The Chaos Engine

The Chaos Engine is a wonderfully frantic run-and-gun adventure from the Bitmap Brothers, mixing steampunk imagery with relentless shooting and cooperative action. The setting is suitably bonkers: a Victorian world transformed by a mysterious machine, with mutated creatures and mechanical enemies apparently having been invited to make everything considerably less pleasant. Players choose from different characters, each with their own abilities and strengths, then blast their way through increasingly dangerous environments while collecting money and improving their equipment. The action is fast without becoming completely mindless, since choosing upgrades and deciding how to approach enemies can make a real difference. Its chunky graphics and energetic presentation have aged rather gracefully, and the whole thing still has that wonderfully British arcade feel. It is the sort of game where you start by exploring cautiously and end up shooting absolutely everything just to be safe.