For those keeping up with the press on Epic Games’ and People Can Fly’s upcoming FPS Bulletstorm, it should come as no surprise that the ESRB has given it an M rating. The devil is in the details.
Bulletstorm has gained its reputation for over-the-top violent kills that garner players loads of points for creativity and variety. From "Gag Reflex" to "Fire in the Hole" every kill has some entertaining and sadistic label attached. But "Drilldo" and "Mile High Club" are new to the party, according to the ESRB rating explanation. And the "Intoxicated" skillshot gives players bonus points for laying waste to enemies after taking a few hard swigs.
Dialogue is where Bulletstorm really shines, though. "The dialogue contains numerous jokes and comments that reference sexual acts, venereal diseases, and having sex with one’s mother (e.g., ‘Guess I know where the ol’ gal got that limp.’)." That doesn’t even mention the multiple instances of expletive usage. It looks like this sci-fi fire-fight will be serving up some surprising and memorable quotes.
Check out the full ESRB ratings summary below and pick up Bulletstorm on February 22 for PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3.
This is a first-person shooter in which players assume the role of a space pirate who must escape a planet populated by mutant cannibals. Players use futuristic machine guns, shotguns, magnum revolvers, assault rifles, and chain guns to perform over-the-top kills that dismember and decapitate foes. Injured enemies emit large sprays of blood that stain the ground and surrounding walls. Specialty kills (i.e., Skillshots) represent the most intense instances of violence: enemies can be dismembered with explosives; impaled on spikes; and drilled into walls, resulting in body parts breaking into pieces. During the course of the game, players can consume alcohol and kill enemies in order to receive an Intoxicated Skillshot; the screen turns blurry during these sequences. The dialogue contains numerous jokes and comments that reference sexual acts, venereal diseases, and having sex with one’s mother (e.g., "Guess I know where the ol’ gal got that limp."). The names of some Skillshots are infused with sexual innuendo (e.g., Gag Reflex, Rear Entry, Drilldo, Mile High Club); one Skillshot (i.e., Fire in the Hole) allows players to shoot at enemies’ exposed buttocks. Language such as "f**k," "sh*t," "p*ssy," and "c*ck" can be heard in dialogue.
[ESRB]
