Red Dead Revolver – The Ultimate Western

There aren’t many video games based on the Old West, aside from a handful of wonderful exceptions. Red Dead Revolver, the title that brought the genre back to life thanks to Rockstar San Diego, has completely captivated us. Step into a full-blown cowboy movie as the fastest gunslinger this side of the Mississippi River.

We’re thrilled that such an interesting genre as the Western has made a comeback in gaming. Very few titles based on the Wild West have made it to consoles or PCs in recent years, so the release of this Rockstar game (along with Atari’s shooter Dead Man’s Hand) satisfied the cravings for gunpowder, dust, and midday duels that many fans like us had been waiting for.

Truth is, since the days of the legendary Outlaw by LucasArts, we hadn’t seen a decent action game set in the Old West—one with a well-crafted atmosphere and an Ennio Morricone-style soundtrack.

Luckily, Red Dead Revolver finally hit the market, a game Rockstar rescued from an abandoned project by Japanese developer Capcom. Rockstar’s San Diego studio was in charge of shaping this story, giving it that distinct visual style seen in their GTA games, and delivering engaging gameplay paired with a script that feels straight out of a classic spaghetti western.

The game is a third-person action title that strongly reminds us (with obvious differences in era and 3D graphics) of the fantastic Sunset Riders, the arcade game Konami released in 1991. It’s a straightforward shoot-’em-up, but thanks to the sheer number of levels, enemies, boss fights, and weapons at your disposal, it’s incredibly addictive.

A Story of Revenge

In Red Dead Revolver’s main story, you play as Red, a tough loner who makes a living as a bounty hunter and dreams of avenging his parents’ murder (gunned down when he was a child by a shadowy figure—though at least Red managed to take the killer’s left arm off with a well-placed shot from his father’s revolver).

That revolver stayed forever etched in Red’s right hand after he grabbed it from the flames to shoot his parents’ killer. Red’s tale of hatred and revenge unfolds level by level as you take down the worst outlaws in the territory, answering calls from sheriffs in nearby towns.

But that’s not all—along the way, you’ll cross paths with many characters, some friends and some foes. The coolest part? Many of them become playable in certain side missions that run parallel to Red’s story. You’ll step into the boots of up to six different characters, experiencing bonus levels that add extra fun outside the main plot. These include the smooth-talking gunslinger and poker player Jack Swift, the Native American warrior Shadow Wolf, Mexican Army General Diego, and the fearless Annie Stoakes, who has to defend her ranch from cattle thieves with a rifle.

Learn to Shoot, Cowboy

One of Red Dead Revolver’s strongest points is its advanced aiming, shooting, and cover system. In fact, this unique control scheme for firing and taking cover is what makes the game so addictive. Even though it’s a third-person game (with the camera positioned behind the character at a slightly elevated angle), it plays like a pretty conventional shooter since you’re always looking down your weapon’s sights.

You move your character with the left stick and control the camera with the right stick. Pressing the right stick makes your character crouch (super useful when caught in crossfire). To fire your weapon (selected using the D-pad), hold the left trigger to aim, then pull the right trigger to shoot.

But if you want to stay alive, you’ll need to master taking cover behind walls, wooden fences, building corners, rocks, and other objects scattered throughout the levels. Press the X button to do this—your character will press their back against the object, giving you an almost first-person view of the enemy-filled horizon. From there, you can aim, and when you fire, your character will lean out just enough to land a few precise shots.

You also have a special ability called Dead Eye, a kind of bullet-time mode that lets you slow down time and mark multiple shots on an enemy’s body. Once you deactivate it, Red will pump up to six bullets into the poor guy.

Above all, one of the most original features in Red Dead Revolver is the dueling system. A unique test of speed and skill with the triggers and analog sticks puts your nerves to the test in intense showdowns under the sun. These duels happen at key moments in the game, giving you the chance to be the quickest draw.

It all comes down to nerves of steel—with a cinematic camera angle showing your holster up close, you’ll need to hit your enemy’s weak spots in a short time frame with precise right-stick movements. If you do it right, your opponent won’t even get a chance to draw.

Bounty Hunting & Upgrades

As you gun down enemies and take out bosses (of which there are many—each unique and tough to kill), you’ll earn cash. This money can be spent in Brimstone’s shops and saloons to buy better revolvers, rifles, dynamite, or even useless but era-appropriate items (like whiskey bottles or old gold mine maps). We have to highlight how addictive the boss fights are—some of the game’s best moments happen when these guys show up.

These bosses cover all the "typical" Western movie archetypes, and since they all have bounties on their heads, you’ll get paid for taking them out. In many levels, Red rides on horseback, so you’ll control the horse with one stick while aiming and shooting with the other.

Another standout feature is the missions where you play as secondary characters. These sidestep the main story (though many tie into it) and let you experience different action-packed scenarios from the era—like fighting in a border skirmish against Mexican soldiers, defending a ranch from waves of rustlers, or fending off an attack from a Native American tribe.

Aside from pure action stages and boss fights, the game also has exploration phases that feel more like graphic adventures. Here, you can shop, talk to NPCs, or hit the saloon for a drink and some entertainment. These levels usually serve as bridges between missions, giving you a breather from all the chaos.

Technical Side of Red Dead Revolver

Graphically, the game is exceptional, especially thanks to its detailed character and environment designs. The characters are crafted in a style close to cel-shading (very angular, looking like they stepped out of a cartoon or a Lieutenant Blueberry comic), but with a gritty, dusty, and gray aesthetic.

On the other hand, the environments, objects, and animals have a more realistic, rounded look, packed with detail. This contrast works really well, enhanced by constant sandstorms, desert dust, and harsh, diffused sunlight—creating a spectacular atmosphere.

The voice acting is in English (with Spanish subtitles) and is really well done. The exquisite soundtrack (featuring classic themes by the legendary Ennio Morricone) sets the perfect mood for every level and cutscene. Honestly, this soundtrack deserves a standalone release.

Gameplay:

Conclusion

Red Dead Revolver is one of the most addictive third-person shooters we’ve played in a long time. The sheer number of levels, the smart and varied enemies, the epic boss fights, and all the different moves and weapon skills make it a spectacular experience. The horseback chases and train or stagecoach battles feel like they’re ripped straight from a Western movie. Fans of the genre have found their ultimate game (for now), and any action lover will get hours of fun out of it.