DeVuego

There’s brilliance here, to be sure, but it comes in momentary spurts, and it lets itself be too often interrupted by uninspired gameplay and unnecessary flashbacks. If you enjoyed the first episode, then the second is an easy recommendation. But for those still thinking about diving into the series, Episode 2 suggests a bit of movement in the wrong direction. A few minor tweaks for the next episode can easily right the series’ course, and I look forward to jumping back into Ness’ shoes again to see where this ride is taking me.

Blues and Bullets is a game that might seem hard to recommend on paper. Campy dialogue,  unnecessary shooting scenes, linear environments, and wonky animations mar the experience, but underlying it is a vision and tone that’s fully realized in the brooding atmosphere, ominous plot, and brilliant visual composition. And it’s in this full embrace of the noir aesthetic that Blues and Bullets works.