It would seem that your’s truly has somewhat of an obsession with Westerns, as this is the third game I have covered that contains a cavalcade of the conventions typically found in the aforementioned genre. To this, I simply pose a question: can you blame me?
The heavily stylised nature of Westerns, combined with their instantly recognisable character archetypes and musical motifs, make it a genre that is as beloved now as it was during its golden era of the 1960s.
Each and every single one of these elements is lovingly translated into the medium of video games by way of Colt Canyon from Retrific and Headup Games. However, does this translate into an enjoyable gameplay experience which allows you to feel as though you are fully embodying the persona of your favourite, gun-toting badass?
Read on, dear reader.
Once Upon A Time in Gaming
First things, obviously, first: Colt Canyon’s pixel-art visual style is nothing short of gorgeous. Each area is tinged with a disparate colour theme from what came before, though the inclusion of Sepia tones for the initial area is a beautiful tribute to the genre this game demonstrates an overt passion for.
Furthermore, the dark reds of the blood that sadistically splatters across the screen – and can be turned off – contrast wonderfully with the colour schemes of the locations it decorates. The same can be said for all gun blasts and explosions, which conjure a dazzling display of light that never fails to please the eye.
Sins of the Eye
Unfortunately, the visual design of is also tainted with faults that cannot be overlooked. Certain traps in later stages fail to contrast from the remainder of the location they hide in as effectlively as the blood and particle effects. Consequently, many damage points and deaths can be dealt in a manner that feels relatively cheap given the low-visibility of the object that hurt you so.
In addition, the colours associated with the undetailed characters can often appear identical when they are, in fact, simply too similar. This subsequently led to me targeting innocent civillians I had mistaken for enemies, while my true foes successfully shot at me from behind. These same issues bleed into the multiplayer. By using blue and purple colour indicators to decorate the two player characters, my brother and I were regularly left perplexed as to who was, indeed, who.
While Colt Canyon is an aesthetically pleasing title, its visual design lacks that practical edge.
The Good, the Bad, and the Sonic
One thing that can be said for the visuals of Colt Canyon is that they are memorable, even if they do blend together a little too well. Sorrowfully, the same cannot be said for the music.
Initially, I was suitably pleased as my ears were sweetly serenaded with the musical motifs of the Wild Wild West (thankfully not the indentically titled Will Smith film). The entire compostion contained echoes of Morricone and, if it were not for one glaring issue, that would be all I need write on the matter.
Alas, Colt Canyon is a rogue-like. Therefore, those dedicated to seeing this title through to the end are bound to die and, subsequently, replay the opening stages of the game an excessive number of times. Dissimilar to some rogue-likes, the level design in Colt Canyon is not procedurally generated. Coupling this with no musical variation meant that I gradually grew tired of the game each time I reset as there was nothing new to experience.
Mercifully, the sonic side of the game is salvaged by the design of the sound effects. Weapons pack a significant punch – which checks that off my list – and there are certain sound effects placed throughout the game to inform you of when you are in danger, such as the fuse on dynamite nearing detonation, and the far-off howling of wolves that compel you to get a move on. Most importantly, though, not since Resident Evil 4 have I gained such a sense of satisfaction when reloading my weapon. Bravo, Colt Canyon. Bravo.
A Fistful of Controller
Before we don those metaphorical trunks and dive headfirst into Colt Canyon’s gameplay proper, allow me to announce that the game offers a wide spectrum of options to assist with accessibility. My prior point on similar colours still stands, but it is nonetheless terrific to see such a wealth of options.
With that little piece of housekeeping out of the way, the core gameplay of Colt Canyon is rather fun… for the first few hours. Running and gunning my way through the initial stages of the game was immensely cathartic, and provided me with the action-oriented cowboy gaming experience I had always desired. It may have taken me a while to down the Area 1 Boss, but finally doing so and proceeding to the next stage filled me with an elated sense of achievement.
However, for me, it was from this point onwards that the fun stopped. I personally found the stages in the second area to be rather overwhleming, and decided to alter my tactics and adopt a more stealthy approach. Unfortunately, though the game offers the option of stealth kills, it was not designed to be played this way for an extended period of time. Therefore, I would find myself dying, being sent back to the beginning of the game, and having to work my way back to where I had reached before my untimely death.
Fatigue
As a result of playing through these same levels again and again and again, I eventually arrived at a point where I could blitz through them in my sleep. However, during my extensive playthrough of the game, I could not attain this same mastery of the second area. Ultimately, this led to me becoming exhausted with the title.
That is not to say that this is a bad game. In fact, a statement such as that could not be further from the truth. Complementing the game’s blasting gunshots with screen shake contributes well to good game feel. Also, narrowly dodging enemy fire, only to return with a successful shot of your own is always satisfying. Not to mention that those looking to play solo are afforded AI companions that can fight alongside you.
Although the dodge is not as responsive as I would have liked. To add to this, the AI companions are too aggressive for their own good, displaying a an atrocious sense of self-preservation
The Searchers of Fun
Played in short bursts with an experienced partner by your side, Colt Canyon is a fun experience to waste a few minutes on. However, I do not recommend that you sit by your console for hours on end in an attempt to see this game through to its conclusion. Doing so will only frustrate you unless you adopt a Souls-like mentality and prepare to die.