RANKING:
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[strike]AVOID | LACKING | MAYBE[/strike] | WORTHWHILE | [strike]COMPELLING | UNMISSABLE
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SYNOPSIS:
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| WHAT IS IT? |
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Blood West is an indie made, FPS set in a western era, open-world, with a dark atmosphere and supernatural theme. It combines a linear quest structure with 1990's style gameplay and elements of survival horror. RPG style character customisation affects many of its gameplay mechanics, allowing for an interchangeable stealthy or gung-ho approach to playstyle. Along the way, an expandable inventory & limited resources must be managed in order to defeat Lovecraftian influenced enemies. Similarities to Deus Ex: Human Revolution and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. come to mind. Solo play only
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| STATUS: |
In Early Access, but already fully playable. Another chapter, more enemies and weapons are scheduled for Q1 2023
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| AUDIENCE: |
For patient fans of quest-driven, open-world shooters with perk influenced mechanics that enjoy the supernatural Western setting and meticulous gameplay
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| VALUE: |
The price is already good. Final release price will be slightly higher
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| REVIEWED WITH: |
Game Build v2.2.0-1
INTEL i5 6600 3.3GHz, 8GB RAM, GTX970 @ 1GB 1920x1080 windowed, EVO850 SSD
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More info below....
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2908877578
KEY ATTRIBUTES:
GAMEWORLD, QUESTS & EXPLORATION
▲ Safe-houses are strategically placed to provide quest gathering, respite, item trading, player stashes, quick travel and revival points
▲ Items hidden throughout the map encourage exploration
↔ The map is an adequate size for the limited number of quests and makes travelling from A to B less daunting
↔ Not enough locations, but those there are, are built with depth, being above and below ground, some having multiple floors
▼ Needs more quests as these are few and sequential
DEATH & REVIVAL
▲ Flaws (debuffs) are stacked on the player's soul when revived, a nice incentive to stay alive. Removable by items
▲ A handful of potions to heal, buff or cleanse are useful for keeping the player alive
↔ Health recovered by bandages for light injuries, potions for more or resting at a safehouse fully, which respawns enemies
CHARACTER CUSTOMISATION
▲ 28x perks allow for playstyle specialisation across four branches of abilities/mechanics
↔ Character progression is well balanced with current content with XP providing up level 6
↔ As well as melee or ranged combat, vitality, endurance, resistances, carry capacity and loot finding can all be enhanced
▼ Perk upgrades feel one dimension due to the compact nature of content currently available
STEALTH & MELEE
▲ Stealth and patience is required to close distances and silently takedown enemies with melee weapons
▲ A stealth gauge is the perfect tool for sneaking around, tracking sound, vision and alert statuses
↔ Stealth is encouraged through design where levels hold alcoves and other LoS blocking scenery
▼ Loud noises (even explosives) don't always attract hostile attention of every critter
GUNPLAY & COMBAT
▲ A small cadre of shotguns, revolvers, Winchester rifles, a bow, 2h axe and knives allow for a good mix of take-downs
▲ Weapons have their own distinct behaviour and use. Perks make them more efficient
▲ Most quest location layouts provide good sources of tactical positioning to engage enemies
↔ Quick, primary and secondary weapon slots limit play-style to the weapons and items held
↔ Look down sights give better aim when using ranged weapons. The player can also lean around corners and aim in cover
ENEMIES & AI BEHAVIOUR
▲ Good mix of Lovecraftian inspired enemies from bipedal to the exotic
↔ Enemy behaviour is predictable, but show direct purpose when alerted, closing distance at speed
▼ Patrolling enemies do not have their alert levels raised if they see other dead enemies
INVENTORY & LOOT
▲ Four types of ammo inflict more general damage or are for use against certain enemies
▲ Perks or additional equipment can expand inventory capacity
▲ Dynamite and molotovs can be obtained to take out groups of creatures
▲ A combination of creature body parts and equipment provide bonuses to abilities when equipped
▼ Easy to forget uncollected loot as map markers are not generated
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2908858890
KEY OBSERVATIONS:
THE GAME
► Game world design, its locations and the choice of perks and inventory, afford a choice of playstyles or a mix if the player is so inclined to be adaptable.
► Despite its open world design, quests are given in a very linear manner until towards the current finale.
► There are too few quests and a minimal number of sub-quests.
► The majority of the experience is exploring, stealthily taking out lone enemies, before taking on set-piece situations to get quest items.Will suit players who are patient and meticulous.
► FPS combat is a toss up between easy and challenging. Enemies can get alerted very quickly and track down the player relentlessly. Its easy to die due to slow reactions, running out of ammo, take damage to quickly or needing to reload.
► Melee and ranged combat kills are not 100% guaranteed in the beginning, especially when up against more than one enemy. Investment in skills, better weapons and equipping certain items changes this.
► Returning to previously cleared areas will be boring unless a significant amount of time has elapsed or the player has fully rested a safehouse, to respawn some enemies.
► Not all creatures are alerted when using firearms in their vicinity, allowing the player to cheese past some encounters.
► The ability to alternate between between using melee, shooting targets using or explosives on fly really adds to the enjoyment of combat.
ISSUES
► Loot and inventory border on being somewhat shallow.
► No game game-breaking issues where experienced during this playthrough.
► A few minor issues with item stacking on the same spot and firearms that do not fire exiting the safehouse while reloading, which were overcome quickly.
ENJOYMENT
► Gameplay stacked to be everything one would expect from a 1990s game of this type. Gunplay was excellent. Being able to mix-up stealth and going loud - great. It was a lot of fun and mistakes were not costly with the auto-revival and the items to remove curses.
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| For more details on KEY ATTRIBUTES & KEY OBSERVATINS: check out this link: |
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https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2908858509
VERDICT:
Blood West is well-made, well-balanced and everything expected of a 1990s inspired FPS. While not the best looking, but its playable, full of considered features that provide the sort of experience hoped for. Complimenting mechanics deliver viable stealth and gung-ho playstyles. Though perks and loot can feel shallow by the end of the game.
Given no game breaking issue were found, its incompleteness and few issues, it currently rates as a WORTHWHILE experience.
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