Call of Juarez Review

By Tom Bramwell Published 29 June, 2007

Wicky wicky or wah wah?

Version tested: Xbox 360

Games often do things in the pursuit of reality that make absolutely no sense, so it's always nice to come across one that's doing something in the pursuit of fun that makes absolutely no sense in reality. Basically, when you're in the middle of a gunfight in Call of Juarez, the chances are that the thing you'll most want to do is put your guns away.

This is because, after a couple of seconds, you can answer the gunfire by pulling one of the triggers and going into "concentration" mode. Slow-motion, in other words, but bear with it. This brings up two aiming reticules at either side of the screen to represent where your guns are pointing as you draw them from their holsters. By pulling on the analogue sticks (left for left, right for right) you can drag them slowly onto target as you bring your guns up in front, delivering six rounds from each into any flesh you cover, before normal time resumes, you get back your normal manoeuvring controls, and the dead fall down.

Drawing and firing in a burst of ridiculous accuracy is, of course, what people who love Western gunfights love about Western gunfights. By capturing it so well in Juarez, it's easy to surmise that Techland did it deliberately because they understand how we think.

At this point, people with sharp memories will be recalling that Kieron made somewhat the same point in his review of the PC version. The difference is that what he was talking about as he rode handsomely into review-town was the way the game splits control between two characters - the stealthy Billy Candle and the right-hand-of-God Reverend Ray, the baddest sumbitch who ever walked the Earth - so that Billy sneaks past enemies on one level and then you unleash your divine wrath on them the next.

'Call of Juarez' Screenshot 1

Pressing R3 zooms you in a bit, and makes the close-up stuff go blurry. Ooh.

"Sneak past them all. Then kill them all."

Anyway, between what he said and what me said, we can probably do away with the wondering: Techland know what we want, and they're dead good at giving it to us.

If you aren't convinced at first, supporting examples flood forwards as you take up the reigns of Ray and purge the town where the game starts. You storm in and rain havoc, preaching damnation as you go, and then you're outnumbered as the rioting bandits you've so incensed gather their wits, and you're forced onto the back foot. First you're locked into a building and they set fire to it. Then you're in a barn and there's a pair outside blocking your exit. On both occasions, the game just sits there, arms folded, and waits for you to figure it out. So you do the logical thing and stack boxes, balance planks and clamber to safety. These physics puzzles recur, with logs to loose to bridge gaps and so on, and give the game a rough, improvised feel that not only underscores the narrative spontaneity of Ray's actions but simultaneously demonstrates respect for the player.

Meanwhile, Billy runs away, hides, thieves, sneaks and generally spends a lot of time in crouched position. If he's found, he's dead. It's first-person worrying, particularly on the perfectly pitched midnight level, where not only do you have to keep an eye on your stealth status in the bottom-right as you sneak past camp-fires, but you're constantly under threat of exposure whenever the lightning cracks.

'Call of Juarez' Screenshot 2

Shooting people makes them not be alive.

As an FPS, Juarez is undoubtedly weak in some respects. Having to look at ammo packs to pick them up wouldn't have cut it in ten-year-old Outlaws, the only other Wild West FPS I can think of [What about Dead Man's Hand? - Wild West Ed]. The level design also has a tendency toward the repetitive in places, and I mean that beyond the idea of playing through an area as one character and then revisiting it - that relationship's never so straightforward as simply retreading footsteps, and actually works very well.

As a stealth game, Juarez is also undoubtedly weak in some respects. Having to aim Billy's Indiana Jones whip at a specific area on an overhanging branch to swing across gaps is needlessly fiddly, while the ability itself is very contrived. This perhaps betrays Techland's lack of console experience - you get the feeling that if this were a Tomb Raider or Gears of War mechanic, you'd just point and it'd work.

But then you can forgive it these things because the dirt under its fingernails, however tightly packed, has given new life to an area of the FPS genre where tons of developers have given up. It's been all-quiet on the Western front since GUN and before that Red Dead Revolver. Meanwhile, them that make World War II games have done so many that they're being forced to either run off into the future or actually change the outcome. "What would it be like if Hitler won?" Apparently it would still be like pretending you're Tom Hanks.

