Blues and Bullets is an episodic game and those who’ve played the first episode have been waiting long months for this second episode to finally release. Blues and Bullets Episode 2: Shaking the Hive takes us to the dark and interesting world of Eliot Ness and his nemesis/partner Al Capone once more. It’s great to be back in town but due to the time between the releases of both episodes, it might be wise to play episode once again. That being said, Shaking the Hive delivers that same great atmosphere combined with an interesting story.
Welcome to the flashback episode
This episode starts with a flashback, meant to get to know our protagonist a little better. We get to know Eliot Ness’ old partner Jim who was gunned down by Al Capone. It’s not a happy story since the wife of Jim is also involved in it. It’s a great way to get to know your hero a little better and this flashback is just the start of much more. Episode 2 combines the story as we left it back in episode 1 with a lot of trips down memory lane. Where we didn’t really understand why Ness would work together with Al Capone, it makes a little more sense now after playing some of the flashbacks.
This brings us to the Al Capone storyline. After you finished the first flashback, you continue where you left during episode 1. This means you’ll enter that mysterious submarine in search for Al Capone’ missing granddaughter Sofia. Episode 2 isn’t as heavy on its story as the previous one but we do get to know the characters a little better. Again, if you haven’t played the first episode recently, it might be wise to freshen up your memory. This is a direct sequel so you’ll need to know what’s going on in order to really enjoy this ‘Sin City’ inspired drama.
Jump straight into the action
Shaking the Hive does feel a lot different from the first episode however. Where the first episode had a lot of text and plot, episode 2 jumps straight into the action. Short after the first flashback, you’ll be fighting off the enemies in the gorgeous levels. The action still isn’t top-notch but it’s enjoyable. Don’t expect the same quality as in other cover based third person shooters, Blues and Bullets has its own unique system. It’s a system that reminded us of the good old arcade shooters but it works.
The best part of the gameplay however still is the detective segments, like in the first episode. Ness will have to use his detective skills to solve puzzles in his environment. It feels like a light version of the Eagle Eye of Assassin’s Creed. Besides solving crimes, you’re also forced to make certain decisions. These decisions take you to a different arc in the story but we didn’t really feel the consequence of our choice. That’s something we hope will change in the following three episodes. As it is now, it feels like the choices are completely optional and lead to the same events anyway.
An incredible atmosphere
The thing about Blues and Bullets is that we can’t really hate it for its mistakes. The atmosphere in this second episode, once again, is something entirely different. The graphical style still amazes us and this episode features some incredible scenes once again. Without spoiling it too much, there’s one particular dream sequence that will take you straight inside Ness’ head filled with paranoia. This is without a doubt the strongest scene of the episode and lifts the entire experience to a higher level.
It’s a shame that the episode isn’t that long, just like the first one, you can easily finish it in roughly two hours. That doesn’t mean it’s bad but it is becoming a downside having to wait for the next episode that long. We’re convinced that the Blues and Bullets episodes will be most fun to play once they’re all released and you can play them right after each other. That being said, this second episode feels very impressive.
Besides the graphics, the voice acting still is amazing. With some of the industry’ best (Ness is voiced by Geralt of the Witcher), it’s easy to get sucked into the story. Shaking the Hive has fewer stories to cover but compensates this with great flashbacks and some unforgettable scenes. Thanks to the great voice actors, you’ll want to know what’s going on in the mysterious world even more.
| The Good: | The Bad: |
| + We get to know Eliot Ness better | – Too short |
| + Strong visuals | – Too much action |
| + Flashbacks | – Not as creative as the first |
Blues and Bullets: Shaking the Hive isn’t as original as the first episode but still manages to grab our attention. It’s great to get to know the mysterious Eliot Ness a little more and the way we learn about his past is amazing. The only downside about the episode is that it features a little too much action and less investigation. It’s not a bad episode but it misses the same magic as the first episode for sure. That being said, we can’t wait to discover the future of the game and our beloved characters. Let’s hope episode 3 will be here soon!
4 out of 5:
