Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood

Ahh, the COD comparisons.

Four years ago this would have suffered from Halo comparisons. That killed the original Area 51, another game undeserving of such criticism. So let's get those out of the way straight away . . . It's a first person, story driven shooter. It has (one level) of war based action. There the comparisons end. So let's hear no more of "it's not as good as COD". Because COD isn't as good as Half Life 2, and neither is this.

What it is, however, is one of the most beautifully striking games on the 360. No game since Bioshock has created a sense of "place" as well as this. This is a living world, utterly believable and a character in it's own right. Not quite open world, but expansive enough to cleverly disguise it's linearity.

This sense of place extends to some fantastic voice acting with the two main protagonists, plus an excellent supporting cast. Characters you actually care about, but not in the way COD attempts to make you "care". This is slow burn, building tension gradually and letting you empathise with their decisions. This to me is more next gen than shiny vistas and 100's of people on screen at once. And the storyline never strays from being personal, in the best traditions of the Western, so irrespective of which character you control it manages to stay an affecting experience.

Control is tight, and the meat of the game, while doing nothing new, never outreaches itself. I can't ever say I felt "if only they'd done this" whilst playing it, and that's testament to the confidence of the developers. The one-on-one shoot outs that happen through the games are brilliantly tense, but never attempt to dumb the game down - there's a trick to doing these well, but it's up to you to find it. I applaud the developers for that.

Of course there's a few issues. It's screaming out for co-op, and I would rather have had that over the purely functional multi-player. The story is fairly short, but it's so well told that's only a value for money issue. I'd suggest renting if this would bother you.

Purely niggles though. This deserves to be sitting with Bioshock and Half Life 2 as the 360's FPS shining lights. But, as with those two, it'll get buried under Halo and COD. Me ? I'll keep an eye on Techland - they have the potential to deliver something truly great with their next game.

Every single time a game comes out people complain.

They say its too long and repetitive, or its too short.

What do you people want?!?!

This game has a lengthy campaign which is fun and enjoyable to play through, the gameplay is great with little if no glitches, plus a fancy cover system. The guns feel good and work well. The graphics are super, BEST WATER EFFECTS I HAVE EVER SEEN.

Want a nice FPS to keep you in this summer??
Get this game.

ok i rented this game because i was bored and thought 'stuff it ill get this!' and i was actually suprised! this game is a really fun, quality title and its by far a lot better than the usuall run of the mill pap i was expecting.firstly the graphics are ace, with some great little touches like bloom lighting and dust being blown up from the floor,it all adds to the convincing feel of being in the west.(and mexico and other locations!) also there's quite a bit of destruction, like certain doors, boxes crates and also windows and frames so you can jump through into buildings.

there are some other nice little touches too.
the ability too rotate the right analogue stick too lasoo onto buildings and things
horse back riding whilst shooting!
holding the right trigger and flicking the right stick down with your left palm to simulate firing an old six shooter!

its these things and other interesting ideas that really draw you into the game. the weapons are outstanding, and although you start off with rusty old pistols, double barrel shotguns and lever action rifles, you can upgrade to prime ones and even gold ones! the reload animations are superb but there is something thats even better when it comes to the guns.

its the active cover system. whenever you go close up to say, a crate or the corner of a building, or even a window ledge, the characters arms will go over, around or any other way past the obstruction, giving you the ability too 'peek' aroung and shoot.after killing hundreds of enemies i have not found one single bug with this, it works perfectly. one time i went to close to another NPC, and my character aimed the rifle over his shoulder! ace.

i havent really played much of the multiplayer but dont take this the wrong way ive been enjoying the single player! i did play a few matches of the legends game mode, where one team was robbing banks, safes and then horses too escape the town, whilst the other was guarding it all, it was great fun and no lag!!!!there are quite a few other game modes too that look ace and i cant wait to get my teeth stuck into them.

so there you have it, a quality title with a hint of originality and great graphics! if ya want to know more about online leave a comment and ill update the review as soon as ive played some online!

oh ans PS, there are some great achievments for this game, like blowing up ten chickens with dynamite! or bashing 5 enemies heads in with a chair! ha ha great stuff