Science in the Triangle

Epic's Bulletstorm hits stores Feb. 22. | Image courtesy of Electronic Arts

Cary-based Epic Games released its free Bulletstorm demo for Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network Tuesday, about a month before it hits store shelves.

The sci-fi action-shooter — a collaboration between Epic, People Can Fly and Electronic Arts — follows space pirate Grayson Hunt as he blasts his way through a paradise planet filled with destruction. Central to the gameplay are bonus points for “killing with skill” — finding creative ways to dispatch your enemies using combinations of outlandish weapons, the deadly environment and an energy whip.

Did I mention it was rated “M” for mature?

The demo is only about seven minutes long (six if you make the target time), but it’s packed with enough bullets and body parts to satiate most fans of first-person shooters.

I think the full game will too. At least for a little while.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a blast to impale your enemies on rebar of a ruined column and crush them under the weight of an elevator car. And there’s certainly a competitive quality to seeing your buddy’s high score outpacing your own by about 1,000 points. But I’m skeptical about the demo’s expectation that gamers will run through levels over and over again to pump up their scores.

A title’s true replay value is fueled by the gamer’s desire to see a different outcome. In Bioware’s Mass Effect series, for example, playing the game differently leads to alternate endings. Popular multiplayer franchises, like Halo and Modern Warfare, have a high replay value because every game is different.

And that’s where I think Bulletstorm’s true replay value will shine through. Combine the game’s “kill with skill” mantra with the success of Epic’s popular Gears of War franchise and you’ve got the formula for a robust multiplayer experience. A fun, single-player campaign mode will be the icing on top.

That’ll probably be enough for most gamers, especially those originally anticipating the April release of Gears of War 3. And Epic certainly knows its audience. Although the final installment of the GoW franchise was delayed until the fall, a special edition of Bulletstorm, due for release on Feb. 22, will include early access to the Gears of War 3 multiplayer beta.

How’s that for a selling point?

Bulletstorm “Revenge” trailer

Warning: Strong language and violence