Video games that take place in the Old West are an interesting breed. It's a subgenre that hasn't really found its way yet, although it's not for lack of trying. We've seen plenty of titles that attempt to put their own unique spin on the genre's familiar themes, only to fall far short. When Neversoft (a developer known primarily for its stellar work on the Tony Hawk series) announced that they'd be trying their hand at creating a violent, gritty Western, some people scoffed. Now that we've seen the results, however, it's obvious that they know exactly what they are doing. Gun features everything anyone could want in a Western, and it's only major negative is the fact it just can't satisfy our desire for more.

Like any Western worth its salt, the solid backbone of Gun lays in its story, which is full of violence, revenge, and redemption. The game tells the tale of one Colton White, a young man who spends his days helping his father Ned, a trapper in Montana. When Ned is killed during a riverboat shootout, Colton find outs that the man who raised him wasn't his true father. The only clue he has is a medallion that bears the name of a saloon and brothel in Dodge City. He's told to seek out a woman named Jenny, as she might be able to answer some of his many questions. From there the story takes some wild turns, leading Colton all over Neversoft's vision of the West.


Once you leave the early tutorial levels, you'll be able to make your way around the game's world, although only Dodge City is open to you at first. The game features a largely mission-based structure, as you'll meet with characters that are central to the story from time to time. Gun's central story is one of the best of the year, introducing some great characters, each of which falls into the classic good, bad, and ugly categories. There's a nice mix of story missions that have been culled from classic Westerns, too. From making a daring jailhouse escape to blowing up an enemy train, all of the exciting setpieces you'd expect are in Gun (including the obligatory "shooting a noose to save someone" scene).

In between those moments, you'll have plenty of time to ride around the beautiful Western locales, marveling at the sunset or admiring the wildlife. You'll also be able to make money in a variety of ways, allowing you to upgrade your weapons or skillset. Thankfully, Gun features a substantial range of side-missions, including the ability to work at a cattle ranch, protect the denizens of the towns as a deputy, or help the local Indians hunt for specific animals like the Great White Buffalo. In a nice touch, failing a mission will simply force you to restart from the last checkpoint, rather than having to backtrack to redo it.