REVIEW: Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood

Developer: Techland| Publisher: Ubi Soft| Format: 360

Reviewer: Craig Jay Gallagher From the beaches of Normandy to the edge of space to 1960s Miami the FPS genre has something for every gamer. The one genre which has generally been neglected is also one of this reviewers favourite, the Old West. Alongside Red Dead Revolver and Gun the only other western title was Call of Juarez, all three titles were fantastic and all three left us wanting more. Thankfully with the release of Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood we need want no more.

The game sees the return of Reverend Ray McCall though given that this is a prequel Ray has yet to acquire a higher calling. The game begins with the McCall brothers Ray and Thomas guns locked upon one another all over a woman. We jump back to the Civil war and find a completely different picture with the brothers as close as can be and putting family before all else. The opening level act as a handy tutorial allowing you to take turns playing as both brothers. Most levels allow you to choose which brother to play as allowing for a somewhat different gaming experience depending on your choice. Ray runs in two pistols blazing behind a stick of dynamite, while Thomas is skilled with a bow and knives allowing for a more stealth based game.

The brothers along with William their ordained and pacifist brother soon find themselves in Mexico searching for the fabled treasure from the Coronado expedition. It is here
where they meet the woman who will eventually tear them apart.

One of the biggest complaints regarding the first game was that the gunfights just weren’t exciting enough, they were at times quite dull to be honest. This has be addressed in Bound in Blood and the various tasks to be completed make for a far more rewarding gaming experience. Objectives range from the simplicity of scouting out an area to breaking gun runners out of jail to shooting from a stagecoach as you attempt to leave town. The AI has also been overhauled with your brother now offering decent backup. The enemy AI is also far more refined. They are quick to retreat when all hope is lost before finding cover and once more returning fire. There are the few who still assume that explosive barrels offer cover but this simply adds to the fun.

It can’t be a western without a showdown in the dusty streets and as expected dueling makes a welcomed return. You circle around your enemy keeping your trigger finger close to your weapon. Once you hear the bell it’s a quick flip of the right trigger to unholster as you quickly aim and then fire. It’s done so well that while you may curse the inevitability of duels you still find yourself enjoying the hell out of it.

Multiplayer is where the game really comes alive. Most of the modes on offer we’ve seen before, death-match, etc. The addition of objective based modes known as Wild West Legends is a welcome addition. This features a host of infamous west scenarios including the now legendary manhunt for Billy the Kid. There are a number of different class types available in this mode, from gunslinger to miner offering up a whole lot of replay value.

While the game is top class it does have one or two problems. The relative short play time is a big problem. You can easily clock the game in 7 hours first time around and the in-game load times can be quite long. The short run time is more than made up for in the variety of multiplayer on offer but you can’t just feel a little cheated, though this may be more to do with the fantastic story and needing to know more than anything else.
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood looks fantastic. At times the characters do look a little plastic on the 360 but given the level of detail in the game you rarely notice. Effects such as smoke and water look great and the environments are all beautiful to look at. Throw in the fantastic voice acting and you have for yourself one of the best looking and sounding titles around.

Bound in Blood is that rare thing, a FPS which doesn’t simply use greay hallways and the depths of space. It’s an exciting, original and fun old west adventure. There’s more than enough here to warrant a buy for both seasoned FPS fans and newbies alike.