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Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive

Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive Game Cover
85%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
85% User Score Based on 629 reviews

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Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive Game Cover

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Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive is a single player tactical real-time strategy game with a historical theme. It was developed by Spellbound and was released on November 19, 2013. It received positive reviews from players.

"Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive" is a single-player real-time strategy game set in 1881 El Paso. As the leader of a team of six mercenaries, you must complete missions, such as infiltrating enemy fortresses and saving team members, using each character's unique skills. The game features an intriguing story, impressive visuals, and an outstanding soundtrack, immersing players in a western-style atmosphere.

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Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive screenshot
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85%
Audience ScoreBased on 629 reviews
story42 positive mentions
stability6 negative mentions
  • Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive is a classic real-time tactics game that offers engaging gameplay and a rich Wild West atmosphere.
  • The game features a diverse cast of characters, each with unique skills, allowing for various strategic approaches to missions.
  • Despite its age, the graphics and detailed environments still hold up well, providing an immersive experience for players.
  • The game suffers from compatibility issues on modern systems, making it difficult to play without extensive tweaks and fixes.
  • Some players have reported frustrating crashes and performance problems, particularly on Windows 7 and newer operating systems.
  • The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.
  • story
    165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive" is a classic western narrative centered around bounty hunter John Cooper and his diverse posse as they tackle a series of challenging missions involving train robberies and gang confrontations. While the plot is often described as straightforward and somewhat clichéd, it is complemented by engaging characters, humorous dialogue, and a variety of mission objectives that enhance the gameplay experience. Overall, the combination of a solid storyline and tactical gameplay makes it a memorable entry in the strategy genre, despite some criticisms regarding its depth and historical accuracy.

    • “The story, the characters, and the gameplay are all top notch for this genre of game.”
    • “The plot of Desperados follows John Cooper, the stereotypical western bounty hunter on a mission to earn a million dollars by solving a series of train robberies and capturing a prolific bandit gang operating across the American Southwest.”
    • “Great story, good graphics, nice maps, and little details which will make you smile.”
    • “The story is a standard western plot.”
    • “The plot isn't memorable for better or worse, but the voice acting and dialogue are comically bad.”
    • “The story is pretty much straightforward and is not the strongest part of this game, so I will not address it specifically.”
  • gameplay
    80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its engaging and challenging mechanics, set against a memorable wild west backdrop. While many players appreciate the strategic depth and variety of approaches available, some criticize outdated mechanics and clunky controls that can lead to frustration. Overall, it offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic titles like Commandos, with a mix of tactical stealth and real-time strategy elements.

    • “One of the things that makes Desperados stand out is its complex and challenging gameplay.”
    • “Its engaging gameplay, memorable setting, and challenging missions make it a must-play for anyone who loves strategy games or the wild west.”
    • “The tactics you can use are very deep and the gameplay itself is so rewarding.”
    • “The gun-shoot mechanic is broken.”
    • “Unit pathfinding and movement can be a bit clunky at times, and some of the game's mechanics are never really explained, so plan on consulting menus, forums, and wikis.”
    • “Well, after playing for a few more hours, I can say with certainty that most of the gameplay mechanics have aged very poorly.”
  • graphics
    73 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally considered dated but still possess a certain charm, with many praising the beautiful sprite artwork and detailed environments that hold up well despite their age. While the isometric view and 2D graphics evoke a nostalgic feel, some players note issues with blurriness and low resolution on modern displays. Overall, the visuals are appreciated for their artistic style, though they may not meet contemporary standards.

    • “I'm a fan of isometric graphics, especially when the environment is detailed and beautiful like in this game.”
    • “The game's isometric art style looks as good as ever and the tactical stealth gameplay still provides quite a challenge.”
    • “The graphics are really amazing, I love this kind of art, it's 3D but not 3D, it's just amazing; if this game were released today, we would probably have one amazing game graphic-wise.”
    • “The graphics are blurry on a normal monitor.”
    • “The graphics are dated and resemble blurry pixels of what they are meant to represent.”
    • “While it's not a terrible experience, its age makes it too clunky to really enjoy, and the graphics are very low res and basic.”
  • music
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the gameplay experience, fitting well with the Western theme and various situations. While some users noted that the soundtrack could be more epic, many highlighted its effectiveness in creating an engaging ambiance alongside strong voice acting and sound effects. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's immersive world and storytelling.

    • “The soundtrack is great, and always represents the situation you're in quite well.”
    • “The story is great and follows each character as they work together to achieve their goals, and the music accommodating the gameplay is nice and fits in well with the wild west theme.”
    • “Soundtrack and whole ambience actually are masterfully done.”
    • “By the late game, half of the guards will not respond to leftover playing cards, alcohol, musical lures, or even performing monkeys and sometimes dead bodies.”
    • “The soundtrack is very light in the game to reduce distraction when the player is trying to find solutions, but jumps up when the team should be informed of an alarmed sentry.”
    • “I did get some hard crashes when playing the game, but when I turned the music off, I only got a few soft crashes.”
  • atmosphere
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, nostalgic charm, and immersive wild west setting, enhanced by effective music and voice acting. Players appreciate the rich level design and the blend of humor and tension that contributes to a captivating experience. Overall, the game's 2D graphics and atmospheric cutscenes are noted as significant strengths, creating a memorable backdrop for its tactical gameplay.

