The great thing about first-person shooters is that there’s something for everyone in this genre whether you love storming the beaches of Normandy, hunting down terrorists in the Middle East or upholding the law in some futuristic version of Earth. Personally, I’m fond of westerns so I answered the call when the first Call of Juarez came out and certainly did so again with Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood for the PS3 that puts us back in the booths of not one McCall but two of them.

Meet the Brothers McCall 

Nothing counts more than blood as Ray and Thomas McCall see it and it is their love for their family and their home turf that causes these brothers to turn their backs on the Confederacy and their superior officers to run back home. This makes the brothers wanted criminals who run off to Juarez, Mexico with their preacher brother in search of Spanish treasure. What they find instead is a battle for survival as both Ray and Thomas lose themselves in their bloodthirsty nature.

When we first see Ray and Thomas, they’re at each other’s throats fighting over a woman. This is the opposite picture I described when they were Confederate soldiers in an opening chapter that not only offers a taste of what a younger Ray McCall and his brother Thomas were like as soldiers but it also serves as a tutorial that allows players to learn the controls and each brothers’ individual specialties. You see, while both brothers can shoot up a place they do play differently. For one thing, Ray favors using two pistols and tosses dynamite sticks like nobody’s business. Thomas, on the other hand, is skilled with throwing knives when stealth is needed and has a trusty lasso so he can climb up to higher ground when needed. 

Things become more interesting after the war when the McCalls head to Mexico in search of the fabled gold that cursed Coronado’s expedition. In Mexico, the brothers not only find the city of Juarez a violent place but they also become wrapped up in a dangerous game when they come to work for a man whose woman is the reason Ray and Thomas will fight each other.  

You’ll find the shootouts in the game are surprisingly more exciting than the ones in the original Call of Juarez. The level scenarios offer enough variety to keep the action fresh so you won’t just be moving and shooting your way through each level but also carrying out objectives. Some objectives have you attempting to flush out a sniper while your brother acts as bait and other objectives have you shooting your rife from a stagecoach like the classic John Wayne westerns. Most levels begin with the choice between being Thomas or being Ray with the second brother being controlled by the AI. 

The quick-minded and the dead 

The great news is that the AI is a vast improvement over the first game so your brother is able to provide some decent backup when things really get ugly. The enemy in the game isn’t so dumb this time either and many of them will have the good sense of knowing when they’re licked. Of course, you will still find a few that think taking cover behind an explosive barrel is a great idea and a very few who won’t move out of the way of a lit stick of dynamite.

Dueling is back but it feels like a whole new experience altogether. There’s just something more exciting about the way the duels go down as the characters circle each another with their hand moving ever so closer to their holstered weapons. With the right analog stick you can move your hand closer to your gun and even draw it when the time is right. When you hear a bell you draw, aim and fire before your opponent does. It’s quite a thrilling event that’s done just right.

Speaking of the controls, the game feels good on the PS3. Everything from ducking for cover and aiming is handled well enough although you do have to put up with the period accurate weapons of the era. Unfortunately, the framerate isn’t perfect. The game tends to suffer from framerate stutter especially when the game is auto saving each checkpoint. Even load times can be lengthy. My biggest complaint, however, is that the game is over far too quickly.

At least there’s a great multiplayer mode to keep you playing the game. You can play online or set up some LAN matches so you and up to 12 players can participate in created matches of the deathmatch variety or even an objective-based game mode called Wild West Legends that feature famous old west scenarios such as the manhunt for Billy the Kid. There are even several class types you can pick from such as Gunslinger, Scout or Duelist. It’s a great mode that will keep you busy for a long time.

Why ain't you a purty little thing

As far as the visuals are concerned, Bound in Blood looks really good on the PS3. The character models look a bit sharper, albeit a bit more plastic-like, on the Xbox 360 but the PS3 version is still downright pretty. Everything from the smoke effects and water look amazing, though, so the difference in the graphics isn’t overwhelmingly different. Even the environments look wonderful in this game.

The sound in the game is also a highlight, especially when it comes to the good dialogue and the even better voice acting that makes the brothers so believable. Then there’s the score that is intense and exciting when things get more action-packed and delightfully mellow during the calmer moments in the game.

Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is certainly a far more exciting and action-packed shooter than the original. It certainly isn’t a perfect game but it does a lot of things right that should win over those first-person shooter aficionados that have been looking for a good Wild West shooter. The game even has a worthwhile multiplayer mode as well so there’s more than enough here to warrant a purchase, gunslingers.

Gameplay: 8.0
Thomas and Ray certainly know how to use everything from revolvers to rifles and shotguns as they fight those annoying Union soldiers, a tribe of warriors and the best gunmen Juarez has to offer. The story is good and so is the bullet-slinging action whether you’re dueling or pushing the lead out in the streets.

Graphics: 8.0
A visually appealing game that looks great on the PS3, Bound in Blood has some great character models and gorgeous backgrounds. While the Xbox 360 has the upper hand in the graphics department, this version has some smooth animation.

Sound: 8.5
The original score sounds like it would feel right at home in a classic western and the voice acting is top notch thanks to the great dialogue. Even the sound effects give the game its cinematic feel.

Difficulty: Medium
Unlike the first Call of Juarez, the enemies in this game know how to use cover and run away when they’re outmatched by the brothers. Some objectives are more challenging than others are and even some duels will have you restarting from the checkpoint often.

Concept: 8.0
The two McCalls have their own moves and specialties but the real treat here are the duels, gunfights and numerous weapons to use. Some levels are actually inventive and fun and there’s an excellent online multiplayer mode.

Multiplayer: 8.5
Online, up to 12 players can recreate the famous Gunfight at the OK Corral in an objective-based game mode or simply battle it out in any of the various maps while picks from a generous number of classes such as Sniper and even Spy. The game moves at a steady framerate and will be the reason you will continue playing the game long after you finish the main mode.

Overall: 8.0
Gunslingers, Bound in Blood for the PS3 is, by far, the best game in the Call of Juarez series. Yes, there are a few issues that hold the game back but what the game does right makes for a wildly good time that should appeal to those looking to jump back into the dusty streets of the Wild West.