Bombshell (video game)

{{Infobox video game

| title = Bombshell

| image = File:Bombshell game logo.png

| caption =

| developer = Interceptor Entertainment

| publisher = 3D Realms

| director = Frederik Schreiber

| producer = Khaled Ibrahimi

| designer = Daniel Hedjazi
Leon Zawada
Vitaliy Bondarenko
Jacob Ostergaard
Paulo Rosa

| programmer = Grzegorz Zawadzki

| composer = Andrew Hulshult

| series =

| artist = Chris Pollitt
Simon Rance
Arturo Pahua

| writer = Adam Meadows

| engine = Unreal Engine 3

| platforms = Windows

| released = {{Video game release|WW|January 29, 2016}}

| genre = Multidirectional shooter

| modes = Single-player

}}

Bombshell is a multidirectional shooter developed by Interceptor Entertainment and published by 3D Realms. The game was released on January 29, 2016, for Microsoft Windows. The game runs on Unreal Engine 3.

Plot

The game allows the player to control Shelly "Bombshell" Harrison, a colonel in the Global Defense Force. Her career is abruptly brought to an end after an event titled "the Washington Incident", which caused her to lose her arm and her team. Shelly is then offered a new contract by a private military contractor and offered a second chance and a new mechanical arm.

Development

The game was conceived during Gearbox Software's lawsuit against Interceptor regarding the video game Duke Nukem: Mass Destruction, as they did not authorize any new development. Interceptor was working on the game for the PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Windows; however, due to a lawsuit by Gearbox Software, who owns the right to the Duke Nukem franchise, the game's name was changed to Bombshell and the main character was changed to Shelly Harrison, who was originally meant to play a supporting role in the Duke Nukem game.{{cite web|url= http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/14/5719040/bombshell-is-3d-realms-and-interceptor-entertainments-action-rpg-for|title= Bombshell is 3D Realms and Interceptor Entertainment's action RPG for PC, PS4|author= Jenna Pitcher|work= Polygon|publisher= Vox Media|date= May 14, 2014|accessdate= September 3, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/3/4/8145901/bombshell-3d-realms-duke-nukem|title=Bombshell looks and sounds like a Duke Nukem game starring a bionic woman|first=Chris|last=Plante|work=The Verge|date=March 4, 2015|accessdate=November 27, 2015}} In April 2014, a website NoGumNeeded.com was launched by Interceptor Entertainment that showed a countdown.{{cite web|url= http://www.polygon.com/2014/4/15/5617286/duke-nukem-teaser-site-lawsuit-interceptor-gearbox|title= Teaser site hints at Interceptor game with Duke Nukem removed|author= Owen S. Good|work= Polygon|publisher= Vox Media|date= April 15, 2014|accessdate= September 3, 2015}} The game was revealed with the title Bombshell in development for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 on May 14, 2014, along with a trailer and was scheduled to be released in 2015. Some details about the gameplay and the protagonist Shelly "Bombshell" Harrison were revealed in the announcement. It was also announced that the game utilised the Unreal Engine and it will launch with modding tools.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps4-pc-action-rpg-bombshell-revealed-runs-on-unreal-engine/1100-6419651/|title=PS4, PC action RPG Bombshell revealed, runs on Unreal Engine|first=Micheal|last=Martin|work=GameSpot|date=November 20, 2015|accessdate=November 27, 2015}}{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-05-15-3d-realms-reveals-pc-and-ps4-action-rpg-bombshell|title=3D Realms reveals PC and PS4 action-RPG Bombshell|first=Robert|last=Purchese|work=Eurogamer|date=May 15, 2015|accessdate=November 27, 2015}} Due to the negative reception to the trailer, 3D Realms started the development of the game from scratch. The gameplay trailer was released on March 2, 2015, during Game Developers Conference.{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/88380/3d-realms-returns-with-bombshell-at-gdc-2015|title=3D Realms Returns with Bombshell at GDC 2015|first=Steven|last=Wong|work=Shacknews|date=March 2, 2015|accessdate=November 27, 2015}} The E3 2015 trailer was released on June 25, 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-the-new-trailer-for-bombshell-the-game-that-/1100-6428476/|title=Watch the New Trailer for Bombshell, the Game That Could Have Been Duke Nukem|first=Emanuel|last=Maiberg|date=June 27, 2015|accessdate=November 27, 2015|work=GameSpot}} On July 23, a ten-minute long video showing gameplay of the game was released during QuakeCon 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/3d-realms-airs-bombshell-gameplay-video/1100-6429160/|title=3D Realms Airs Bombshell Gameplay Video|first=Joe|last=Lewis|work=GameSpot|date=July 24, 2015|accessdate=November 27, 2015}} On August 27, a game trailer of the boss battle against "Zeroth Guardian" was released during PAX Prime 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/watch-ps4xbox-onepc-bombshells-new-boss-battle-tra/1100-6430131/|title=Watch PS4/Xbox One/PC Bombshell's New Boss Battle Trailer|first=Eddie|last=Makuch|work=GameSpot|date=August 25, 2015|accessdate=November 27, 2015}} In January 2016, the game's voice cast was announced, including Valerie Arem as Bombshell and Duke Nukem voice actor Jon St. John as Professor Jadus Heskel.{{cite web|url=http://www.destructoid.com/bombshell-s-final-voice-cast-revealed-in-latest-trailer-331858.phtml|title=Bombshell's final voice cast revealed in latest trailer|date=5 January 2016 |publisher=}} The release of the Windows version of the game was delayed to January 29, 2016, so as to give additional time for the developer to fix bugs.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/11/20/3d-realms-delays-bombshell-until-january-2016|title=3D Realms Delayed Bomshell Until January 2016|first=Michael|last=Martin|work=IGN|date=November 20, 2015|accessdate=November 27, 2015}}

