A Thumb Bandits Look at the Wild West Game Genre – Article

GET ALONG LIDDLE DAWGY
Well we had to really, we are THUMB BANDITS after all so an artical about the Wild West gaming genre seemed somehow inevitable. So here it is and we hope you enjoy it! Saddle up and ride with us as we take a peek at how the West was Won in video games…..

DEAD MANS HAND
We called ourselves “The Nine”, and we shook the pillars of heaven when we rode…
We took what we wanted, cutting a path of blood and destruction across the territory. Neither God nor laws of men stood in our way. My head was filled with visions of fame and gold, but the rest of the gang liked the money and loved the killing. They thrived on fear and reveled in the blood of others. When I decided I wanted out – they tried to kill me. One by one, I will hunt them down and pay them back. With interest.

RED DEAD REVOLVER
A blazing third person gun slinging action game, Read Dead Revolver is fueled by a revenge driven storyline punctuated with dark humor. The arcade style gameplay blends seamlessly with the elements of the Wild West era. Full motion capture cut-scenes and breathtaking visuals fuel the cinematic ambition of the game. Inspired by the Spaghetti Westerns of the 1960′s and 1970′s, Red Dead Revolver is the first game to fully explore the Wild West era, rather than use it simply as a backdrop. It is a homage to the classic tales of vengeance on the untamed frontier, where life is reduced to its simplest form – the clothes on your back, your gun, and maybe a horse.

DARKWATCH – Curse of the West
Darkwatch is a cinematic 1st person shooter (FPS) blending the Vampire-Horror and Western genres… They grind their enemies for fuel, fashion their skin into protective cloaks and create weapons designed to exterminate en-masse, and they’re the good guys! They are the Darkwatch, a mysterious secret society that has protected humanity from evil since the dawn of civilization. Their newest and most deadly agent is Jericho Cross, an outlaw gunslinger pulled into their ranks by an unfortunate close encounter with a vampire lord.

STRANGER – Oddworld
Stranger is the fourth in the episodic quintology of Oddworld and stars a mysterious stranger in a tall hat and an even jacket. His name is Steef, and in this wild western world, this lone gunman may be the only good this odd world has got. The game screenshots are looking fantastic, with the usual Oddworld look to it, strange creatures abound. The game is rumored to be set of a pre-christmas 2004 release but given previous oddworld slippage it’s liable to fall into 2005.

Older Incarnations in the Genre
Although it may seem that the Wild West Genre is fairly new there have been numerous games that have come and gone along the way, even since before console and PC gaming was ‘hip’. A few games have touched upon it in recent times such as Time Splitters 2 with it’s 1853 level. But what were the names of those games whose whole being was the Wild West Genre? Well this is where we list a few of the more well known attempts:

Wild Wild West: The Steel Assassin
It’s time to tame the Wild Wild West! Gun-slinging action! Outlandish scenarios! Intriguing adventure! The Wild Wild West comes to life on your PC in an all new mission!

Wild Arms 3 [PS1]
During desolate times on the “Sea of Sand”, Drifters venture across the vast lands of Filgaia searching for fortune and adventure. Amidst the deserts lie cities erected from eroded rock and scavenged wood. Towns that a few call home provide rest and solitude for the many travelers of the barren wasteland.
Wild Arms

Colts Wild West Shootout [PC]
Grab your six-shooter and prepare for a showdown! In Colts Wild West Shoot Out, desperado’s are robbing the Red River Bank, and as Sheriff, it’s your job to take them in – dead or alive!

Far West [PC]
For all those who dreamt of being a cowboy, strap on those spurs, because in this wild, wild west, wagon rollin’, trigger happy, rootin’ tootin’ PC simulation gamers can be all they had ever dreamt of.
Official Site

Priest [PC]
Priest is a multiplayer, head-to-head combat game that introduces controversial themes in a Wild West setting.

American Tale: Fievel Goes West [SNES]
Platformer based on the movie of the same name. Guide Fievel on a fantastic journey filled with fun and adventure through the wild wild west.

Kane [C64]
Set in the wild west theme, Kane places you in boots of the famous movie character. Shoot the birds, ride the horse and kill desperados in an average action game. It could have been better if only the controls were a bit more “natural”.

Wild Guns [SNES]
Natsumes rather nice attempt at an arcade led wild west romp into unknown territory. Save the damsels and shoot the bad guys.

Gunslinger [PS2] Canceled 2002
With it’s “spaghetti western” spirit and Wild West feel ‘Gunslinger’ was on many peoples ‘to get’ lists and then suddenly it went off radar, it was all very hush hush as it slipped into developers hell… oh well.

The list is reasonably extensive so we can’t list EVERY wild west style game, but we have given you an idea. These new ventures into the Old West over various next gen console formats can only be seen as a good thing (particularly with the addition of ‘Xbox Live’ support and the like), it adds a little bit of change to the 3rd person shooter / first person shooter arena that will hopefully give gamers something to shout about whilst they wait even longer for games like Halo 2, Half Life 2 and Doom 3 to arrive on the seen.

It’s a good genre so why not use it, it’s also so ingrained in the psyche of anyone who’s ever seen a cowboy movie that you can become immersed in the genre pretty seamlessly.

Here’s hoping in at least a few of this new band of Wild West titles you have the choice to play an ass kicking cowgirl as well as the usual male model of heroism.

Yee Harr!

Article by Angela Feb 2004