'Call of Juarez' Screenshot 3

I thought Atari had sewn up the horsey licence?

Juarez certainly isn't slick in the way those blockbusters have become, but then it isn't trying to be. It rejects simulator-style lurches, shifts and set-pieces for earthy, languid roaming. Its protagonists are a starving teenager on the run and a grumpy pensioner, after all. But for everything that doesn't quite work, there's a lot that still does. It doesn't believe in healthpacks, for instance - you just need to find a bit of cover to recover, so health concerns are different to, say, Half-Life, and as a corollary much better suited to the concentration mode that underpins a lot of Reverend Ray's best moments.

On top of the one-player mode, which is full of standout bits that you'll want to revisit (the night-time missions are particularly moody, and the conclusion's great) as well as unlockable Achievements that give you new goals to aim for within each, Juarez also embraces Xbox Live with a range of competitive modes. They're all fairly obvious, derived from existing archetypes like deathmatch and CTF or simple Western concepts like hunting the Wanted man then becoming Wanted when you kill him, but horse-riding makes a nice change, transforming the middle-grounds into swarms of jousting shotguns. It's slightly odd though that the single-player's duelling - which works by counting down and then having you precisely move the analogue stick to draw and then centre your gun - isn't offered.

That said, it does have a range of unlockable duels offline, along with additional missions and the promise of more on Marketplace. It's also more polished than it was on PC - especially performance-wise - and the checkpointing that replaces the quick-save mechanic is generally fair. The only area where it truly gets into trouble is the age-old thing of blowing the player's trust with a dead end or a looping tunnel. It's not the case that you're constantly legislating against the possibility that the thing you're meant to do is really stupid and obtuse - 'leaping two storeys onto the ground as a 70 year-old man' shouldn't be and isn't your opening gambit - but there are times when it should know better.

'Call of Juarez' Screenshot 4

Can you shoot the hats off? Yes you can.

Anyway, for all the things we've already praised, perhaps it's best to end on the game's tone: like a lot of grumpy Eastwoods, Juarez treads the line just West of parody with Ray's juxtaposition of gravely scripture one minute, and then little red circles with lines through them hovering over whiskey bottles the next. Being able to read the bible aloud to trick enemies into lowering their defences ought to be getting more press too - does anyone still have Manchester Cathedral's number? Overall, whatever you latched onto above that sounded compelling, you can be sure that it's bound to half a dozen other things you'll appreciate. So: Read about the game. Then buy the game.

8 / 10

Read the Eurogamer.net scoring policy
Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (77) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Razz #1 5 years ago

    Not bad.

  • manuel_garcia #2 5 years ago

    Sold! I'll pick this up today.

  • Darren #3 5 years ago

    So everyone else gives this game a fair 60-70% score and EG goes against the grain and gives it a "good" 8/10!!! LOL

    I know it's personal opinion and all that but after reading other less complimentary reviews I really thought the game would get no more than a 5, EG being harsh critics and all that. The PC version was pretty mediocre and the 360 footage I've seen looks identical apart from having lots of v-sync tearing just to give it that next-gen look, fabulous darlings! /wink

  • krudster #4 5 years ago

    Are opinions only valid if everyone agrees with each other?

    /is confused.

  • Darkedge #5 5 years ago

    "As a stealth game, Juarez is also undoubtedly weak in some respects."

    So the Billy bits are still tedious, painful and totally mindbendingly dull locked on doing them THEIR way not another solution that would seem to be possible?
    Thats a NO SALE to me then, even if the Rev bits are genius incarnate still.

    if the graphics are the same as the PC version it's still a 6/10 in my mind.

  • Donny #6 5 years ago

    As good as Halo then.

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #7 5 years ago

    "So the Billy bits are still tedious, painful and totally mindbendingly dull locked on doing them THEIR way not another solution that would seem to be possible?"

    There's elements of that, but it sounds like you had quite an extreme reaction. I enjoyed them for the most part.

  • Whizzo #8 5 years ago

    The PC version is only six quid from HMV if anyone wants some cheap Wild West action.

