wrong way, but for many Bulletstorm will be a humorous, tongue-in-cheek romp that distinguishes itself from the other samey sci-fi or military shooters clogging up the genre. The game brings simple design concepts used in the infancy of the FPS to the modern day and garnishes it with all the current-generation trimmings.”

Joystiq- 9/10

“Bulletstorm wasn’t so much developed as it was raised on human growth hormones and taught the English language by a group of sailors and truck drivers. It was also shown every ’80s action and sci-fi movie ever made about a dozen times, given a bottle of whiskey, handed a gun and instructed to shoot anything that moves.”

VideoGamer- 9/10

“Behind the f-bombs and dick-tits are some incredibly mature and well thought out mechanics. Not only does the Skillshot system invite a completely new approach to shooting in single-player, it uses scores and leaderboards to inspire competition in a completely different vein to the amalgamate of contemporary shooters.”

GamePro- 9/10

“Truly a strange bird in the world of shooters. It doesn’t offer the rich backstory and characters of a game like BioShock, but damned if I didn’t laugh countless times during the many outbursts of colorful language from its cast. Like its innovative predecessors, Bulletstorm goes against the grain of the popular norm, often in exciting and hilarious ways, and though it’s not perfect, it’s still one hell of a ride.”

Destructoid- 9/10

“Epic and People Can Fly not only succeed at delivering the “bigger” and the “more,” but bring with it a gameplay slant that makes it a one-of-a-kind experience. Yes, it may be brazenly outrageously and juvenile; be prepared to check your “Serious Business Adult” card at the door. But lurking underneath is a seriously fun, novel take on the first-person shooter genre that shouldn’t be ignored. Just make sure you don’t “play it wrong.””

Eurogamer- 9/10

“This is a game that wants you to laugh so hard that you sneeze on yourself, but it’s also a game that wants you to experiment as much as possible with the tools you’ve been given. Its cleverness is as lightly worn as it is unexpected. It’s the best kind of guilty pleasure.”

SpazioGames- 8.8/10

“It’s a lot of fun and fast as hell, at least in the first half. The pace sometimes slows down as you get to the end, and the Skillshot system dowsn’t work smoothly all the way through. It’s still an original and funny take on first person shooting: it won’t last too long, but you’ll enjoy a lot out of it.”

GameTrailers- 8.6/10

“If you can make peace with the ridiculous vibe, it’s almost a sure thing you’ll have fun with it. It doesn’t have the legs to sustain it for months, so you might want to approach the game as one of its characters would approach a leather-clad Mad Max reject: wham, bam, thank you, ma’am.”

Meristation- 8.5/10

“Kill with Skill is a perfect slogan for an action game with so many ways of executing enemies. Filled with a great sense of humour, the main campaign is the star in this game. It was designed in a way that we always find new things to do, completing the incredibly large list of skills with a good variety of weapons and situations. You really have to think before you act, planning how you’re going to attack in order to get greatest amount points that is possible, taking into account not only the enemies, but the environment. But when you finish the game… you have two options: you’re really competitive and want to be the first one in the charts, or you just abandon the game because of its lack of cooperative mode or an interesting multiplayer. Regardless, but you should not miss such a unique campaign.”

Everyeye.it- 8.5/10

“Bulletstorm is frantic and wild. Its gruesome story mode comes with the Online Co-Op (anarchy). It may be not as polished as other first-person shooters, but for sure it is original and thrilling.”

Eurogamer Sweden- 8/10

“Bulletstorm is a solid shooter that turns back the dial about 15 years – to a time when ultraviolence, arcadey gameplay and outrageous scenarios were the staples of a shooter. But it still manages to feel fresh and on par with the higher quality shooters we’ve seen emerge since 1995, and kicks it up with a brilliant scoring system that keeps the gameplay varied.”

Gamereactor Denmark- 8/10

“Bulletstorm is every action fan’s wet dream. It has excellent playability, grand visuals and many hours of entertainment. The story is a bit average, and the violence and gore may be a little too much at times, but the game makes up for it with great gameplay, and the skillshot system will keep us coming back to perfect our scores.”

