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Call of Juarez - Hands On Mini Preview
Derek dela Fuente
14/07/2006
Videogame developers continue to struggle with good, ol' Westerns; the latest attempt comes from Focus Multimedia and Ascaron...
When was the last time you could look down at your feet and see big shiny boots complete with spurs or when a bottle of whisky was the nectar of life!? Well thanks to the joint venture from Focus Multimedia, newcomers to the full price gaming arena, along with Ascaron, who combine to present an action-packed western extravaganza with some rootin' tootin' exploits from the Polish based developer behind Chrome!
You can count on the fingers of one hand the number of Wild West games that have made any impact on the PC. A surprise when you consider the kind of instant action that a rip-roaring jaunt into the lawless outback of the 19th century conjures up; gun-fighting, wrestling with wild animals, bar room brawling; confrontations galore, horse riding, heavy poker sessions and with the diversity in settings and the character cast there are no boundaries and ideas for a game.
Call of Juarez pretty much offers most of the aforementioned ideas; although it is packed with clichéd dialogue and the kind of events that do not need much imagination, what is on offer is a plethora of action including both intense shootouts along with some stealth ideas that are cohesively wrapped inside a story, which maybe cheesy but manages to create an atmosphere that many will find acceptable.
The player assumes the interesting roles of both a bible-bashing, gun-slinging preacher who is out to rid the world of low-life, as well as bringing a young man on the run to justice, who you also assume. Both have interested backdrops stories as you would expect, plus a very poignant crossover between the two characters which opens up as the game progresses.
The Reverend Ray shows scant regard for others and conveys his ideologies that there is a higher law, god's laws; which paves the way for him to do all the killing he likes without recompense! The story is further intertwined with hidden gold from the legend of Juarez, which we are forcefully informed is cursed. So even at the very start there are a number of interesting ideas portrayed which offer more substance than could easily be assumed!
There are some subtle differences between the two characters which become apparent at the start, with Billy, being younger and more agile, involved in some stealth actions like creeping around a parameter fence to finding some hidden stash, whilst the Reverend's skills are in fast and precise shooting where actions do the talking!
With shooting and killing very much high on the agenda, the actual mechanics to sending a long line of bodies to their resting place on Boot Hill is via simple cross-air with straight forward left and right button mouse controls to aim and shoot! This could have been more effective, interesting and rewarding if there was more onscreen information as to your state and that of those you are gunning down. A number in the right hand corner slowly diminishes as you are shot but will be replenished if you manage to find some whiskey and take a good swig!
Call of Juarez has many adventure components bolted on with an ongoing task list presented to the player from freeing the sheriff's wife to catching three rabbits with a crossbow; to setting alight buildings with an oil lamp, even the traditional traversing on top of a speeding train!. Presentation with a stream of well placed cut-scenes, complete with monosyllabic drool from a cast of characters updating the story, giving hints and generally fills the player in with some rewarding information. This ensures the game moves along at a nice pace!
The real positives of Call of Juarez is that it does conjures up the celluloid spirit of the Wild West in a number of ways, and it's not just the crass use of the vocabulary taken straight from John Wayne's own dictionary. It was more the day-to-day living experience, the open expanses, the barren plains, even the tacky but vibrant town complete with the customary saloon and hardware store. Graphically the look and style of the game appears to paint the picture with a certain degree of accomplishment. The eclectic cast - a Native American Chief, the Sheriff, Damsels in distress and host of villainous characters - have the expected mannerisms but come across with sincerity although the AI certainly needs some work before the game's release.
Call of Juarez offers the good, the bad and even the ugly and there is no denying that attention to immersion into bygone days, when men were men, works a real treat. There are still a number of grey areas ahead to be sorted, like close combat, especially the kind of reaction you would expect when you are shooting at someone from a couple of feet away. There is also the actual look of the characters' faces which look wooden (just like Clint then - Ed) but with some time left to sort out these issues who could complain when you actually get a chance to sit astride your own horse and feel what it was really like!
Anonymous
Date Added:Tue 31st Oct 2006 11:17