  • Darren #9 5 years ago

    @Krudster - Well, no, obviously not but EG's scores do tend to be *lower* than everyone else (because you're so critical) so I expected the game to get a 6 at most and more likely a 5 as none of the reviews I've read have deemed it worthy of anything higher than a 7. It didn't get great reviews on the PC either and having played it I can see why. Still the review itself obviously backs up that 8/10 score so it's not "wrong" as such, it just kind of surprised me, that's all.
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/07 @ 13:55

  • Darren #10 5 years ago

    Oh and I'm still not buying it... /wink

  • lennon #11 5 years ago

    Eurogamer I really feel that I must protest about all these high scores.

    You are costing me a fortune. ;)

  • krudster #12 5 years ago

    It's not the first time we've rated something higher than other people. In this case, I don't even think we were aware of what the other scores were. Personally, I try to not look at anyone else's review before writing mine, because it can colour your opinion before you even start.

    I'm playing it at the moment, and 8 seems bang on. Totally worth buying.

  • captainrentboy #13 5 years ago

    I played this briefly in work yesterday, and it did a good job of 'grabbing me' from the off ( It was probably the whole 'whore wanting to suck me off' thing that did the trick) so I might buy this when I'm done with Dirt, Flatout and The Darkness.
    I thought the graphics were bloody good as well,the scenery in particular, and that was on a SDTV.

  • UncleLou #14 5 years ago

    Yeah, I'd put (the PC version) more into the 6 or 7 at best region as well. Like the review says, the game has many brilliant standout moments, but also many - too many - that are pretty dull, or too long, or too fiddly.

    Definitely worth a try, but I'd be very reluctant to pay the full price for it.
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/07 @ 14:00

  • stoopidgreg #15 5 years ago

    this game was excellent on PC

  • Darren #16 5 years ago

    The platforming sections are absolutely dreadful as are the bits where you have to swing across gaps which is very hit and miss in the PC version. The game loses 2 marks for those alone in my opinion, platforming sections just do NOT work in first-person games as anyone who's played Turok Dinosaur Hunter on the N64 will know!!!

  • JayPee #17 5 years ago

    OH, FFS. WANTS.

    After watching so much deadwood, I feel I NEED this.

  • Monkey_Puncher #18 5 years ago

    I totally agree! I think most places have been very harsh on this game, but then I am a bit of a sucker for Western games.

    I was expecting to hate the Billy sections after reading all the criticism about the platforming and stealth sections, but in all honesty I think they're done pretty well. They're a bit fiddly at first, but once you get used to them they don't really cause any problems. A couple of my favourite bits so far were sneaking into the guys ranch to steal the horse, and climbing that eagle rock for the crazy Indian/native American guy.

    Only thing I can really criticise the game about is being a bit too short, I've almost completed it already by the looks of things. It's great fun though while it lasts!

  • Tomo #19 5 years ago

    I'm also in the camp of meh. The PC demo was bad.

  • Benno #20 5 years ago

    this is as good as gears of war then?

  • Xerx3s #21 5 years ago

    Tjeeses, it's only a score ffs. Get over it. It's what the reviewer thinks the game is worth and OMG.... he is only a human (or in this case an alien pretending to be human but anyway). It happens that they give a score that differentiates from others from time to time. Be happy that it does otherwise we would end up with so many 'shadowrun' reviews.

  • brooza #22 5 years ago

    Hated the first level, took it back

    I hate stealth

  • Razz #23 5 years ago

    A review is an opinion, not a fact.

  • The-Bodybuilder #24 5 years ago

    >"It's not the first time we've rated something higher than other people."

    I hear ya.

    /glances over at FEAR 360 review.

  • login_name #25 5 years ago

    PC version was ok, nothing special, the Billy sections drag it down imo. Not worth paying full price for but if you can get it second hand or on the cheap then it's worth a look.

  • UncleLou #26 5 years ago

    >"It's not the first time we've rated something higher than other people."

    I hear ya.

    /glances over at FEAR 360 review.

    Hmmm.

