A Fistful of Gun
- September 23, 2015
- FarmerGnome
Slightly above average or simply inoffensive. Fans of the genre should enjoy them a bit, but a fair few will be left unfulfilled.
Get on Steam"A Fistful of Gun" is an arcade-style game with local multi-player and co-op modes for up to 2 players. Choose from eleven unique gunslingers, each with their own controls and methods of attack, and battle through hordes of enemies in the Wild West to take down the evil railroad baron. The game features a split screen mode and a good soundtrack to enhance the gaming experience.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a great art style that captures the western theme well.
- It offers a variety of characters, each with unique playstyles, adding replayability.
- The soundtrack is enjoyable and fits the game's atmosphere.
- Controls are inconsistent and often frustrating, making gameplay difficult.
- The game suffers from balance issues, with many characters being nearly unplayable.
- Gameplay can be overwhelming due to cluttered visuals and a lack of clear instructions.
- gameplay14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing clunky mechanics, unintuitive controls, and a lack of cohesion, leading to a frustrating experience. While some appreciate the unique character abilities and the blend of shmup and twin-stick shooter elements, others find the gameplay repetitive and unbalanced, detracting from overall enjoyment. Despite its stylish presentation, the gameplay often feels disjointed and fails to deliver a satisfying experience.
“Each character offers a unique twist on gameplay with their own arsenal of firepower at their disposal, which not only provides a level of replayability within the single-player campaign but also extends that replayability to arcade and multiplayer.”
“I hope the game continues to develop as the gameplay is solid.”
“Gameplay's a cross between a shmup and a twin-stick shooter.”
“For quite a while I thought this game was good, but I have to say that it is a bad game with clunky mechanics and a useless story.”
“Without some semblance of conscious design, however, it’s all just a grab bag of mechanics rather than a cohesive experience.”
“The cool and stylish UI, menu, character portraits, and 'cutscenes' belie some poor quality gameplay with unintuitive controls that vary by character, and poor movement and shooting mechanics.”
- story13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story of the game is a straightforward western revenge narrative centered around a railroad baron who has made a pact with the devil, leading to a quest for vengeance against him. While some players appreciate the unique elements, such as roguelike mechanics and quirky scenarios, many find the overall story lacking depth and substance, often feeling underwhelmed by its execution. The story mode is relatively short, taking under three hours to complete, and is perceived as the most engaging aspect compared to other game modes.
“There’s a healthy number of fun ideas here – the roguelike-style story mode includes playable peyote trips and a sheriff who punishes lawbreakers with explosive piñatas, for example.”
“Ok then it has a story too: A Fistful of Gun is about railroad baron Clayton Boon, who has signed a contract with the devil to obtain wealth and might, because of which he is building a doomed track to the depths of hell, connecting it to the overworld.”
“For quite a while, I thought this game was good, but I have to say that it is a bad game with clunky mechanics and a useless story.”
“That's about all you get in the story department when it comes to A Fistful of Gun, which is delivered to you on a splash screen at the beginning of the game.”
“As you'd probably expect, the story is about as simple as it gets; it is a standard western revenge plot: the head of a railroad company has wronged you and now you are out for blood.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's graphics receive mixed reviews, with many praising its unique art style and crisp visuals that effectively capture the spaghetti western aesthetic. However, some players criticize the small size of the graphics, making it difficult to see characters amidst the action. Overall, while the art style is appreciated, the execution leaves room for improvement in visibility and detail.
“The art style is fantastic and unlike other games similar to this one, I can actually see where my character is most of the time without losing him in the sea of moving AI.”
“The art style in this game is fantastic; pixel graphics have been done to death at this point, but the visuals of this game manage to capture the aesthetic of spaghetti westerns very well. Considering how rare western games are, even in the realm of indie games, I think the style really holds its own.”
“It's tough, it's fun, I love the graphic style and it's 4 player online/offline co-op.”
“The game does have a decent art style (apart from being too small), ran fairly well (didn't encounter any major bugs or issues), and my brother and I did find ourselves having some fun occasionally (although a lot of it came from laughing at how bad the game was).”
“This is personal opinion, but I feel the game is as good as Hotline Miami, slightly different art styles and even different style of game sure, but at their core, they are as good as each other but Hotline Miami is more predictable.”
“Sorry but the visuals and adverts had me expecting more from this game.”
- music12 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 8 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its catchy, western-inspired score, reminiscent of classic titles like Sunset Riders, enhancing the action during intense firefights. While many find the soundtrack enjoyable and well-suited to the game's style, some critics note that it lacks a distinct identity and includes a few less appealing tracks. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some mixed opinions on its originality.
“The music is definitely top notch and it has a great western-inspired score that is also heavily inspired by Sunset Riders.”
“When the action gets hectic and you get into insane firefights, that Sunset Riders influence becomes more clear and it's some really catchy music.”
“An addictive shooter with a catchy as hell soundtrack, magic alcohol, eleven different old western minorities to kick a$$ with, and a humorous depiction of the old west.”
“Some parts of the soundtrack are annoying.”
“As for the music, from what I've heard, I'm not too impressed honestly. It just seems like a bit of a mish-mash between retro game music and Ennio Morricone, but it really doesn't have a style all its own like in, say, Luckslinger, another indie western-themed game. In any case, this isn't that big of a deal.”
“As for the music, from what I've heard, I'm not too impressed honestly. It just seems like a bit of a mish-mash between retro game music and Ennio Morricone, but it really doesn't have a style all its own like in, say, Luckslinger, another indie western-themed game. In any case, this isn't that big of a deal.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse characters, each providing unique gameplay experiences in both the single-player campaign and multiplayer modes. Players particularly enjoy the arcade mode, which features randomized areas that enhance replay value, making it a fun option for solo or cooperative play. Overall, the combination of character variety and engaging multiplayer elements contributes to significant replayability.
“The fun and the replayability with friends in this game is enormous!”
“Each character offers a unique twist on gameplay with their own arsenal of firepower at their disposal, which not only provides a level of replayability within the single-player campaign but also extends that replayability to arcade and multiplayer modes.”
“Personally, I think most of the replayability lies in the arcade mode, where you must clear out as many of the randomized areas as you can, either by yourself, with friends, or online.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by a mix of intentional comedic elements and unintentional laughs stemming from its flaws, leading to an enjoyable experience for players. Its humorous portrayal of the old west, combined with quirky features like "magic alcohol," contributes to its replayability and overall fun.
“An addictive shooter with a catchy as hell soundtrack, magic alcohol, eleven different old western minorities to kick a$$ with and a humorous depiction of the old west.”
“Funny and very replayable.”
“The game does have a decent art style, ran fairly well, and my brother and I did find ourselves having some fun occasionally, although a lot of it came from laughing at how bad the game was.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs that affect gameplay.
“The game is very buggy.”
“I experienced frequent crashes that made it unplayable.”
“There are constant glitches that disrupt the gameplay.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the monetization strategy, noting that the overwhelming presence of ads distracts from gameplay, particularly during critical moments like boss fights.
“I can't focus on the boss for more than a couple of seconds without having to redirect my attention to the horde of ads shooting at me.”
“The constant push for in-game purchases completely ruins the experience.”
“It's frustrating that you can't progress without spending real money; it feels like a paywall.”
