Rockstar Games introduces Red Dead Revolver a game based on the times of old in the Wild West where men were real men and a good drink tasted like the undersides of a horses hoof. Telling a tale almost lifted from countless western movies, Red (the lead character) sets out on a path of revenge. His father is killed by thugs right before his eyes as a young man, yet he is powerless to avenge his fathers death. Fast forward several years and cue a much older and wiser Red (think of an early Clint Eastwood). With guns ready and the determination to kill those who wronged his family Red starts his steps to becoming the most feared bounty hunter in the west. Cue player huddled around a TV with a controller in hand as you take the lead role against a wide variety of oddball western characters all ready to fill you with lead.

Gameplay:

The first thing you will notice about the whole game is the distinct departure from the GTA series as Red Dead seems to be an entirely new direction. This is a purely story driven experience portrayed with an excellence that you would expect from those old western movies. Even the whistling during the intro music sets the scene as you relive your favourite gun slinging moments.

Red Dead is a third person shooter where players follow the story whilst navigating the many levels which are broken down into stages and then boss fights. A short intro movie from the sheriff explaining who your next targets are and then you are off into the thick of it. Whether it is across mountain ranges to deserted settlements you will be instantly familiar with the environments the game puts you in. At times you will be able to take a look around town to purchase weapons and items from the shops. You are also able to talk to the town folk who seem to relay some useful info at times.

Controlling Red is simple enough as he has several moves at his disposal including the classic back to the wall and peeking out to shoot, crouching moves for those more stealthy moments, evasive rolls, some hand to hand skills and Red’s signature move the dead eye (an accurate slow motion shot). Red definitely needs these skills as it seems every lowlife in the state is prepared to try and gun him down. Being a bounty hunter and a traveller Red gets to see all manner of unspeakable behaviour amongst certain individuals and it seems that Red’s duty is to put a stop to this. In one scene some thugs mindlessly shoot a dog which has urinated on one of the thugs shoes. This stirs Red into action as these folk are made to pay with their lives. What is worth noting here is that although graphically the detail on the characters look a little dated despite being cartoon like, that most of the characters look different from one another rather than using the same character models over and over.

As his name suggested Red is particularly skilled in the use of firearms. These range from revolvers such as a six shooter to various rifles a shotgun and some melee weapons. What is great to see is the location impact from shooting your foes (as seen way back in Goldeneye on the N64). Although the amount of bullets an enemy can take is rather movie inspired, it does add that element of dramatic effect which is necessary in games of this nature as opposed to bullets simply depleting a health bar with no visible means of what damage you are causing.

Littered throughout the game are a number of extra challenges whereby you no longer control Red but another character. These stages are equally as fun and offer something different than simply gunning your way through town. One of these moments takes place on a ranch whereby the owner refuses to sell the land. The player then takes control of this character as she defends her Ranch from rustlers. However what makes this stage different from the others is that she can mount and ride her cows whilst shooting /knocking over her foes.

What western would be complete without the classic duel encounters. Red Dead features these as well and are quite well done. Players simply move the right thumb stick up and down to simulate drawing the pistol, then placing shots with a cursor over vital body parts all in slow-motion. This whole procedure can be tricky at first but once you know what your supposed to do then its pretty simple. Although throughout there is little urgency seeing as if you mess up you can start the duel again as many times as you like.

Graphics:

Graphically Red Dead is a mixed bag as its appearance seems to border on realism and cartoon. The environments are well presented and authentic looking yet lack any major details. The same can be said of the actual characters themselves who in my opinion look very dated. However I think the effect was deliberate and with the overall feel of the game actually works here rather than being a complete negative. As mentioned before there is a lot of variety in the faces that you will come across in your travels which makes for a more believable experience. Some nice muted colours and fog effects are used throughout giving the game a distinct look compared to games with a sharper image. Good stuff all round.

Sound:

Sound is of a high quality as you would expect from Rockstars San Diego team. Some excellent voice acting is employed alongside an authentic musical score. In game sound effects are excellent and very much movie inspired as bullets ricochet and enemies scream when shot. Overall the sound is of high standard and well implemented into the game.

Longevity:

Red Dead offers a lot to work towards whilst playing the story mode . Various items and upgrades can be purchased from shops and townsfolk. These usually unlock pages in your journal (a record of your activities) and extras for the multiplayer aspect of the game. There are a number of items to collect which all cost money which you earn collecting those bounties.

Red Dead also features Split screen and Xbox Live play with various character skins and maps being unlocked via the single player game. There are a few modes of play to mess around with including the standard death match type games with some variations on the theme (one even incorporating poker into the game). The multiplayer adds to an already well rounded package.

Overall:

Red dead is a yeehaw shoot em up which most players will feel right at home with from the off. The western theme really does make this game stand out from the pack and is defiantly a bonus for those sick and tired of the norm. The game play does have its moments of excellence however still retains the formula seen is countless other 3rd person action games. Many people have moaned about how linear the game is and to me I think people were perhaps thinking too much GTA western style before release which is not what the creators intended. This is a story driven game with the emphasis on gun play rather than mindless wandering around. Red Dead certainly delivers this at every turn and is well worth a look if shooting is your thing. Red Dead Revolver certainly has enough character to continue as a series and is a welcome change. I recommend this game to those with or without live as there is enough here to sink your teeth into especially if you are seeking pure entertainment. As always if the Wild west isn’t your cup of tea then perhaps rent the game first and then decide. Good stuff Rockstar, keep them coming.