The West, not so wild

by ERIK LEIJON

As far as first-person shooters go, the original Call of Juarez was no masterpiece. But by virtue of being a rare game set in the Wild West (as opposed to some overdone comic-book-geek wet dream scenario), the gunslinger was actually a lot more interesting than it received credit for. The West has been barren game-wise ever since, so Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood’s (PS3, X360, PC/Ubisoft, Techland) mere existence deserves to make anyone’s most wanted list.

Bound in Blood is a straightforward six-shooter, but it sure as heck ain’t no hollerin’ hootenanny. The first featured some pretty generic FPS gameplay, but had the right look and feel of an era rarely represented in gaming. The Wild West was a pretty desolate place in the late 19th-century, so there wasn’t a logical way to include as many enemies as one conditioned to alien-busting shooters would expect.

The prequel is glossier, removing some of the more ambitious time-wasting portions of the original, such as stealthfully sneaking around bloodthirsty Injuns and the platforming missions. The Civil War-set first act, taking place in a Georgia trench as the Confederate heroes defend their turf against a horde of savage blue-bellied Northerners, is a dead ringer for Call of Duty.

Bound in Blood still has authentic looking environments, and the Southern-inflected dialogue is passable in its campiness. Though, minus the occasional scenic reminders, this could easily be Brothers in Arms: El Paso Edition. This wasn’t the case with the first one, largely because the action was spread out, and unique touches like quick shooting proved memorable.

Gun duels are back in slightly improved form, although finding out who has the fastest hands in the West is still boring. There’s plenty to do on the range beyond shooting people, as the first game’s rabbit hunting and mountain climbing missions can attest. One of the characters here has a rarely used lasso.

Bound in Blood doesn’t take those kinds of chances, and as a result is a shorter, less varied game. For one thing, there could have been even more horseback riding missions. And if the McCall boys are such outlaws, why not have them rob a few banks or stage coaches? How about more interactions with animals, such as driving cattle or hunting for food? Even more superfluous additions, such as the first game’s Bible weapon that had Deep Space Nine’s own Marc Alaimo spouting verses at enemies with the press of a button, would have sufficed. I won’t even look at a third Call of Juarez game unless it has a tobacco spitting, moonshine-swigging or homespun-expression-spouting attack. Frankly, just make another prequel that lets me mow down some yella bellied Yanks and I’ll be happy.

The possibilities are hinted at with a couple of underdeveloped open worlds and some snazzy fire physics, so perhaps a third try will be a charm for this snakebitten series. For now, it’s so close to being great, you’ll be more inclined to have a conniption fit.

Silver slugger

The Bigs 2 (Multi/2K Sports, Blue Castle) is far and away the best over-the-top arcade adaptation of a sports game in some time. It would be redundant to call it baseball on steroids, but it is your traditional baseball game delivered to cartoonish new heights.

Two of the best game modes of the year are here: the neon-sign-busting homerun pinball mode and taking on poster boy slugger Prince Fielder in a target-smashing homerun derby. This wild card may compete for the sports game of the year pennant.