Platforms: PC[Reviewed], Xbox One
Price: $5
Release Date: 03/08/2016
Some games take awhile to get going. Even the occasional idolized classic is known among its fans for needing a few hours to find its footing, establish its world, and introduce enough of its unique mechanics to really build momentum. When applied to the likes of sprawling open-world RPGs or action games designed to be replayed again and again to master their mechanics, this is usually a minor quibble, quickly forgotten, but in a gaming landscape increasingly featuring episodic and story-driven titles, this often necessary ramp-up time can provide a poor first impression. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Blues & Bullets: Episode 1 for this reason, yet as Episode 2 got underway, I immediately felt far more hooked and impressed by A Crowd of Monsters’ latest release.
Without spoiling too much of the first episode, the second picks up with protagonist Eliot Ness on the trail of a potential kidnapping victim. Frequent flashbacks reveal more of the ex-detective’s sordid personal history, while the present pushes him into encounters with submarine-piloting Russian mobsters, old rivals, and an increasingly supernatural threat that has been building itself up since the beginning of the series. Blues’ storytelling is incredibly strong here, with deft writing delivered through excellent voice acting and the attractive, noir-style art that immediately identifies the game. Many of the technical aspects remain unpolished, such as the frankly terrible character animations, but this was never a high-budget affair, and those used to the likes of Telltale Games’ and Dontnod’s adventures are used to this kind of thing by now.
The game’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
These technical problems persist into the combat, which is sloppy and sluggish even on a sensitive mouse. I’m still not a fan of the shooting segments, which feel like tacked-on filler, but at least they’re short, and make an admirable attempt at breaking up the pacing. I’m not sure the game needs distractions, though – the investigation and adventure segments are just that strong. While fairly simplistic in execution, exploring the environment, gathering clues, and piecing together a crime scene or mysterious event is a thrill, thanks in large part to the narration of Eliot (delivered by Doug Cockle, best known as Geralt of Rivia from the Witcher series) and stylish, punchy UI.
There’s not a whole lot I can say about only a couple hours of gameplay without delving into spoilers, and the best part of this game is the story, so I’m reluctant to delve into too much further detail. What I can say is this: by halfway through the second episode, I really felt like Blues and Bullets was starting to find its stride. More focus is being put on the plot and detective aspects, and with an episode of buildup established, we’re starting to see the first real plot threads coalesce. It’s not perfect, but as long as A Crowd of Monsters keeps playing to their strengths of writing and puzzles, I think that their latest effort is going to just keep getting better.
Don’t mind if I do, caption!
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