REVIEW / Gunscape (Switch)

Blowfish Studios is a small independent game developer located in Australia that has made a name for itself by releasing small, innovating and fun games that appeal to the widest possible number of gamers. From games like To The Stars and Blackwind, to quirky titles like Nine Witches and Element Space, Blowfish Studios has a catalog of games that is varied enough in what they offer the player that its hard to recommend just one. However, if you are looking for something to not just play but allows you to create a game of your own, Blowfish has the something that might appeal to you.

 

 

Launching originally to Early Access on STEAM way back in 2015 as a Free-To-Play game, GUNSCAPE is not exactly a “game” in the manner that a game is usually presented as. This game is a community driven FPS Tool Kit. In other words, the player is responsible for creating the levels of the game that are then uploaded to Blowfish’s servers and anyone in the world on any platform that the game is offered on can load up that level and give it a try. Sounds like something really attractive right? Well, sometimes an idea is better on paper than in practice, but I am getting ahead of myself and a little context would help here.

 

 

Gunscape isn’t a single/multi player FPS so much as it is a game that allows you to create separate levels of the game with tools and game assets designed to resemble the old school dungeon crawlers like Doom and the original Quake. Taking advantage of the tools that are on offer, the player can design somewhat intricate and multi-layered levels complete with weapon drops, door switches, explosive barrels, and remote sentry guns, just to name a few, in order to present the player the resources necessary to face what you have in store for those willing to partake in your level creating expertise. There are also different textured blocks that you use to create the floors, walls and other dungeon features like stone, wooden planks, tiles, etc to give your level a more authentic feel. You even have the ability to choose the background music as well as being able to place different musical cues when the player walks into a certain point on your map.