Call of Juarez Gunslinger

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 8,780 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Call of Juarez Gunslinger Game Cover
Dont mistake price for quality this is a top-notch shooter, limited in resources but not in heart.
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"Call of Juarez: Gunslinger" is a first-person shooter set in the Wild West. The game features a story-driven campaign with historical figures such as Billy the Kid and Jesse James. Players control a bounty hunter who recounts his adventures, with each level designed as a stylized retelling of his past encounters. The game is known for its challenging gunplay and unique "concentration" mechanic that slows down time.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,780 reviews
story2,378 positive mentions
grinding42 negative mentions
  • story5,023 mentions

    The story of "Call of Juarez: Gunslinger" is a captivating blend of humor and action, narrated by the protagonist, Silas Greaves, as he recounts his adventures in the Wild West to a group of patrons in a saloon. This unique storytelling approach allows for dynamic gameplay, where the environment and events can change based on Silas's recollections, often leading to humorous and unexpected twists. While the narrative is engaging and features historical figures, some players note that the story is relatively short, typically taking around 4-6 hours to complete, but it remains enjoyable and replayable through additional modes like arcade and duels.

    • “A masterpiece of cowboy vengeance, a classic of gaming, beautiful action with a captivating story.”
    • “Really interesting setting, where the story of the game is told in a way you'd never expect, ending with a really good plot twist.”
    • “The storytelling is quirky, as the entire game is based on memories that might not always be correct, and the game world changes as the story changes, which was brilliantly implemented into this fast-paced western-themed shooting gallery game.”
    • “The game is very linear, but again, you're following a story that some gunslinger is telling in a saloon.”
    • “The story is uninspired and it pretty much relies on name-drops.”
    • “The story is very short, which may take you 6-9 hours, depending if you are looking for 'nugget of truth'.”
  • gameplay2,150 mentions

    The gameplay of *Call of Juarez: Gunslinger* is characterized by its fast-paced, arcade-style shooting mechanics that blend traditional first-person shooter elements with unique features like bullet time and a "sense of death" mechanic, allowing players to dodge fatal shots. The game effectively integrates storytelling into gameplay, with the protagonist's narration influencing the environment and events, creating a dynamic experience. While the dueling mechanics have received mixed reviews for their execution, the overall gunplay is praised for being satisfying and engaging, making it a fun and memorable experience despite its linearity and relatively short campaign length.

    • “The gameplay is also noteworthy, with a focus on fast-paced action and quick reflexes.”
    • “The game's shooting mechanics are satisfying, and the variety of guns and upgrades available keeps the gameplay fresh.”
    • “The gameplay has its unique elements - the headshots are rewarded with slow-motion, there are cool sections of Mexican stand-offs that are quite memorable.”
    • “The duel mechanic is irritating enough to begin with, and inescapable, but when it doesn't matter if you're first because the devs are insistent you play some daft matrix bullet-dodging nonsense, it's time to move on.”
    • “The gameplay is immensely repetitive, essentially being a rail shooter (the possibility of controlling the character's movements is anecdotal at best, given how constrained it is) for the vast majority of the game, only to be punctuated by 'duels', which were very obviously designed for a controller.”
    • “The gameplay itself is a blisteringly bloody dash through small towns, gold mines and sawmills, all while popping bullets in the heads of a seemingly endless number of bandits and otherwise no-good folk.”
  • graphics1,426 mentions

    The graphics of "Call of Juarez: Gunslinger" are widely praised for their unique cel-shaded art style, reminiscent of the "Borderlands" series, which enhances the game's vibrant and colorful aesthetic. Many players appreciate how this stylization allows the visuals to age gracefully, maintaining appeal even years after its release. However, some critiques mention that the graphics can occasionally hinder gameplay, making it difficult to spot enemies against the busy backgrounds. Overall, the combination of engaging storytelling and visually striking graphics contributes to a compelling western atmosphere.

