Review of Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood - Xbox 360

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I usually don't do much reviewing here as most the time what has been said I agree with. I have a hard time letting this one go as this game definitely doesnt deserve anywhere near 1 star. This game is strictly a linear shooter, I am sorry to those of you who dont like that. Sure it has a couple of levels that are not exactly linear, but with how big the levels are most of the game has that sort of feel already. This game is very solid in its controls, and visuals are very impressive. The sound is equally impressive. As such I find it very similar to the Call of Duty games and other quality shooting games.

Single player can be a bit hort and if you are a veteran of shooters Hard is probably where you want to start. Very hard is very hard and that is great. AI can be smart and sometimes they can run right out in the middle, but I find that true of almost every shooter game. I found the story and the writing and voice of the game to be very well done. The only thing I would of changed besides maybe a bit longer would be the duels. They feel very awkward at first and making sense of them isnt easy. After playing them on every difficulty they arent hard anymore.

Online has been very good and I havent had much of a problem finding games that are mostly lag free. At first I had a hard time with class balancing, but after playing quite a bit I dont find it so hard and I play with every class. The multiplayer maps offer alot of variety and I really enjoy the multiplayer modes. I do wish it had a capture the flag type of game. Online does have more of a run and gun "old school" type of feel to it, which I really enjoy. I do enjoy that alot more than the "camping" styles that plague most of the shooters nowadays. My only complaints for online play would be lack of gaming lobby's, no way to stay playing with the same people, which is a shame. Also the characters in multiplayer are ugly, they could use some good skins and hats.

The game isnt perfect, but for me it was worth every penny and I payed full price. If you like shooters or western themes, or both this game would be one to play for sure. I wont say that everyone who likes shooters will like this one better, but it is a decent shooter for sure. And it is definitley the best western themed game for the Xbox 360 available right now.

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Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, is a prequel to the original Call of Juarez, and, for the most part, improves on almost all of the original game's problems. Gone are the stealth sections and (for the most part), the godawful first-person-platforming that so brought the original down.

The story is phenomenal, a tale of blood, brotherhood, betrayal, and banditos, and does a great job of providing a backdrop to the motivations of the characters and the first game. It also improves on the pretentiousness, it takes itself a lot less seriously then the original.

The game is fairly linear. Before a mission begins, you may choose a character to play as: Ray McCall is the "tank"he can duel-wield revolvers and use dynamite, and Thomas McCall is the "thief" who can zoom with rifles and use throwing knives, bow, and lasso. The game plays similarly no matter which character you play as, except for minor mission progression things.

The gun play with the exception of the touchy bow and the ineffectual throwing knives, is solid. You can slow down time and shoot enemies in three different ways, each in it's own way useful. Hit detection at times seems gummy, and the gamma is weird, on a normal setting, you can't see the enemies for the dark, and the game offers no way to remedy it.

The game is beautiful, vibrant landscapes and stunning vistas, but with frequent, weird, shadow issues. There are two, and only two, sandbox missions, in which you can choose to complete three side missions or proceed immediately to the story mission. these feel out of place and remove flow.

I was surprised to find that the online multiplayer, far from being the tacked-on affair most online multiplayer is, is quite deep, with only a few balance issues between the classes I'm sure will be addressed.

in conclusion, Call of Juarez: BiB is a fun FPS with some new ideas, well worth your money at any price under $60.

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TechLand and Ubisoft have reteamed for Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood, an origin story of Reverend Ray, his brothers and their quest for gold with more action than the first game. Bound in Blood is a rather complex tale that once again raises the specter of revenge and cursed treasure, amongst a backdrop of the western frontier.

Players are introduced to Ray and Thomas McCall, two brothers in the Confederate army that desert their posts to save their family home from Union soldiers. Seeing the destruction of their land and swearing that they'll rebuild their property one day, the McCalls head west to seek fortune and glory. However, going AWOL infuriates their former commander, who declares that he'll hunt them down to the ends of the earth for their abandonment of the Confederate cause. Fleeing both the Confederate troops on their heels and various lawmen from some of their illegal activities throughout the country, the McCalls eventually connect with the Mexican bandit leader Juan and his concubine Marisa, who has information regarding the treasure of Cortez. The McCalls will also have to deal with the Apache, whose connection with the gold could potentially threaten the entire West.

It may sound convoluted, but the story is told rather well and all ties together in the end, providing a solid background for the events of the prior Call of Juarez game. Like the previous title, you'll play as either Ray or Thomas, and you'll have the option to choose which brother you'd like to play as for most of the game. As far as fighting is concerned, the two McCalls have completely different gunslinging styles. I'll say no more.

The multiplayer of Bound in Blood is expanded from the original game, featuring thirteen character classes that you'll eventually be able to play as once you unlock eight of them by winning multiplayer matches. Each character class has a variety of weaponry, but also has different health and speed stats as they are deployed into battle. As you kill other players during a battle, you'll receive money during that match which can be spent to upgrade that character's stats.

As a prequel, Bound in Blood does a good job of presenting the characters, their storylines and what eventually leads back into the franchise history. It also packs in a ton of fast action, loads of explosions and a heavy dose of duels against opponents that want to see you in the dirt.

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The best part about this game, is that you start out as a soldier in the beloved CSA. To be loyal to Dixie, and pledge alligence to the army of Robert E. Lee is the best honor ive had. (in the game of course!) to pull the trigger, and shoot a yank, is awesome! After the yankee storm of General Sherman, it feels good to shoot a couple blue coats! buy this if you love to play the outlaw!

"I won't be reconstructed, I'm better now than then.

And for a Carpetbagger I do not give a damn.

So it's forward to the frontier, soon as I can go.

I'll fix me up a weapon and start for Mexico."

-General Jo Shelby, Missouri CSA,

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To be upfront, I'm especially partial to the setting, the Old West. I wish more games took advantage of the stories and characters of the genre. This game does do it justice. The settings and characters are enjoyable and the gameplay is very addictive. The only thing lacking is better support for multiplayer, everything about this game is set-up to have an excellent co-op, but for whatever reasons the programmers decided to leave it out. You can play online in sandbox player vs player, or team vs team games, but I'm thinking the developers are not allotting enough server support as online matches often lag and suddenly drop. Buy it for the campaign and be happy with that.