Call of Juarez
- November 8, 2007
- Techland
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"Call of Juarez" is a shooter game with both single-player and multi-player modes. The game offers a western-themed experience, following the story of two antagonistic characters, Billy and Reverend Ray, in an epic adventure. Players will explore the complex emotional and psychological link between the two characters while engaging in intense FPS combat.
PC
Windows
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- Engaging story with memorable characters, particularly Reverend Ray.
- Fun gunplay mechanics, including dual-wielding and concentration mode.
- Atmospheric setting that captures the essence of the Wild West.
- Clunky controls and frustrating platforming sections, especially with the whip mechanics.
- Frequent crashes and long loading times, making the game less enjoyable.
- Inconsistent AI behavior and unresponsive duel mechanics that can lead to frustrating gameplay.
- story867 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story of "Call of Juarez" is generally praised for its engaging narrative and dual perspectives, following the intertwined paths of two protagonists, Billy Candle and Reverend Ray McCall. While some players find the plot to be cliché or predictable, many appreciate its depth and character development, particularly Ray's compelling arc. However, the gameplay mechanics often detract from the storytelling experience, with criticisms aimed at the pacing and execution of certain missions, particularly those involving stealth and platforming. Overall, the story is considered a strong point of the game, making it worthwhile for fans of the western genre despite its dated gameplay.
“The story, the setting, the characters, everything is amazing.”
“The dual narrative is a masterclass in storytelling, the gunplay is exhilarating, and the world itself is a character worth exploring.”
“The story is outstandingly good!”
“Unfortunately, the other half of the campaign is played as the sneaky guy (Billy), and it's in his missions where the game’s cracks start to show.”
“The storyline is pretty basic, and some levels feel repetitive or dull.”
“The story is mediocre too, but I could put up with that if the gameplay was good.”
- gameplay564 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay of *Call of Juarez* is a mixed bag, with players noting a blend of enjoyable shooting mechanics and frustrating, dated elements. While the dual narrative offers varied gameplay styles—one character focusing on stealth and the other on action—many mechanics, such as the whip and platforming, are criticized for being clunky and unintuitive. Overall, the game is seen as a nostalgic experience with a compelling story, but its outdated mechanics may deter modern players.
“The gameplay is really balanced and never gets boring in between shooting, stealth, climbing, and riding horses.”
“The mechanics are cumbersome to perform, such as environment interaction or the imperfect implementation of stealth, which often calls for repeating the scene or the checkpoint reached.”
“The gameplay is pretty stellar and I had a blast completely decimating the opposition quickly and with plenty of style.”
“The gameplay just isn't fun.”
“Call of Juarez is a reasonably competent narrative-shooter, but is brought down significantly by cryptic level design and questionable game mechanics.”
“The gameplay is nothing special with okay shooting but insultingly bad platforming and stealth sections that plague the game from start to finish.”
- graphics293 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, originally released in 2006, are generally considered decent for its time, with many reviewers noting that they still hold up reasonably well today, especially when played in DirectX 10 mode. While some aspects, such as character models and animations, show their age, the environments and overall visual design are praised for their detail and beauty, contributing to an immersive experience. However, there are also criticisms regarding graphical glitches and outdated visuals that may detract from the overall enjoyment for modern players.
“The graphics are stunning, with breathtaking vistas that showcase the untamed beauty of the frontier.”
“While the graphics definitely show their age, the game is still capable of producing scenes of natural beauty befitting its genre.”
“The graphics have aged superbly well given the fact that this is a 2006 title.”
“The graphics are outdated, but they're not horrible as long as you turn them to max. Overall a good game, solid 7 or 8 out of 10.”
“The graphics are obviously dated, but the realistic combat makes up for it (bullets have travel time, guns wear down after too much use, damage is based on which part of the body you get hit).”
“The graphics look outright bad and it doesn't even run well on modern hardware; there's stuttering and loading times are painfully long.”
- music97 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in "Call of Juarez" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to evoke the wild west atmosphere through a blend of folk and cinematic scores. While some tracks are noted for their haunting quality and emotional resonance, others are criticized for being repetitive and lacking standout moments. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's immersive experience, despite some inconsistencies in execution.
“The music seamlessly blends with the on-screen action, amplifying the tension, sorrow, and triumph of each moment.”
“Whether you're riding through a moonlit canyon or facing down a gang of outlaws in a dusty saloon, the soundtrack will transport you to the heart of the wild west, stirring your soul with its evocative melodies.”
“The music is beautifully composed and gives you that spaghetti western feeling.”
