As a first-person shooter, Bulletstorm focuses on combat. The game features eight weapons, each with their own distinct behaviors.[1] In addition to standard firearms such as shotguns and assault rifles, the game features unusual weaponry such as the "Bouncer", which shoots explosive bouncing cannonballs,[2][3] and the "Flailgun", a cannon that shoots bolas weighted by grenades.[4] Each weapon has an alternate fire mode that uses "charges";[5] for example, the Screamer revolver's "charge shot" turns the weapon into a flare gun that ignites an enemy and sends them into the air.[6]
The playable character is equipped with an "instinct leash" that allows him to pull enemies towards him; an upgrade unlocks the "Thumper", which slams down a ball of energy that launches all nearby enemies and explosive barrels into the air.[7] The player can also kick enemies or run and slide into them. If an enemy is launched into the air from the whip or by being kicked/slid into, they go into slow motion, allowing players to perform "skillshots".[8] Skillshots reward the player for killing opponents in the most creative and unusual ways possible.[9] Points are awarded for various actions, such as killing enemies in midair, making use of environmental hazards such as kicking enemies towards spikes and impaling them, or using a weapon's distinct feature.[6][10] The more complicated or unusual the skillshot, the more points players acquire.[11] Points are used as currency at "dropkits" scattered across the planet to purchase firearms, ammunition and upgrades.[6][12] Dropkit checkpoints are also the sites where players can swap their weapons,[13] access the Skillshot database, and view players' statistics.[1]
Besides the single-player campaign, players can access two additional modes. In "Echoes", players must play through a single-player level and kill the enemies in the most unusual ways possible within a fixed period. Each player is given a rating on their performance, which is then uploaded to a leaderboard. Another mode is "Anarchy", a four-player co-operative multiplayer mode. In Anarchy, players must fight through waves of enemies and perform skillshots. When the group of players gains enough skillshots, they can then unlock new levels and arenas. The Anarchy mode has its own set of skillshots and a unique progression system.[14]
