Heavy Bullets

Heavy Bullets is a first-person shooter with eight maze-like levels and a minimalist visual style with bright, psychedelic neon colours. Taking cues from the roguelike genre, every session is different based on a number of variables that determine the level lay-out, monsters, items and the placement of vending machines. Even though the character has a number of lives, there is also permadeath. The game is presented as a simulation inside a mainframe where a janitor is sent in to reset it.

The main weapon is a revolver with room for six bullets. It needs to be reloaded manually and bullets can be picked up to use them again. Other weapons are (homing) bombs, mines, rockets and a ceremonial knife, but these act as items with limited ammo except for the knife. Enemies consist of roaming creatures, snakes that hide in the foliage and turrets shooting grenades, rockets or regular bullets. Certain turrets and enemies have a specific weak point that needs to be targeted.

The play style can be tailored by spending coins left behind by enemies at various vending machines. There is one for ammo and another with medical supplies. Various items can be picked up, such as a scope, a proximity sensor, shoes to run faster, a bomb vest, a teleporter, high heels, a repellent for poising (or through a one-time use antidote), various potions and pills, and pieces of ore to sell for cash. Certain statistics can also be upgraded such as additional lives. Only one item can be carried, but after purchasing a backpack two can be stored and swapped.

Next to the vending machines there are ATM-like banks. There it is possible to withdraw money from previous sessions as well as depositing it. A single item can be stored in the bank for a next session. Additional options are life insurance and a last will that yield a portion of money, bullets, bombs and more for a next session in case the character dies. Other game elements are keycards to open item rooms and secret rooms by manually searching walls. A certain amount of backtracking is allowed, but certain sections are fended off by yellow lasers after progressing too far. Every level is finished by finding a door in the ground. At level four and eight, a boss needs to be defeated. In total there are two bosses, fifteen enemy types and more than 30 items.