Ever hear of a game called The Ship? Unless you were hardcore into the PC gaming market at the time, chances are you haven’t. Outerlight’s 2007 first-person shooter wasn’t as popular as other entries in the genre, but it managed to attract a select few with its wacky premise and interesting gameplay settings. Trying to capitalize on that audience, Ubisoft has released the budget-priced sequel for Xbox Live Arcade, Bloody Good Time. Unfortunately, the concept isn’t so great this time around, and the game simply can’t live up to its name.
The idea is a clever one. Rather than running through each round in a fearless deathmatch march, you actually have to find your target amidst one of the three maps included in the game. Then you’ll have to keep an eye out for security guards, because if they even suspect you’re a killer, they’ll go on an unstoppable rampage hunting you down, forcing you to respawn. If that’s not enough, you’re actually on someone else’s hit list as well, so you’ll need to watch out for an assassin while tracking down your own target.
On top of this, you’ll need to rummage through each of the three stages to find essentials. You’ll need weapons such as a crossbow, a melee weapon or any other given guns you can track down. You’ll also need to keep other things in mind to avoid losing strength and stamina, including food, sleep and, believe it or not, the ability to relieve yourself in a toilet. Problem is, you’re left vulnerable, albeit temporarily, doing this stuff, and your snuffer can get the jump on you.
It sounds great, but the problem is, Bloody Good Time’s gameplay never measures up. The multiplayer lobby was barren the times we went in for a match. Even when we did track down a few players, it became mundane after just a few matches, especially when we were out of health just when we found our ideal killing moment. If that isn’t enough, the game’s no good in single player either, because the AI bots become just as ruthless as the unstoppable security guards. As a result, you’ll experience more of the Bloody than you will the Good Time.
Furthermore, the limitation of maps and modes is inexcusable. You have three areas in all, including a casino, a haunted house and a beach front, all of which are very contained and don’t give you much room to explore your surroundings. Furthermore, the action tends to stutter when a lot happens on-screen, a sure indication of a budget-built shooter. There are only four modes as well, and there are barely any differences between them, save for the main Hunt mode, to make you want to bother.
Bloody Good Time’s presentation is okay, but borderlines on comic overkill. The director’s prompts throughout each round (he’s filming you) become incessant and annoying, while the characters barely have anything to say. That’s too bad, because there are some decent models here, including a psychotic clown and a fashion model that’s not too bad on the eyes. The maps themselves are decent, but like we said, they’re way too small.
Although the price is exceptional for a first-person shooter, running at 400 Microsoft points compared to the usual 800 or 1200, the bottom line is the game can’t deliver anything for the buck. Bloody Good Time tries to pour too much formula into a limited cup, causing overflow and mayhem – and not the good kind. Avoid this Bloody mess.
