Review: Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood

The first-person shooter begins during the American Civil War and seems at times to play out as a sort of Call of Duty: The War Between the States, with brothers Ray and Thomas fighting on the side of the Confederacy.

The brothers desert from their military service in order to go and protect their home, which is under attack. They meet up with William, the McCall brother who is narrator for the game and is the only one of the three not playable.

The trio head to Mexico after the war, with their former commanding officer following them, intent on punishing them for deserting. All are also in search of the cursed “Call of Juarez,” a hidden cache of riches.

Thomas and Ray are also quickly battling for the affections of the beautiful Marisa, a plotline that will come into play toward the end of the game.

The story unfolds in a series of cutscenes, sometimes three or four at a time. Fortunately, you can skip them and get straight to the action.

The voice acting is also a bit on the overwrought side, with the southern accents thick as molasses.

Most chapters of the game allow you to choose to play as either Ray or Thomas, with each having somewhat differing skills.

Ray, the older of the two, can handle dynamite and can wield two revolvers at the same time. Thomas, the hothead, is skilled with a lasso and a bow and arrow, in addition to the pistols and rifles of the day.

Gunplay is straightforward, with a variety of weaponry, some which can be found after killing enemies and others that can be purchased.

In the original Call of Juarez from 2007, the guns wore out after use, faster if they were old and slower for better guns. Thankfully, that game mechanic was dropped for Call of Juarez:BIB.

Retained from the previous game was “concentration mode.” After killing a certain number of enemies, the player can activate the mode, which slowed time down dramatically and allowed easier dispatching of enemies for a short time.

Concentration mode is also a little bit different, depending on which brother you are. Ray can select any number of foes, each of which will be killed in rapid succession. Thomas’ talent during the mode is to select – one at a time – an enemy to eliminate.

At key points in the game, one of the brothers is confronted with a one-on-one duel, calling for a quick hand and deadly aim.

Action moves from Mexico to the outskirts of Tucson to the ultimate confrontation in an underground vault filled with riches.

The game attempts to meld Mexican history with Native American lore, but suffers from factual deficiencies. When the brothers battle the Navajos in Arizona, it depicts the tribe using teepees and displaying totem poles, neither of which are related in any way to the real tribe.

The game offers online multiplayer, with five modes, including Shootout, Posse, Wanted Manhunt and Wild West Legends. Initially, players can choose from five character classes – Rifleman, Gunslinger, Miner, Sniper and Native for online play.

The game is solid. Gameplay is quick to pick up and feels natural from the get go. Galloping through the countryside, firing a rifle on the run, is a different experience from most shooters that’s just plain enjoyable.

Platform: Playstation 3, Xbox 360 Rating: Mature Manufacturer: UbiSoft Score: 8.5 southwestern chilies