    • “An absolute gem, with stunning backgrounds, a diverse cast of characters, and an atmosphere so thick and juicy, you can eat it with a spoon.”
    • “The characters, the level design, and the atmosphere are so nostalgic.”
    • “Desperados III is good, but still can't match the gameplay, atmosphere, and storyline of this original.”
    • “The atmosphere is such a high level of what a tactical game should be like.”
    • “Desperados is a fantastic tactical game that manages to build up the atmosphere of the wild west as well as games like Red Dead Redemption.”
  • optimization
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance on Windows 10 after recent updates, others experience significant performance issues, particularly on modern systems. Many users express frustration over the lack of optimizations for the Steam version compared to the original, leading to slow gameplay even on capable computers. Overall, while some fixes exist, the game's performance remains inconsistent and may require additional troubleshooting for optimal play.

    • “The game runs smoothly on Windows 10, and even though it is as old as 20 years, it is still an immersive experience.”
    • “Review update: the update they launched today, 05/Jul/18, made the game run smoothly and fine on Windows 10!”
    • “Well, now the performance and UI are all perfectly smooth.”
    • “However, the Steam version of this game is no better performance-wise than the retail version from 2001; it's probably identical and will run poorly on this generation's computers for some unlucky people out there.”
    • “Even though I have a very good computer, the game runs slowly. I understand this is due to the game being old and incompatible; however, I wish it said on Steam that to get this to run normally, you will need to do loads of other things. The game is good, but I am not happy with the performance, and I'm not computer knowledgeable enough to fix this.”
    • “For this to be sold again without any optimizations at all is not what I expected...”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its witty dialogue, sassy characters, and amusing scenarios, often drawing on nostalgic elements and cliches. While some aspects may feel outdated or problematic, the comedic tone enhances the overall experience, making it both entertaining and engaging. Players appreciate the blend of humor with tactical gameplay, contributing to a memorable and fun atmosphere.

    • “Yes, the graphics are old, and some of the themes are a bit...problematic, but the dialogs are funny and sassy, the story is interesting and the group tactics are both challenging but don't require the best dexterity, but more thinking and finding the right timing.”
    • “+ filled to the brim with swagger, character offering much humor along the way”
    • “If you haven't played Desperados before, it is essentially Commandos 2 but set in the Wild West with hilarious clichés to the max! Very fun, lots of character, beautiful artwork (although it has obviously aged quite a bit), excellent story, and lots of tactical variety.”
  • stability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report no significant bugs and a generally smooth experience, others have encountered occasional freezes, crashes, and erratic NPC behavior, particularly on Windows 7. Despite these issues, many still find the game playable, though there is a consensus that improvements are needed.

    • “Not buggy, unlike other complaints.”
    • “It seems like a faithful reproduction that runs great in 2018.”
    • “Having played the game more and more, I've found it to be rather buggy at times.”
    • “Please try to fix the game, because for whatever reason, in its current state, it is a buggy mess.”
    • “But it's very buggy on Windows 7.”
  • grinding
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be time-consuming and somewhat tedious, particularly due to limitations like camera rotation and gun reload mechanics. However, the expansive and detailed levels, along with varied enemy AI, provide a rewarding experience that balances the grind.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “It's a bit tedious because you can't rotate the camera.”
    • “The reload of the guns is a little bit tedious, but otherwise it would be too easy, I guess.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its high replayability, offering numerous strategies to navigate challenges, which keeps players engaged. While some recommend alternatives like "Shadow Tactics" for a more polished experience, many still find this game to be a favorite due to its diverse gameplay options.

    • “For me, this game has a really high replay value and is, and always will be, one of my favorite games.”
    • “Good replay value!”
    • “Instead, get the re-pop of Commandos, which is more playable, or just go for Shadow Tactics if you want to play a masterpiece in the genre.”
    • “This makes for replayability since there are so many different methods to working your way through the bandit hordes.”
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6h Median play time
6h Average play time
24h Main story
34h Completionist
6-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive is a tactical real-time strategy game with historical theme.

Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and others.

The main story can be completed in around 24 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 34 hours to finish. On average players spend around 6 hours playing Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive.

Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive was released on November 19, 2013.

Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive was developed by Spellbound.

Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Desperados: Wanted Dead Or Alive is a single player game.

Similar games include Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive, Robin Hood: The Legend of Sherwood, Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines, Desperados 3, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun and others.