Review by: Lando da Pimp

The old west has been missing theme from video games as of late. Previous cowboy games were huge disappointments. Rockstar Games, makers of the Grand Theft Auto, has freshened the genre with a great take on the spaghetti westerns with Red Dead Revolver.

Red Dead Revolver is a third-person shooter set in the Wild West with a look and feel of an old Clint Eastwood movie. You'll control as many as six different characters, riding horses, buying guns and whiskey, and to be an old west gunslinger making money, collecting bounties. The game is a great revenge game fighting against corruption and power.

The Story
The story begins with a young boy named Red who witnesses his parents' murder. Years later, Red has grown up to be a skilled shooter seeking vengeance on the scum who murdered his family. I get the impression that Clint Eastwood was the basis for the look and feel of Red with his squinty eyes and quiet nature.

Graphics / Look and Feel
Every Rockstar game has a unique style that is just visually stunning. The menu system used great western typefaces stamped on to the screen. On top of this old-film scratches give the appearance of age. Quick draws are slowed down to give the dramatic effect.

There are a large amount of character types, body shapes and great costume designs to enhance that western feel. It's a great looking game with a whole lot of style.

Gameplay
Unlike Grand Theft Auto, Red Dead Revolver is a very linear game. As Red, you move from mission to mission basically stopping corruption where you go. The controls however are very clunky and sometimes hard to work. To use a weapon you must hold down the L1 (on PlayStation) while the fire button is the R1 button. It's a tough job to hold use this fire mechanism.

The best part of the game play is dueling. Here the action is slowed down while the pointer on the screen is sped up. You have only a split second to knock out a few bullets in to your opponent. If you don't have enough hit areas you will be taken out. This is a bit tough but fun.

Sound
Rockstar games have always used sound to enhance the experience. Like Grand Theft Auto, the secondary cast dialog is excellent filled with crude and very funny memorable lines. The sound effects in the menu of gun barrel loading, whistling tunes, and ricochets are very familiar from the old spaghetti western films.

Overall
Red Dead Revolver is a great game that would appeal to any old west fan. However this day and age its tough to go from automatic / futuristic weapon type games to the use of six shooters and single shot rifles. Don't think this game is like GTA. It has very little resemblance to it. With all of the gunfights and duels, the game is a solid third person shooter game and should be given a chance.

Win a copy of Red Dead Revolver for XBOX

I have a copy of Red Dead Revolver for X-Box. To be put in the running for the game, send an email to ldp@millionaireplayboy.com with your name, address, and the answer to this question:

In the movie Unforgiven what is Clint Eastwood’s characters name?

You can pick up the Red Dead Revolver from Amazon.com for PS2 and X-Box. Rated M for Mature

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