Everybody loves a good Wild West story.
The good the bad and the ugly, young guns, butch Cassidy and the sundance kid, anything with john wayne.
The wild west has always been a staple ofthe entertainment industry.
In the modern day we’ve been lucky enoughfor the wild west to go beyond just books or movies thanks to Video Games.
Video games have a way of immersing the playerinside their world unlike any other medium.
It does this by allowing you to take controlof the character in game, and make all the decisions as if it were you.
Now, not every game allows you to change theoutcome of a story, but it does let you actively partake in it as if you were really there.
There are many great examples of this in videogames.
Bioshock, the witcher, last of us, red deadredemption just to name a few.
In these games you feel a part of their worldand every decision you make feels like it has consequences even if it sometimes doesn’t.
The Red dead redemption series contains someof the most thrilling, heartbreaking, and well told western tales the world has everseen.
But one of my favorite wild west tales, youmight not have heard of, is the story of Silas Greaves.
Silas Greaves was an old legendary bounty hunterwho one day in 1910 found himself in Abilene Kansas.
As is routine for Silas, he heads toward thesaloon.
And this is where our story begins.
The story starts off with a few introductionsand a bit of skepticism towards, Silas Greaves Dwight is excited to have a real gunslinginglegend sitting just across the table, and Silas doesn’t waste any time jumping straightinto the storytelling.
The game is divided into chapters, each being a different chapter of Silas Greaves bountyhunting days.
Between Billy the kid, Jesse James, and TheWild Bunch, Silas has quite the list of good stories.
If any of them are true that is.
In the first mission we’re already introducedto the excellent way they’ve handled the storytelling for this game.
Which has us actively playing out the Silas’memories for the group in the saloon.
This style of storytelling allows for some great comedic moments and input from the group toquestion the accuracy of his story.
Sometimes Silas even likes the play aroundwith the story by telling it one way, letting us play it out, then retracted it by saying Throughout the game some of the storytellinggets even more wild Leaving everyone to become more and more skepticalof Silas’ stories.
While taking care of his snake, the othersquestion the truth of what he’s been saying.
This style of story-telling is what givesthis game so much charm and keeps it entertaining from start to finish.
The game is only about 4 hours long, but itnever drags, and never gets boring thanks to the amusing way it conveys the story.
But I don’t want to spoil too many of thegreat one-liners and the banter between silas and the group, because I think it’s somethingyou should experience for yourselves.
The gameplay really captures the feeling ofthat over the top gunslinging legend you hear about in all the Wild West Outlaw stories.
From dual wielding six shooters dropping guysfast as lightning with your reliable lever action rifle or even blasting enemies up closeand personal with shotguns there’s always a way to feel like a complete badass Outlaw.
Throughout the game you level up and earnskill points to apply to 3 different playstyles.
Gunslinger, which mostly benefits your revolverplaystyle, Ranger, which suites more of a ranged approach, or Trapper, which focuseson close range weapons like the shotgun or explosives like dynamite.
From giving you extra damage for combo kills, slowing down time while aiming down sites, or detonating your dynamite in midair, eachskill tree offers great bonuses for every playstyle and visibly shows your charactergetting stronger with every successive skill acquired.
Like I mentioned the gameplay is really overthe top and doesn’t shy away from being overtly ludicrous.
And it’s a good thing.
There’s cinematic moments in the gameplaythat have you dodging bullets, *clip* performing some insanely daring multikills, and evadingenvironmental hazards These cinematic moments match the storytellingalmost perfectly and again, really nail that Wild West magic.
If you’re not slaying waves of bandits, or gang members, then you’re facing off against their leaders.
Some of the most notorious names in Outlawlegends.
Johnny Ringo, Butch Cassidy, John Wesley Hardin, just to name a few.
You fight some of these legends in gunfightswith their gang members, but sometimes it comes down to a fight between just the twoof you.
The duel system, while a bit clunky, is greatand can be pretty challenging at times.
The game scores you based on your reactiontime, focus, speed, headshot bonus, and if you kill the man honorably.
To kill a man honorably means that you didn’tdraw first, proving not only that you have the better skill, but you’re also the betterman.
Throughout the game you can also find andcollect things called nuggets of truth.
These collectables reveal various facts ofthe American Old West, and usually pertain to the mission and location they’re foundin.
These collectables really add to the overallstory and world building of the game and are an example of collectables done right.
While the games narrative progresses, thetone shifts a bit from Silas being funny and relaxed when reminiscing of his gunslingingdays, and starts to get a little bit deeper once he has a few drinks in him.
His real thoughts start to shine through whenquestioning his past and if he’s become like the men he had once hated.
And by the end, all will be revealed, leavingus with one final decision to make.
I won’t spoil the ending here because again, it’s worth experiencing for yourself.
After you finish the games excellent campaignthere are more things to keep you playing.
New Game plus is available allowing you totake your newly acquired skills weaponry throughout the game again on a harder difficulty.
Arcade mode has a bunch of chaotic missionsthat score you based on how many enemies you kill and how fast you do so.
Combos in here are key to a high score, andleaderboards exist to see what you’re up against.
Duels is a place to replay all the duels fromthe game campaign in one sitting with a limited number of lives.
Duels also have a leaderboard ranking, andthey’re a great way to practice and perfect your sleight of hand as a gunslinger.
Call of Juarez Gunslinger is one the bestWild West experience out there and it deserves to be played by anybody that’s a fan ofthe Wild West.
The purpose of this video was to highlightwhat makes it worth playing without revealing to much and I hope more people go on to enjoythis hidden gem.
It released in 2013 for only 15 dollars whichwas more than a fair enough asking price.
I was lucky enough to get this on sale forunder 4 dollars on a summer sale a year after it released on xbox 360 and it felt like I’drobbed the devs for paying 4 dollars for such a high quality game.
I’d easily pay 30 or maybe even 40 for somethingof this high quality and replayability.
Sure, the campaign is only 4 hours, but itwas entertaining from start to finish.
I made sure to rebuy the game on steam for15 dollars and I haven’t regretted my repurchase.
Call of Jaurez Gunslinger will go down asone of the most underrated video games in history, and one of the best Wild West storiesever told.
Thanks for watching the video guys, I hopeyou enjoyed.
If you did enjoy then maybe leave a like onthe video and let me know in the comment section on your favorite western video game.
I know red dead redemption is probably myfavorite, call of juarez gunslinger is easily up there as my second favorite.
Thanks again for watching guys, I’ll seeyou in my next video.
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