Call of Juarez (PC, 2007)

Call of Juarez tries a different take on the first person genre by setting it in the old west; a welcome change from the typical si-fi/war themes that exist.

The most striking feature of the game are its graphics and they are good. In particular, the lighting effects and high dynamic used makes everything seem more natural. Going beyond graphics and western setting, Call of Juarez is surprisingly average despite all the numerous minor additions to game play. For example, two protagonists that you alternate between, quick-draw matches with end bosses, ability to ride horses (even though they may be sparse). Ultimately the blame can be laid on the main story, which is not strong enough to set it apart from other shooters, and the level design, which again is not original/unique enough. There are exceptions, such as the part where you search for Juarez’s gold but most levels are quite bland.

That it not to say this is a bad game, it is just an average shooter in an very crowded market. The single player campaign will keep players interested for its span. A worthy rental for the FPS fan but not worth owning.

7.0 / 10

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Anyone with a passing knowledge of Westerns will immediately recognize the genres influences in "Call of Juarez". And right off the bat, I'd like to make it plain that Call of Juarez is exactly what you'd expect a Western-themed shooter to be, complete with outlaws, rusty guns, train hold-ups, saloons...basically the whole kit and kaboodle. The story is actually very well done, and the way the developers chose to tell it is also quite creative by having the story told through two different characters that the player alternates between.

The music and voice-acting is extremely well done (with an exceptional performance delivered by Gul Dukat himself, Marc Alaimo!), as are the visuals. In fact, when you first load up a level you'll be immediately impressed with the games gorgeous visuals (huge scenic vistas, lush vegetation, dust), probably some of the best looking graphics you'll see in fact (all assuming you have the video card powerful enough to run it at it's finest).

All in all I can easily recommend this game to any Western fans out there; you guys and gals are sure to enjoy it. More generally any first person shooter fans that like playing for the story will find Call of Juarez very fulfilling.

Call of Juarez is a multi fascinating game in Single and Multiplayer modes.
Single player gives you two characters you can bring along through episodes to the final climax as they both meet up. Very well thought out Old West Settings and some complicated , yet easy puzzle solving is involved to complete this game in Single Player mode. You will realy enjoy the cinematic cut scenes which allow you to float back in time to early morning westerns.

Mulitplayer is very much overlooked with this game. There are very few servers available online , usually just a hundred or so players online at a given time. This game is up there with any good front person shooter! I do not understand why more are not playing online. You have about four charecter types per each side you can choose from. Rifleman, Gunslinger, Miner and Sniper, all with their own type weapons and skills. This has to be one of the best! Try it online if your lucky enough to have broadband and can find a few players online! You will not be disapointed!

First of all, this is the type of game that some people will "get", and some people just won't. If you played LucasArts Outlaws back in the day and liked it, you'll love this game. It really hits the high notes on western style action shooter games. Many people have complained about the platform action with Billy, but those were my favorite sections of the game. I like sneaking around and such. It has a great story, and the one on one "draws" was an original idea.

Unfortunatly like many other titles of this Genre, this game leads you down a narrow one road path, no thought or world to explore. One of the best in the westerns I have played, but still to narrow visioned. Someone needs to develope a western along the lines of the battlefield series of games. Large maps western themed, never the same game twice. So I rate this average, good for what it is, unfortunatly I expect more from todays games.