Blues and Bullets

About

"Blues and Bullets" is a narrative-driven episodic game that follows a former detective, Eliot Ness, as he seeks redemption and uncovers a criminal conspiracy in 1950s Chicago. Players will make decisions influencing the story, engage in third-person combat and explore various locations in a noir-style setting. The game's distinctive blend of action, exploration, and crime investigation offers a unique and immersive experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 975 reviews

story310 positive mentions

optimization4 negative mentions

Engaging and compelling narrative that draws players in.
Unique art style reminiscent of Sin City, enhancing the noir atmosphere.
Strong voice acting, particularly from the main character, Eliot Ness.

Game development has been abandoned, leaving it unfinished with only two episodes released.
Technical issues such as crashes and poor optimization affect gameplay experience.
Limited character movement and clunky controls detract from immersion.

story
714 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The story of "Blues and Bullets" is a gritty, noir-inspired narrative centered around detective Eliot Ness as he investigates the kidnapping of Al Capone's granddaughter, leading to a web of conspiracies and dark themes. While the initial episodes showcase intriguing characters and a compelling plot, the game's unfinished status leaves players frustrated, as they are left without resolution or closure to the story. Despite its potential and engaging atmosphere, many reviews caution against investing in the game due to its incomplete nature, emphasizing that the narrative, while captivating, ultimately remains unresolved.
- “The story is incredibly gritty and the whole art style and vibe of the game really helps to reinforce how messed up the whole situation underpinning the game's story is.”
- “The focus of the plot is that Eliot has to discover who has kidnapped Al Capone's granddaughter, and this leads down a rabbit hole of conspiracies, intrigue, and murder.”
- “The story has me hooked and I cannot wait to find out what happens in the next episode!”
- “It's a damn shame that this game's story will never get a resolution, because the company that made it went belly up.”
- “Sadly, the game is no longer in development and only has 2 episodes out of 5 which leaves the story unfinished.”
- “The way the plot progresses is scattered and bizarre, like the team came up with a list of set pieces and then crudely forced the story to follow the list in order.”
graphics
258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
47%
7%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a striking black-and-white noir aesthetic, often compared to the style of "Sin City," which enhances the gritty atmosphere and storytelling. While many players appreciate the artistic direction and unique visuals, there are notable criticisms regarding dated character models, clunky animations, and occasional graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the art style is praised for its creativity and mood-setting capabilities, but technical execution leaves room for improvement.
- “The graphics are at times very impressive, especially the lighting and the minimal use of color.”
- “Visuals are really stunning and unique, which fits the noir setting the game is going for perfectly, and the music is also phenomenal.”
- “The art style is so cool, it highlights the gore perfectly and gives everything a noir atmosphere.”
- “The graphics and gameplay are rather subpar, and I didn't find myself being drawn in by the plot.”
- “However, the biggest complaint I have with this game is the graphics.”
- “I am pretty sure the devs have ported this game to PC from a mobile-phone game because the graphics are awful.”
gameplay
196 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
70%
7%
The gameplay of "Blues and Bullets" is a mixed bag, combining standard point-and-click mechanics with elements of shooting and quick-time events, but often feels unpolished and linear. While the noir atmosphere and storytelling are praised, many players find the gameplay modes to be half-baked and lacking depth, leading to a frustrating experience that detracts from the overall narrative. Despite its artistic style and engaging sound design, the sluggish controls and clunky mechanics leave much to be desired, making it a challenging recommendation for those seeking a more refined gaming experience.
- “The gameplay is a mix of a few different styles and genres.”
- “The voice acting, in my opinion, was very good, the added gameplay elements other than just dialogue selection were an added bonus, the music was incredibly well done, visually I think the game is beautiful, and for the most part the animations were fantastic.”
- “Things feel a little clunky and the character models look a little dated, but if you can look past that you'll find an enjoyable game underneath; a blend of telltale-style adventure gameplay, Sin City aesthetics, Sherlock Holmes deduction boards, and an intriguing mystery.”
- “An interesting narrative experiment, but also a very mixed bag that tries too many different gameplay modes and does pretty much none of them particularly well. Blues and Bullets was supposed to be a grand noir mystery told over 5 episodes.”
- “The gameplay modes, while not being original or well implemented, aren't broken, just half-baked.”
- “The most heinous crime, however, is the gameplay, which turns what might otherwise have been interesting tactical TPS encounters into dull and unbelievable shootouts on rails.”
atmosphere
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
29%
3%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its strong noir aesthetic, characterized by a striking black-and-white art style complemented by a haunting blues and jazz soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the immersive storytelling, top-notch voice acting, and a unique blend of dark themes that create a chilling and engaging experience reminiscent of classic film noir. Despite some technical shortcomings, the overall atmosphere is described as captivating and beautifully crafted, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “Noir atmosphere combined with Telltale gameplay with a cool blues/jazz soundtrack all set in a 20/30's noir setting.”
- “The atmosphere is authentic, haunting, and in no uncertain terms unique in its feel.”
- “This game is about story and atmosphere, and it does both beautifully!”
- “Unfortunately, this atmosphere is ruined by the insufferable camera management.”
- “There's only around 6 resolutions (none of which is fitting my monitor presets), you can't fiddle with anti-aliasing leaving ugly edges everywhere, ruining the atmosphere in the process.”
- “It underlines the somehow depressing atmosphere of the game.”
