Byte the Bullet | PS5 Review

Nothing is quite as soul crushing to a PC gamer as the dreaded blue screen of death. Something our would be protagonist finds out first hand in this quirky nostalgia trip. Thankfully at his disposal is an old floppy disc version of an antivirus known as "Byte the Bullet". He pops that bad boy into the disc drive, and readies himself for a hopeful full system restoration ... 

Of course there's more than meets the eye when it comes to this antiviral program though, and it turns out it is the PC gamer who is helping in guiding the onboard super soldier within to fight off the viruses, and collect corrupted binary bits in order to salvage and save all of the PC components. Each component coming complete with their own set of stages, and hazards or mechanics that alter the approach.

In total the playable super soldier in 'Byte the Bullet" faces off against five unique stage inclusive worlds accessed via an overhead map that are centered around core computer components. This includes the HDD, Sound Card, Graphics Card, Cooling Fan, and Power Supply. Each of which come with their own mechanics, or gameplay gimmicks. That and unlockable bonus mechanics/features that can be used in other stage playthroughs making the path to perfection all the more doable.

With the Graphics Card, for example, you'll find that restoring RGB colors to the point of revealing secrets is done by standing on and utilizing the dual benefits of the colors, and color blending within the stages. Your gun's shots turn the color of the colored blocks you are standing on, and can be used to destroy both viruses or barriers of that same color. You'll also gain invincibility to whichever color you currently stand upon. 

The Sound Card, on the other hand, changes the rhythm of gameplay or it's speed each and every time you step on a note block. Making viruses speed up just as fast as you are able to move. In restoration through stage completion this effect will be reversed back to it's normal state. 

When it comes to the Cooling Fan you'll find that there are thermal paste blocks heated by flames that will slow down movement. This makes Metroidvania traversal more difficult as fiery hazards become more of a threat, especially with the spawning viruses that pop-up at inopportune moments. Collecting health refills is a must in stages like these as is the talking to hostages freed by your gunfire whom fully restore life, and drop gameplay hints. 

Outside of that the Power Supply simply throws in the new hazard that is electricity. A threat that must be avoided while dealing with viruses, and making it to the end tube for exit, and final score tally. The final scores each account for the time it took you to complete the run, the number of viruses killed, and secrets found. Leaving you with a ranked title for achievements fulfilled.

At the end of it all lies the HDD which when restored will restore save points, and disable mines. Utilizing your gun's rapid fire shot with a cooldown for sustained gunfire, a dash, double jump, super jump, and extended 1 bit value double jump reset you'll either make it or break it in your attempt to restore all of the core PC components. This entails a right to left Metroidvania traversal with the inclusion of viruses, binary codes, secret C++ collectibles, and a speedrun emphasis for perfection. All to the tune of limited lives, and a limited five hit health bar that when fully spent sends you straight to the GAME OVER screen. Making you start all over from scratch.

When all is cleared and unlocked in the way of bonus mechanics and features you'll not only face off against boss battles that utilize said mechanics, but stages that play homage to 80's and 90's classics via the RAM route such as Frogger, Super Mario Bros, Castlevania, Prince of Persia, and others. This is the treat for committing to completion. 

The Presentation ...

Visually "Byte the Bullet" is a 1/8bit mostly B&W Metroidvania platformer with light animations, and some colored accents. For what it is it does well in regards to presentation. The chiptune soundtrack also pays homage to this retro inspired display. Leaving initial textual bubbles that house NPC avatars, and the intro sequence from the PC gamer himself to be the more visually impressive additions to the game. It's definitely a nod to oldschool PC gaming, and does good to encapsulate that retro aesthetic.

The Verdict ...

Short lived, but super challenging, "Byte the Bullet" is definitely a game that will test your retro gaming skills. The mechanics are simple even when expanded upon leaving your implementation of them to be the deciding factor as to whether or not you are good enough to complete the tasks at hand. The surprise attacks from certain viruses and hazards can be off putting until you learn their points of activation and entry, but are manageable once you do. Mind you the likelihood of you completing a run unscathed is a big fat ZERO. Expect sucker punches, and seek to recoup health by killing viruses, and blasting blocks. Also be sure to talk to the hostages as a full health refill is part of the reward for doing so. 

Visually and audibly, "Byte the Bullet" carries with it that oldschool PC gaming appeal. It's the lowest of the low graphics, but done in a more modern fashion as to make the most of each and every pixel. I particularly liked the intro with the PC gamer bugging out over the virus, and his response to pull out the antivirus that is this game's title. It's not at all what I expected as a segue into gameplay, but it was genius. The added fact that the PC gamer looks like me is hilarious. I could see myself acting in a similar fashion. 

As far as a recommendation goes, "Byte the Bullet" won't break the bank, and is worth the asking price. It is a budget indie, but is one with heart and creative direction in mind. It's a game about nostalgia, and the retro experience most of us Gen X gamers grew up with. It's something that will definitely resonate more with that crowd.