Bloodshed (PS5) | REVIEW | Boomer Shooter Meets Survivor-Like With Plenty Of Blood To Shed!!!

Bloodshed, developed and published by Iphigames, is a high-octane roguelite shooter that plunges players into a chaotic world of undead hordes and apocalyptic cults. At its heart, it's a survival-focused game where you mow down endless enemies in first-person perspective, blending intense action with progression systems that encourage repeated runs. It offers a mix of fast-paced combat, customizable builds, and meta-progression, all wrapped in a retro aesthetic that keeps sessions addictive and varied.

The Story ...

The narrative is light but serves as a solid backdrop. A shadowy cult is on the verge of resurrecting an ancient god to unleash the end of the world, summoning waves of zombies, demons, cultists, and other monstrous foes. There's no deep lore or cinematic storytelling, but the escalating threats provide context for the carnage. Characters come in a roster of distinct survivors, each with their own backstory implied through abilities like a battle hardened warrior or a mystical spellcaster allowing players to choose based on preferred playstyles. Modes include timed mission based survival runs across different biomes, with options for solo play and potential challenges or objectives that unlock further content, emphasizing replayability over multiplayer features.

The Gameplay ...

Core mechanics revolve around frenetic first-person shooting where you gather experience orbs from defeated enemies to level up mid-run, selecting upgrades for weapons, skills, and defenses. You can toggle between auto-firing for hands-off crowd control or manual aiming for precision shots, adding flexibility. Character-specific mechanics shine here. For instance, one might excel in melee combos with life-steal perks, while another focuses on elemental spells that chain between foes, letting you experiment with hybrid builds. A typical playthrough unfolds in bite-sized runs. You drop into a map, scavenge for power-ups, fend off increasingly aggressive waves, and aim to survive as long as possible before inevitable death resets the run, but not your overall progress.

What sets Bloodshed apart is its clever fusion of Vampire Survivors' roguelite formula where auto-attacks and random upgrades create emergent chaos with the Boomer Shooter genre's raw, retro FPS energy, reminiscent of classics like Doom. The survivors-like aspect handles the horde management and build-crafting, while the boomer elements amp up the mobility, gore-splattered visuals, and satisfying gunplay feel, turning passive survival into active, adrenaline-fueled blasting.

Progression extends beyond single runs through permanent unlocks funded by currency earned from kills and mission objectives. Missions on themed maps come in timed variants, and offer currency farming alongside the given horde style challenge. You can invest some of said currencies in global buffs like increased starting health or damage multipliers, alongside extras such as new playable characters with fresh ability trees, additional stages in varied biomes (from foggy graveyards to infernal realms), and expanded skill pools for more build variety. These elements, plus hidden challenges that reveal secret weapons, ensure the game evolves with each session.

The Presentation ...

Presentation-wise, Bloodshed nails a nostalgic graphic design with chunky pixel art and low-poly models that evoke '90s shooters, complete with explosive particle effects and rivers of blood that make every kill visceral. The art style is deliberately gritty and retro, with vibrant enemy designs that pop against moody environments. The soundtrack complements this perfectly, featuring adaptive electronic tracks that build from eerie ambient tones to pounding synth-heavy beats as the action ramps up, keeping the immersion high without overpowering the chaos.

The Verdict ...

In verdict, Bloodshed delivers a compelling package of content that's dense with unlocks and mechanical depth, boasting exceptional replay value thanks to its roguelite loop and endless build possibilities, easily justifying dozens of hours for completionists. It's a standout title that punches above its weight in the indie scene.

This game is best suited for fans of roguelites like Vampire Survivors who crave more hands-on action, or enthusiasts of boomer shooters seeking a fresh twist on horde-slaying mayhem, especially those who enjoy tweaking builds.