Hurt Me Plenty: the ultimate guide to first-person shooters 2003-2010 -.

Bitmap books is without a doubt the leading publisher regarding video games in analog form, that is. And Hurt Me Plenty: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters 2003-2010 (yes, that’s a mouthful) no exception. A hefty bible of beautifully printed pages devoted to the art of the frag. An open love letter to an era of FPS gaming that manufacturers, shooters and players alike have mixed feelings about. But trust me, this is a journey worth taking. So sit back, stay a while and listen.

So first things first. Leading with packaging may be a little strange, but I do feel that this needs to be addressed. Because let’s face it, when ordering stuff online there is always the added anxiety of shipping and handling. What will that shiny new book REALLY look like when it arrives at your doorstep? With big retailers like Amazon and the like, it’s pure guesswork. A guess. But oh boy does Bitmap know how to package and with extra padding for the corners and lots of packaging, is reason enough to order directly from their store.

But that aside, and it will hardly come as a surprise, Bitmap has outdone itself once again. Because once that packaging comes off, wow. The panoramic hardcover binding has this sleek, cinematic vibe-white silk textured cover, vibrant Pantone inks, bold skull motifs reminiscent of the dark moments of Doom. Enough to make the most casual of nerds froth at the mouth. Pure coffee table art. Thick, matte satin paper places each screenshot under a flattering, compelling light, while the bookmark on the ribbon is that finishing touch of class. Yes, I’m gushing. Because it’s just SO darn beautiful.

First impressions aside. It’s still the content that matters, so let’s put that in focus and dig deeper. Written by Stuart Maine, the sequel to I’m Too Young to Die, this second volume delves into the 2003-2010 period. Legendary as a “wilderness phase” for FPS, it saw the genre evolve – or stagnate – depending on who you ask. Maine eschews neither. It is headstrong and brimming with passion. From the obvious blockbuster shooters like Half-Life 2, BioShock, COD. To the more obscure and downright weird ones like Nina: Agent Chronicles or Ubersoldier II. Each title gets its moment in the sun, 200 entries, carefully sorted.

Yes, you’re in for quite a ride here. In the best way. From the technology and graphics, with the evolution of PhysX engines, HDR lighting in Crysis to the strange story shifts and story-driven campaigns. The rise of multiplayer in Left 4 Dead and Team Fortress to the seriously experimental oddities like The Ball of Cryostasis. And yes, a dip into the pool of shame with the wilder and failed titles like RoboCop. Fun stuff.

And it’s not just “yet another list.” There are plenty of those out there already. No, this is packed with juicy stuff. Development anecdotes, engine retrospectives and critical analysis. With a few amplified voices from the people who actually built the games, featuring developers from Nightdive, Ken Levine and even an entry from Garry Newman. Yes, the mind behind Garry’s Mod. They are reflective and far from the usual question-and-answer stuff that can usually be found, and this adds so much texture to the book.

Moreover, what really makes this volume of pain crackle is the range of tone that goes from polished, iconic titles to gritty failures within a few pages. Shocking to some, perhaps, but there is a reason for the wild leaps, which serve to highlight how much development and ambition mattered in shaping what actually ended. One minute you’re marveling at Halo 3’s technical leaps; the next you’re facepalming at RoboCop ’03 with its failed design. It’s really great stuff and it keeps the reader engaged. Plus, Maine’s style strikes a perfect tone: enthusiastic without being cheesy, analytical without being dry. His version sounds like your pedantic friend who played way too many demos in the early 2000s.

Back to the visual presentation again. Yes really. Bitmap’s reputation for lush images holds true once again. Huge screenshots, detailed and sharp prints. It’s top-notch, with layouts that never feel overly full and give enough room for the content to breathe. And that’s just as well, because Hurt Me Plenty is a deep-dive that, at nearly 500 pages, is truly a marathon. This is one to enjoy and nibble over a long period of time, a feast if nothing else and a slice of nirvana for all of us FPS-crazy geeks.

Rounding things up. TLDR, go ahead and buy Hurt Me Plenty: The Ultimate Guide to First-Person Shooters 2003-2010. And the first volume if you happened to miss it. This is pure reference material, a design manifesto and as close to video game archaeology as you can get. The perfect balance between coffee table glamour and dev-level insight. Hurt me Plenty looks as good as it is informative and is an eloquently crafted tribute, a time machine and a beautifully constructed tank for your gaming shelf. It is unashamedly detailed and really only held back by its deep niche and substantial weight.