Family Video Game Reviews for Parents

Gun
Publisher: Activision
Official Site: http://www.activision.com/

ESRB Rating: M
Reviewed Platform: Xbox 360
Available Platforms: Xbox 360, Xbox, PS2, GameCube, PC
For 1 player.

Overall: D
Violence: D
Sexual Content: C
Language: D
Alcohol/Drug Use: D

What is this game about?

The Western is a genre that video game makers have been loath to tackle. There are only a handful of quality games set in the Wild West (or its fictional equivalent). Gun is one of them.

You play as Colton White, a gunslinger in the 1800s whose father, Ned, is murdered early on in the story by a corrupt preacher. That sets you on a path to find the man behind the theft of a golden cross, which Colton’s father had information about.

Your travels mostly take you to two towns: Empire City and Dodge City. Both are frontier towns with all manner of characters, including villains, lawmen and prostitutes.

During your quest, you’ll be able to take odd jobs, such as working as a lawman and bringing in bounties (dead or alive), working as a ranch hand, or protecting the whores, as well as exploring the open countryside, where Blackfoot and Apache Indians and outlaws roam wild. There’s also a mine, a fort and some canyons to check out.

And through it all, you’ll have to rely on your wits and your weapons, the most important of which is your gun.

Is it fun to play?

From its Matrix-like slow-motion quick draw mode, in which you can switch between enemies by flicking the analog control stick, to riding on horseback to the strong storyline, Gun has a lot of things going for it as a piece of gaming entertainment.

The controls are easy to learn, including the horseback-riding scheme, which is surprisingly fluid and fun. You really get the feel of what it might be like to not only ride a horse across open country, but also engage in gun battles while in the saddle.

The automatic-aiming function in the slow-motion mode is a great feature. It makes blasting enemies a breeze and it looks cool, to boot. When not in that mode, tracking enemies in real time with the analog stick is not an easy task. However, you can get the hang of it fairly quickly... and for a game called Gun, that’s a pretty important detail.

The plot of Gun is its real strength. It’s compelling and well acted. Among the actors who lent their vocal talents to the game are Thomas Jane, Lance Henriksen, Brad Dourif, Ron Perlman, Tom Skerritt and Kris Kristofferson. And these guys are in fine form. In fact, this may be the best ensemble performance of any game to date.

The one real drawback to Gun is the final boss fight of the game. It’s incredibly difficult compared to what came before it, so expect some serious frustration and don’t be surprised if you hit the Internet or buy the strategy guide to look for tips on how to beat the boss.

Overall, Gun offers a good mix of first- and third-person shooter action, a great storyline and top-notch performances. All in all, it makes for a fun experience.

What do parents need to know about Gun?

From a parent’s perspective, Gun is game parents should take a closer look at because of its violent aspects.

Besides shooting and scalping people -- some of whom are still alive when you cut the top of their head off -- there are scenes involving the murder of a whore, as well as the torture of white and Native American characters.

There are also cutscenes involving drunks, sexual innuendo, scantily-clad females, plenty of swearing and blood and gore, such as heads and limbs being blown clear off by a well-placed shotgun or rifle blast.

In a lot of ways, you could say that Gun is to video gaming what Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven was to the modern Western film. The violence is realistic and the Wild West isn’t romanticized in any way. This game doesn’t sugarcoat anything, which is commendable from an adult perspective. The killing is gritty and people look to exact revenge on you for your actions, providing some form of consequences. But since you’re the hero, paying the ultimate price is never really a question.

All in all, there are titles out there that are more violent, more sexist, more racist and more offensive than Gun. It’s hard to call that praise, but in this day and age of senseless violence, I guess that’s what you’d have to call it.

To the designers’ credit, they try to put all of the negatives into context and balance it with the fact good does triumph over evil. Unlike other games, you’re not rewarded for being a bad guy and flirting with being an outlaw.

You know, Gun advertises itself by telling prospective players that you’ll be able to experience “the brutality, greed and lust that was the west.” And every word of that description is true. Enter at your own risk.