Call of Juarez: Gunslinger | 10 Years Later

After the release of Call of Juarez: The Cartel, Techland had two options, let the series die and put a large focus into their new favorite genre being zombie games, or give the series the swan song it deserves with Gunslinger. Turns out they made the right choice, because this is regarded to often as the best game in the series, and even one of Techland’s best titles overall. So today, let’s talk about the Redemption of Call of Juarez- Gunslinger. The game is known for its fantastic shooting and its narrative structure, with the story of the game being narrated by a man named Silas Greaves, a bounty hunter of the West during the second half of the 19th century. Very similar to the game Bastion, Silas is a great narrator and storyteller, but the lines of fact and fiction are often stumbled over like a drunk man leaving a saloon, referencing real life outlaws of the west like Billy The Kid, Jesse James and Butch Cassidy, but maybe embellishing his encounters with them just little bit.
But it’s not just the stories and shooting, it’s the great graphics and art style and killer voice acting as well that really sell this game as an overall smooth and solid experience that is more than enough to wash down the stagnant gutter water that was the Cartel.
Check out My GOG page. Awesome games at an awesome price
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Chapters:
Intro 00:00
Overview 00:37
GOG 02:22
Development 02:54
Storytelling 04:56
Characters 09:06
Gameplay 10:27
Plot 15:33
Story Thoughts 21:21
Reception 22:47
Legacy 23:56
Conclusion 24:45
Referenced Footage:
-Dying Light 2 Trailer • Dying Light 2 Stay Hum...
-Nintendo Switch Trailer • Call of Juarez: Gunsli...
-Haris Orkin Story Video • Call of Juarez Gunslin...
- Gunslinger Reveal Trailer • Call of Juarez: Gunsli...
Music: (in order of appearance)
All tracks used from Call of Juarez Gunslinger, Mens Hair Club LISA The Painful, Lazy Evenings- KENKURA
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[@MrHammers]

Couple corrections in this video. I totally fumbled coordinating with GOG on this release, so there is no discount code. The game is still available on GOG for your gaming pleasure :) And also, I was not aware Jim Sterling no longer goes by he/him pronouns, but rather they/them, so I dropped the ball on that one. Apologies!

[@testname4464]

Ngl seeing a content creator I really like correct themselves when they accidentally misgender someone is a huge relief, thank you :)

[@brutallyhonest123]

@@testname4464 I feel the same way when someone doesn’t acknowledge my imaginary friend even though they can’t see them

[@Kai-tn4yx]

@@testname4464 Well since he was still a male back then, it's not really wrong.

[@drinkinouttacups2665]

@@brutallyhonest123 lmao

[@sleepshouter5017]

@@testname4464 I have what many consider a girl’s name even though I’m a biological male. Some people apologized for misgendering me and corrected themselves, some people didn’t. I never cared either way, and I still kept my name and introduce myself as my name even though many have that look of confusion as to why my name is what it is. It’s understandable why some people would misgender me, and I don’t expect or even desire an apology from anyone who does. So I guess if you want to, you can correct yourself, but it isn’t remarkable that you do. Definitely wouldn’t call it a huge relief lmfao, it’s not like anyone defused a bomb in my vicinity. But I’m also a relatively stable person so there isn’t much of a bomb to defuse either. Anyways, there’s my input, whether you like it or not. Have a good day!

[@talgoyankee3610]

Shout out to the Devs for listening to their fans and delivering such a great title. Also a great retrospect as always.

[@kinghoodofmousekind2906]

It was a great thing to see, ngl. I must admit, there are devs who hear the complains, but very few listen to the fans and fix the issues which need to be adressed. Even Bungie, to a degree, failed in that reguards when it came to certain aspects of Halo (one of my favourite franchises when younger) and Destiny (a game which has potential, but oftentimes its qualities are drowned and droned out due to the buzz and humdrum of micro-transactions and things in that vein), and it's one reason why I am glad Techland did not go back to the CoJ games: they told all they wished to tell through those games, and they moved to new ideas. If they ever return to CoJ, I hope it's out of love for the setting and to put new ideas in them, not for the call of Mammon... Also, love your Art'n'Craft Char profile pic, man.

