It may not have been the best game to release in 2007, but the western-based FPS, Call of Juarez, did plenty well enough to warrant two follow-up titles, Bound in Blood and Cartel – respectively a prequel and a sequel. While Bound in Blood was able to receive the same praise as the game it precedes, Cartel did little to impress critics. Despite the quality decrease that came with the trilogy, Ubisoft is taking the reigns once more as publisher as a fourth, completely digital entry in the Call of Juarez series.
Returning to the western roots that Cartel so boldly left behind, Gunslinger pits gamers in one of the most coveted gaming rolls ever – a bounty hunter. What connection this entry will have with the previous Call of Juarez titles has yet to be revealed, but gamers can get excited over the thought of hunting down some of the Wild West’s most notorious outlaws. From the likes of Billy the Kid to Jesse James, Gunslinger already promises a cast of characters that is sure to get the attention of history buffs.
Not much else was released about Gunslinger in terms of information save for the addition of Concentration Mode. Returning from the previous entries, Concentration Mode allows gamers to slow down time and get a bead on their opposition. Revamped slightly for this game, this ability now allows the player the opportunity to dodge bullets, a move that could rather easily kill the “showdown” feel that some of the gunfights had in the first two titles. In addition, the game’s protagonist will be “upgradeable” with new abilities and skills, a first for the old west shooter.
Being a bounty hunter, gamers should expect to experience a “quest” system that bases itself off of various bounties. If there is any semblance of a heavy story-driven experience, Ubisoft is remaining tight lipped about it for now, providing no insight into the origins or name of the game’s protagonist. What can be assumed is that there will be plenty of obstacles to overcome such as gangs, bandits, and maybe even certain factions of the law.
Call of Juarez: Gunslinger will be released on the Playstation Network, Xbox Live Arcade, and PC sometime in 2013. The return to the Wild West is sure to already be a step up from Cartel and from the screenshots released by Ubisoft, it’s plain to see that little expense is being spared for this digital-only release. Will Gunslinger be able to correct the blaring mistakes that Cartel brought to light? So far, with the return to the old west, the developer is heading in the right direction.
