Prequels supposedly describe what happened in the past, but Bound in Blood is anything but a step backwards. While the first game is a first person shooter which focused on stealth elements to clean up the game, Bound in Blood Is an action packed shootout with set piece moments that will transport you straight into the dusty, violent Wild, Wild West. In short, Bound in Blood is sure to help you scratch your itchy fingers.

The game looks as good as it bleeds with Wild Western icons. Bound in Blood involves all the traditional cowboy antics; from the long, intense staring which borders on romanticism, to the dramatic toppling of enemies over the sides of balconies. It also serves an adequate dose of values such as honour, betrayal, greed, faith and love.

The game is set a few years before its sequel, featuring the McCall brothers, Ray and Thomas – as they transform from honourable Confederate deserters to amoral treasure hunters. If you played the first game, you’ll be in for a surprise as Ray, the religious preacher in the first game, starts out with a greedy, coldhearted character. His brother, Thomas, is more thoughtful than before (or after), and you can choose to play with either of them throughout the game. The difference is that Ray is more hot headed, stepping over your enemies with guns ablazing, while Thomas is more of a master of all trades, dealing with his foes with his technical expertise.

The number of weapons in this game is astounding. There are pistols, shotguns rifles, and all kinds of upgrades available as the game progresses. The large pieces eventually show with the use of a cannon, using cart-mounted Gatling guns and even duking it out in a temple while its slowly being consumed by sand. Boss battles normally involve one-on-one stands with a really skilful quick drawer, and you have to move to the left and right to keep him in the center of the screen. You also get to spend time on horseback, chasing after tour Red Indian enemies while gunning them down.

First person shooters will likely want to start the game on hard difficulty straight off, as the normal difficulty setting leaves much to be desired. There is a multiplayer campaign mode to run through, offering up to 12 players at a time the chance to run each other down with different classes. For instance, the miner starts with a shotgun and explosives, while the native only has a bow but has greater speed. There’s also a Wild West Legends play mode, which is really fun because it mostly involves blowing stuff up.

Besides, the game also boasts stunning visuals with realistic environments. There are some great effects at ply too, from the blurring of gun sights to shifts in lighting when the virtual sun shines into your eyes. Its voice acting is close to perfect, and when you hear them complain and curse their way through the game, you almost feel like they’ve been lifted off a Hollywood movie.

All in all, Bound in Blood is a great sequel, improving over the original in almost every way. Though the short length of the game may mar the experience, gamers shouldn’t have any complaints about taking a ride with the McCalls.

Origonal Story