[@talgoyankee3610]

@@kinghoodofmousekind2906 True, it's all about the passion and a well established connection between the devs and the players.

[@DMTforYourScreen]

The shooting mechanics for this game were godly

[@adamix3034]

18:25 Bob didn't decide that, Silas was lucky he survived. His brothers were heavier and strangled faster but Silas being the younger was light, which gave him more time. A branch broke after his brothers died.

[@MrHammers]

Yeah, true! But Bob decided to let him live and gave him the gold coin after, instead of killing him anyway

[@MrGamingPsycho]

@@MrHammers no, he gave him the coin before hanging him, he placed it into Silas mouth, if I recall

[@Drakon_Minaka]

@@MrHammers I'm nine months late but I remember him: Giving him the coin, firing the gun to hang them, leaving, and Silas only lived because they weren't there make sure the job was finished.

[@Jojob541]

@@MrHammers Bob gave him the coin before they hanged them, and then he and the others left Silas and his brothers for dead.

[@riazzking3592]

Really unique thing about this game is how many real western legends they put in this game ( in a clever way) & good variety in locations ( jailbreak, robbery, train , swamp etc etc) Not to mention how arcade- y the gameplay is ( try bulletstorm too.. if u haven't. Its fantastic in term of gameplay )

[@kinghoodofmousekind2906]

Which is why it's so good; reminds me a bit of the first Halo, where you'd move from loation to location and see new environs almost every level (barring a couple of recurring ones, such as the Control Room and its canyons). Gunslinger's art direction, on top of the variety of locales, is also praiseworthy: it truly feels like a tale of legends coming into reality, with its bright colours, its larger-than-life characters and exagerated designs for them.

[@KingYahshua]

The fact that the story starts with an unreliable narrator then slowly shifts into making the narrative believable really emphasizes how urban legends can sometimes be believable too. Life in the frontier was already such a surreal experience, so it really forces us to suspend our own disbelief behind what these people actually went through. Love how the game plays around with the idea of myth!

[@hanchiman]

The most memorable part of this game was when Silas was singing and then wondering if he was way worse than the guy who killed his brother as his path to revenge has actually killed alot of people during the years he was searching for him. This game is what you call a "Deconstruction" of the "Penny Dreadfuls" or basically trash novels about cowboys with tall tales. At least they added the Nuggest of truth where they describe real life Wild West "legends". Kinda ironic about Dwight Eisenhower as he at one point threatened to use nuclear weapons in 1950 during the Cold War on Soviet and China before they got nuclear weapons themselves.

[@playerunkown8699]

The best one in my opinion works perfectly

[@SamanthaSaunderz]

I played this last year on the switch, I was able to get through it in 2 night shifts and I was hooked. The guns hit so much and its so simple in plot that it's just easy to pick up and play! This series you did was amazing, canr wait for to what is next man!

[@MrHammers]

Thanks!! I really do wanna check out the switch version, it looks super cool. Might help me on a few night shifts as well haha

[@mikeb620]

Are we ever going to get a sequel to this?

[@MrHammers]

Prob not 😔

[@Andy-cr2dc]

Techland abandoned the series for Dying Light too bad we are never gonna see another Call of Juarez.

[@FatCatCooper]

@@MrHammers 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

[@NiCoNiCoNiCola]

Probably not, since the game ends with Silas abandoning his life as a gunslinger. It probably will have another game in the universe though

[@alexduffy7925]

@@Andy-cr2dc Don't be so sure about it. Dying Light 2 is overall not a very good game as the original one. Techland can very well return to the series seeing how Dying Light ain't doing too well.

[@donnyduhgamer5927]

Just bought this game on sale for $1.99 on Nintendo eShop, looking forward to playing this game.

[@AlexB_143]

I remember playing the demo on PS3 long ago and really liking it. But by the time I decided to get it, it was delisted. Picked it up recently on the Switch, though and am really excited to get to it!

[@jorgehenriq]

You don't know how long I've waited for this one! Great video as always, Mr Hammers and I'm glad you've enjoyed the game!

