Gun

"Fun, GTA-like game set in wild west"

Introduction

There was no good western game, for a while now since Outlaws, a nice FPS developed by Lucas Arts. But finally Neversoft, developer known for Tony Hawk series made Gun for PS2 and Xbox, while Beenox ported it to PC.

Story 8/10

Colton White (Thomas Jane - actor known for starring role in Punisher) lived a nice quiet live as a hunter, with his father Ned (Kris Kristofferson). One normal day became Colton's worst nightmare. His father got killed. Now he wants revenge.

Gameplay 7/10

This game could be described as western GTA with much smaller area, and overall much simpler gameplay. Also, side missions are available, but there is only a few of them, and they are relatively easy. You can work for Pony Express (delivering all kinds of things), be a sheriff's deputy or a federal marshall. You can also work for Indian Hunter hunting wild beasts. There is also a work at ranch (which is fun by most people, but I hated it) and poker tournaments. You can also mine gold. All side missions are copied from GTA.

The atmosphere is incredible, it feels just like watching Sergio Leone movie, but even better, because this way you get to be Blondie (not literally speaking, of course).

Gameplay is great and what is most important extremely fun. Cars from GTA, are replaced by horses, and it is really a great fun riding them. You can make them gallop, but if you are doing it too much they will die. It is also pity that there are only two towns. You can buy upgrades for your weapons, from the salesmen, but basically you won't even notice the difference. That is it for the good sides. Now the faults. It has certain bugs- like slowing down when you are entering new areas and loading a new location right in front of player's eyes. On default the game is pretty easy. When you get killed in missions, the game loads a checkpoint, which is usually very near to the place where you've got killed. Western version of bullet time is here called quick draw.

There is around twenty weapons. You gain a new one when you complete a certain mission. You have a gun (later two guns), a rifle, a shotgun, dynamites, whiskey bombs, bow and arrow (later dynamite arrows), and of course a melee attack. Whenever you finish a story, or side mission your abilities will improve. That is a nice detail, but I haven't notice a difference.

Graphics and Sound 8/10

Music is also great, just like voice acting. Graphic is OK. It is pretty, but not too pretty. It could run pretty well on average machines a year ago, so you should have no problem with it today.

Conclusion

Even with the couple of irritating details Gun is definitely worth buying. It offers some great fun and it posses extraordinary wild west atmosphere.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 06/06/07