Boot Hill Heroes

About

"Boot Hill Heroes" is an RPG that combines spaghetti western film elements with classic RPG gameplay, inspired by 90s console RPGs. It features a unique real-time combat system, a full soundtrack by Jake 'virt' Kaufman, and the option to play single player or with up to four players. The game is an experimental blend of old and new ideas, providing a fresh and exciting Wild West adventure.

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

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 111 reviews

story24 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

Engaging story with well-crafted characters and a unique Old West setting that pays homage to classic RPGs like Earthbound.
The combat system is active and strategic, allowing for various tactics and making battles feel involved without being tedious.
Outstanding soundtrack composed by Jake Kaufman that enhances the overall experience and atmosphere of the game.

Technical issues such as controller mapping problems, settings not being saved, and occasional crashes detract from the gameplay experience.
Some areas have clunky navigation and hitbox issues, making it frustrating to interact with objects and NPCs.
The game feels incomplete with a short main story and unresolved plot points, leaving players wanting more without a clear conclusion.

story
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
61%
8%
The story of Boot Hill Heroes is a well-crafted homage to classic westerns, following a boy as he navigates his father's legacy and confronts the past. While the narrative is straightforward and filled with familiar tropes, it is engaging and features humorous characters, making it suitable for a younger audience while also addressing mature themes. The game concludes with a "to be continued," leaving players eager for the next installment, though some feel the pacing and depth could be improved.
- “Boot Hill Heroes tells a story in a classic western vein about a boy following in his father's footsteps and dealing with the past left behind.”
- “The written story in this game is extremely well crafted.”
- “The story is engaging and right off the bat sets up some characters (just at first glance from their sprites) that you immediately want to know more about.”
- “The storyline so far hasn't been terrible, but it's not compelling enough to keep my attention.”
- “Honestly, the biggest problem I have with this game is that it's supposed to be a multi-part story, and in nearly the decade since the first game came out, there's no signs of a conclusion.”
- “But the end kinda leaves off in the middle right where the story starts to really hit the prairie dirt running, and I was glad I had already picked up the sequel.”
music
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
44%
6%
The music in the game, composed by Jake Kaufman, is widely praised for its engaging and atmospheric quality, enhancing the overall experience with unique and memorable tunes. While many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that elevates the gameplay, some note technical issues such as music cutting out during transitions and a lack of options to mute it. Overall, the soundtrack is considered exceptional, contributing significantly to the game's storytelling and combat enjoyment.
- “It is incredibly engaging and every bit you learn leaves you wanting to know more, accompanied by a great soundtrack (composed by Jake Kaufman) that sets the mood in every scene.”
- “Exceptional storytelling, awesome soundtrack, and an interesting combat system.”
- “The music is composed by Jake 'Virt' Kaufman, the composer for Shovel Knight; he is very talented, and the music sets the tone.”
- “There is no option to shut off the music and it never stops.”
- “The music cuts out every now and again which needs to be fixed.”
- “Music suddenly stops in transitions; when you walk 'behind' a building, your sprite is on the top of the building. Sometimes when talking to people, your character keeps walking in whatever direction you were pushing.”
graphics
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
58%
12%
The graphics are characterized by charming 16-bit sprite designs and immersive environments that evoke nostalgia, particularly for fans of the Earthbound series. While the overall aesthetic is well-executed, some users noted minor graphical bugs and a lack of standout features, especially in battle scenes. Despite these imperfections, the pixel art style and expressive animations contribute positively to the game's appeal.
- “Perfect 16-bit graphics, top-notch sprite design, and high-quality maps and scenes make this game incredibly immersive.”
- “The graphics are quite good with some expressive sprite animation that reminds me of good SNES era RPGs.”
- “This is a wonderful little cartoon wild west game that is highly reminiscent of Earthbound, primarily in regards to the graphics and following along with its theme faithfully.”
- “It was made by a really small team, so you can see some unpolished graphics and small bugs, but not so many to be bothered.”
- “Graphics and sound are definitely well represented, but neither truly stand out (except for fans of the mother series who will likely find the art style very nostalgic).”
- “This is a wonderful little cartoon wild west game that is highly reminiscent of EarthBound, primarily in regards to the graphics and following along with its theme faithfully.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
The gameplay is generally praised for its intuitive and satisfying combat mechanics, along with a visually appealing presentation reminiscent of the mother game series. However, some players find the experience uneven, noting that while combat is creative, it can also be unforgiving, and the improvements system feels underutilized amidst a rushed plot. Overall, the game successfully delivers a large scope RPG feel despite its linear structure.
- “Combat/gameplay is both intuitive and satisfying.”
- “Update after ten minutes of gameplay: this game features all of the best aspects of the mother game series!”
- “However, the gameplay is very uneven in my experience - combat is creative and varied but very unforgiving at times as well, with the primary 'improvements' system feeling a little underused with how rushed the plot and locations feel when going through them.”
- “I feel like there is no in-game item mechanic, and your party auto-healing after every battle is just so convenient and nice.”
- “Despite being a linear experience overall, the game still manages to deliver a large scope RPG feel (complete with unique characters, game mechanics, and plot twists and turns throughout).”
grinding
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the active battle system keeps combat engaging, the need for excessive grinding—especially for reagents—can feel tedious and detracts from the overall enjoyment. The deep equipment customization is appreciated, but the timing and necessity of grinding can lead to frustration, particularly in comparison to other JRPGs that suffer from similar issues.
- “There's a deep equipment customization that allows weapons to stay relevant beyond their attack stat, but grinding for reagents is a joke and comes too late into the game.”
- “I have become tired of all the shoddy JRPGs that have good kernel ideas but ultimately become long, tedious ventures into someone's scrapbook story.”
- “If the battle system forced you to switch skills often (i.e., because of enemies requiring different skills), then it'd become tedious with swapping back and forth.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, featuring funny characters and engaging storytelling that enhances the overall experience. It cleverly utilizes and subverts classic tropes from spaghetti westerns, creating a comedic atmosphere that appeals to both nostalgic players and newcomers alike. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that contributes significantly to the game's charm.
- “The battles are interesting, the characters are funny, and the story becomes quite engaging when the plot thickens.”
- “This is an old school style spaghetti western romp that I found to be quite humorous.”
- “They put in the effort to make use of the tropes, have some humor based on them, but more importantly, go far beyond that to make a game that doesn't actually need nostalgia to get you to enjoy it.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is praised for its charming and cohesive design, featuring grand entrances and theatrical performances from a diverse cast of characters. This is particularly highlighted during battles, where the introduction and eulogization of enemies are influenced by player performance, adding a unique layer to the experience.
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its engaging music and elements that contribute to a light and enjoyable experience, enhancing the overall enjoyment for players.
- “This game has a lot of atmosphere as the music and other elements keep things light and fun!”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a profound emotional connection to games like Chrono Trigger, highlighting its unique ability to evoke strong feelings that are rarely matched by other retro titles. This sentiment underscores the game's lasting impact on players' memories and experiences.
- “I've played some retro games, but I really can't recall ever playing a game that made me feel the same way I did when I played Chrono Trigger.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant issue, with users reporting frequent freezes that necessitate restarting the game multiple times during play sessions.
- “I have had to restart the game probably 15 times in the time I've spent on this game due to freezes.”