Call of Juarez Gunslinger (Video Game Review)

After the travesty that was the modern day set Call of Juarez: The Cartel, many wondered if we'd seen the last of this underrated series from Ubisoft. Luckily, Call of Juarez Gunslinger has returned to its roots in the Wild West, but with a twist. Much like Ubisoft's other downloadable gem, Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, Call of Juarez Gunslinger pushes the boundaries of what the classic series is known for and produces an incredibly entertaining and addictive game at a discounted price. Call of Juarez Gunslinger retains the classic setting and cowboy weaponry the Old West is known for and adds plenty of fast-paced arcade features that make this the most exciting Call of Juarez game ever released. If getting in shootouts with countless crooks, thieves and Legends of the West sounds like fun to you, it's time to saddle up and pick up a copy of Call of Juarez Gunslinger.

The story of Call of Juarez Gunslinger is easily one of the most likeable features in the entire game. Silas Greaves is the star of the show, but he's far from the silent protagonist. Silas enters an old dusty saloon one day and begins spilling his whole life story over a few drinks. Silas tells his story the way he remembers it, and there are plenty of larger than life gun fights with gangs, duels and showdowns with the greatest outlaws to ever live. As Silas mentions several times throughout the game, his memory isn't what it used to be, especially since he is at least partially drunk throughout the game, which allows the player to decide how much of what is being told is actually the truth or not. The game also features historic looks at the real life entities featured in the game to serve as a history lesson for the informed gamer. The story of Call of Juarez Gunslinger is often silly and always entertaining, so hopefully, this won't be the last we'll see of Silas Greaves and the series.



Call of Juarez Gunslinger is a first-person shooter set within a Western storyline and world. The game is all about outgunning your opponents, but the completionists among us will be constantly aiming for the highest scores and combos by methodically mowing down the waves of enemies featured in the game. The game features the normal arsenal of Wild West weaponry including six-shooter revolvers, sawed-off shotguns and rifles for firearms and even sticks of dynamite for even more firepower. In addition to keeping track of combo chains, it's important to keep an eye on the experience points gained throughout the game that can be used to unlock special skills in various skill trees that are essentially tied to one of the main guns in the game. Once you've sunk some time into Call of Juarez Gunslinger, you'll be reloading and firing bullets faster than before or even dual-wielding pistols like a true legend. Gameplay alternates between random enemy encounters, legendary boss battles and one on one duels to keep the action from ever becoming repetitive.

Once you've completed the meaty campaign, there is still plenty to do in Call of Juarez Gunslinger. Arcade Mode is quite possibly even more addicting than the games story mode with the addition of more enemies, the addition of a time limit and the removal of some of the game's pesky boss fights. A Duel Mode also exists to allow players to practice quickly lining up shots to take down an opponent, though cheating is allowed if you don't mind being called a yellowbelly. Other cool features in the game include an ability to dodge would be lethal bullets with a special ability and another that allows time to be slowed to land the perfect shots on an unsuspecting group of enemies.

The world of Call of Juarez Gunslinger looks great for a downloadable title to be sure and possibly looks better than some full fledged games. Bright colors contrast well with the detailed backgrounds, and plenty of blood squirts from dying enemies, while your HUD becomes more and more damaged when Silas is hurt. The narration of Silas Greaves is excellent to be sure, and the game's sound effects ensure that guns look and sound just as powerful as they should, while the squishing sound effects when landing shots on enemies sounds quite grotesque and makes each kill all the more satisfying. Combined with a strong soundtrack, Call of Juarez Gunslinger is one of the best sounding games we've ever played. There's a lot of things to like about Call of Juarez Gunslinger, but the addictiveness of the shooting gallery type levels, incredible sound design and humorous storyline cannot be overstated, so go out and purchase your copy of Call of Juarez Gunslinger today on your favorite downloadable marketplace!

Call of Juarez Gunslinger is now available for PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE Arcade & PC and can be purchased for 1200 Microsoft Points or $14.99. Call of Juarez Gunslinger is rated M by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language & Suggestive Themes. For more information on the game, check out the official Call of Juarez Gunslinger website.

Game Features:

Single Player

Tame the Wild West in Arcade Style

Three Unique Game Modes

Online Leaderboards

Trophy/Achievement Support

Game Information:
Developer: Techland
Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: PlayStation Network, Xbox LIVE Arcade (reviewed) & PC
Release Date: May 22, 2013

Score: 9 out of 10