    Average rating at gamerankings: 84%
    PC version: 88,9%

  • MrWonderstuff #27 5 years ago

    Enjoyed the PC version. The voice acting of Ray is fab.

  • Azazel #28 5 years ago

    As good as Halo then.

    Smithers, release the hounds...

  • peteb #29 5 years ago

    hmm, nice review, and wasn't expecting a good score at all.

    But now I think I'll pick this up! :D

  • ccfb #30 5 years ago

    I'm always suspicious of games where the reviewer pops into the comments thread with a friend to defend it.

  • Kami #31 5 years ago

    As good as Halo then.

    Go to red alert!
    You sure about that sir? It does mean changing the bulb...

  • peteb #32 5 years ago

    //I'm always suspicious of games where the reviewer pops into the comments thread with a friend to defend it.//

    i dunno, that to me would suggest he really likes it, and he said that pretty much already in the review didn't he, so surely that would mean that he really does mean it and it is good?

    its the reviewers popping into the comments thread to talk shit about a game when they've said its good, that you have to look out for

  • ccfb #33 5 years ago

    That's certainly one way of looking at it, yes.

  • Lukus #34 5 years ago

    I'd never heard of this 'til today. Sounds fun, apart from the niggly controls in parts. Any chance of a demo on Live anytime soon?

  • TheSnotGoblin #35 5 years ago

    I absolutely loved this game on the PC; just oozed atmosphere. Though unlike a lot of people it seems I had zero trouble with the Billy sections (Though I've ghosted through the Thief series so I'm not too put out by sitting in the same corner for a half an hour). It's a shame more games don't put as much effort into the narrative as this one. It's a hokey story, but it's told brilliantly.

    And Gul Dukat as Rev. Ray is up there with Garrett in terms of cool, gravely voice acting.


    The recharging health thing appears to be new to the XBox version though. Seem to recall having to drink whiskey (or sarsaparilla maybe) to get health back on the PC.

  • afghan_jones #36 5 years ago

    I was interested in this but the stealth bits turned me right off. reminds me of shadow of rome, excellent combat sections, painful stealth bits.

    What I really want is Red Dead Revolver 2. That game was super-badass. Really nailed the spaghetti western in one. A next gen version please, Mr Rockstar.

  • repairmanjack #37 5 years ago

    Just started the fifth episode. It's pretty polished - handles better than The Darkness in many ways - but I confess I'm surprised by the final score. When a shooter opens with some (dodgy) platforming sections, timed checkpoints and a stealth section you do have to wonder what the level designers were thinking. The stealth is handled with surprising aplomb - but the platforming, shifting crate puzzles, and finicky whip-swinging could be better.

    That said, I'm playing it back to back with The Darkness, and I'm still finding time to put this on. To be fair, it's surprisingly better than most people would assume.

    An eight, though? Hmm...
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/07 @ 15:26

  • spongebob #38 5 years ago

    Yeah, I am a bit confused as well because every other publication is giving it 6-7 or 60-70% tops. Guess I'll wait for the Edge review :)

  • Vex #39 5 years ago

    Have to say I really enjoyed this game as well. Ray was fantastic, ably voiced by Marc Alaimo (the guy who played Dukat in Deep Space 9 if anyone cares). The right mix of over righteousness and tired badass gunslinger.

    In fairness, I found the first real Billy stealth level was by far the worst in the game. They do get better (you have got to like stealth though). One of the later levels with Billy climbing a mountain I think was inspired. Such an interesting idea in what is essentially a first person shooter.

  • ccfb #40 5 years ago

    A video I saw seemed to show unskippable passages of text being voice-over'd to disguise the loading times. Is that the case here? How long are the level loads generally?

  • UncleLou #41 5 years ago

    Was that a video of the PC version, per chance? The loading times are pure horror. Worst I've seen in a long time.

  • Peew971 #42 5 years ago

    EG main page looks more and more like Xbox.com, not that I'm complaining :)

  • krudster #43 5 years ago

    Sign of the times I guess...

  • Max_Powers #44 5 years ago

    Draw Pilgrim!

    /is buying this

  • Feet #45 5 years ago

    Bought it for £6.99 from HMV.co.uk for the Pee See and it really is lots of fun. Totally worth an 8.