“However, the combat music gets pretty repetitive and annoying after a while.”
“The music while nice is used pretty badly often; the 'revelation' jingle was really tiring the 20th or so time it was used, especially since it sounds so overly dramatic. The last boss fight has the same music as some regular fight before.”
“Ultimately, the graphics aren't much to boast about while the soundtrack, save for a few tracks, is also largely forgettable.”
- stability73 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous players reporting severe bugs and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay, including game-breaking issues, crashes, and graphical errors. Many users experienced frustrating mechanics, such as characters falling through the floor or being unable to progress due to untriggered events. While some found the game enjoyable despite these issues, the overall consensus is that it is unpolished and often unplayable, leading to a lack of recommendation from many reviewers.
“Runs great on Steam Deck, but I would recommend playing Bound in Blood first for story reasons; you'll thank me later! 10/10”
“While old, it has aged well and runs completely bug-free in 4K under Windows 10.”
“I thought I'd push on, maybe this game has a slow start you've just got to crack the back of before the rootin' tootin' cowboy fun begins, but I found myself in chapter 2 falling through the floor, warping to the roof of a building, and then, once the glitches were over, just miserably dying over and over.”
“During my 9 hour playthrough I encountered a number of game-breaking glitches, such as in-game cutscene events not triggering leading to broken terrain that did not load properly, or the time my character flew up into the ceiling of a cave during a scripted dialogue sequence and then promptly died when it was finished.”
“The game is extremely buggy; sadly I can't refund it anymore and I don't recommend it to anyone.”
- atmosphere54 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Call of Juarez" is widely praised for its authentic recreation of the wild west, featuring detailed environments, a captivating soundtrack, and immersive storytelling. While some reviews note that the graphics show their age and the world can feel sparse, the overall experience is enhanced by the game's attention to detail and varied gameplay elements. Many players find the atmosphere to be one of the standout features, making it a memorable entry in the western genre.
“A sun-drenched canvas of the frontier: the wild west comes alive in Call of Juarez, a sprawling open world teeming with detail and atmosphere.”
“One of the standout features of Call of Juarez is its attention to detail in recreating the atmosphere of the old west.”
“The game's atmospheric setting, complete with sweeping landscapes and authentic western towns, creates an immersive experience.”
“Due to its age, the graphics are just okay to me, since the world looks quite empty and you don't feel the intense atmosphere of an open world and the character models looked awful.”
“There are several segments of sneaking from bush to bush, they add nothing to the experience, except very arguably atmosphere.”
“The first two-thirds of the story set what would appear to be a set-in-stone atmosphere, but this changes in dramatic fashion.”
- humor37 mentions
- 97 % positive mentions
- -5 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the combination of dated mechanics, glitches, and absurd scenarios genuinely funny. The writing and voice acting often veer into "so-bad-it's-good" territory, contributing to moments of unintentional hilarity, especially during chaotic gameplay. Overall, while the game has its flaws, the comedic elements—ranging from bizarre character interactions to humorous bugs—provide a unique charm that keeps players entertained.
“The pure chaos of how terrible this game is will have you laughing your ass off almost immediately and you won't stop until you inevitably quit because you've fallen through the world in the middle of a cutscene for the tenth time in a row.”
“The voice acting is so bad it's funny, and there are some funny moments.”
“There's also this pretentious red 'X' that appears when you simply aim your crosshair over a civilian and it says something like 'harming innocents is wrong and it is something we will not allow in our game,' which is hilarious in a game about murdering people in some of the most gruesome slow-motion bloodbaths.”
“The gameplay is not funny at all.”
“The humor falls flat and feels forced throughout.”
“The jokes are stale and fail to land, making the experience dull.”
- optimization26 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players experiencing significant performance issues, long load times, and stuttering, particularly on modern hardware. While some users report decent performance on older systems or with specific settings, the general consensus is that the game is poorly optimized for contemporary GPUs, making it challenging to enjoy fully. Despite these drawbacks, some players still find the gameplay enjoyable, suggesting that the experience may outweigh the technical shortcomings for certain audiences.
“I personally didn't have issues relating to performance, crashes, or saving issues, though quicksaving can be a must on certain chapters due to large levels and spaced out checkpoints.”
“Played the DX9 version for more performance, although the DX10 version would be better if you have a good PC.”
“Also of note is foliage; grass and foliage look awesome in this game. It's all very high detail but doesn't seem to really impact performance or anything. It's great, as areas in this game are all quite lush, so it helps that most of it is surprisingly high resolution.”
