Call of Juarez

I was intrigued by the trailer and news that I've read about the new game, Call of Juarez: The Cartel.  It was an Old West theme dropped into a modern setting and story.  I found that interesting, and it made me do a little bit of research on the game.  I figured it was some type of sequel, given the title, and sure enough it is.  The first game, Call of Juarez, is quite a bit different, in that it does actually take place in the Old West.  I've been wanting to play a game like that since Red Dead Redemption was new and exciting -- and of course, since I don't play games on consoles, I don't get to play that game.  

But instead, I get to play this less successful and probably quite a bit LESS GOOD Call of Juarez.  Fortunately, it's not all bad!  

First things first:  This game is gorgeous.  Just look at that sky.  Beautiful.  The clouds move realistically, too, and I found myself staring at the sky for a good few minutes.  Silly, I know, but I was really impressed by it.  The trees are also very well done too, which I have found in my experience is quite difficult for designers to get right.  These trees are great though.  So graphics-wise, this game gets kudos.  

The story is intriguing enough to make me want to figure out exactly what's going on.  You start out playing as this young guy called Billy, and he was off hunting treasure.  The Gold of Juarez.  But he didn't find it, and he's now broke.  So, he's heading back home to try and figure out what he's going to do with his life.  But it seems that anyone who looks for the treasure becomes cursed, and he comes home to find his family slaughtered and the words "Call of Juarez" written in their blood on the barn door.  Worst of all, his uncle arrives to find him next to the dead bodies, and now he's the prime suspect for their murders.  Ouch.  

This is where things got sort of interesting in regards to the gameplay.  You actually start playing as the uncle, and Billy becomes an NPC character that you have to chase down.  I really liked that -- it was interesting to suddenly shift the game to a different POV like that.  

The one complaint I have about the game is that even on the easy difficulty settings, you're about a fragile as an eighty year old with osteoporosis.  Falling down a simple hill takes off most of your heath.  Falling into water seems to be instant death.  And the game ends for you for the most BIZARRE reasons.  Objective:  Steal ammo.  So I go and take the ammo.  Game ends.  Apparently I have to steal the ammo WITHOUT BEING SEEN.  It didn't tell me that.  It would be nice to know.  I can understand leaving a lot of things for you to figure out on your own, but that's just a little extreme.  How am I supposed to know my objective is a steath mission, a run-and-gun mission, or what?  Trial and error with a lot of RELOAD CHECKPOINT clicking, I guess.  

Other than that, I really don't have many other complaints just yet.  The game seems pretty solid, and I'm enjoying myself.  That's the most important thing.  

Hopefully, the story will start to open up a bit more soon, and I'll learn more about this strange cursed treasure, and perhaps even start on the path to finding it!