The Call of Juarez series went through an identity crisis two years ago, so Techland opted to tell the narrative of current law enforcement personnel in The Cartel. When there was no Wild West atmosphere, the jump into the future failed. Fortunately, the new edition of the western shooter returns to its roots and is so brilliant that the Wroclaw studio can forgive the old one.
Silas Graves is the primary character of Gunslinger. We hear about his background, which is filled with anger and the need for vengeance, and we discover that he is a not very nice, slightly melancholy former bounty hunter. The tale is told by him many years after the events in which we participate in the game. We are reminded that we are listening to a narrative when other interpretations of events or “what if…” parts arise. Because of this kind of narration, we never know whether Graves is exaggerating, and the action moves quickly from one location to another.
The plot is very one-dimensional, but the finale is pretty exciting. Nonetheless, the plot of a murderous revenge matches the hero’s attitude and the lawless area perfectly. Threads of genuine outlaws, such as Billy the Kid or Jesse James, give spice as well. Gunslinger is, of course, a pure action game in which the exchange of fire is the central focus. The designers left no room for horseback riding, stealth aspects, town shopping, or other distractions. The hero’s journey keeps us moving from one shot to the next, with little time to relax over the five-hour story campaign. The main character utilizes revolvers, a rifle, shotguns, and a sawed-off shotgun skillfully. We also come into possession of explosives over time. Most importantly, we sense the uniqueness and strength of each weapon. It’s fun to utilize a strong twin-tube cannon and two rapid Colts in close-range combat. The frequent appearance of inscriptions and statistics detailing the combat style and even combinations adds to the sensation of energy and constant activity. Fortunately, there aren’t too many of them, and their existence didn’t seem to hinder with gameplay. This aspect, on the other hand, plainly highlights that we are dealing with 100% arcade shooting. We will occasionally employ the concentration mode, which slows time and illuminates the silhouettes of all adversaries in red. Dealing with the adversary in this manner is effective, but only essential at higher difficulty levels. In the case of the regular level, it is not always necessary to apply this talent throughout the action. Duels are an essential part of every Western, so they couldn’t be left out of the newest Call of Juarez. We occasionally come across several notable cowboys who put the aforementioned reflexes to the test. First, we focus our attention – represented by a wobbling circle – on the opponent, and then we position our hand to speed up the drawing of the gun. The battles are flawlessly done. The game is full with emotions, and as we progress, we confront quicker opponents – sometimes two at once.
The game’s designers followed current trends by including elements of character growth and obtaining new experience levels. We divide the points among three trees. In this way, our hero, among other things, advances in his job. Weapons are changed faster, aiming is improved, and more ammo is available. It’s unfortunate that the development isn’t more visible. The system may provide a bit more, such as the ability to achieve genuine mastery in a certain specialization. The “Fragments of Truth” – things distributed around the gaming environment – proved to be intriguing. We gather them not just to attain a certain goal, but also to learn about the history of the Wild West. We eventually uncover cards that describe numerous persons, locations, and events. The new Call of Juarez has a Borderlands vibe to it, especially with the unnaturally brilliant red of blood spilling from foes. Some hues are enhanced by the stylized environment. This implies that certain components of the environment may merge with others at times, such as when we fail to detect an attacker standing in front of a structure. Fortunately, this is not a widespread issue, and the general level of graphics is sufficient for this sort of work.
In addition to the tale, the authors created an Arcade mode in which we must kill all adversaries on following levels as rapidly as possible – the results may be compared to the accomplishments of other players. The game also has a specific duels mode, as well as the so-called New Game Plus. There is undoubtedly something to be done. The only significant negative of the manufacturing is the occurrence of occasional technical issues in the tested PC version. I encountered a black screen after beginning a task twice, and the remedy was to restart Steam. In addition, I encountered a few issues with unusual level design. While avoiding the rubble in a collapsing tunnel, I opted to jump into a side passage, which appeared sensible – but ended in the character’s death. There was, in reality, just one route. I also thought that the game was frequently deceptive, making it appear more non-linear than it actually was.
Despite a few flaws, Gunslinger is well worth recommending, especially for the low price. In truth, nothing detracts from the game’s enjoyment, and the biggest benefit is the well-designed shooting mechanics. It’s a satisfying western-style experience.