Call of Juarez: Bound In Blood

[Flawless]

Eurogamer Review - 7

Quote:

All of which can be said of Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood as a whole. It's far too unvaried and unrelenting a shooting gallery to earn an unhesitating recommendation; although the internal pacing of each chapter is good, they're all the same, and when you find yourself taking potshots at distant, silhouetted, Stetsoned heads 10 seconds into the umpteenth level, your heart can sink. It's a little rough and old-school in some places, but that suits its cantankerous, revisionist mood and down-and-dirty subject matter. But above all, it's a proper western, set in a tangibly real Wild West, with proper, honest-to-goodness cowboys, Indians and bandits in it. Experience tells us that's harder to pull off in videogames than you might think, and it counts for a lot, no matter where it comes from.

GameInformer Review - 8

Quote:

Whether you’re playing alone or multiplayer, the game isn’t the most polished action experience, but that’s not the reason to get excited about Bound in Blood. Look to the gorgeous locales, the spot-on tone of your favorite dusty old Western movie, and the chance to sling a six-shooter with the best of them. Second Opinion - 7.75 Brothers Ray and Thomas McCall solve most of their problems with six-shooters. Techland employs a similar tactic with Bound in Blood, wisely ditching the cumbersome stealth levels from the original in favor of more intense shootouts in the picturesque Western prairies, mountains, and ghost towns. While a touchy cover system, tricky dueling mechanic, and lack of melee disappoint, the brothers’ distinct slow motion kill systems highlight an otherwise solid shooter. The story ties in strongly with the first game, even recycling settings in service of the game’s tale of lust, greed, and betrayal. While some of the cheesy dialogue derails emotional moments (why would the brothers crack jokes while running to save their family?), Techland’s Spaghetti Western plot has more going for it than most games in the genre. Add in the creative outlaws vs. lawmen multiplayer mode, and this gunman has a decent draw.

[bkfount]

Quote: Originally Posted by ExtremeGamer

Where have you seen the reviews at? http://www.metacritic.com/games/plat...d%20in%20blood

I usually check out metacritic too, but it seems there's more hole in the wall sites getting review scores put on there now.

[LingeringRegime]

Quote: Originally Posted by JSKYWALKER1

Got in some MP where we had to guard the Bank from the Outlaws, and had a ton of fun!!!! Peace!!!!

You need to stop with all these impressions.

[CaptainZombie]

some place called bit-tech.net gave it an 8.0

Quote:

Given video games propensity for genre -and particularly genres with gruff, manly types shooting each other- it’s a surprise that Wild West territory remains relatively unexplored. World War II shooters and sci-fi alien fragfests are ten-a-penny in your local games store, but try to pick up a decent Eastwood-inspired romp and you’ll have to trawl the shelves for the odd hidden gem. But worry-ye-not, fans of ponchos, big hats and spitting, 2009 just might be your year. Christmas time will see the release of Rockstar’s gorgeous-looking Red Dead Redemption, but riding into town a mite sooner is Ubisoft’s follow-up to 2006 cult FPS, Call of Juarez. Serving as a prequel to the original, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood tells the story of how Ray McCall -the bible-wielding, gun-toting psychopathic Reverend from the first game- goes from Confederate soldier to man of the cloth by way of outlaw. Beginning in the fire and brimstone of the American Civil War trenches, Ray and his younger brother Thomas desert the Southern army in order to return home and protect their family. This leaves their psychotic commander, Barnsby, desperate for blood, pursuing Thomas and Ray -along with youngest brother, Priest William- across the country. Throughout the game, you are given the choice to play each chapter as either Thomas or Ray. Those who played the original and found Billy Candle’s stealth sections unbearable needn’t worry however; both Ray and Thomas are, yes, gruff, manly types who like to shoot things. They just do their thing in slightly different ways. Ray is a powerhouse, slower but with a higher tolerance for damage. The older McCall can wield dual pistols and use dynamite to blow his enemies to kingdom come. Thomas, on the other hand, uses a little more finesse, preferring to use a rifle to pick foes off from a distance. He’s faster and more agile too, using his lasso to reach places Ray can’t. He can also throw knives with deadly accuracy, should you be feeling a bit stealthy. The brothers’ differing styles are a nice mix and, while not offering wildly different experiences, vary enough to make the choice relevant to your personal play style. Whoever you choose, one thing’s for certain: you’ll get to gun down a whole load of cowboys. One thing Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood doesn’t go for is subtlety. It’s a rootin’-tootin’, old-fashioned shoot-out where the enemies come thick and fast and, with quick hands and a keen aim, will fall just as quickly. The gunplay is meaty and satisfying, most foes falling with one well-placed shot. And while the gameplay is never about anything other than lining lungs with lead, the action is nicely mixed up. Each brother has their own version of ‘concentration mode’ where time slows to a crawl to pick off a troop of enemies. With Ray, you sweep your aiming reticule to pick out your targets before unleashing a barrage of bullets; whereas Thomas’s version automatically targets all enemies in range, while you flick the right stick as if you would a gun-hammer. The brothers can even team up in dual concentration mode, where they barge into a room and two reticules sweep from each side of the screen, needing you to pick off as many enemies as you can before they reach the centre. A smartly used dose of concentration mode is the game at its most gratifying, as time returns to its normal flow and five or so foes slump to the ground. There’s also the return of quickdraw shoot-outs against the game’s baddest outlaws. Facing an opponent in the square, you circle around, making sure to keep him in clear view. Then, a bell tolls, and you must reach for your gun using the right stick, swing it back up and fire off a single, deadly shot. Again, success is sweet satisfaction, although having to retry a particularly tricky shoot-out over and over can get a little tiresome. These instances, mixed in with some thrilling set pieces -such as a stagecoach escape, or a white-knuckle canoe chase- mean that Bound in Blood has rarely a dull moment in its relatively brief running time. At times it can feel like a fairground shooting gallery, as you move from location to location mowing down anyone that stands in your way, but the game’s so beautifully polished that it’s never less than great fun. It looks terrific too, for the most part, with gorgeous mountain vistas stretching high and wide around you. Swirling clouds of dust kick up off of the sun-baked brushland like mini-whirlwinds. And as the sun sets, the shadows grow long and the wispy clouds begin to bleed red. Techland have managed to capture that picture-book Old West atmosphere splendidly with Bound in Blood, and the game even spins a mighty fine yarn. It’s a tale of family loyalty, betrayal and faith. The McCalls find themselves stretched when a woman (there’s always a woman) comes between them, and their constant bickering in a perennial source of amusement. There’s nothing particularly original or groundbreaking about the plot, indeed, given its status as a prequel there’s a sense of inevitability about it all. But it’s told elegantly and sparingly with brief cutscenes and pencil-drawn artwork, narrated by the high-pitched, cracked voice of William. In fact, the voicework as a whole is worthy of mention, the southern drawls of each character perfectly pitched. It’s undoubtedly Ray’s tale, as he begins to lose sense of his morals and descends into madness. But you find yourself drawn to Thomas too, he’s more of an enigma and playing as him gives you the second-hand view of Ray’s shifting mindset; a Great Gatsby-esque observation of a man losing his direction. There’s a sadness that underpins Bound in Blood that somewhat betrays its explosive, single-minded gunplay. But, of course, that’s where all the fun lies. With a comprehensive class-based multiplayer rounding off the package, Bound in Blood is an altogether more polished prospect than its predecessor. At the very least it’s a hugely enjoyable parade of satisfying shooting galleries. But when it finds its stride, it’s a thrilling, wild ride down a road that remains surprisingly less travelled.

[Stormyhog]

I hope the PS3 version has a fair amount of people online hate to get it and not see many people playing it. I know it won't get the numbers of other shooters but hope just enough to find games to get into.

[Stormyhog]

Here is another review http://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/ca...od/review.html

[goh]

So do you actually get to do stuff this time or is it like the first where anything resembling fun like trying to start a bar brawl or actually shoot people results in game over?

[Stormyhog]

Here is a PS3 review http://www.psu.com/Call-of-Juarez-Bo...a007672-p0.php