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What Happened to the West?

Koku Gamer writes: "While Westerns had nearly vanished by the time I was born, let alone watching TV, there have been several great examples recently. Films like Appaloosa, and 3:10 to Yuma (the remake), and HBO's show Deadwood all prove that the Western can still be relevant and powerful to a modern audience – but games are another story. Wikipedia lists less than 100 video games in the western genre, with far fewer most people would actually recognize. Likely the most recognizable are the recent Call of Juarez and its sequel Bound in Blood. I haven't played the original, but Bound in Blood did deliver some of what I was looking for. The game nails the look of the west, but not always the feel. There was too much straight action, and the levels felt exactly like that: they were levels more than they were areas, and they played out fairly linearly."
Ziriux - contributor
Published: 52 days 20 hours ago | Article | Gaming
 
 

Showing: 1 - 21 of 21 Comments
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Carnage1290 - 52 days 22 hours ago
1 -
I loved Gun even though it wasn't great, and Red Dead Redemption looks like it will be awesome as well.
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TheDarkCynic - 52 days 22 hours ago
1.1 -
I think Red Dead Redemption signals hope for Western games. On another note, brilliant article, Tucker!
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Ziriux - 52 days 22 hours ago
1.2 -
Well, I can def. put my trust when it comes to Rockstar and a Western game like Red Dead Redemption, I haven't seen gameplay and can't say much, but the screens look impressive, seems like a open world game that will use the same engine as GTA IV, which I do not mind, I just hope it has better mechanics and gameplay.
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Rev Jesse Custer - 52 days 21 hours ago
1.3 -
I'm with you guys. I think Red Dead looks really promising...
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Saaking - 52 days 20 hours ago
1.4 -
Red Dead Redemption is like an open world game set in the old west right? If so, it has a Lot of potential. I think there's a lot of stuff they could do with that setting. It'd be cool if you could choose to be good or be bandits. Maybe climb your up to the stop. Become Sheriff or something.
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ReservoirDog316 - 52 days 19 hours ago
1.5 -
Yeah, I loved Gun too. Best western game I've ever played. Though, like this article says, I haven't really played too many. Was annoying how people started crying that "the indians weren't really like that" even though you side with the indians at around the halfway point.

Oh and they forgot Unforgiven as a great new-ish western movie.
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toaster - 52 days 17 hours ago
1.6 -
GUN was open world. You could travel to other cities whenever you liked, and there were side quests in the wild. The gameplay was very good, and I especially liked the quickdraw mechanic.

I never really played Red Dead on Xbox or Call of Juarez, but Red Dead Redemption looks to be an amazing game. Rockstar's pedigree for games is nothing short of AAA quality.
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foxtheory - 52 days 17 hours ago
1.7 - Rockstar said that RDR will have a bigger scope than all of their games
So you know that they're working hard on it to make sure it becomes a AAA. I never played Revolver, but the trailer for Redemption caught my eye and impressed me. Another game for early 2010 (although I have a feeling it'll get pushed).
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Tony P - 52 days 16 hours ago
1.8 -
I have never, EVER been a fan of the American West thing. Cowboys and all that. But I loved what Stephen King did with it in his Dark Tower books. Creating some strange, magical world where "gunslingers" are the new Knights of the Round Table descended from Arthur himself.

Sounds like a mess on paper, but it turned out to be one of the freshest, most interesting bits of lore I've ever read. I hope there's a game or something in its future.
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manny704 - 52 days 22 hours ago
2 - Absolutely agree.
Great article.
The Red Dead's sequel is something thats taken to long to come.
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Elven6 - 52 days 22 hours ago
3 -
Western games are an odd one, they stay dormant for a few years but when they come back they come back in force!
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mau64 - 52 days 21 hours ago
4 -
can't wait for red dead redemption.
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NecrumSlavery - 52 days 20 hours ago
5 -
I really like the concept of Red Dead Redemption being a massive open Wild West. The idea of a wanted system "Wanted Reward Posters" bringing a Karma meets character development system to the table. Having the ability to do side missions with outlaw groups, locals, the law, hell even native american tribes. That I think will really spark up the western theme. No more FPS for now.
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tdrules - 52 days 20 hours ago
6 -
i didnt play it but how was Call Of Juarez: Bound In Blood
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ShiNe-Box- - 52 days 19 hours ago
6.1 -
It's the best western game this gen IMO. Don't expect the world though. There aren't many western games to choose from this gen.
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PirateThom - 52 days 20 hours ago
7 -
I think we're due a Sunset Riders HD port on XBLA and PS Store.
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ShiNe-Box- - 52 days 19 hours ago
8 -
As much as I love the "western era," one western game per year is fine with me.

Bound in Blood was pretty fulfilling. I expected it to rank an 8 and that's exactly how the game turned out to be. Anyone unsure about playing the game should at least rent it.
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TheIneffableBob - 52 days 19 hours ago
9 -
Shotgun Sunrise, anyone?
Gay cowboys!
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Tex117 - 52 days 19 hours ago
10 -
I think you are more limited in what you can do artistically. Like weapons for instance.

Just a thought though.
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tgh machines - 52 days 17 hours ago
11 -
Borderlands has a somewhat "west" setting IMO.
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ab5olut10n - 49 days 19 hours ago
12 -
loved GUN and i've already paid off my preorder of RDR. oh, and Unforgiven is one of the best movies of all time.
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