Bullet Soul

It's not the most challenging game around (especially if you opt for co-op, as no concessions are made to make it tougher), but it's another welcome indie that's made its way into my shmup folder on Steam.

Bullet Soul is a fairly basic arcade shooter that gets by with hyperactive energy and lots of pretty explosions.

A great little shooter with some niggly PC port issues. A challenging but fun title whose ghost bullet gimmick makes the gameplay aggressive and intense. Not for everyone but for fans of the genre it's a solid title.

Bullet Soul takes liberal notes from classic 90s shooters like Raiden, putting the focus on firing and dodging bullets. Though it lacks the depth and replayabilty of classics like Ikaruga or Radiant Silvergun, players looking to rise the leaderboards will enjoy blasting through waves of alien scum.

If you like taking a one way trip to Bullet Hell, you will have fun. Everyone else, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

While this isn't the most overwhelming amount of additional content ever seen in a shmup, Bullet Soul's overall package and price point is fair. It should entertain newcomers and enthusiasts alike.

Bullet Soul is quite the oddity. Rarely has an STG emphasised bullet cancelling so much. On one hand, this unique quality certainly helps the game stand out, but on the other hand, it makes the difficulty feel a little uneven. The player will sometimes feel like they're just waiting for something to happen, but when it does, they might panic and lose their ship. Over time, they'll grasp an understanding of which enemies to focus on and how long it takes to destroy them. Once that groove is established, they can turn their attention towards the deep and rewarding scoring system. All in all, this is a strange yet very enjoyable shooter. Give it a go sometime.

Bullet Soul is a solid bit of enthralling bullet hell action, complete with arresting visuals and a stellar score, that makes a compelling offer at its low price point.

Plenty of action, a nice amount of selectable characters, a kick-ass soundtrack and tight controllers. This is the formula for one fantastic, fun and rage induced gaming session when it comes to bullet hell shooters. The only thing that drags this game down is the fact that it's so short. Just as you're rocking along and taking it in, the game abruptly ends, leaving you wanting more.

Bullet Soul is a refreshingly unique and infinitely replayable romp, gloriously representing arcade-style bullet hell action for the modern age. By not aspiring to be the most technically demanding game of its kin, it's able to convey the appeal of its subgenre even better than some of the all-time classics.