Game review: Bodycount

Shooters are flooding the market these days, so developers really need to go that extra mile to convince you that their game is the only one you need.

While Bodycount fails to set the world on fire, it is, however, a solid shooter that offers a burst of frantic gunplay. You play as a stranded field operative who has been shot down over Africa, and is caught between civil unrest and the actions of a hi-tech terrorist organisation. As part of the The Network, a shadowy global peacekeeping force, you must use your mastery of the gun to take down the terrorists, and restore calm to the world.

The gun is the star here, as each weapon delivers a satisfying kick on screen. From light pistols to savage machine guns, the sound produced by each shot is loud and in your face, delivering a real action film vibe. The environments are destructible too, and seeing locations torn apart in the midst of each firefight simply adds to the on-screen chaos.

While tight gunplay is billed as Bodycount’s key attraction, the inability to aim down the sights of your weapons jars a little, failing to give you the accuracy you need to pull off the game’s many skill shots. These fancy tricks count towards your score, but the aiming really lets it down. The plot isn’t up to scratch and the competitive multiplayer is forgettable, but if you fancy a weekend of fun shooter action, then pick up Bodycount cheap if you can.

Bodycount

£34.99, PC/PS3/Xbox 360