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Call of Juarez

Call of Juarez Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, optimization
73% User Score Based on 1,818 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 2 reviews

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Call of Juarez Game Cover

About

Call of Juarez is a single player and multiplayer open world shooter game. It was developed by Techland and was released on November 8, 2007. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Call of Juarez is a western-themed first-person shooter that alternates between two contrasting characters: Billy, a cunning fugitive, and Ray, a relentless reverend tracking him down. The game offers an intense narrative exploring their emotional and psychological connection amid a gripping, action-packed adventure. This dynamic perspective enriches the classic Western tale with depth and tension.

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Call of Juarez screenshot
Call of Juarez screenshot
Call of Juarez screenshot
Call of Juarez screenshot
Call of Juarez screenshot
Call of Juarez screenshot
Call of Juarez screenshot
Call of Juarez screenshot
Call of Juarez screenshot
Call of Juarez screenshot
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73%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,818 reviews
story418 positive mentions
stability82 negative mentions
  • The game features a compelling story with well-written characters, particularly Reverend Ray, who is a memorable and engaging protagonist.
  • The gameplay offers a mix of shooting and stealth mechanics, providing variety through the alternating perspectives of the two main characters, Billy and Ray.
  • Despite its age, the game has a unique charm and atmosphere that captures the essence of the Wild West, with decent graphics for its time.
  • The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including frequent crashes, long loading times, and frustrating bugs that can hinder progress.
  • The platforming and stealth mechanics are poorly implemented, often leading to confusion and frustration during gameplay.
  • The gunplay can feel clunky and unresponsive, with issues such as imprecise aiming and a problematic duel mechanic that detracts from the overall experience.
  • story
    998 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Call of Juarez" is a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting its classic western themes and dual-protagonist approach, featuring Billy Candle and Reverend Ray McCall. While some found the narrative engaging and well-paced, highlighting character development and emotional depth, others criticized it for being clichéd, predictable, and occasionally tedious, particularly during stealth missions. Overall, the story is seen as a strong point of the game, despite its flaws, and is often recommended for fans of the genre.

    • “The story centers around two main characters whose paths constantly cross and collide: Billy Candle, a young half-Mexican fugitive accused of murdering his step-parents, and Reverend Ray McCall, a gun-slinging preacher with a violent past who happens to be Billy’s uncle.”
    • “The dual-protagonist approach was ambitious for its time, and the story does a good job of weaving their fates together into a tense, character-driven plot.”
    • “The story is both grand and focused, involving a lost treasure and a chase across the border with villains at every stop.”
    • “The story and character-wise the game also is nothing special, a very basic plot with surface level characters.”
    • “The story itself really isn't anything to write home about, and plays out like the typical plot of any old western movie.”
    • “The story is weak and the voice acting is pretty bad but the gameplay is pretty fun for the most part.”
  • gameplay
    640 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Call of Juarez* is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of shooting, stealth, and platforming mechanics that often feel clunky and outdated. Players appreciate the unique dual-character system, where each protagonist offers distinct gameplay styles, but many criticize the execution of mechanics like the whip and quick-draw duels, which can be frustrating and poorly implemented. While the game has its fun moments and a compelling story, the overall experience is marred by technical issues and inconsistent gameplay quality, making it a challenge for modern players to fully enjoy.

