Better Than Dead: MicroProse Bets Big on Bodycam Shooters and Hong Kong Grit

Why Better Than Dead’s Bodycam Revenge Caught My Gamer Eye

I’ll admit it: “bodycam shooter” has become one of those phrases that triggers both my curiosity and my caution. After the internet hype cycle around hyper-realistic shooters like Unrecord, I half-expect each new entry to be a tech demo with zero soul. But when MicroProse-yeah, that MicroProse-announces its entry, set in the grimy neon alleys of Hong Kong, I can’t look away.

• MicroProse throws its hat into the bodycam FPS ring
• Photorealistic Hong Kong and gritty, linear raids are front and center
• Hong Kong action cinema is a rare, promising inspiration for the shooter genre
• How much substance will back up the style? That’s the real question for veterans and FPS sickos alike

Breaking Down the Announcement: More Than Just A Pretty Camera?

So here’s the pitch: You play a woman once enslaved and humiliated, now blood-chillingly focused on revenge. With a pistol, a kill list, and her trauma (and camera) for company, you wage war on the underbelly of Hong Kong. No open world, no fetch quests-just tight, linear levels (“no filler,” as MicroProse puts it) and a focus on instant-kill gunplay that leaves no room for hesitation. Each kill is supposed to be documented by that bodycam perspective, making the violence uncomfortably intimate.

This isn’t just about visual fidelity for its own sake, either. The city’s been recreated to ooze with the style of ’80s and ’90s Hong Kong action films—think John Woo shootouts minus the slow motion. Environmental variety is promised via nightclubs, rooftop lairs, and alleyways. What really caught my attention is MicroProse leaning hard into cinematic action, rather than generic military ops or Western heist settings. It’s a rare thematic lane for FPS games, and if they can pull it off, it could be the genre shakeup we need.

Gamer’s Perspective: Will There Be Substance Under the Style?

Let’s be real: photorealism and a bodycam perspective aren’t new tricks, but the magic’s in how the experience is delivered. The emphasis on “raw, instant gunplay” sounds like it could borrow from Hotline Miami or even older FPS classics—blink and you’re dead, no room for error. But if the shooting lacks weight or the AI is as dumb as a sack of bricks, all the visual fidelity in the world won’t save it.

I’m also intrigued (and a bit wary) of MicroProse’s promise of “no filler”—if that means a focused, replayable campaign, sign me up. But if it’s just a handful of linear corridors, the novelty could wear thin after a few kills. Player-driven pacing, clever enemy placement, and environments that feel alive will make or break this design philosophy. If every level is as tense and memorable as, say, a classic “raid” sequence from Hong Kong cinema, we’re in for something special. If not, it’ll be another visually impressive bullet list for Steam wishlisters.

Why Setting and Developer Matter: MicroProse’s Comeback & Hong Kong Grit

MicroProse’s name has a legacy—one that’s mostly steeped in hardcore simulation (think Falcon, Gunship, B-17: The Mighty Eighth). Seeing them back in the publishing space for a no-gimmicks shooter shows how much the genre’s changed. They’re not just reviving old IPs; they’re taking risks on new blood. That Hong Kong setting, meanwhile, is criminally underused outside of a few classics (remember Sleeping Dogs?). Combining photorealism with the genre’s most stylish cinematic roots could give players a taste of something truly fresh—if they let more than just the visuals do the talking.

I’d love to see the game avoid the trap of shock value or empty spectacle. If this revenge narrative delivers emotional punch à la Senua’s Sacrifice—albeit in much bloodier form—it could set a benchmark for bodycam shooters. But if the story is just window dressing for headshots, count me as another disappointed old fan.

TL;DR – Better Than Dead Is One To Watch, But Not To Trust Blindly

MicroProse’s Better Than Dead is shaping up to be a photorealistic, bodycam-style FPS full of Hong Kong grit and revenge. The setup is intriguing, but the proof will be in tight, thrilling gameplay and whether it delivers on more than just visual style. If MicroProse’s gamble pays off, it could redefine how we experience FPS narratives—or it could vanish into the sea of forgettable bodycam experiments.