I'm not sure exactly what it says, mind you. The four-year-old game certainly has some flaws and snags--the story isn't especially noteworthy, the last boss fight falls into the trap of introducing a new mechanic, the Pony Express side missions are blah--but I'm a sucker for the western theme and the frantic near-mindless shooting that ensues.

Plus there's something appealing about an open-world game that doesn't require dozens or hundreds of hours to finish up entirely. And most of the side missions--bounty hunting, poker, acting like a law man--well, I sure didn't mind them. They were quick and fun.

Now ...what next? It's too bad Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath is only playable on the original Xbox--I've got a mean hankerin' to play it, but I'm not ready to dig the green brick out--and Red Dead Redemption isn't until next year, so, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, maybe?