Gun

• Platform: PC, Xbox 360, Xbox, Playstation 2
• Published by: Activision
• Developed by: Neversoft
• Release Date: Nov 8, 2005
• Genre: Action
• Multiplayer: No
• Online: No

Screenshot Gallery

Trailers and Footage

Gun Preview

For years, developer Neversoft has basically been known as the studio that makes Tony Hawk games. Not that this is a bad reputation to have, as the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise is one of the best-reviewed and most well-loved sports franchises around. But for a studio that got its start with a couple of original games back in the late 90s, you've got to figure that it's just a matter of time until a game not based on a licensed property is in the works.

Well, that time has come, and Neversoft is currently quite far into development of Gun (PS2, Xbox, GCN, X360, PC), a third-person shooter with a Western setting. The Western genre is one that is not as frequently employed in video games as one might expect; there have been a couple efforts recently in the form of Rockstar's Red Dead Revolver and High Moon's fantasy/Western Darkwatch, but for many gamers the most memorable Western shooter is still LucasArts' Outlaws, in large part due to its fantastic cutscenes and score. Outlaws, however, was eight years ago, and Gun is coming out next month. I got a chance to play through much of the early part of the game the other day, and it has left me quite interested.

The game begins with a short cutscene, set many years prior to the events of the game, in which missionary travelers in North America are surrounded and killed by a group of Native Americans who seem, perhaps, a bit disgruntled for rather obvious reasons. The way that establishing shot is crafted leaves the impression that the world of Gun is one where, regardless of which side the player may be on, things will rarely be clear-cut cases of right and wrong.

The game then takes a sharp turn from the chaos of that scene, and introduces the player's character, Colton White, by way of a relatively calm hunting trip with his father Ned. You learn the game's basic shooting mechanics as Ned instructs you to shoot down various deer, birds, and eventually a rather large pack of wolves. Gun has its own take on bullet time, a feature that has been in vogue in various forms over the last couple of years, which is demonstrated as you attempt to shoot down a series of birds in quick succession. It's called Quick Draw, and it slows down time--though not to the same degree that some games do, in which time is essentially frozen--enough that you can pull off some extremely quick successive shots with your revolver. When in Quick Draw mode, you're able to target enemies simply by flicking the left analog stick in their direction. It's not a hard snap-to effect, just a quick shift of the crosshairs. The effect is very well-done, and with only a small bit of practice it's possible feel like quite the sharpshooter after mowing down a line of villains.

Of course, Quick Draw isn't unlimited; you'll need to power it by pulling off combos. Yes, combos. I was surprised as well. By demonstrating particularly impressive aim and efficiency with your various weaponry--pistols, rifles, a knife for close combat--you'll earn combos which will replenish your Quick Draw time. I have to admit, despite how well implemented the Quick Draw system itself is, constant bits of text such as "Melee Kill Combo +2" popping up all the time were a little distracting from the rich world the game presents. Well, that and the big "You completed the mission!" notice that was displayed proudly after I had saved my father from a large bear, which seemed slightly unnecessary.

So, back to the game. The dynamic between Colton and his father is handled very well, surprisingly so in fact. Their interactions indicate that though they have a great deal of respect and affection for one another, they perhaps have never really been close. For one thing, Colton actually refers to his father as "Ned." The voice actor playing Ned in particular does a really excellent job of portraying the sound of an aging but extremely rugged frontiersman, while still managing to convey a certain level of awkward pride and care for his son. After dispatching the aforementioned bear, Colton and Ned see a steamboat approach over the horizon. The camera pans up, the Morricone-esque music crescendos, and the game's logo fades in. It's a very effective way opening sequence.

Various things happen on the boat, which I don't feel I necessarily need to spoil, but suffice to say you do a bit of shooting and end up on your own. The battles are fun, and in many cases put you up against enough enemies that you'll find yourself strategically and carefully rather than simply running around with guns blazing. After the steamboat episode is all over, it's not long until you find yourself back on dry land and in possession of a horse. The game does an extremely good job with the horse mechanics, which are very fluid and organic. If you're already pushing the analog stick forward as you saddle up, the horse will start trotting forward while you're still swinging your legs over. Once you're upright, you can spur the horse into bursts of speed, which are exhilarating but which can harm your horse if overused. You can jump, of course, and while doing so make use of the good old video game mechanic of changing directions in midair, as well as trample down your enemies (or friends), which is a lot of fun. It's also quite possible to shoot at any angle while on your horse, which should lead to some fun high-speed battles.

The game has a linear structure overall when it comes to the story, but on a microcosmic level it has something of a GTA-like feel. The streaming game world is quite large, with towns and vast open plains. Side missions can be undertaken by talking to various NPCs, who will ask you to do things like defend caravans or deliver items to other characters. It's tough to tell in a preview setting how open-ended the game can be, but what I've seen of the linear story seems strong enough already. You actually have stats that improved upon completing missions (I got "Horse +5" for making a delivery) and money that can be used to buy items and upgrade weapons as you acquire them.

Visually, the game is very nice. As befits the setting, the palette makes use of a lot of muted greens and browns that successfully evoke the Western landscapes the game depicts, or at least the image of them made popular in spaghetti Western films. The textures are well-crafted, and the character design is absolutely spot on. It's a great compromise of variety and Western archetypes, with a lot of crossover between American and Native American styles. The game looks quite good on current consoles, though the PS2 version was as expected a little limited compared to its brethren. The Xbox 360 version was on display and sported higher-res textures and improved visual effects, though like Neversoft's Tony Hawk's American Wasteland the improvement was not so mindblowing that it shames the other versions. If you're interested in Gun but aren't planning on picking up a 360, you won't have to feel guilty.

All in all, Gun is shaping up extremely well, with what seems to be a very well-balanced combination of storytelling, action, and exploration. I hadn't been following the game very closely, which in retrospect seems a bit silly because I'd really love to see another great Western game. There just aren't enough of them around. Fortunately, now that I am excited, I won't have long to wait. Neversoft's Gun is set for release on PS2, Xbox, GameCube, and PC come November 8, with the Xbox 360 version to follow at a later date.

Comments