The preview option for Shotgun Cop Man came across my desk in a pretty amusing way. CGM’s Dayna Eileen had asked if anyone was familiar with My Friend Pedro, and I mentioned that I had written the review and enjoyed the game quite a lot. She proceeded to ask if I wanted to try something new by DeadToast Entertainment and that it was “weiiiiiiiiiiiird.”
Now, I’m always down for something weird, so I naturally agreed to it, and I wasn’t disappointed. This is exactly why I always enjoy when an indie game looks “weird,” because you’re never quite sure what you’re going to get, but you’re definitely going to get something experimental—or, better yet, memorable. Deadtoast Entertainment and Devolver Digital have done it again, channelling the spirit of My Friend Pedro into something that’s a lot faster and more arcadey.
In a lot of ways, Shotgun Cop Man reminds me of some of those really amazing games you’d see on Newgrounds.com—where physics-based gameplay was implemented in interesting and inventive ways. But first, let’s discuss the plot of Shotgun Cop Man. It’s very simple: players take on the role of Shotgun Cop Man—a Man who is part of the elite corp of Shotgun Cops. His mission is to go to Hell and arrest Satan. Satan, quite understandably, is not very keen on this and commands his minions to stop Shotgun Cop Man at all costs. Armed with his trusty shotgun and pistol, he’ll bring Satan to justice once and for all.
“And the gameplay is where Shotgun Cop Man really sets itself apart.”
Even with what little is on offer, it’s about as silly as you can imagine, and these kinds of games are at their best when they’re not taking themselves seriously and prioritizing the gameplay. And the gameplay is where Shotgun Cop Man really sets itself apart. It’s a fast-paced, 2D Run ‘n Gun where your guns are responsible for almost everything.
On his own, Shotgun Cop Man can only really run left or right, and it’s up to the raw power of his shotgun blasts to act as his jump. Players can use the pistol for shorter hops or keep themselves aloft in the air with repeated pistol fire. And this was where Shotgun Cop Man really surprised me. With a name like that, I don’t think you’d be wrong in assuming that this game was nothing but silly shotgun shenanigans, but instead, it’s a genuinely complex game where players need to consider every shot for both movement and attacking.
Since aiming is controlled through the mouse, wheeling around and blasting away gives players a very fluid sense of movement and never feels too complicated. You really start to channel your inner John Wick, as you run through levels, hitting enemies positioned above, below and in front of you all while hanging in the air. The challenge becomes getting well acquainted with your positioning and where everything is in a level, so you can effectively utilize your shots quickly without blasting yourself into a spike wall by accident.
“I have a feeling that much like with My Friend Pedro, Shotgun Cop Man will end up being a cult classic.”
Adding to this is how Shotgun Cop Man’s guns reload every time he touches the ground, which can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it keeps the action moving at a breakneck pace as you blast yourself forward or into the air and shoot every demon in your way with both style and efficiency. However, it also means players need to be very mindful of their shots and their placement in a level especially when spike pits and buzzsaws start getting introduced.
This unique form of movement and combat and fast pace combined with its relatively short levels makes Shotgun Cop Man incredibly fun and deeply addictive. It prompts players not only to move forward with a “one more level” mentality but also to complete each level in the most effective way, as it grades you on kills, speed, and damage taken. It’s one of those games that is incredibly easy to lose an hour to.
While it’s still in its demo phase and doesn’t even have a Steam page yet, Shotgun Cop Man is already incredibly promising, with two very prominent names behind it. I have a feeling that much like with My Friend Pedro, Shotgun Cop Man will end up being a cult classic. DeadToast Entertainment certainly seems to have found their rhythm and if they continue making weird, fun games like this, then I am all for it.
Shotgun Cop Man will be launching later this year across Nintendo Switch and PC for $9.99.
