Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood Review [360]

02 Jul 2009 at 16:12:43 by Andy Alderson
Systems used to review this title: (360)

Polish developer Techland’s first foray into the western shooter genre, 2007’s Call of Juarez, proved to be a mixed effort. While it sported a pretty sturdy game engine, lush visuals and an interesting approach to the narrative (telling the same story from two different perspectives), it suffered from some awkward gameplay mechanics and unbalanced mission structure. Although playing as the Reverend Ray was undoubtedly fun, as he tore through border towns like a whirlwind of fire and brimstone, Billy’s stealth sections were frustrating and upset both the pacing and balance of the game. Those who’ve been waiting for the definitive Western shooter will be glad to know that Techland has addressed most of these problems in the game’s prequel but, due to some iffy design and some under-developed ideas, their wait isn’t quite over.

The main change in Bound in Blood is how the game is structured. The prequel tells the story of the infamous McCall brothers, Thomas and a pre-God Ray (sadly, no Davina), as they desert the Confederate army to protect their homestead. Thankfully, this time around both of the main characters are actually fun to play as and Techland has cleverly offered you a choice of either brother in the vast majority of the game’s levels.  Like in the first game, Ray is a pretty badass gunslinger able to dual-wield pistols and throw dynamite. Thomas is a more subtle combatant than the all-guns-blazing Ray, favouring ranged weapons (he’s a dead-shot with rifles) and silent kills. The first game’s Concentration Mode (think Wild West bullet time) also returns in Bound in Blood, with both characters now able to slow down time. Like before, Ray’s Concentration Mode allows him to tag multiple enemies before taking them down in a flurry of gunfire, while Thomas targets multiple enemies automatically, simply requiring you to pull down on the right stick, as if you were hammer-firing a pistol.

The balance between the characters is much better this time around, although the way the abilities are divided requires you to suspend disbelief a little. For example, it’s hard to imagine why older brother Ray can kick doors in and Thomas can’t. Or indeed why Thomas can climb over some obstacles and Ray can’t. It’s also slightly disappointing that the choice of character has no bearing on the story – while Billy’s sections in the first game all too often veered into the realm of tedium, the way that the structure allowed you to view the same events from two perspectives added some depth to the story. In Bound in Blood, the choice of characters has no impact beyond the gameplay.

Nevertheless, it’s hard to knock Techland for this when you look at the game as a whole – the overall game structure is undoubtedly better and, with no sneaking sections to worry about, the game can concentrate on delivering action. And there’s a lot of action. Gunplay in Call of Juarez is definitely satisfying - aiming and firing feels quick and responsive, while the weapons all pack a suitably meaty punch, allowing you to take down most enemies in a single well-placed shot. From the opening Civil War section it’s obvious that Techland has kept a keen eye on FPS games over the last couple of years and you can spot the influence of high-octane, cinematic shooters like Call of Duty in Bound in Blood. The game often pits you against a large amount of enemies and doesn’t shy away from the big set piece, with a stagecoach chase and a canoe section being standout moments.

All ...

Comment