Nitrome Releases Bullethead

Nitrome’s latest game, Bullethead, dropped today and I can’t think of a clever one-liner to open this article, so I’ll just jump right in.

Bullethead isn’t as staggeringly original as their titles usually are, but it’s still got that crisp Nitrome look and flair. You play as a little dude with a cannon on his head who is trying to blow up as much shit as possible…do I have your attention now? The game plays like a mashup of Contra and Space Invaders, which is pretty good company to keep. It’s rife with powerups, which I’m typically against in large numbers. However, in a game where chaos reigns supreme, a proliferation of powerups makes for a pretty fun experience. As always this installment is packed with fun characters, each done in that sharp Nitrome style and packaged with simple effects that really tie the room together…fuckin’ A.

The twist in this game is that they offer a local co-op mode which is a cool idea, though I’m not convinced there are many people who would want to crowd around a computer and play this one together. Since there’s also a single player mode, the added option to play cooperatively comes at little cost to the user, except that you’re forced to use the cramped key configuration designed for two players even when you’re playing alone. (see my note on awkward keyboard configurations here) There’s also still no way to jump from the instructions right into the game, but as usual my gripes with the game are minimal.

It’s not the best game they’ve ever done and far from their worst. But like I said, Contra meets Space Invaders…totally worth a play. Go check it out now and what the hell, bring a friend :)