West of Dead by Raw Fury and Upstream Arcade is a roguelite adventure game that takes the player through randomly generated labyrinths, facing off with several disgruntled spirits who need some forceful persuasion to go to hell. We play as William Mason (starring Ron Perlman), a revenant of this wild west and is seemingly bound to Purgatory. Each time he is killed, he is brought back to “life” and resumes his quest from the saloon.
The Beta shows us the ropes in a prelude chapter, and the rest comes naturally. You start off with nothing, but you pick up all sorts of weapons and usable items along the way. We aim generally in the direction we want to fire, and then we pull down on either the left or right triggers. Firefights often last less than a minute, with you running from one cover to the next and flanking the enemy. There is an unnatural darkness that covets these parts, so you can light up certain areas, and the sudden spark immobilizes most foes. That trick won’t stop wendigos, though.
I really enjoyed fighting the wendigos. The pacing is perfect for me, and I don’t think the game is too easy at all. I think it offers a range of complexity that engages the player to make some quick in-game decisions. This is especially true when you walk up to shrines or the Witch Lady and receives perks/boons. Do you want a health bonus, a damage bonus, or an item use cooldown? Some items are also more than just a melee attack, as one reduces the amount of time it takes to reload (which is automatic). Situations are always the most dire when you are first thrown into them, but by the end of the level you will have earned higher tiered weapons and stat bonuses to level the playing field.
The randomness keeps the exploration and shootouts somewhat refreshing. As you proceed deeper and deeper into this series of mazes, the enemies get more varied and dangerous. The game is not without its challenges and can come off as disproportionately easy or difficult. For instance, if you accept to take a curse from a lingering spirit, that burden will open you up for a world of hurt; one hit will end you. You can alleviate that burden by sending malignant spirits to hell, but it is a moment that can be avoided.
The art design is very cool. Everything has an intense shadow, as though the darkness is literally creeping around you and drinking the light. In some cases, it might even hurt you. I enjoy the wild west meets demon hunter theme going on here, and Ron Perlman’s narration is always welcomed at the start of each level – or if something big is coming up. On top of that the score is subtle, not too overbearing, and western. Not spaghetti western, but a tempo fitting for a wild frontier.
Overall, this Beta is a good time. I was disappointed to see it end. If you are interested in playing for yourself, it is currently free on Xbox One and Steam.
Check Out My West of Dead Gameplay Session:
West of Dead is expected to release later this year on Xbox One via Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
For more info, visit https://westofdead.com.
I like to think of myself as the average Joe who grew up alongside video games. I have fun playing strategy games, RPGs, shooters, sandboxes, the whole shebang! Every game provides an experience whether it strikes you as profound, mundane, or someplace in between. I'd like to weigh in my two cents before you spend a single penny.
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