Bounty of One

Once, you were a legend of the Western Kingdoms, but you were betrayed and fell into disgrace. Now you and your crew are outlaws. A bounty has wrongfully placed over your head and countless hordes of bounty hunters are coming for you! Bounty of One puts players in the boots of these wrongfully accused outlaws in a fast-paced roguelite bullet hell adventure. We’ll explore more about this cool game you’ve probably never heard of!

About the game

Bounty of One is a twin-stick shooter where players control a character with the left analog stick and aim and shoot with the right stick or mouse. Mobility is key to survival as waves of enemies spawn from all directions and fill the screen with projectiles. Players must dodge and weave through attacks while shooting back to stay alive. The tight controls and varied enemy types make every encounter intense and keep players on their toes. Movement speed boosts and dodging abilities become vital upgrades as enemies get stronger.

After each run, players earn coins to upgrade their skills and unlock new gear. There are over 50 different pieces of equipment to find that alter players' offensive and defensive abilities. Players also unlock new characters with unique playstyles that cater to different strategies. The progression and customization help keep runs fresh and experiment with different builds.

Bounty of One features local and online cooperative play for up to 4 players. Taking on the hordes of enemies alongside friends makes runs more hectic and fun. Players can coordinate strategies or simply cause mayhem together. Loot is distributed at the end of runs so teammates can argue over the best gear. The various character styles and abilities make finding the right team composition part of the strategy.

Story and Setting Leave Something to be Desired

While the fast-paced gameplay of Bounty of One is highly addictive, the story and setting feel generic and underdeveloped. The plot of being a wrongfully accused outlaw in the Western Kingdoms provides a basic backdrop but lacks finesse. The characters also have little personality outside of their gameplay mechanics. With more lore, character development and story progression across runs, the setting could become more immersive.

Review: 7/10

Overall, Bounty of One delivers intense high-intensity bullet hell action in short burst sessions. The ability to upgrade abilities, find new equipment and unlock more characters extends the game's longevity.

Pros

• Tight twin-stick shooting and dodge mechanics
• Large cast of unlockable characters with varied play styles
• Diverse enemies and upgrade system keeps runs fresh
• Chaotic local and online co-op for up to 4 players

Cons

• Early Access version has limited content and enemies
• Basic story and setting
• Runs can feel repetitive without enough upgrades unlocked

A fast-paced top-down shooter with lots of action and a ton of personality, Bounty of One manages to be both entertaining and challenging, all while maintaining a nice balance between the two. Is it perfect? No. But it's still great fun and definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a good bullet hell experience.

If you've played any bullet hell game before, then you know what to expect. Looking to put your reflexes to the test as you dodge incoming projectiles and try to rack up points? This is the game for you. If you think that sounds boring, however, then you might want to look elsewhere, because there isn't much to do here outside of trying to stay alive.

Outlaws to the End

Bounty of One plays very similarly to some of the latest entries in the highly-successful top-down bullet hell revival genre. I know, it sounds weirdly specific — but once you notice the similarities between this game and something like Vampire Survivors, you’ll understand what I mean.

After your character is wrongfully accused of a crime they didn’t commit, it will be up to you and your quick reflexes to avoid the hordes of bounty hunters sent your way. The only way to survive is to upgrade your skills and find rare equipment dropped by your fallen enemies.

Never Fight Alone

A huge part of the game’s appeal is its ability to support cooperative play. Four players can team up locally, working together to fend off the relentless onslaught of bullets and other projectiles. In a game where picking the best loot can make or break your survival chances, having some backup will definitely help you reach the end of the game.

However, there’s a catch. For some reason, Bounty of One lacks any form of online multiplayer functionality. While this is unfortunate, it doesn’t detract from the overall quality of the experience. Sure, it would have been nice to see some variety in the gameplay, especially since it already features local co-op, but it’s not a deal breaker by any stretch of the imagination. Unless you absolutely need an online component, you shouldn’t let that stop you from trying this title.

Simple and Clean

One area that could spark some divided opinions is the game’s visuals. As far as I was able to tell, everything looks as basic as possible, making titles like Brotato look like technical marvels. If you want a game with flashy graphics, then Bounty of One won’t be right for you. However, if you prefer a simple aesthetic and aren’t too picky about the visual representation of your characters, then you might appreciate the minimalist approach.

Still, in a game where the only thing that matters is that you can clearly see where every projectile comes from, the lack of detail becomes a bit more noticeable. You may find yourself getting frustrated when the game does a poor job of showing you exactly what's going on around you. That being said, it all boils down to personal preference.

Pros

• Fun gameplay
• Local co-op is great
• Lots of enemy and loot variety

Cons

• No online mode
• Lackluster visuals