    • “The game manages to make so many thrilling and dramatic moments out of such a bare bones engine, which shows that the heart and soul of gaming is not in flashy graphics and easy gameplay, but in these moments of real challenge, skill and dramatic importance.”
    • “Though rough around the edges by today’s standards, Call of Juarez stands out for its ambition and willingness to experiment with structure, tone, and gameplay variety in a genre that often defaults to simple shootouts and cowboy tropes.”
    • “The gameplay mechanics, from intense gunfights to clever puzzles, offer a satisfying challenge.”
    • “The gameplay is nothing special with okay shooting but insultingly bad platforming and stealth sections that plague the game from start to finish.”
    • “The gameplay just isn't fun.”
    • “The mechanics of several major gameplay features feel awkward and unpolished.”
  • graphics
    315 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Call of Juarez" are generally considered dated but still hold up reasonably well for a game released in 2006, especially when played in DirectX 10 mode, which enhances visual fidelity. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and atmospheric design that captures the wild west aesthetic, others note that the character models and certain graphical elements feel outdated. Overall, the visuals are seen as a mixed bag, with many reviewers acknowledging that despite their age, they do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The game does an admirable job capturing the lawlessness and rugged beauty of the wild west, with atmospheric lighting and a distinct art style.”
    • “Visually, the game captures the western aesthetic nicely—sun-bleached towns, rocky canyons, and golden plains are all here, rendered with a respectable level of detail for the time.”
    • “The graphics are stunning for 2006, and even today, they hold up quite nicely, especially with the DirectX 10 enhancements that add a lot of detail.”
    • “The graphics are very outdated; the gameplay is alright, the guns are pretty inaccurate, and you could not aim down sights. Most of my gunfights boiled down to playing 'peek-a-boo' with the enemies and struggling to hit a shot.”
    • “The controls are rough, the gameplay clumsy, the technology outdated, and the visuals old-fashioned.”
    • “The graphics are dated, but they are not horrible as long as you turn them to max. Overall, a good game, solid 7 or 8 out of 10.”
  • music
    111 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Call of Juarez" is widely praised for its ability to create an immersive western atmosphere, featuring a dynamic soundtrack that includes atmospheric guitar riffs and harmonica cues. While many players appreciate the thematic consistency and emotional depth of the score, some note that certain tracks can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack, alongside strong voice acting, significantly enhances the game's storytelling and ambiance, despite some criticisms regarding its memorability and variety.

    • “The audio design complements the visuals, with a sweeping, western-inspired soundtrack and well-delivered voice acting—particularly Ray’s, whose booming preacher's tone is unforgettable.”
    • “Fantastic music covers throughout the whole game for each and every occasion, very fitting for each occasion and according to the storytelling; they add a lot to the whole feeling and the atmosphere of the time and the location.”
    • “The music is beautifully composed (albeit repetitive sometimes) and gives you that spaghetti western feeling.”
    • “The music is more monotonous than in other games.”
    • “Unfortunately, their transitions are not nearly as elegant and give the impression of a much more repetitive soundtrack.”
    • “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.”
  • stability
    85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay, including game-breaking issues and crashes. Many players describe it as a "buggy mess," noting that while the game can be enjoyable, the frequent technical problems detract from the overall experience. Despite its nostalgic appeal, the game's outdated mechanics and instability make it frustrating for many, leading to a mixed reception regarding its playability.

    • “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.”
    • “It is way too buggy and I was not able to complete it because the last duel on the final mission just kept insta-killing me no matter what I did.”
    • “The game is buggy as hell, and you are often forced to replay sections due to the game breaking and creating an unavoidable failure state.”
    • “Paid good money for this turd that starts out nice and gets you pumped and excited for a game that sadly devolves into a pile of glitches.”
  • atmosphere
    70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in "Call of Juarez" is widely praised for its authentic depiction of the wild west, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and immersive visuals. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke the gritty charm of the era through its aesthetic design, atmospheric lighting, and varied gameplay mechanics, making it a standout experience despite some dated graphics and gameplay elements. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, successfully transporting players to a lawless frontier filled with tension and adventure.

    • “The game does an admirable job capturing the lawlessness and rugged beauty of the wild west, with atmospheric lighting and a distinct art style.”
    • “The atmosphere when you're out in the wilderness is top notch, and the weapons all feel great to use.”
    • “Call of Juarez excels in atmosphere.”
    • “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.”
    • “The first two-thirds of the story set what would appear to be a set-in-stone atmosphere, but this changes in dramatic fashion.”
    • “There are several segments of sneaking from bush to bush, they add nothing to the experience, except very arguably atmosphere.”
  • humor
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the absurdity of glitches, bad voice acting, and contrived storylines to be genuinely funny. While some moments, like the chaotic gameplay and quirky character interactions, elicit laughter, others can feel out of place or detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's charm lies in its ability to entertain through its flaws and unexpected comedic elements, making it a humorous, albeit janky, experience.