[@MrHammers]

Thanks my dude!

[@RottenBlossuns]

I still think that Bound in Blood is easily the best

[@vgames5512]

For me they both are best, I can't decide. For story i prefer Bound in Blood,but gameplay in Gunslinger is soooo much more fun for me.

[@boombya123]

Gunslinger is really fantastic it's my 2nd favourite of the series I didn't know it was on the switch maybe I'll pick it up for a 3rd time thank you for ending this video series despite the lower views its been some great nostalgia of simpler time playing these games it even made me replay Gunslinger times have been tough lately and these videos really take my mind off things for awhile thank you once again

[@Mankey619]

Gunslinger is the best FPS game ever made by the team. Crazy to think The Cartel,which is one the worst game ever made by them and all of a sudden they made a very good game like Gunslinger. Talk about redemption.

[@MrHammers]

That's what I'm saying! Haha they did great with gunslinger

[@NiCoNiCoNiCola]

They even made an RDR2 shoutout to Arthur Morgan and an event in Dying Light 2 Hope they'll make something new in the series

[@liamwynne566]

The unreliable narrator mechanic is an excellent.... mechanic for a videogame. It's a shame that it's never been used in another game and has just been shat out onto the pile of other awesome genuinely cool and unique mechanics that were never to be seen again after a single title like the memory manipulation segments from Remember Me or the split timeline in Driver: Parallel lines. Shameful!

[@dahalonut]

"...western weapons to wield wonderfully." Awesome alliteration there! I've always gotta commend some great alliteration. Awesome review too. I've never played this game, but it seems pretty fun. I've always had a soft spot for the old west environment, having frequently visited family who lived in a ghost town in the SW.

[@MrHammers]

Thanks! Appreciate the kind words

[@zriabm.3243]

as of posting this comment 10/23/22 its on sale on switch for $1.99 in NA for 2 weeks !! just bought it myself :) good vid 🤝

[@MrHammers]

Nice, that's a dope deal

[@kinghoodofmousekind2906]

I was amazed at the redemption tale of the series through this title: it worked perfectly, they crafted a fun, immersive and sort of unique FPS; together with LucasArt's Outlaws, this is by far one of my favourite games set in the Wild West, since I grew up loving Leone's movies and that genre. I would love to see a sequel, yet, at the same time, I think it was wiser to simply close the Juarez book with this final chapter.

[@goodiedopy5364]

Finally! I have been waiting for this One of my top favorite games I play it yearly You don't know how it mean a lot to me to put it on the spotlight

[@MrHammers]

Thanks for watching! Glad you liked it my friend:)

[@darrellgardner4561]

I accidently stumbled across this game, having never heard of the series. I thought it was a lot of fun, and thought the levels changing based on the story was a lot of fun. Its unfortunate we didn't get another game like this in the series.

[@maltsutty]

This was my FAVOURITE Xbox arcade game, such tight controls and fun shooting . Would definitely buy this if it was rereleased on ps5

[@stringedmage2772]

This game is so nostalgic

[@jonathanyanez9434]

This is Gold ty for it all g

[@mellomoose_]

just got this on the switch for like $2, super duper steal! genuinely surprised by this title its a lot of fun.

[@aaron_exclusive]

As always my dude, love the video !

[@MrHammers]

Thanks my man!

[@kisame786]

Great video bro, really showed how the developer really wanted the series to end on a high note after the disaster from the previous game.

[@MrHammers]

Thanks dude

[@ObviouslyUnknown]

I've really enjoyed your video essays on the Call of Juarez series. Not sure if I will play them all but I definitely am interested in the first :) thanks for doing these!

[@MrHammers]

No, Thank you!

[@Celisar1]

I have just replayed the first and can only recommend it.

[@main_stream_media_is_a_joke]

Pure love and soul put into this gem of a game. Absolutely top tier stuff. Perfect story without being drawn out. Ended without overstaying. This game is the very definition of AA quality stuff.

[@kimastr6476]

Finally Gunslinger video :D

[@mr_mad_hatter1062]

Hatter Here love your videos man keep up the good work!

