Bounty of One | Steam Deck Review
The success of Vampire Survivors has led to countless clones of the gameplay formula. I really thought they’d peter off quickly, but they just keep coming. The latest one I got my hands on is from developer OptizOnion, and it’s called Bounty of One. If I’m honest, I’ve been burned by successors to the game that wound up being my game of the year it released. Although this one doesn’t quite reach the level of fun I discovered, it’s the best I’ve played since finishing Vampire Survivors. It does enough different to make it stand on its own while hitting most of the notes that make the genre so special to begin with.
How the West Was Won
Bounty of One‘s theme is one of its biggest draws for me. The western setting fits perfectly with this genre, and it makes me nostalgic for games I played as a kid like Gun.Smoke on the NES. There’s not much of a story here, and it’s mostly about gameplay. But you definitely get those Old West vibes while taking out enemies in droves.
Playing takes some getting used to, especially if you’ve recently played similar games. Like the others, the gameplay is very simple. Your only control is directional, and you don’t use any buttons except when selecting upgrades. The game automatically fires your weapons for you, and you just have to navigate your character in a way to avoid attacks from enemies. What takes a minute to wrap your head around is that your weapons don’t fire unless you’re standing still. This means you’ll run around until you’re in a position to attack. Then you let off the joystick, which activates your weapons to fire. You attack for as long as you can, and then start moving. It doesn’t make sense when you start, but it becomes second nature very quickly.
As expected, you’ll collect coins to earn extra upgrades. Most of these are increases in things like speed, damage, and defense. The only time you’ll get to upgrade your weapons is when you defeat larger enemies, which are called deputies here. These guys actually have a health gauge, so you know you’ll have to focus your attention on them. The rewards are much better when you take them (or bosses) out, as you’ll feel more and more powerful with each run.
More Than One Way to Rule the West
After a certain set of time, you’ll encounter a randomized boss. These baddies have some pretty simple patterns to learn to take down. In the game mode where I spent the most time, defeating three bosses completes a “run”. Your score for the run is recorded on a leaderboard, and you’re awarded a currency to acquire some permanent upgrades to make your next run easier.
If the formula sounds familiar, it’s because it’s very similar. There’s not a ton of fresh ideas here, and the gameplay feels a tad sluggish compared to other games in the genre. I still think this one is worth taking a look, as its addictive nature makes it very hard to put down. I could also see the leaderboard aspect being a draw for some people, but your high scores require higher levels, which call for extended lengths of gameplay. It becomes less about skill and more about how much time you’ve spent with the game.
The weapon upgrades are genuinely fun, especially when you select combinations that work to your advantage in unexpected ways. Some increase the size of your projectiles, and others turn them into heat seeking death rounds. It’s loads of fun discovering new abilities that unlock on subsequent runs, and the difficulty ramp-up is at a pace that makes it very easy to get into.
Bounty of One Final Verdict
While I would still recommend another game over this one, Bounty of One is a worthy competitor that you shouldn’t avoid if you’re a fan of this style of game. The large cast of characters (each with their own weapon type), the western setting, and the constant upgrades make for a very satisfying experience. It’s also a perfect game for the Steam Deck.
To hear me talk more about Bounty of One, be sure to listen to September 20th episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:11:24 time stamp.
This review is based on a Steam copy of Bounty of One provided by OptizOnion for coverage purposes. It is exclusive to this platform.
Bounty of One
$6.99
Pros
- Addictive Gameplay Loop
- Leaderboards for Those Who Like Competition
- Multiple Characters for Varied Gameplay
- Fun Upgrades
Cons
- The Formula Is Wearing Thin
- Movement Feels Slower Than It Should Be
