GUN (PS2)

A quick browse over the reviews will make it clear that many people were disappointed with the length of Gun. The first time run-through, even including side-quests and extras can be completed in 8-10 hours. As long as you prepare yourself for the breivity of the game, then strap yourself in for a great time.

Gun is a fantastic and cinematic experience. The storyline really shines through, rising above so many other dire or bland plotlines in other games. The protaganist, Colton White, is a well-shaped character, believable and likeable. The game follows him on a quest to find out what the hell happened when his father and may others were killed aboard a beseiged steamliner.

The controls are very intuitive, the weapons are impressive and the action is brutal and bloody. Colton's enemies can literally be shot to pieces and blown apart by high caliber weapons and explosives. It's realistic and often shocking, and I have to admit, very cool. So sue me. The graphics are impressive, movement of the characters is fluid and realistic and the voice acting and sound is of the highest quality.

GTA comparisons are cheap and easy. As the father of free-roamers, any free roaming game suffers comparisons to GTA. But don't buy this game expecting anything like San Andreas. Gun is set across a good sized map, nowhere near as big as the massive San Andreas, with 3 or 4 main populated areas that you can frequent and find work as well as taking missions which advance the compelling storyline.

It is a huge game, with an epic feeling, but in a different way from any of the GTAs. Comparisons to Rockstar's Red Dead Revolver of a year earlier are inevitable, but where Red Dead Revolver has some comic-book enemies such as evil clowns and gatling gun weilding super fiends, Gun is a little more grounded, realistic, and authentic.

Gun gave me a week of unadulterated gaming bliss. Just be aware when you buy it that it is a short game, but it is compelling, impressive, lots of fun and very juicy. Play it on the hard setting for more of a challenge, as normal mode was pretty easy I have to say.

Gun is a real experience. Enthralling and above all cinematic. Pick it up cheap, love it, complete it, and complete it again.

Short, yes... sweet? Definitely. I adore this game. And I hope for a sequel.

I bought this game quite a while back now when it first came out yet I can't help having fond memories whenever I catch a glimpse of the cover on my shelf, it really is an achievement. When you think of games there are not that many (not that i've played at least) that will spark off nostalgia but this one does, like another reviewer said it is like a cinematic experience. For a start I thought the voice acting was great with Kris Kristofferson (Whistler from Blade) playing the role of Colton White's dad at the beginning, the cut scenes are also much better than most shooter games out there. But for me the real acheivement is the map itself, it cannot boast the mass of say, San Andreas but it doesn't need to because of the lush landscapes, some of the sights you can witness are some of the best I've seen in a game (certainly on the playstation) there are large sunsets over rolling plains, clear blue skies above rivers and waterfalls and at night there's the cloudless sky with a truly massive moon! The storylines' good too, a short, sharp burst of bloody action through the west facing all the foes you'd expect too: cowboys, indians, bandits, murderous priests and greedy train barons, all these things could be seen to be stereotypical of the old west but GUN manages to avoid a feel of cliche I feel because of its authenticity. The towns look real and I think simply the whole game lacks the amount of exaggeration of real types of villains that other games tend to employ which definately works in its favour. The side missions I think are vital to adding a bit more of a sense of fun to the game and really help to break up the main storyline which otherwise could get a bit overwhelming, i thought the bounty hunting missions were good but the hunting missions could get a little frustrating (like when you have a wolf in your sights but then it gets scared and runs off). Yes it is a little short but for what it was I can find no real faults with it, bar one - I just wish it could have gone one step further, for example you can't customise Colton, his clothes change according to where you are in the storyline, you can't play poker whenever you want, and the side missions are just too few, and there's just something lacking here that I just can't put my finger on, play the game and you'll see what I mean, it is such a great game and the big things you want to be right are spot-on yet its the little things that it ever so slightly lets itself down on. Anyway lets just hope and pray that there's a GUN 2 one day and if there is it could really be one of the best games, ever!

This game has changed my life. It's so sad.

Basically, i got this game. Great story, superb graphics. I can not honestly say that i found one bad thing inabout it. One minor thing is the fact that once you complete the story and the side missions (100% complete), you get an armoured horse and a cannon nock shotgun (sorry for any spoilers) but by this time you have totall demolished the game and there's nobody left to fight.

It took me two days to complete, going on it for about two hours each day.

I advise getting this game.

Since playing it, i have had a disgusting love of the old spaghetti westerns, starring clint eastwood.

Colton White, the main character in the game, has the same 'man with no name' feel about him.

The side mssions include bounty missions, poker, protecting the town, ranch missions, hunting, and transporting goods on your horse.

The music suits the game so well. The opening scene, just after the tutorial should go down in game history. Totally a great moment, and the sound guy at neversoft deserves a raise....if he had totally mucked up like all the tony hawk's soundtracks...

Graphics: 9/10 - Realistic. Apart from the blood to some extent.
Sound: 10/10 - Su-bloody-perb
Mastery: 8/10 - The PS2 can go further, but it's nothing bad.
Lifespan: 8/10 - Short, but the side missions, and you WILL want to play it again.

If you enjoyed this, play:
Resident Evil 4
Metal Gear Solid 2 & 3
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time