The great
thing about first-person shooters is that there’s something for everyone in this
genre whether you love storming the beaches of Normandy, hunting down terrorists
in the Middle East or upholding the law in some futuristic version of Earth.
Personally, I’m fond of westerns so I answered the call when the first Call
of Juarez came out and certainly did so again with Call of Juarez: Bound
in Blood for the PS3 that puts us back in the booths of not one McCall but
two of them.
Meet the
Brothers McCall
Nothing
counts more than blood as Ray and Thomas McCall see it and it is their love for
their family and their home turf that causes these brothers to turn their backs
on the Confederacy and their superior officers to run back home. This makes the
brothers wanted criminals who run off to Juarez, Mexico with their preacher
brother in search of Spanish treasure. What they find instead is a battle for
survival as both Ray and Thomas lose themselves in their bloodthirsty nature.
When we
first see Ray and Thomas, they’re at each other’s throats fighting over a woman.
This is the opposite picture I described when they were Confederate soldiers in
an opening chapter that not only offers a taste of what a younger Ray McCall and
his brother Thomas were like as soldiers but it also serves as a tutorial that
allows players to learn the controls and each brothers’ individual specialties.
You see, while both brothers can shoot up a place they do play differently. For
one thing, Ray favors using two pistols and tosses dynamite sticks like nobody’s
business. Thomas, on the other hand, is skilled with throwing knives when
stealth is needed and has a trusty lasso so he can climb up to higher ground
when needed.
Things
become more interesting after the war when the McCalls head to Mexico in search
of the fabled gold that cursed Coronado’s expedition. In Mexico, the brothers
not only find the city of Juarez a violent place but they also become wrapped up
in a dangerous game when they come to work for a man whose woman is the reason
Ray and Thomas will fight each other.
You’ll find
the shootouts in the game are surprisingly more exciting than the ones in the
original Call of Juarez. The level scenarios offer enough variety to keep
the action fresh so you won’t just be moving and shooting your way through each
level but also carrying out objectives. Some objectives have you attempting to
flush out a sniper while your brother acts as bait and other objectives have you
shooting your rife from a stagecoach like the classic John Wayne westerns. Most
levels begin with the choice between being Thomas or being Ray with the second
brother being controlled by the AI.
The
quick-minded and the dead
The great
news is that the AI is a vast improvement over the first game so your brother is
able to provide some decent backup when things really get ugly. The enemy in the
game isn’t so dumb this time either and many of them will have the good sense of
knowing when they’re licked. Of course, you will still find a few that think
taking cover behind an explosive barrel is a great idea and a very few who won’t
move out of the way of a lit stick of dynamite.
Dueling is
back but it feels like a whole new experience altogether. There’s just something
more exciting about the way the duels go down as the characters circle each
another with their hand moving ever so closer to their holstered weapons. With
the right analog stick you can move your hand closer to your gun and even draw
it when the time is right. When you hear a bell you draw, aim and fire before
your opponent does. It’s quite a thrilling event that’s done just right.
Speaking of
the controls, the game feels good on the PS3. Everything from ducking for cover
and aiming is handled well enough although you do have to put up with the period
accurate weapons of the era. Unfortunately, the framerate isn’t perfect. The
game tends to suffer from framerate stutter especially when the game is auto
saving each checkpoint. Even load times can be lengthy. My biggest complaint,
however, is that the game is over far too quickly.
At least
there’s a great multiplayer mode to keep you playing the game. You can play
online or set up some LAN matches so you and up to 12 players can participate in
created matches of the deathmatch variety or even an objective-based game mode
called Wild West Legends that feature famous old west scenarios such as the
manhunt for Billy the Kid. There are even several class types you can pick from
such as Gunslinger, Scout or Duelist. It’s a great mode that will keep you busy
for a long time.
Why ain’t
you a purty little thing
As
far as the visuals are concerned, Bound in Blood looks really good on the
PS3. The character models look a bit sharper, albeit a bit more plastic-like, on
the Xbox 360 but the PS3 version is still downright pretty. Everything from the
smoke effects and water look amazing, though, so the difference in the graphics
isn’t overwhelmingly different. Even the environments look wonderful in this
game.
The sound in
the game is also a highlight, especially when it comes to the good dialogue and
the even better voice acting that makes the brothers so believable. Then there’s
the score that is intense and exciting when things get more action-packed and
delightfully mellow during the calmer moments in the game.
Call of
Juarez: Bound in Blood
is certainly a far more
exciting and action-packed shooter than the original. It certainly isn’t a
perfect game but it does a lot of things right that should win over those
first-person shooter aficionados that have been looking for a good Wild West
shooter. The game even has a worthwhile multiplayer mode as well so there’s more
than enough here to warrant a purchase, gunslingers.
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Gameplay: 8.0
Thomas and Ray
certainly know how to use everything from revolvers to rifles and shotguns as
they fight those annoying Union soldiers, a tribe of warriors and the best
gunmen Juarez has to offer. The story is good and so is the bullet-slinging
action whether you’re dueling or pushing the lead out in the streets.
Graphics: 8.0
A visually
appealing game that looks great on the PS3, Bound in Blood has some great
character models and gorgeous backgrounds. While the Xbox 360 has the upper hand
in the graphics department, this version has some smooth animation.
Sound:
8.5
The original
score sounds like it would feel right at home in a classic western and the voice
acting is top notch thanks to the great dialogue. Even the sound effects give
the game its cinematic feel.
Difficulty: Medium
Unlike the first
Call of Juarez, the enemies in this game know how to use cover and run
away when they’re outmatched by the brothers. Some objectives are more
challenging than others are and even some duels will have you restarting from
the checkpoint often.
Concept: 8.0
The two McCalls
have their own moves and specialties but the real treat here are the duels,
gunfights and numerous weapons to use. Some levels are actually inventive and
fun and there’s an excellent online multiplayer mode.
Multiplayer: 8.5
Online, up to 12
players can recreate the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral in an objective-based
game mode or simply battle it out in any of the various maps while picks from a
generous number of classes such as Sniper and even Spy. The game moves at a
steady framerate and will be the reason you will continue playing the game long
after you finish the main mode.
Overall: 8.0
Gunslingers,
Bound in Blood for the PS3 is, by far, the best game in the Call of
Juarez series. Yes, there are a few issues that hold the game back but what
the game does right makes for a wildly good time that should appeal to those
looking to jump back into the dusty streets of the Wild West.