    • “The game's graphics are colorful and vibrant, with detailed environments and character models.”
    • “The art style, guns, gameplay... it's all perfect!?!”
    • “The graphics hold up well even in 2024.”
    • “The graphics have a unique style that truly works with the story.”
    • “The visuals could be a little muddy at times, and it is often hard to make out enemies against the background, which can get annoying.”
    • “The graphics are cartoonish, somewhat reminiscent of the Borderlands style.”
  • humor468 mentions

    The humor in "Call of Juarez: Gunslinger" is widely praised for its clever and engaging storytelling, often delivered through the unreliable narration of the protagonist, Silas Greaves. Players appreciate the mix of absurdity and wit, with many noting that the game's comedic elements enhance the overall experience, making it both entertaining and memorable. The humor is described as self-aware and often breaks the fourth wall, contributing to a light-hearted tone that balances the action-packed gameplay.

    • “The narrative is engaging, and the game's use of humor and satire adds to its charm.”
    • “The way the story is told is a mix of total nonsense and absolute hilarious recounting from the memory of an old drunk, and the game shifts around in the levels as the story is told.”
    • “The unreliable narration made the story strange, funny, and unpredictable.”
  • music376 mentions

    The music in the game has been widely praised for its ability to capture the essence of the wild west, featuring a mix of catchy soundtracks that include plucky guitars, banjos, and harmonicas, which enhance the overall atmosphere. Many reviewers noted that the soundtrack complements the gameplay and storytelling effectively, creating an immersive experience, although some mentioned that it can become repetitive over time. Overall, the sound design, including both music and sound effects, is considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's appeal.

    • “The music is great too, littered with plucky guitars, banjos, and out of tune pianos; the constant gunfire feels like an instrument of its own.”
    • “The art style and soundtrack perfectly capture the essence of the wild west, immersing you in its dusty towns and lawless landscapes.”
    • “The game's soundtrack and sound design further enhance the immersion, creating a truly atmospheric experience.”
    • “The music is nothing noteworthy, but the sound design is excellent.”
    • “The music got a bit repetitive, and the music began to sound the same.”
    • “The music in this game gets very bland quick; I mean, hell, it's not inception-good, or even red dead redemption good.”
  • replayability297 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players praising its high replay value due to features like multiple difficulty levels, a New Game Plus mode, and engaging arcade challenges. However, some reviewers noted that the short campaign length (around 4-8 hours) and linear structure limit the overall replay potential, leading to a sentiment that while enjoyable, it may not hold long-term appeal for all players. Overall, the game offers a variety of modes and challenges that can keep players engaged, especially if they enjoy score-based gameplay.

    • “The game offers a lot of replayability with the new game+ feature as well as the side challenges you can complete.”
    • “The arcade mode adds replayability and sets competition for speed and combo'ing.”
    • “The story can be wrapped up in about 5 hours, however an arcade mode and online dueling offer a great amount of replayability while 26 collectible achievements are nicely spread out between these modes.”
    • “The replay value is non-existent; I genuinely cannot see myself ever playing this again.”
    • “The only major issue is that the game lacks heavily in replay value.”
    • “Good game if you like satisfying western combat; the only problem is that it has almost no replay value, so you play it and get like 3.6 hours on it and it just sits in your library for the rest of time, never to be played again.”
  • atmosphere170 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Call of Juarez: Gunslinger" is widely praised for its authentic wild west setting, enhanced by engaging storytelling, immersive sound design, and a fitting soundtrack. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke the charm and grit of classic westerns, with vibrant graphics and dynamic environments that contribute to a captivating experience. Overall, the combination of humor, narrative depth, and atmospheric elements creates a memorable and enjoyable gameplay experience.

    • “The game's soundtrack and sound design further enhance the immersion, creating a truly atmospheric experience.”
    • “The atmosphere and story are where this game shines.”
    • “The atmosphere engulfs you and it's hard to put down.”
    • “So all that exposition, extra information, world-building and honestly the solid voice acting which helps a lot with the atmosphere especially being combined with the cute, Borderlands-esque presentation just goes to waste for a decent chunk of the game.”
    • “I found the cartoony atmosphere after a while detaches you from being absorbed into the gameplay especially combined with the constant narration.”
    • “The previous Call of Juarez in the wild west, Bound in Blood had slightly better atmosphere though, that is something I had wished for Gunslinger as well.”
  • optimization85 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its smooth performance and impressive graphics, particularly on modern hardware. However, some users reported issues such as stuttering, crashes, and poor performance on certain setups, indicating that while the game is generally well-optimized, it may require some tweaking for optimal play on all systems. Overall, the game is seen as a competent port with solid performance, though not without its flaws.

