Buckshot Roulette [PC] | REVIEW

Some of my favourite games are those short yet unique experiences that stay with you long after playing, with Buckshot Roulette undoubtedly standing out as one of the best examples. After launching on itch.io late last year, it has now made its way to Steam, bringing with it some additional features (such as controller support and achievements) that build upon the exhilarating foundation that the game already had in place.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Buckshot Roulette puts players in a dark and grimy room that’s located within a nightclub, with hushed fast-paced music blaring through the walls and a peculiar figure known as The Dealer sitting opposite you. He wants to play a game, and after signing a waiver that essentially forfeits your life, you partake in the action. Unfortunately, the game just so happens to be inspired by Russian Roulette, except instead of using a revolver, you’ll be holding a twelve-gauge shotgun to your head.

The premise of Buckshot Roulette is tantalising, with its atmospheric opening reminding me a lot of Inscryption when I first started playing. However, whilst Inscryption takes players down a dark and deranged rabbit hole with its twisted storytelling, Buckshot Roulette doesn’t really build upon its narrative foundation. It’s a shame because the dark premise and eerie atmosphere will immediately capture your attention, but you’re just here to play a dangerous game.

At the same time, it’s worth noting that the game costs less than £3, so the lack of a narrative isn’t something that be held against Buckshot Roulette – especially since the core gameplay experience is do damn enthralling. It just would have been really cool to see its dark premise spin into something bigger.

“Each game of Buckshot Roulette only lasts around fifteen-minutes depending on how successful you are, but with each failure seeing you start from the beginning, it’s hard not to find yourself in a loop of having ‘one more go’ until you succeed.”

The main gameplay loop of Buckshot Roulette is simple, with each game taking place over three rounds and based around the core concept of Russian Roulette… you know… taking it in turns with your opponent to shoot the gun at yourself in the hope that it isn’t loaded. There are some more interesting ideas introduced here though, with each player having a set amount of lives each turn. Shooting yourself doesn’t always mean death, and whilst you’ll want to avoid live rounds wherever possible, you’ll often find yourself with a second chance at success.

You’re also given a choice as to whether you want to shoot yourself or your opponent in a turn. If you fire at yourself, you’ll get another turn if it was blank, but lose a life if it was a live bullet. If you shoot at your opponent, they’ll lose a life if it was a live bullet, but then take their turn shooting the gun if it was a blank. It’s a clever process that really ups the ante when it comes to the whole ‘risk-versus-reward’ aspect of the game, with the random nature of the bullets loaded in the gun meaning it’s rare that you’ll know whether you’re making the right or wrong decision. Counting bullets helps, but when you sacrifice a turn to your opponent, sometimes your destiny is out of your hands.

What makes things REALLY exciting are the items introduced after the first round, with each affecting your turn in a variety of ways. Some are simple, such as the handcuffs that prevent the opposing player from taking their next turn or the cigarette that will restore a life to the player, but items such as the knife that lets you cut off the barrel of the shotgun to hit double-damage or the magnifying glass that lets you see what the next bullet is can be game-changers when it comes to success or failure. You can only use one item per turn, but each adds a satisfying tactical edge to Buckshot Roulette that ensures there’s more than ‘luck’ at play. But be warned: your opponent can use items against you too, so you can expect plenty of unpredictability with each game you play.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It all comes together to make for an incredibly tense and strategic experience that ensures each game you play brings with it some exciting thrills. Each game of Buckshot Roulette only lasts around fifteen-minutes depending on how successful you are, but with each failure seeing you start from the beginning, it’s hard not to find yourself in a loop of having ‘one more go’ until you succeed. And when you do find success? Don’t be surprised if you find yourself coming back in for more. It’s an excellent idea that’s executed in a very impressive manner, whether that’s when playing in a short burst or getting stuck in for a two-hour session (which I found myself doing).

What complements the replayability is the endless Double or Nothing mode, which assigns a random amount of items and lives at the start of each round. You’ll then go through endless rounds until you fail or walk away, with the unpredictability of what each round will offer adding to the excitement. The only problem with this mode is that without any real rewards on offer outside of your own success on the leaderboards, there’s not a lot of incentive to stick at it. The fact that this new Steam release adds some new items to the mix does make it more interesting, but some unlockables would go a long way in making it a mode I’d keep coming back to over and over again.

I’d be remiss not to mention that multiplayer has been teased for the game, which would be a blast. I could easily see myself hooked into playing with friends or strangers, with the high stakes premise all the more alluring when you’re up against someone you know. It’s not included yet, but when it does come around, it’ll make Buckshot Roulette even more addictive to play.

Developer: Mike Klubnika
Publisher: CRITICAL REFLEX
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed)
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2835570/Buckshot_Roulette/