Blood West Review - The Stealthy Spaghetti Specter
How the Weird West was won by a ghost with a gun.
last updated Dec 11, 2023
If 'Blood West' were any more Western, it'd be serving you chilli in a saloon.
A Ghostly Gunslingin' Gameplay
Strap on your spectral spurs and dive into 'Blood West,' a world where every shadow may hide a grim fate or glorious loot. As the Undead Gunslinger, you're given a chance to right wrongs from beyond the grave, which translates into gameplay that's a thrilling mix of stealth and aggression. Imagine the methodical tension of 'Thief' combined with the raw ferocity of a Wild West shootout. It's not a game that holds your hand – miss a single shot, and you're liable to join the ever-growing ranks of the undead... again. The enemies are as relentless and unforgiving as a creditor, making each encounter a high-stakes duel in the dust.
Eerie Echoes in the Dead of Night
Blood West's soundscape is an audible feast that makes the wastelands sing (or perhaps wail in despair). The ricochet of bullets, the snarl of creatures lurking beneath, and the otherworldly whispers of a world cursed are blended to create an ambiance that wouldn't feel out of place in a haunted saloon. The music is a somber serenade to gunfighters past, elevating the atmosphere from merely moody to genuinely immersive. Think Ennio Morricone if he'd had a love affair with H.P. Lovecraft, setting the tone for a journey that's equal parts gunfight and goosebumps.
A Graphical Shootout at the OK Corral
The aesthetics of 'Blood West' capture the desolation of a cursed frontier as if the world itself is rendered in sepia-toned sorrow. The graphical style is a nod to yesteryears, evoking a sense of nostalgia while managing to bring to life a world teeming with otherworldly horrors. It's not just eye candy; this is meat and potatoes with a side of nightmare fuel, serving up performance that's smoother than a snake oil salesman. Frame rates remain steady even when the action escalates to a bullet ballet, ensuring that the only thing that might haunt you is the challenge, not the technical hiccups.
Thrills, Chills, and Silver Bullet Bills
Sure, 'Blood West' isn't a walk in the (haunted) park. You'll often find yourself scrounging for every blessed silver bullet like a darned prospector. The creaky inventory system is an Eldritch creature of its own, sometimes making you wish you could exorcise it alongside the revenants you face. But don't let that scare you off; there's a pound of dark heart thumping beneath the game's ribcage, pulsing with every enemy encounter that's brilliantly designed to keep you on your toes... or digging your boots in for a last stand.
Grim Horizons and Perilous Journeys
Though the journey through 'Blood West' can be as solitary as a tumbleweed's travel, the world is rich in surprise and splendor for those willing to brave its secrets. Exploration is rewarded with more than just loot; it's the tales untold and horrors unveiled that give weight to every step in this barren land. With every dusty path leading to potential doom or glory, the trek across this eerie West is a lesson in survival where every corner may present a new challenge—or a new opportunity to outdraw death itself.
STEAM RATING
Developer & Publisher
Hyperstrange
Release Date
December 05, 2023
Verdict & Summary
If 'Blood West' were any more Western, it'd be serving you chilli in a saloon. This game may have you shout in frustration as often as victory, but it's a marvel of modern indie ingenuity. Offering a challenging and rewarding gameplay experience, it strikes a delicate balance between the stealth and action genres, wrapped in a package of atmospheric excellence. Despite a few rough edges in inventory management and a couple of UI goblins, 'Blood West' is a standout title that rides tall in its genre, appealing to souls brave enough to face its unforgiving wilderness.