    • “The game felt really well optimized and was smooth sailing.”
    • “They optimized the hell out of this game.”
    • “Great performance - I have a very mediocre PC with a very low-end CPU and the game runs very well for me.”
    • “Terrible optimization!”
    • “It has not yet been optimized for modern machines; try as I might, the game simply won't launch.”
    • “Horrible optimization and is completely unplayable in its current state.”
  • grinding58 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with many describing the dueling and boss battles as tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the lack of traditional grinding mechanics and enjoy the fast-paced narrative, others feel that certain combat elements, particularly duels, can become frustrating and require excessive retries. Despite these criticisms, the game is noted for its engaging gameplay and satisfying progression, though some players may need to invest significant time to master the more challenging aspects.

    • “No grinding, no season pass.”
    • “Skill progression is very well paced and not grindy at all.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The boss battles are tedious and pretty dull since it's the same thing on every one; just some are faster than others.”
    • “Dueling sucks though, and boss fights can be a bit tedious.”
  • stability36 mentions

    The stability of the game received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth experience with no crashes or significant glitches, while others encountered various bugs, including soft-locks and graphical issues. Many noted that while the game can be buggy at times, these flaws are often forgivable due to the overall enjoyment of gameplay. A few users experienced freezing issues, particularly when exiting the game, but overall, the performance was generally considered better than many other titles in the genre.

    • “The game feels very polished and bug-free.”
    • “Technically, it is done well; the game is running smoothly with no glitches.”
    • “It's a very fun game with little to no glitches or bugs.”
    • “At some points, the game seems polished, but at others, the game will soft-lock (solution for me was killing myself with dynamite over and over until the next checkpoint) and there are some bizarre graphical glitches that I experienced as well.”
    • “Game freezes and unfreezes every 40 seconds, don't waste your money.”
    • “The frame rate seems to be smooth, but I had frequent and random freezes where I would need to ctrl+alt+del to get the game minimized, then maximize it to unfreeze it.”
  • emotional23 mentions

    Players describe the emotional aspect of the game as a blend of heartwarming and comedic moments, with a strong connection to the characters and their human struggles. The immersive atmosphere evokes nostalgia and a sense of living in the late 19th century, while the story's progression elicits laughter and tears, making it a memorable experience. However, some players found the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth, which detracted from the emotional impact for them.

    • “At the end of the story, you will feel very attached and emotionally connected to the characters of the story, due to their very human plights.”
    • “I laughed, I cried, and I would do it all over again.”
    • “This game just brought back all those warm memories and made me feel like a cowboy.”
    • “I didn't like the graphic style and the fact that after more than 1 hour of play, it was only 'run and shoot' with a boring story.”
    • “- Boring storyline”
  • character development13 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the engaging narrative and creative character designs, others feel it lacks depth and complexity. The game features a unique style reminiscent of old west posters and offers character progression through perk trees, but some critics argue that it prioritizes action over layered storytelling. Overall, it seems to deliver a fun experience with memorable characters, though it may not satisfy those seeking a deeply immersive narrative.

    • “If you want a quality narrative with interesting character development and decent gunplay, it's a great deal.”
    • “Amazing story - I really loved the character development and that you could never really tell if Silas was telling the truth.”
    • “It has an authentic atmosphere, satisfying gunfights, character development through perk trees, and movie-style duels.”
    • “If you're looking for an immersive story-driven western featuring character development, you should probably look elsewhere.”
    • “However, all-in-all, it's a fast-paced and fun action-based western, perhaps a tad short, but it isn't layered very well in terms of character development, so it's not a huge deal.”
    • “"No character development!" hit my impromptu table fortress, sending splinters flying into the air.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players feeling that the presence of ads detracts from the gameplay experience, likening it to a cash grab reminiscent of other franchises. While the ads are pervasive, some users appreciate their integration into the game environment, though they still express frustration with gameplay mechanics overshadowed by monetization elements.

    • “Right trigger shoots, left trigger is ads.”
    • “When I first saw this game on Steam, I thought it was a stupid cash grab from the Call of Duty franchise and Red Dead Redemption.”
    • “The ads don't do this game justice.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

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Play time

6hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5hMain story
14hCompletionist
5-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 55 analyzed playthroughs

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