    • “Billy, hilariously, has some really bad voice acting, but somehow it adds to the charm of this game.”
    • “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.”
    • “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 humor in this game falls flat; it's more cringeworthy than funny.”
    • “I expected some laughs, but the jokes are stale and poorly executed.”
    • “The attempts at humor feel forced and often miss the mark entirely.”
  • optimization
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting crashes, stuttering, and long load times, particularly on modern hardware. While some users found workarounds like using different DirectX versions to improve performance, the overall experience remains marred by significant performance issues and poor compatibility with newer systems. Despite these drawbacks, some players still enjoyed the game for its story and character performances.

    • “I also used DXVK, which helped with the performance a lot.”
    • “No weird performance drops.”
    • “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; areas in this game are all quite lush, so it helps that most of it is surprisingly high resolution.”
    • “Many years later I have a powerful rig and decided to try it, but the game crashes because it isn’t optimized for modern systems.”
    • “It's janky, badly optimized, with horrible conveyance (keep a walkthrough on standby for this one) and the movement, stealth, and combat feel awful.”
    • “Graphics look outright bad and it doesn't even run well on modern hardware; there's stuttering and loading times are painfully long.”
  • grinding
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspects of the game to be tedious and frustrating, particularly in stealth sections and certain missions that feel unnecessarily prolonged. Many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of gameplay, with specific levels and mechanics contributing to a sense of boredom, despite some enjoyment in the overall story and character dynamics. The need for extensive grinding is frequently mentioned, suggesting that players may need to invest significant time to progress effectively.

    • “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.”
  • emotional
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag; while some players found the climax satisfying and the storytelling deeply moving, evoking strong feelings of nostalgia and sadness, others criticized the overall narrative as predictable and reliant on clichés. Despite its flaws, certain moments, particularly near the end, resonated with players, creating an emotional tension that surprised many. Overall, the game offers a blend of emotional highs and lows, appealing to those who appreciate character-driven stories, especially within a western theme.

    • “The game builds toward a climax that, while slightly predictable, provides a satisfying resolution to the characters' emotional arcs.”
    • “This game has amazing storytelling, and it was so emotional that I feel sad whenever I think about it.”
    • “I did not expect to feel this much emotional tension in a game where one of the protagonists quotes scripture while dual-wielding revolvers.”
    • “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 development
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some characters, particularly Reverend Ray and Billy Candle, receive strong arcs that enhance the story, others lack depth and predictability. Players appreciate the emotional engagement with the main characters, but note that the uneven development and some unnecessary episodes detract from the overall experience. Overall, the character design and development are highlighted as standout features, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The character development is top-notch, especially for the two mains, Billy Candle and Reverend Ray.”
    • “Fantastic game with great character development during the story, and a good mix of stealth and action levels.”
    • “Some great character development is here; as you play through the game, you really get to feel for the characters, especially for the good Reverend.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally viewed as low, with many players noting that once the story campaign is completed, there is little incentive to return. While some moments, like the horseback wagon chase, are memorable enough to encourage occasional revisits, the lack of substantial content or variety limits the game's long-term appeal.

    • “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.”
    • “Replayability 0/10”
    • “- limited replay value once the story campaign is completed.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is not heavily emphasized, as players note the absence of advertisements and in-game purchases, which is typical for older titles. However, the overall experience is marred by poor controls, sound mixing issues, and gameplay mechanics that detract from enjoyment, suggesting that while the game may not exploit monetization strategies, it still suffers from significant design flaws.

    • “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.”
    • “I understand that this is a very old game, but I played many other relics from the past that got me hooked within the first minutes. However, the controls in this game are horrible, you don't even have an ads option, I can probably do a better voice acting than these characters (I'm not even a native speaker), and the freeze when it auto-saves is just borderline unplayable for my standards.”
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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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8h Median play time
8h Average play time
8h Main story
11h Completionist
7-9h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Call of Juarez is a open world shooter game.

Call of Juarez is available on PC, Windows, Xbox 360 and Xbox.

The main story can be completed in around 8 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 11 hours to finish. On average players spend around 8 hours playing Call of Juarez.

Call of Juarez was released on November 8, 2007.

Call of Juarez was developed by Techland.

Call of Juarez has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Call of Juarez is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, Chaser, Far Cry®, 12 is Better Than 6, Far Cry and others.