Reception

GameSpot awarded it a score of 2.0 out of 10, calling it a "buggy, bland game with some of the worst writing you're likely to hear in some time."{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/bombshell-review/1900-6416343/|title=Bombshell Review|first=Kevin|last=VanOrd|date=29 January 2016|publisher=}} Hardcore Gamer rated the game a 2 out of 5 saying "What once began as something that had potential to become a so-stupid-it's-awesome classic ended up being merely... well, it isn't even really that stupid as a whole, just dull."{{cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2016/01/29/review-bombshell/190023/ |title=Review: Bombshell |publisher=Hardcore Gamer |date=2016-01-29 |accessdate=2016-01-31}} PC Gamer awarded it 30%, saying "An [action role-playing game] with weak combat and too many bugs, Bombshell isn't worth your click-click-clicks."{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/bombshell-review/|title=Bombshell review|website=PC Gamer|date=29 January 2016 |publisher=}} IGN rated the game 6.9 out of 10 saying the game "Bombshell is a fast-paced, energetic, deliberately absurd action shooter that's mostly competent at everything it tries to do".{{Cite web|title = Bombshell Review|url = http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/01/29/bombshell-review|website = IGN|access-date = 2016-01-30|first = TJ|last = Hafer| date=29 January 2016 }} Leo Espada of GoneWithTheWin rated it 6/10 and stated, "Bombshell features a solid core of combat mechanics, visual design, and a genius soundtrack. It is light on the RPG side, with little depth to sink your teeth into".{{cite web |url=http://gonewiththewin.com/someone-has-set-us-up-the-bombshell-review/ |title=Someone has set us up the Bombshell: Review |publisher=GoneWithTheWin |accessdate=2016-01-29 |first=Leo |last=Espada |archive-date=2016-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131015053/http://gonewiththewin.com/someone-has-set-us-up-the-bombshell-review/ |url-status=dead }} It has a score of 44% on Metacritic.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/bombshell-2016/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Bombshell|website=Metacritic}}

Legacy

A prequel for Harrison's story, entitled Ion Fury, was developed by Voidpoint and released in 2019 by 3D Realms. It uses an updated version of the original Build engine.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2018-02-28-3d-realms-new-but-old-school-fps-ion-maiden-is-on-steam-early-access-now|title=3D Realms' new but old-school FPS Ion Maiden on Steam Early Access now|first=Robert|last=Purchese|website=Eurogamer|date=28 February 2018|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/02/28/3d-realms-shows-neo-retro-shooter-ion-maiden/|title=3D Realms shows neo-retro shooter Ion Maiden|date=28 February 2018|publisher=}} Harrison will also appear in the upcoming game Phantom Fury. This game serves as sequel to Ion Fury and it is developed by Slipgate Ironworks (the new name of Interceptor Entertainment).{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/one-of-2019s-best-shooters-is-getting-a-surprise-sequel-from-a-new-developer/|website=PC Gamer|title=One of 2019's best shooters is getting a surprise sequel from a new developer|date=17 September 2022|publisher=}}