Western fans that didn’t get enough of Activision’s Gun should play Call of Juarez. This first-person shooting adventure from Ubisoft definitely offers moments of devilishly good Wild West fun, particularly in the inspired dialogue and well-developed back-story. The action itself, however, takes some getting used to.

    Juarez follows the fates of two men, each with a tale intertwined around a devastating tragedy. A young man named Billy Candle makes his return to a greed-infested town, almost immediately rekindling a battle with a local brothel owner. Shortly following his arrival, he finds his mother and abusive stepfather brutally murdered, with a hint regarding a treasure in Juarez scrawled on the barn door. Meanwhile, Reverend Ray runs to the scene, only to find Billy hurriedly running away. He assumes Billy offed the elderly couple. The game switches back and forth between the two characters, as they collide head-on with vengeance on their minds.

Gun-slinger

    Both characters play very differently. Billy’s segments involve platforming and the occasional stealth sequence. One scene requires him to sneak through an enemy camp nearly undetected while quietly picking off bandits and other no-gooders. He also has the ability to swing across chasms with a whip and grab onto ledges to hoist himself up. Ray, however, displays his shooting prowess. Over the course of the game, he gains access to a number of weapons, including a pair of traditional six-shooters. The most effective tool, however, involves a bible. He holds it in one hand and recites passages to crooks, blowing them away with the gun in his other hand. The effect can be a little creepy, but also offers a slight touch of invigoration.  The combination had potential, but the gameplay runs into way too many issues. Billy’s segments feel sloppy and cheap, resulting in several unnecessary deaths from what should be simplistic actions.