Hands on GUN

The Hollywood western has always seemed rife with videogame possibilities. Everyone loves to play a good protagonist, and the squinty-eyed gunslinger is as popular a model as can be imagined, but, oddly, the western hasn't been very prolific over the years. We got a good taste of what an old-west game should be like with Red Dead Revolver. Subsequently, Darkwatch™ added its own undead spin to the mix. Now GUN™, available for both Xbox® and Xbox 360™, is storming the action ranks with its own unique twist on the genre.

Mounted combat done right.

Got the Style Pegged
Perhaps one reason more developers don't tackle the western is the precision with which the presentation must be handled. From stunning vistas to galloping horses and the dusty streets of a saloon filled ghost town, there's a lot of artistry and detail that goes into evoking a true western feel. GUN takes great measures to make sure they've captured that mood, including some of the more subtle nuances to capture the feel:

GUN delivers the western to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners
and helps prove the genre's viability.

• Story Comes First: The western tales of revenge, deception, heroic criminals, pretty girls, and frontier justice are hallowed ground. One way to cut through the bull and get straight to the heart of the matter is to hire a bona fide Hollywood scribe, and that's just what Neversoft did. Randall Johnson, who did yeoman western work on Mask of Zorro, has penned the epic tale for GUN.
• Mood through Dialogue: Good story won't amount to squat if the acting doesn't measure up. In another move to ensure quality, Neversoft tapped several Hollywood heavyweights to add the rasp and authenticity to GUN's dialogue. Thomas Jane (The Punisher) gives gritty depth to our hero, the venerable Kris Kristofferson plays your ill-fated father, and Brad Dourif (who comes with old west experience as the doctor on HBO's Deadwood) adds his sinister voice to the main villain. You'll also hear the familiar voices of Ron Perlman, Lance Henrikson, and Tom Skerritt, among others.
• Horses Done Right: Animals in any game can be an animator's worst nightmare, and with the horse as the centerpiece of the western genre, its authenticity can make or break the game. Whether walking into town to strike a cinematic pose, cantering gently to your destination, or galloping over the prairies, the horses in GUN truly capture the feel and power of the noble animal.

Charging down.

Gun Gameplay
As far as game mechanics go, GUN again avoids a misstep. Here are the highlights:

• The action controls are from a third person dual-analog control scheme that works smoothly, and offers refined aiming and movement.
• The gunplay on-horse is equally exhilarating, while still capturing the difficulty of aiming on horseback, without being frustrating.
• You can even stampede over your unfortunate enemies while bearing down on them on horseback.
• Quick draw mechanics use a refilling meter, allowing you to slow down time and auto-target enemies, so you can fan through your six-shooter and take down a posse without breaking a sweat.
• Health is regained from flasks of whisky, allowing the western's liquid courage staple to be in full effect.
• Spot-on hit detection allows enemies to react realistically as you shoot them in the chest, arms, legs, head, or even in the hand, which knocks the offending gun away and gets you extra points in the process.

Good time for quick draw.

Augmenting Features
In addition to direct combat, GUN also slots in a few features you might not expect that add richness to the experience. For example:

• Skills: You can improve your overall skills as the game progresses. This means that you can get a little more familiar with horseback riding to get a bit more out of the animal, or improve your gunplay if you're a little shaky fanning the hammer.
• Side Quests: While the next step in the overall story is always at hand, you can use a Wanted Poster system to search out bounties and side quests to help line your pockets and up your skills.
• Upgrades: In addition to evolving your skills, you can shop around for better equipment, or just a more robust arsenal. Buy extra sticks of dynamite, an upgraded rifle, more ammo, flasks for health, etc.Period piece action games may not be a dime a dozen, but that helps ensure that when they arrive, they're fully appreciated, especially when the developer gets it just right. GUN unquestionably delivers a top-notch western to Xbox and Xbox 360 owners which can only help ensure the genre's future viability.

Article by Alex McLain