[@HUMAN-fq5ff]

Fantastic video buddy. Was eagerly waiting for this one, glad your done with this series. What do you plan to move on to next???

[@MrHammers]

Blacksite area 51 🤫

[@earlyculyer4103]

call of Juarez gunslinger is a masterpiece! I love every bit of it I wish they make an updated version but keep it just like it is.

[@Haytes1991]

I played this game on ps3 year ago, and I liked it. I didn't played other CoJ games, though I wanted to play. I really liked Gunslinger, it have pretty decent story good gunplay. I didn't like duels, but overall it was a fun game. And I'm glad that you've done pretty decent retrospective on the series, maybe I'll play other 2 games later.

[@gifproductions9597]

I had this game in my steam library for years now and i played through it last year during winter break HOLY MOLY I HAD SUCH BLAST WITH THIS GAME

[@Celisar1]

Wow, you really paid attention to the story. I am a bit too busy with not getting shot for listening that carefully to what Silas has to say.

[@senormarston]

I love this game, I got all its achievements, even the 3☆ in every chapter in arcade mode and that hard duel mode achievement. Lovely game

[@FragileBitch]

Best Call of Juarez in just about everything. The narration, The gameplay, The art direction, The graphic. The game is so fun I remember replaying the the story and arcade mode uncountable amount of time. The only downside would probably be the cut of "open world" aspect, But everything are pack just neatly in a way that made me feel like having a full course meal without a need to dragging things on. The only con I can think of is when on highest difficulty (or mode?) the screen "prompt" (Combo meter, Button HUD etc etc.) will be turning off, Which made the whole experience on high difficulty a bit off. But other than that. The game will always a fun to pick up everytime I want a good Wild wild west expereince.

[@Celisar1]

I like the first game „call of Juarez“ better. It is so atmospheric, versatile and adventurous. Gunslinger is a very nice purebred shooter, but there is nothing else beside shooting like crazy which is a lot less „game“ than the first part of the series.

[@TheMC1102]

We might never see another Call of Juarez game, but at least we can say that the series ended on a high note.

[@MrHammers]

For sure! They did good with thier final send off

[@gymonx11]

It's these types of developers we should be supporting! the first CoJ, bound in blood and this gem definitely have soul in their games.

[@haithemkenway6833]

i am sure your channel is going to pop off dude just you wait .

[@The_Hero74_]

I will never forget getting this game and loving the ever living hell out of it

[@incognitoo1553]

Even tho everyone hated on duels in call of Juarez series i really loved the gunslinger duels and man i loved the whole game itself it truly is a hidden gem

[@Phono_Wizard]

I bought this game on a whim on sale for 2 bucks on the switch storefront. I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't earth shatteringly amazing but it was fun and the story and gameplay was engaging. I would thoroughly enjoy a sequel.

[@theopatino2379]

I just picked it up on the Switch eShop on sale for $2, great fun

[@MrHammers]

Wow great deal

[@weberb6848]

FUCK YEAH I WAS WAITING FOR THIS

[@trevorstockwell8290]

The cartel could have worked if it actually connected to the other games, maybe have the leads related to the the preacher, I would have not minded modern guns but next time put it in a mexico town. Make it were they never actually found the gold, maybe wat they found thought it was the gold of Juarez....just some ideas

[@schizoidmeme5470]

I remember JOKING about Skin Walkers on that one level then HOWLING as I witness it first hand, lol

[@flippedoutkyrii]

It's not only one of the best in the Series, it's up there with some of my favorite shooters period. The bullet-dodging mechanic is legit engaging, I caught myself dodging along with Silas lol Also DAMN it's a looker, a great sendoff to the PS3/360 generation!

[@antoniokontos5677]

Fun fact Eisenhower as a younger man did learn from a old cow boy how to be a man and said the man was a huge inspiration on how he led his life, gunslinger took this and made Silas Greaves said cow boy

[@mrkoonce2768]

You ever played a game from 2002 called Bloodrayne? I would like to see your take on it!

[@MrHammers]

Heard of it, but never played it, no

[@Dugauntlet]

It was honestly a fun little game and I really enjoyed it. I got it for free on steam a few years back when they were giving it away. Honestly wished I would have picked it up sooner.

