Boot Hill Bounties

About

In "Boot Hill Bounties," Bronco County is on the brink of war due to a conspiracy, and it's up to Kid, Doc, Moon, and Rosy to hunt down five legendary outlaws to save their homes. This 2D retro RPG set in the Wild West supports single player or up to four player local co-op, and it's the second episode in a game series that can be played without prior knowledge of the first game. The game's design and development took six years to complete.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

+12

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews

story10 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

Boot Hill Bounties significantly improves upon its predecessor, offering a more engaging story, better art style, and enhanced gameplay mechanics.
The game features a unique combat system with a time-gauge mechanic and a variety of skills, allowing for strategic planning and character development.
Players appreciate the non-linear quest structure, which provides freedom in how to tackle the story and side missions, along with a charming Wild West setting and humor.

The game suffers from occasional bugs and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences for some players.
Some players found the combat system to feel clunky at first, and the art style, particularly in battle scenes, was criticized for being less polished.
While the story is engaging, it leaves some plot threads unresolved, leading to a sense of anticlimax and a desire for a more conclusive ending.

story
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
The story of "Boot Hill Bounties" is praised for its engaging narrative and character development, building on the foundation laid by its predecessor, "Boot Hill Heroes." Players appreciate the non-linear structure that allows them to choose the order of quests, enhancing their involvement in the plot, though some feel the ending leaves certain threads unresolved. Overall, the game balances humor and seriousness, offering a rich storytelling experience set in a charming wild west environment, while also encouraging exploration through side quests and character interactions.
- “Following where Boot Hill Heroes leaves off, Boot Hill Bounties brings back the exceptional soundtrack and storytelling that makes this series one worth getting into.”
- “The story is serious but still finds ways to inject humor; it has a nice balance.”
- “Unlike the first game, all of the bounties are available for pursuit in any order, but each bounty's arc must be resolved before moving on to another, with side quests unlocked each step of the way.”
- “While the story concludes reasonably well, it can feel a bit anticlimactic in terms of gameplay, although that may vary depending on which quest you choose to tackle last.”
- “The story ends right after you complete the final of the four paths in the game, which means it might not end on the most satisfying story beat.”
- “Just remember that this game is the sequel to Boot Hill Heroes, and the story will not conclude in this game.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The gameplay is characterized by a charming blend of RPG mechanics, engaging story, and humor, offering a satisfying loop of main quests and side activities. While it features non-linear gameplay and draws inspiration from classic titles like Chrono Trigger, some players note a lack of polish and depth in certain areas, leading to minor frustrations. Overall, the experience is enjoyable, though it may feel simplistic outside of combat and can suffer from occasional technical issues.
- “Overall charming game with a good story, humor, and enjoyable gameplay.”
- “A wild west themed RPG with strong writing and mechanics deep enough to keep you interested without drowning you.”
- “The gameplay borrows various elements from Chrono Trigger’s battle system, Earthbound’s pre-battle, status effects, and anti-grinding elements, and Harvest Moon’s progression system for skills like farming.”
- “While the story concludes reasonably well, it can feel a bit anticlimactic in terms of gameplay, although that may vary depending on which quest you choose to tackle last.”
- “Most of these are minor annoyances (symbols improperly positioned within text boxes at a couple points, some objects your character will walk over instead of behind, etc.), but a few do impact gameplay (enemies that are asleep and have a stance active are immune to all vantages, the general store doesn't seem to restock properly every two days like it says it will, etc.)”
- “Outside of combat, however, is where the gameplay’s shallowness begins to show.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in "Boot Hill Bounties" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its quality and how it enhances the game's storytelling and atmosphere. While some tracks are reused from the previous installment, the soundtrack effectively complements the game's unique western-themed JRPG experience. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, contributing to the game's charm and appeal.
- “Following where Boot Hill Heroes leaves off, Boot Hill Bounties brings back the exceptional soundtrack and storytelling that makes this series one worth getting into.”
- “In short, Boot Hill Bounties is a western-themed JRPG with a unique combat system that makes it ideal for local co-op, 20+ hours of playtime, and amazing music.”
- “The writing is great, the characters are lovable, and the music is excellent; this pure wacky wild west is untamed territory for RPGs!”
- “I have to tell you that this doesn't conclude the saga, and there aren't many new soundtracks.”
- “A lot of the music is reused too, but thankfully, it is very good.”
- “The music.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The graphics in this sequel show a significant improvement over the first game, featuring a more refined art style and enhanced 2D visuals that add depth to characters and environments. While some character designs may appear goofy, the overall quality is high, with detailed enemy designs and the addition of character portraits that enrich the storytelling. However, there is some asset reuse from the original game, which slightly detracts from the overall visual experience.
- “The art style is much better in this sequel, as is the music.”
- “The jump in quality from Boot Hill Heroes to Bounties is surprisingly staggering, from the much more detailed 2D graphics to the neat little twists in everything from the battles to the optional side quests and the dialogue.”
- “As for graphics, everything has been touched up from the first game, with portraits being added for many of the important characters, allowing you to see the smaller details of their characters.”
- “The adult themes of the world are handled surprisingly well with the kiddie visuals and perspectives as the game explores themes of war, racism, violence, religious institutions, and other matters that fit the western times.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that while the game offers a variety of activities like farming, weapon-modding, and cooking, these elements often feel like mere meters for increasing options rather than providing meaningful depth. The grinding aspect is particularly criticized for being repetitive, especially in farming, which primarily serves to gather resources for selling rather than enhancing gameplay. Overall, expectations for a rich JRPG experience combined with farming mechanics akin to Stardew Valley or Harvest Moon may lead to disappointment.
- “However, skills (farming, weapon buffing, cooking, etc.) are simply meters increasing the number of options to do the same thing.”
- “Lastly, if you were expecting BHB to be a JRPG mixed with Stardew Valley/Harvest Moon, then farming will disappoint you the most; it’s simply farming for extra resources to sell.”
- “And with farming, weapon-modding, cooking, riddles... even outside of battle, there's still a ton to do.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, featuring funny enemy encounters, witty dialogue, and amusing combat abilities. Reviewers highlight the charming overall experience, which is enhanced by a good story and varied gameplay elements.
- “A lot of the enemy encounters and combat abilities were also pretty funny.”
- “Overall charming game with a good story, humor, and enjoyable gameplay.”
- “Funny dialogue, good combat, and tons of variation in locations and enemy types.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Character development in the game is highly praised, reminiscent of classic Bioware titles, with players appreciating the freedom to influence the story's direction through well-crafted character arcs. The emphasis on individual backstories and branching paths enhances the overall narrative experience, making each character's development feel significant and engaging.
- “I was reminded of the good old Bioware days with the character development and the freedom to choose the route that the story unfolds on.”
- “This effect is largely the result of how much the game emphasizes character development for every main character, with vignettes behind every branching path.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with any of the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful growth for the characters; their arcs felt predictable and uninspired.”
- “Despite the potential for rich storytelling, the character development is rushed and fails to explore the complexities of their personalities.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game includes various elements such as ads for assistance, opportunities to upgrade in-game features like a farm, and interactive puzzles that encourage player engagement, though some users feel that certain features may be overlooked.