Bitmap Books is literally cataloguing all the best we’ve seen from retro gaming. Through a series of releases (compilated here), they’ve covered quite a bit of the spectrum of classics. From the long lost Game Boy favorites to SNK’s abundant development history, they’ve covered all the bases. But nothing could prepare me for the truly comprehensive – and staggering – Hurt Me Plenty.
Co-titled The Further Evolution of the FPS (First Person Shooter for short), it painstakingly looks at a specific era of the genre. From 2003 to 2010, it looks at highs and lows alike, just as its previous I’m Too Young To Diedid from 1992 to 2002. That means the heralded classics and duds alike. If you ever wanted to read up on the 2003 RoboCop mess on Xbox, this is the book for you.
It features some amazing imagery, through high-end photographs, as well as interviews with a number of experts. Of course, it also includes fascinating tidbits galore. I never thought I’d learn something new about the glorious Left 4 Dead 2, but here we are. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The book is very extensive, clocking in at over 400 pages. So it will no doubt take time. But like all great Bitmap Books, it’s worth reading. Its extensive presentation of history, combined with awesome details and exquisite visuals, will keep you hooked. And its high quality makes it a prestigious addition to your collection. Put it next to your 3D printed model of the BFG for maximum effect.
Hurt Me Plenty Covers Quite a Bit
Like I’m Too Young To Die before it, Hurt Me Plenty extensively looks back at the genre when the first person shooter truly evolved. And not just the memorable hits like Borderlands and Fallout 3 either. Even smaller games get their due here, which is not only respectful, but also intuitive. You learn the ins and outs of pretty much everything in the genre, even games you completely forgot about.
Along with in-depth analysis by a number of contributors (all at the top of their game here, no pun intended), there’s so much more. A series of interviews with the creators are well worth reading, as you get their insight into creation, marketing and so much more. Plus you also get a better idea of why some went with the multiplayer-only approach, something that seems to be more hit-and-miss as of late. It’s like reading a college thesis with narration by Duke Nukem. It’s that cool.
The team did their homework here with the comprehensive build of the book. It’s fairly easy to find your particular favorites here, but I suggest reading other sections as well. This will allow you to discover new favorites you’ll probably be tempted to add to your game library. I never wanted to dive back into Zeno Clashas much as I do right now.
Now, I should tell you that the book is long. This isn’t an hour-long read. There are over 450 pages here. Jam packed with beautiful images and all sorts of detail. It’ll take you some time to get through it all. Hell, we’ve had it several days and we’re still digging in. But, like all Bitmap Books, it’s worth delving in to, if only to discover fun little secrets. Heck, it makes me want to track down an older LAN group and chat with folks in a crowded room. “So did you know this about Half-Life 2?”
Hurt Me Plenty harkens back to a forgotten era in first-person shooters, when it was more about the creativity and not so much the marketing. And what an era this was. This book puts you right back into the thick of it, in the best way possible.
This Book Quality Definitely Won’t Hurt You
Now let’s talk about the book itself.
As I stated, it is thick. It comes with 464 pages in all. But none of them are wasted, as it’s formatted beautifully between wonderfully captured imagery and lots of text. What’s more, it’s printed on high-quality paper, and won’t “rip and tear” as easily as you might think. (But maybe avoid taking destructive measures, just to be on the safe side.)
The book is definitely weighty, but built into a nice hardbound case. What’s more, the cover art, produced by video game artist Ian Pestridge, looks fantastic. It highlights some of the legends from the genre at the time, but in a neat little black-and-white format. What’s more, it comes with a neat little string bookmark, so you can save your place and come back later. (Pretty helpful considering the book’s length.)
There are a number of outstanding contributions within the book, all worth the read. And the foreword by legendary Deus Ex mastermind Harvey Smith doesn’t hurt in the least. He understands and appreciates the genre, just like the fellow authors he works with. Nice.
Oh, and for good measure, a digital PDF with the book is also included. That way you can keep the book on display without wear and tear during travel and not miss a beat. That’s cool.
A Must For Die-Hard FPS Fans and Curious Video Gamers
Like I’m Too Young To Die, Hurt Me Plenty covers just about everything you can imagine. Hits? Yep. Duds? Absolutely. Long-lost curios that are worth playing again? Those too. It’s a fully packed read that fans of first-person shooters will love. And it might just have a few other fans following along as well.
The book quality is outstanding, inside and out, and won’t bore you in the least, even with its massive size. And its attention to detail is unmatched, the usual standard for Bitmap Books.
So, yeah, give it a read. You’ll learn quite a bit and give better appreciation to the games you already loved. Which was the point, I believe.
Thanks to Sam Dyer and Bitmap Books for the review copy! You can get your own edition of Hurt Me Plenty: The Ultimate Guide to First Person Shooters 2003-2010 here!
Want to learn more about Bitmap Books’ awesome process? Check out our interview with Sam Dyer here!
