Whoops. So much for blowing up that enemy with the Flail Gun, a launcher that fires a pair of explosives tethered by a chain.  But did I really miss? After pressing the trigger a second time, the explosives detonate and take out a charging foe.  This is what Epic Games' Bulletstorm calls "Minefield," one of several skillshots discovered during my jaunt through the first-person shooter's campaign.  Game Hunters will post a review of Bulletstorm next week (blame it on the Helghast). But for those curious about EA's shooter, here are some initial impressions after exploring the single-player adventure and some multiplayer:  -- Developers take their time introducing the core components of Bulletstorm to players in the campaign. Don't expect those skillshots to start counting until about an hour into the single-player portion. It's a good idea though, as it should allow players to get comfortable with the controls and weapon handling before they start shooting enemies in the throat (better known as the "Gag Reflex" skillshot).  -- Think of Bulletstorm as you might the stereotypical action film from the '80s: The plot is beyond absurd, and the deaths are so ridiculous they border on being comical. But that doesn't mean Bulletstorm hasn't been wildly entertaining.  -- Skillshots prove more than just a player's prowess at cleverly killing enemies. Points racked from kills are used toward upgrading weapons, adding ammo and bolstering the electric leash. Pods are scattered throughout levels players link to through the leash to cash in.  -- Anarchy is an intriguing cooperative multiplayer mode. Players work in teams of four and must eliminate all the enemies in each round. Here's the twist: Players must achieve a certain score to advance, earning points through skillshots. Since this is a co-op endeavor, team skillshots earn more points, so it's important to work together. The highlight was "Tug-O-War." A teammate standing on the opposite side of the map grabs an enemy with the leash just as I latch on, pulling him apart.  -- My favorite moment so far in Bulletstorm can be summed up with three words: remote-controlled dinosaur.  Again, we'll post a full review of the game next week. Readers, have you played Bulletstorm yet? Share your impressions below.  To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor  . For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to  . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to
First impressions: 'Bulletstorm' - Game Hunters: In search of video games and interactive awesomeness - USATODAY.com - Game Hunters: In search of video games and interactive awesomeness