music
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
32%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the noir atmosphere, featuring a captivating blues and jazz soundtrack that complements the storytelling and visuals. Many reviewers highlight the quality of the original soundtrack, describing it as phenomenal and well-suited to the game's setting, while some express a desire for more depth in the music. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “The music in the game is spot on with the atmosphere that is just wonderfully beautiful!”
- “The soundtrack is incredible and really adds to the aesthetics.”
- “The outstanding art design, the moody soundtrack, and the sharp writing add up to create an experience that any fan of Telltale, LA Noire, or the latest Sherlock Holmes games will surely enjoy.”
- “I wasn't a fan of the vocals; I'd have preferred just the music.”
- “- soundtrack, while fitting, is nothing that will stick with you.”
- “I hate the music for its lack of depth - I love it because it is as superficial as the people.”
optimization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
71%
17%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, including low frame rates and occasional crashes, even on modern hardware. While some users report satisfactory performance, others struggle to maintain a consistent 60fps, leading to frustration. A patch is anticipated to address these concerns, but the current state of optimization is seen as a notable drawback.
- “There were no signs that the game was suffering performance issues; it did only happen when completing a scene, never mid gameplay.”
- “Also, it could be a bit more optimized performance-wise, but it’s not a huge issue.”
- “Hopefully, a patch is forthcoming to resolve this, but I'd probably buy it again, in spite of the performance issues.”
- “Despite that, the game has some glaring performance problems even on very modern hardware, which is quite unfortunate, especially since it also crashes occasionally.”
- “Game performance is subpar; my decent machine failed to keep a consistent 60fps.”
- “I can't play it; it's badly optimized, I get 13-14fps!”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with users reporting various bugs and glitches, including freezing issues in specific scenes and odd graphical problems. While some players find the experience enjoyable despite these issues, others express frustration over the game's unfinished state and the impact of bugs on gameplay and storytelling. Overall, the game is deemed somewhat buggy but still worth the investment for some players.
- “Could have been great but still a bit buggy and well... it'll never be finished.”
- “I am enjoying the story so far, although there is a freezing problem at a certain scene that freezes every time. I am trying to fix this issue but assume it is a bug because I've been playing the game fine with no crashes, just that one scene.”
- “Tried to request a refund after having played the game for a few minutes (it honestly took that long to know it's all buggy), somehow I'm told that I played for over 2 hours and refund denied!”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game's replayability is mixed; while the diversity of moral choices offers some incentive to replay, many players feel that the story-driven focus limits overall replay value. With a playtime of around 9-10 hours, the experience is primarily tied to character decisions and choices, but some players desire more freedom and variety in gameplay. Technical issues, such as buggy controller support, further detract from the replay experience.
- “The diversity of moral choices encourages replayability.”
- “I would give it an 8/10 simply because I would have liked a little more freedom with my character, as the clues are not really hard to miss, leaving the replayability limited to character choice, decisions, and great screenshots.”
- “The game has little replayability, since its focus is on the story. I finished the first episode in around 100 minutes, so you're probably looking at around 9-10 hours of playing time, worth the money I'd say.”
- “Without getting into a big speech about the game, I would give it an 8/10 simply because I would have liked a little more freedom with my character, as the clues are not really hard to miss. This leaves the replayability limited to character choice, decisions, and great screenshots.”
- “No replay value; controller support for the Xbox 360 controller is buggy, and button mapping is different than what's shown on screen.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight that the humor in the game often stems from the villains, who are more engaging than the main protagonist, described as slow and uninteresting. While some aspects, like the "bobble head mode," are noted as genuinely funny, the overall tone can shift to a more depressing vibe, particularly regarding the development time.
- “The story is pretty good and bobble head mode is freaking funny.”
- “The funny thing is I liked the villains better than the main protagonist; I found him a bit of a slow plod.”
- “Development time would be hilarious if it weren't so depressing.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Character development in the game features intriguing mysteries and conflicts that engage players, though it is often considered less polished than that of Telltale Games. While the overall narrative has potential, the execution of character design and voice acting varies in quality, leading to a mixed reception.
- “There is some kind of character development, and there is a nice mystery behind the story with character conflict and ominous people and circumstances, which grips the player.”
- “The writing, voice acting, and character development are a step below Telltale Games.”
- “The character development adds depth to the narrative, making the player's choices feel impactful and meaningful.”
- “While the set graphics are absolutely out of this world, the character design and execution is a bit hit and miss.”
- “The writing, voice acting, and character development is a step below Telltale games.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its powerful emotional imagery, blending both beauty and gore, which captivates players from the opening sequences to the end credits, enhanced by a poignant blues melody.
- “The game is engulfed in emotional imagery that is both gory and beautiful.”
- “Get past those opening sequences and the game grabs hold of you and doesn't let you go until the end of the credits accompanied by an emotional blues melody.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect reminiscent of a choose-your-own-adventure format; however, the inability to skip cut scenes can lead to a tedious experience during replay.