Review: Call of Juarez Gunslinger

G'day guys and gals!

*Mild spoilers for The Gunslinger ahead! Read cautiously!*

While the first game in the series set the game in the history books, the second truly remade the Old

West genre entirely into the today and now. Cartel was a modern set and was a true backfire and failure to Ubisoft, leaving Old West and Ubi Fans alike jumping ship from the series. Call of Juarez finally made a return back to its roots with The Gunslinger, a completely stand alone storyline that follows Silas Greaves, a man with only a single goal left in his life and to do so, he reflects on his past and what he's done to reach this goal.
Gunslinger sends the CoJ series to the Arcade but in no way lessons the experience.
 Gameplay is much of the same with the old classic weaponry returning, such as Revolvers, Six Barrels and so forth. Fighting, climbing, melee also makes a grand return to the series as well but what makes the gameplay even more so is the unique style of storytelling and graphics. While CoJ has always praised itself with realism, the modern telling of Silas' stories (in his old age at the bar) are still portraits, his listeners gathering around him to hear his tales. This theme also stays in the stories; the look of enemies and killing them stays in a comic book style theme, much like The Darkness. Killing enemies will suspend them in time for approximately three seconds then fall dead, whereas the scenery is still the classic style. Storyline is just great writing, sober, drunk, cheeky, insane - only a few words that can describe the game from start to finish. Silas (John Cygan) brings a gruff feel to the character and easily creates a bond with the player.
Sound effects are much of the same from the original game but the musical score really ties in that section. Each new town and mission brings a different tone - being surrounded, all alone, in a ghost town, having a spiritual journey and even down to the trailers, the musical score is truly something to enjoy. On a side note, collectables return in the form of Nuggets, featuring info about the old west and even some of your targets, while the McCall brothers from the main series gets a small mention through this process.
While this game doesn't feature a multiplayer option, it does feature an Arcade and Duels feature. Arcade is simply a Star system, fighting against multiple enemies as quickly and as efficiently as possible while reaching your goal within a time limit. While the Arcade can be fun, playing it in so many other games has sort of made it generic. Don't get me wrong, it's a fun feature but a little difference or change would have been welcome. For me, the Duels is most appealing; throughout the main storyline you will duel against your enemies. In Duels, you get the chance to do that again and also against other classic outlaws such as Jesse James, Billy The Kid and other massive names from the West.

Gunslinger brings the Juarez series much justice by returning to its roots and to give the fans what they've been craving for. While the online debate still continues if Red Dead Redemption still holds the #1 spot for best Wild West game, I'm casting my vote for Gunslinger. With a warm or dark ending that leaves you satisfied with how everything ends, Arcade and Duels to keep you still entertained afterwards and plenty of collectables to keep you busy, Gunslinger is definitely a game that you won't turn a nose up to.

I give Call of Juarez Gunslinger a 9/10

Gunslinger is the next game in the list of Fatman's Choice!
My thumbs up of approval!

+Excellent Storyline
+Gameplay is great
+Artwork and storytelling is well done
+Addictive musical score
+Duels and Arcade is great fun
-Opening credits issues
-Seems to be missing that special something

Gunslinger is out now for 1200 MSP