“I'm sure at one time this was a good game that ran well on something, but my god the load times and performance are not good.”
“Graphics look outright bad and it doesn't even run well on modern hardware; there's stuttering and loading times are painfully long.”
“Also the engine is highly unoptimized, on decent hardware it takes ages to load levels and even in the level it loads sub-levels multiple times - crazy.”
- grinding19 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 79 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many missions and platforming sequences described as overly long and lacking challenge. While some appreciate the story and character perspectives, the repetitive nature of certain tasks and poor mechanics detract from the overall experience, leading to a sense of boredom and a desire for more engaging gameplay.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The opening missions/tutorials are some of the most tedious and frustrating of any game (just let me shoot some baddies already?!).”
“The last third of the game feels like you're just doing tedious stuff to drag out the time.”
- emotional13 mentions
- 77 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game elicits a mixed response from players, with some praising its impactful storytelling and ability to evoke strong feelings, while others criticize its reliance on tropes and lack of depth. Notably, the game is described as a wholesome experience that resonates with certain values, culminating in an emotional ending that leaves a lasting impression. Overall, while it may not reach the emotional heights of other titles, it still offers moments that engage players on a personal level.
“This game has amazing storytelling, and it was so emotional that I feel sad whenever I think about it.”
“It's wholesome on a whole different level and really leaves you on edge until the end unfolds.”
“Ending was emotional.”
“Boring storyline overly reliant on tropes, awful gunplay, overly accurate enemy AI, only good weapon is the bow.”
“Boring story.”
“The atrocious gameplay, the boring story, the pathetic dialogue and voice acting make me regret spending my 5 bucks on it.”
- character development10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some characters, particularly the main protagonists, exhibit strong arcs that enhance the narrative, others feel underdeveloped and predictable. The unevenness in character growth detracts from the overall experience, despite moments of engaging backstory and design. Overall, while the game excels in certain character aspects, it leaves room for improvement in depth and consistency across the cast.
“Character development is top-notch, especially the two mains, Billy Candle and Reverend Ray.”
“Anyhow, the plot and character development of the game is very good and at times it is the only reason to keep you going.”
“Fantastic game with great character development during the story, and good mix of stealth/kill everything levels.”
“I wish there was a bit more character development across the chapters. The way it's set up only has 1 or 2 protagonists with a proper character arc throughout, but the one that does just carries the entire game with how great he is.”
“The character development was also pretty typical and was overall pretty easy to predict.”
“There were a few episodes that were completely unnecessary and didn't help with any character development or progress the story.”
- replayability9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with most players noting that once the story campaign is completed, there isn't much incentive to return, aside from occasional enjoyment of specific moments. While some find decent replay value, the consensus leans towards an average experience, suggesting it may be worth playing on sale but not as a long-term investment.
“The game ends fairly abruptly with no real replay value besides for fun, and honestly, the horseback wagon chase is one of the most satisfying moments I've had in any western game, so I wouldn't be surprised if I return to this one day.”
“Decent replay value.”
“Infinitely replayable.”
“Limited replay value once the story campaign is completed.”
“Call of Juarez is a game series I could get addicted to if it wasn't for the lack of games and replayability.”
“So overall, if it's on offer and you have a day to waste, then pick it up; just don't count on it for replay value.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is not heavily emphasized, as it appears to be a patched and enhanced version of the original without intrusive ads, except for scoped rifle usage. Players appreciate the lack of bugs and smooth performance, but express frustration with gameplay mechanics and controls, which detract from the overall experience.
“First of all, this version of the game is not solely an old game but, despite not advertising anything, is basically a patched/enhanced version of the base game as I had zero bugs, no start-up problems on Windows 10, I could alt-tab anytime, Steam overlay worked fine, many possible versions to boot, full HD support, has decent controls and quick save.”
“You can't aim down sights unless you are using the scoped rifle.”
“Small tumbles cause you to die; your whip is inaccurate as hell, even at close range; going a pixel out of bounds in certain areas will cause you to fail an objective and force a checkpoint restart; the second character you play as can't climb over anything even though he can jump; you can't aim down sights unless it's a scope; the sound mixing is so poorly done that you'll often miss essential dialogue and be confused as to where enemies are; fistfights are hopeless unless you spam your right hook; and much more.”
“It's from 2006, some of the graphics look great, although a lot of the buildings do look dated. Still fun though as there aren't that many westerns, makes a lot of use of dual weapons, although aiming down sights can be a bit tricky.”