[@Miraihi]

One of the rare games I've got all the achievements on, because shooting is just that good.

[@birduno]

honestly one of my favorite shooters ever. just a super tight experience that gives you everything you would want. the duel system isn't great, but it's also not that important

[@VonDrinkoften]

Great review mate of a solid game.👍 I think what makes it so good is that it is so simple, without getting bogged down with unnecessary crap and eye-candy as is the trend nowadays. I think the guns are spot-on on as well, with just Pistols, Rifles and Shotguns of which I think there are three of each if I recall correctly? An armory of a dozen or more of each (like Far-Cry etc) would just be out of place, given the time period the game is set in. Lastly, for a title first released back in 2013; it still runs/plays incredibly well, and looks damn good too even by todays standards, and without requiring a super-computer to enjoy it. Can only agree, that everyone should give it a try if they haven't done so already. Another game that plays just like this, and so is just as enjoyable... but with far better graphics is: "Ryse: Son of Rome" Well worth a look as well and is regularly on sale over on Steam for the PC. Was released a year after Gunslinger in 2014 I believe.

[@MrHammers]

The simplicity is key I think with this game. Everything is necessary and works perfectly. I've wanted to play ryse for a while now, maybe it's time to pick it up!

[@Gruntvc]

Nice to find another Ryse fan. I want another game like that now.

[@Mackbro69]

One of my favorite games ever

[@denialty2660]

The best one is coming, yaaaay

[@Mick2K]

Great game. Best in the series. I bought it twice. On Xbox 360 and Steam.

[@raynebowmo2223]

Really reminds me of tiny Tina's wonderland in the way the story and enviroment changes as the narrator says

[@ActionEHamshraershV]

Loading the cartridges in the solid bottom of the reciever of a Winchester 1892, with the LOADING GATE ON THE RIGHT SIDE STARING THE PLAYER IN THE FACE, is extremely painful. I have a terminal disease now.

[@kylenolan8976]

Such a fun game

[@DILLIGER90]

I didn't remember how the story ended and honestly got the same feels as back then. Just like red dead 2, my canon is the good karma one and I can 't have it any other way.

[@t20pIayer]

After got me thinking will u ever cover the tall tells walking dead games

[@meinraddreizacker5845]

Babe wake up, new MrHammers video just dropped.

[@cdxx7902]

The story plot reminds me of once upon the time in the west. The harmonica man’s legacy

[@bingchilling_____]

LETS GOOOO

[@atk1152]

the gunslinger have the best nameless ost out of the 3 games

[@jonmeray713]

Loved gunslinger

[@brysonmoorhouse2662]

Glad I played this one a while ago from steam when they made it free for a bit, would have never tried it and most likely would have never found it

[@LordPhantomWolfe]

Techland is really good at listening to fan feedback. Dying Light had so much post launch support that the game always had something going on. They're attempting a similar thing with Dying Light 2 and happen to fumble here and there. They listen to fan feedback but sometimes happen to over correct something instead of adding minor changes. But they do listen to their fans still to this day. I'm hopeful for Dying Light 2. I hope it can reach the status and relevance that Dying Light one had. So far, I've had no major complaints with it. The game is still in its first full year of post launch, and it's getting regular updates. Hopefully, the 5 years of post launch support will continue to improve and change things for the better. There may be a few missteps here and there, but overall, Techland seems to really care about their fans and making a game the fans want to play.

[@volpe7436]

They may not have made a new game in the serise but they have atleast used some of it's assets from the games in other games most notably dying light's dlc the following you can pick up the single action army the colt navy and the Schofield all with their names from call of Juarez and even the reload animations (if you want the full experience they made a dlc that lets you dress crane in a cowboy outfit to really get the feeling

[@Mr.Gottfried]

I just finished Juarez, Juarez Bound in Blood and Juarez Gunslinger in 3 days, with perfecting Gunslinger, what involved playing it again, but with harder difficulty 🥴. All great games, would recommend. Got them for just below four Eurobucks on Steam and don't regret the purchase a bit. Gunslinger was the greatest fun, but a bit casual. Bound in Blood required me to create an account an chose a password. Kinda weird, but you do it once and can just log in without a hassle. The crosshair is also ugly in Bound in Blood, but you get used to it. Pleasantly surprised by the series. Gunslinger also still looks beautiful and the short story is very welcome.

