Bombshell (2016)

One of the worst games to come down the PC pike in some time, Bombshell isn't a return to form for 3D Realms, but a reminder why the publisher was in so much trouble to begin with. A great idea is wasted off of horrible game design, bad graphic errors and a worthless audio experience. Where's Duke Nukem to kick ass when you need him?

What's disappointing about Bombshell is that you can see the potential. The shooting mechanics and weapons are fine, and the idea of a female Duke Nukem doesn't hurt. Though the sound is below par most of the time, there's been some real effort in making the game look pretty gorgeous, even if the monster designs aren't that impressive. The flat humor doesn't help, and neither does the lack of any real strategy or enemy intelligence. In the end, your enjoyment of the title comes down to how much you're willing to put up with. While a few will find some genuine fun here, most may wait for a price drop and seek out other titles to satisfy their craving for a twin-stick shooter.

… ultimately what you're left with is a game that is worth far less than the asking price of thirty dollars.

Bombshell doesn't seem to have gone down well with other critics, but I had a blast. Solid shooting backs up what I found to be an engaging gameplay loop. By no means the best twin stick shooter around, I had fun during the 8 hours I spent with it, and that's enough for me.

Bombshell could have been a fine six-hour shooter, but the unfulfilling fetch quests, uninspired firearms, and meddling glitches stretch the story until – like the game's suicidal aliens – you, too, beg for death.