PC Gamer UK- 8/10

“Bulletstorm is not art by any metric. It’s difficult to defend, like a friend you take to a party who ends up pissing in a vase. You don’t want to be associated with him, but sh.t, he provides an evening of excitement. It’s a game that’s very proud of the f-words it’s learnt, and it uses them a lot. Fast. Frantic. Fatuous. Full-on. And yes, that other one: fun.”

GameSpot- 8/10

“Unspectacular online play, an abundance of shooter cliches, and forced vulgarity keep it from joining the shooter elite. But the creativity of the skillshot system paired with the engrossing nature of moving up the Echoes leaderboards gives Bulletstorm some muscle and will inspire a dedicated following of talented players eager to show off their incredible mastery of its gratifying mechanics.”

Total Video Games- 8/10

“Bulletstorm kerb-stomps the dominant FPS orthodoxy, replacing tired old conventions with fresh new mechanics. Its gorgeous sci-fi aesthetic and fluid ultraviolent action make the game almost as fun to watch as it is to play and, although it lacks adversarial deathmatches, Bulletstorm’s Echoes and Anarchy modes significantly extend its appeal.”

Metro GameCentral- 8/10

“It’s not going to change the world, but at least it manages to change first person shooters back into something more irreverent and fun.”

Gameblog.fr- 8/10

“Does Bulletstorm revolutionize the FPS? Clearly not! Nevertheless, it adds a personal touch to the genre by making a real scroring game like in the old times. All of this in an adventure which is not perfect, but refreshing and fun at once… and the game system is really excellent. Frankly, if you like the genre, do not hesitate to make yourself happy!”

The Escapist- 8/10

“Bulletstorm is the evolutionary “next step” for first-person shooters that makes up for its jerk-off story by adding plenty of new wrinkles to a heretofore tired genre. This is a game that will be remembered for years to come (for a few reasons).”

Telegraph- 8/10

“In the end, that’s what’ll keep you playing, trying to discover the hidden death-dealing methods, like throwing a group of enemies up into the air and using the flare gun to set them all on fire. That’s a freebie, use the knowledge wisely.”

IGN- 8/10

“The way Bulletstorm fits together results in something cool and memorable. Multiplayer failings notwithstanding, Bulletstorm shines as a single-player shooter. Despite its crass humor and wang-flinging bravado, it’s got some real character and heart to it.”

Game Revolution- 7.5/10

“Sadly, Bulletstorm’s multiplayer features make it a mixed bag, but there is a solid and enjoyable single-player campaign mode in there. The only question is whether that’s enough to justify a purchase over a rental.”

GameZone- 7.5/10

“Sure, the game is hilarious and “laugh out loud” funny, but not everyone is going to find the dick and fart jokes worth their $60. If the developers can ensure the future of the franchise is free of bugs, and work in a competitive multiplayer mode, we might be onto something outstanding. As it is now, Bulletstorm is a very good start to a series on the cusp of greatness, yet hindered by some seriously problematic technical issues.”

Wired- 7/10

“Bulletstorm is the world’s longest dick joke… Despite the fact that it boots you out to loading screens every time you finish a segment or die, it’s a polished-enough piece of work. The point system incentivizes you to play the game using all the tools at your disposal… It’s just a shame the developers couldn’t stop thinking about reproductive anatomy.”

1UP- B-

“A game unsure of what it wants to achieve. When it lets itself, it’s a fantastic adrenaline rush through well-constructed set-pieces and gloriously fun-to-watch violence. But it too often drags itself down with overly structured situations and restrictive, strategy-heavy gameplay.”

MetaCritic Average:

Xbox 360: 85, based on 23 critic reviews
PS3: 86, based on 14 critic reviews
PC: 85, based on 8 critic reviews

There will be more of these reviews up soon, and we may even have missed out on many, so keep posting the links in your comments below as you see them!

Also, stay tuned to GB, we will have our own review, along with a video review, up very soon!