You can be forgiven for not wanting to explore the Wild West since hearing Arthur cough for the first time, with the outback country setting being littered with wounds that will never heal.
But a new Steam banger has just dropped with an ‘overwhelmingly positive’ 97% rating that combines Red Dead Redemption’s backwoods setting with the thrill of a co-op shooter.
Yes, I felt your eyes roll with the ‘shooter’ tag. But this is not your common Overwatch.
Actually, it’s more like a blend of Helldivers and a typical bounty-hunting RPG, and its resounding success rate on Steam shows that it won’t follow in the forgetful footsteps of Highguard.
Far Far West is the gunslinging arcade adventure we didn’t know that we needed
Arriving in town on horseback, out of nowhere, Far Far West has just slapped its Stetson on the saloon bar and demanded attention.
Originally described as a mixture of Red Dead and Call of Duty, the title dropped on April 28, and has since gone on to show that it is so, so much more.
The crux of the title is that you are a bounty-hunting crew with up to four gunslingers in your squad, as you take contracts from the Town Sheriff to track down brutal targets and fight through endless desert terrains to end the lawless reign of terror that has reanimated.
From easily-handled skeleton hoards to mythical monsters and powerful bosses, the engaging and customisable combat system has been a marvel, with players applauding this brilliant masterpiece.
The most comparable game would be Helldivers, in my opinion, but with the benefit of the players being liked by the studio, whereas the intergalactic contract shooter famously admitted to attracting unwanted communities, despite its success.
Endless fun with little repetition
Made by a studio boasting just eight people, Far Far West has been instantly praised for how varied each mission is, with the high octane pace being matched by vastly different bosses in different terrains that make it more than a simple attack-spam simulator.
“This game is one of the most fun games I’ve played in a long time,” reads one of the top reviews on Steam.
“The weapons and magic spells are satisfying to use, and the movement feels smooth as butter. Missions feel extremely varied, even though each zone has static terrain generation. The enemies and bosses are fun to fight, and are well-designed.”
Another added, “I saddled up for Far Far West expecting a dusty little indie ride… and instead got a full-blown rootin’-tootin’ yeehaw of a game.”
And, the best bit is that Far Far West is just in Early Access.
There’s still a wealth more content to come from the game, with the full release set to add long-term progression, more enemies and modes, and plentiful customisation features.
For just £15, you’ll be hard pressed to find many flaws, just as the reviews suggest.