[@leroyhansen1094]

Such a fun game.😊

[@tuinhoofd1923]

This is the only shooter game I replay like a racing game, I'd play the arcade/challenge mode again and again shaving just a bit more time off, stretching out my combos just a bit more like I was racing round a lap in forza shaving fractions of a second off my time No game has replicated that for me

[@trevorstockwell8290]

I kinda would like to see a call of Juarez VR game, I think it could work

[@smithwesson1896]

This game needs a remaster for PS4 and PS5 gens

[@Ender11037]

It did come out on disc, that's how I got it.

[@andreworders7305]

9:18 it often is though

[@slippyfruit8538]

What? Roscoe “Bob” Bryant didn’t let Silas leave, they hung up three of them and because his brothers were heavier than him, they died immediately. Weight of all three of them broke the tree branch which allowed Silas to stay alive

[@Kaden10]

I hope we get another game in the series, I think with the long development that Dying Light 2 had the team at Techland would want to move away from Zombies for a while and do something different.

[@Dimitri9511]

Silas to Dwight: Do something decent on your life. Dwight head: Get Bizzay

[@alexhottensen4224]

Just bought it on Xbox one, 3 dollars! If anyone hasn't picked it up now's the time. Its great

[@kinsan89]

24:07 2 of those 3 games being Ubisoft, and the other being one of the best, if not THE best, indie games ever made

[@MrHammers]

It's up there for sure

[@HenriqueHCA14]

After RDR2, this is the best western game out there. Who would've guessed making a simple, fun and satisfying shooter with clever story telling would save a franchise? I'm glad they didn't make another one after this, but a remaster for the next gen would be a great idea.

[@marcfilms999]

Even though the game states Jesse James was a bad guy. that isn't true. I worked as a tour guide and historian at watkins mill state park and historic site. The family letters mention jesse (the watkins family and jesse james were friends), and they mentioned in the family letters how Jesse James protected the region from actual bad guys. They were vigilante's in a lot of ways. His farm house is around 1 mile away from where i live, and where he's buried in Kearney Missouri between to large pine trees. When people speak of him it was mostly in positive light. After he was killed by the coward Bob Ford, Jesse's brother, Frank, Was aquitted and released from independence missouri's jail on pardon. They were criminals for sure. But they weren't evil.

[@NiCoNiCoNiCola]

I mean, the game doesn't show him being directly evil, aside from Silas' sassy remarks of course

[@ughughhguhguhughughgugh8521]

it feels more arcady than it looks tho. the story was good

[@justinweaver8107]

Love western games!!!!

[@AlfredFJones1776]

What’s next for Mr. Hammers after Call of Juarez? I know you have a bunch of games that I suggested on your list, I think that you could transition from COJ into Total Overdose quite well given the south western/Mexican setting.

[@MrHammers]

Dunno yet! Lol that's a good idea

[@Coinz8]

Take a look back at a game called War Of The Monsters.

[@deadcaliph6414]

The Red Dead Redemption of Gun: Call of Juarez

[@Noslack412]

Had it for switch and deleted it. I got too frustrated doing a 1 on 2 quickdraw

[@andreworders7305]

19:34 they didn’t die in Bolivia?

[@trevorstockwell8290]

Or maybe a call of Juarez rpg style game

[@justinmontana7218]

I hope they Releasing a Ps4 port who needs ja Switch Port🤔Most Games there are Family Games

[@aelfwynn94]

not really after cartel ubisoft still held rights till 2018 for COJ, after 2018 techland holds rights to game

[@waltchamberlain5165]

I only have single player offline console games and I can’t buy Gunslinger..sad day

[@Cabrito11]

sad day indeed

[@andreworders7305]

Why is Cylus arrested in the first level if he’s a bounty hunter?

[@judgehamm6953]

This game is fucking amazing