Skillshot System
Kill creatively. Score big.
The Skillshot system is the defining gameplay mechanic of Bulletstorm, a 2011 first-person shooter developed by People Can Fly and Epic Games and published by Electronic Arts.
- Franchise
- Bulletstorm
- Developer
- People Can Fly
- Publisher
- Electronic Arts
- First Appearance
- Bulletstorm (2011)
- Core Function
- Combat style scoring system
Lore & Background
The game is set in the 26th century. The story follows Grayson Hunt, a space pirate and former black ops soldier, who gets shot down on a war-torn planet while trying to exact revenge on General Sarrano, his former commander who tricked him and his men into committing war crimes and assassinating innocents.
In Their Own Story
Grayson Hunt crouched behind the crumbling debris of the Ceres refinery, his eyes scanning the swarming mutants. A standard headshot was too mundane; he needed style. He spotted a leaking fuel line above an approaching brute and grinned. With a flick of his wrist, he fired a ricochet shot off a metal beam, igniting the gas mid-air.
Reader's Guide
Players receive points for performing creative kills called skillshots. Points are used as currency at dropkits to purchase firearms, ammunition, and upgrades. The game features eight weapons, each with distinct behaviors and alternate fire modes. The protagonist uses an instinct leash to pull enemies, and a Thumper upgrade launches enemies into the air. Kicking or sliding into enemies can also launch them, triggering slow motion for skillshots. Points are awarded for actions such as killing enemies in midair, using environmental hazards, or using a weapon's distinct feature. The more complicated or unusual the skillshot, the more points are acquired.
Did You Know?
- Bulletstorm does not have any competitive multiplayer modes, instead including cooperative online play and score attack modes.
- The game was originally envisioned as a cover-based third-person shooter, but the core combat loop and perspective went through multiple revisions.
- The team experimented with competitive multiplayer and campaign cooperative multiplayer during production but removed them due to technological constraints.
- A remastered version titled Bulletstorm: Full Clip Edition was released in April 2017, and a Nintendo Switch version titled Bulletstorm: Duke of Switch Edition was released in August 2019.
- A virtual reality version, Bulletstorm VR, was released on December 14, 2023.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Skillshot System?
This mechanic serves as the core gameplay loop, grading players on how creatively they eliminate enemies during combat encounters. It transforms standard shooting into a dynamic scoring system where style matters more than simple accuracy.
How are kills categorized and scored?
The game analyzes specific actions like kicking foes into spikes or using environmental hazards to award skillpoints based on difficulty. More complex combinations trigger higher multipliers, encouraging players to avoid repetitive tactics.
What is the purpose of earning Skillpoints?
Players spend this currency at dropkits found throughout the map to unlock new firearms and equipment upgrades. This progression system incentivizes mastering various kill types rather than relying on a single weapon loadout.
Which studios were responsible for creating it?
People Can Fly developed the engine and mechanics with support from Epic Games, while Electronic Arts handled the publishing duties in 2011. Their collaboration resulted in this unique approach to first-person shooter combat design.
How did this system impact the Bulletstorm franchise?
It established a distinct identity for the title by prioritizing inventive takedowns over traditional cover-based shooting mechanics. This legacy continues to influence action games that reward player creativity and fluid movement in battle.
More in Development & Legacy
Related in Bulletstorm
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Elsewhere in the Bulletstorm universe
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