Gun - Page 2

Two to Four Legs
Gun plays out as a third-person shooter and, much like Rockstar's Red Dead Revolver, intertwines gameplay on both foot and horseback. But unlike Red Dead, Gun gives you much more flexibility in all its game mechanics. On-foot and horseback sequences are entirely interchangeable to the point that if you're having a rough time taking out a herd of bandits on your feet, you might want to saddle up on an abandoned horse for some four-legged action. And as much as stealth implementation into every action game is slowly becoming a big no no, Gun's sneaky bow and arrow sequences are fluid and satisfying, as infrequent as they actually are.

Being one of our first beginning to end experiences on the Xbox 360, some of the console's capabilities were an adrenaline shot of hope for games to come. Smoke, lighting, realistic shadow casting, and normal mapping make the Gun world come to life in a magnificent way. Neversoft worked wonders with Gun's physics engine and dismemberment technology--body parts break off and propel accordingly in reaction to explosions and gunfire. You can strategically shoot a rider off his horse, or vice versa, and watch as the helpless duo tumble to the ground in an anti PETA-fueled spill of death! There are formulaic explosive barrels scattered throughout the game, but you can pick them up, toss them toward enemies, and Quickdraw them out of the air for volatile results. Other game mechanics and HUD icons are relatively standard for a shooter, though Gun makes a unique Max Payne "painkiller" statement by employing whisky (in bottle form) as a health booster.

Something for Everyone
Gun's four difficulty modes parallel the Halo structure spanning from easy to insane, the former being a cakewalk and the latter an excruciating affair of instant death. Every gamer should find a suitable setting, though set to normal and completing all side missions (such as bounty, poker, and Pony Express courier missions), Gun should take the average gun slinger at least 15 hours to complete.

Great Expectations
Gun is a skillfully crafted work of art that delivers a high level of entertainment from start to finish, especially in high-definition and Dolby Digital audio (highlighted by great western music). But Gun won't jump out at you as a next-gen technological masterpiece--it's just too early for that. It will, however, assure western gaming fans a hopeful series to come.

KEY MOMENT: Watching the sun set behind the mountains of the sprawling western terrain.

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