I have to start out by saying I absolutely loved this game. I am not one for games that resemble Grand Theft Auto but this is one of the most engaging games I have played for the PS3. Unlike games like GOW3, the old west is yours to roam. I actually received this game from my wife for Father’s Day, actually getting it a week early, and I have been playing it ever since. When I first mentioned I wanted this game, it was due to all the hype surrounding it. To be honest, the first few missions, I found myself a bit bored and confused as to what my objective was. But once I did figure it all out, the world was my oyster. There is so much to do here, I could spend the next month or so just finishing side missions.
I will use Craig’s grading system so we can be uniform on it.
Objective: 10 This game takes place in the late 1800′s and brings you right into the old west, as the US is expanding into unchartered and untamed areas of this country. You are John Marston, an outlaw left for dead by your old cowboy gang (now cowboys were actually the bad guys, so lets not confuse it with the cowboys and indians of the 1950s). The government kidnaps your lovely wife and child, making you work for them. Your goal? Why hunting down your old gang. The great thing about this game is you have the opportunity to choose the path you want. Let’s say you go into a saloon and you feel someone disrespected you by bumping your shoulder. You have two choices, move on or make him pay for his behavior. You are judged on your actions. If you become a killer you are treated as such, where bounties will be put on your head. You can pay those off but the people will still treat you differently. Become a hero to people and they will love you. It has taken me a few weeks to help John Marston finish his quest, I would say about 18 or so hours, but I did quite a few side missions. And if you do choose to take the righteous path, this does not mean you do not shed blood, so no worries. If a prostitute is being slapped around by a disrepectful drunk, you just set your sights and take him down. I can say there were times I wanted to change my direction as many people in the game play you for a fool and hold your family over your head. Sometimes it comes down to dueling, where you stand man-to-man, and stare down the barrel of a gun. There are so many side missions that you could be playing for months. You can collect new outfits, save people who are in need of some justice, and collect both animal skins and specific plants.
Theme: 10 This was an amazing game, and what made it amazing, was the theme of the game itself. The story was excellent but the research and development of the Old West made it so. All the weapons you used were around at that specific time. The missions you performed were creating using historical research into the quests itself, including hunting down animals and skinning them. The background and animation were just beautiful. There were times, as I rode my horse in the early morning hours, that I could pull up besides a raging river and watch the sun rise. And it legitimately feels as though it is all so real. Again, what really appealed to me was the attention to detail, not only of the visuals but also of the dedication to really making it feel like you were roaming the west, and Mexico, during that specific time period.
Gameplay: 9 For me, as one who had a hard time getting into Grand Theft Auto, I thought I would hate the gameplay since it so closely resembled GTA. However, I actually thought it was fairly easy to use. As you fought, you could change your weapons, even chosing between the types of revolvers, shotguns, etc… This, to me was not always easy, as it could sometimes change back. Also I thought some of the things you bought, like the maps and medicine, took too long to get to, as you had to pause it, then find them. In the middle of a shoot-out, it seems out of place to pause it just to take medicine. There must be an easier way.
Soundtrack: 8 The music was great. My only issue would be that the voice and the volume level would stay the same. There were times I had to turn it up to hear them speak and then turn it down a bit because the shooting was too loud (for my wife sitting next to me. She just doesn’t understand vigilante justice).
Replay value: 10 This is one of the few games where I might go back and play through the whole thing. It is not only fun to play the side missions, but you can also choose to take a different path. I was not one to waste my bullets on civilians but the next time around, those sons of bitches might not be so lucky.
Total Score: 10 I dont’ generally tell people to spend $60.00 unless it is imperative, and it is necessary my friends. This is one of the best games I have ever played as you are not put in a set form and walked through, like God of War. You pick your path and it follows you throughout. There are games such as Star Wars Unleashed, where you decide whether you wish to be good or evil, but it leads you directly where they want you to go. There is no individualism. The only thing I would tell parents is that there is a lot of language in this game that could be considered “less-than-savory” for younger ears. There is no real sex like in GTA or GOW, and you cannot pay a prostitute for a little love. You are a devoted husband and father.
So pick up this game, roam the wild west, and enjoy yourself. Make sure you always carry your gun close to your side, because my gunslinging friend, you are going to need it.
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