  • kangarootoo #46 5 years ago

    @Darren

    "So everyone else gives this game a fair 60-70% score and EG goes against the grain and gives it a "good" 8/10!!! LOL"

    You realise 7 is right next to 8 right? It really doesn't get any closer.

    I'm not sure it exactly qualifies as "going against the grain".

  • kangarootoo #47 5 years ago

    /reads rest of thread.

    Is the very best most of you can do is split hairs over a bloody review score?!

    People that put so much focus on single digits differences between scores measured on a single digit scale are F*CKING MENTAL!!

    And that is a fact, look up F*CKING MENTAL in a dictionary and that is what it will say.

  • stoopidgreg #48 5 years ago

    i dont know why everyone's hating on the platforming and sneaking sections. i found them very enjoyable. the level where you climb that big mountain was pretty fun, even if i did fall off a bunch of times.

  • spongebob #49 5 years ago

    Chill out man :) I hope they put a demo up on XBL. I want to try the game out before I buy it.

  • Darren #50 5 years ago

    @Kangarootoo - A game that's rated between 60 and 70% is a 'maybe' for me whereas one that gets 80%+ is a definite buy (assuming the genre interests me obviously). The fact the most other sites I trust were rating it no higher than 7 confirmed that it isn't an amazing game, something I knew anyway from playing the PC version (it's OK at best in my opinion).

    As I said above, I was just surprised by EG's generous review and score, that's all, I expected it to score lower. And to be fair I did say that it read like an 8/10 review so I have no complaints in that respect.

  • Rangerwave #51 5 years ago

    "Pressing R3 zooms you in a bit, and makes the close-up stuff go blurry. Ooh."

    Don't recall having an R3 button on the 360 pad :-P

    Still - looks good, may pick up.

  • kangarootoo #52 5 years ago

    @Darren

    Oh I know. I was being grumpy for no real reason... again. :)

  • miiiguel #53 5 years ago

    I'm confused now, so EG should review lower than others?, otherwise it'll be a non-EG review. We could just read the other reviews then, and take 20% of the score..., guess we're just wasting our time.

    Call of Juarez metacritic average: 72%
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/07 @ 17:27

  • Mordum #54 5 years ago

    Dammit. I bought Forza 2 safe in the knowedge that I could get lost away in a world of exhaust fumes and hairpin turns, without any interuptions during the 'quiet' summer period.
    I can't be doing with spending a fortune on games, although I've cracked and ordered The Darkness, but these other games (Overlord, Colin Mcrae, Flatout UC and Call of Juarez) will have to wait, even though they all interest me. Just gotta hope for a lull in quality releases so I can catch up.

  • kangarootoo #55 5 years ago

    Everyone is reviewing just as expected. Everything is fine. The words, as always, are far more important than the score. And of course rental is the only sure way of knowing, as everyone has slightly different tastes (more than a few review score points difference in many cases I'm sure).

    Have a good weekend all.

  • miiiguel #56 5 years ago

    kangarootoo: yeah, but no renting this corner of the world, so reviews to me are very important.

    Sometimes I wish I kept the PS3 and ditched the 360 instead, I'd probably have a new hobby, and maybe more money in the bank.
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/07 @ 17:31

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #57 5 years ago

    "I'm always suspicious of games where the reviewer pops into the comments thread with a friend to defend it."

    And you're right to!

    Although I'm not defending it per se; I just thought I'd react to a point about stealth. I suspect people will either agree with the review or not, as is the fashion and more power to you if you don't - the whole point of comments is to add to the debate.

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #58 5 years ago

    "Call of Juarez metacritic average: 72%"

    I gave Crackdown 9 too. And I liked ExciteTruck. I'm basically bringing EG into disrepute, if it wasn't there already. What's wrong with me?

  • miiiguel #59 5 years ago

    I will make the "reviews a-la carte" website, I promise I will! 1 Eur. per review, you can pick a score, I'll do the text. It'll be a huge success!

  • Triggerhappytel #60 5 years ago

    This does sound awfully generic. From the impressions I get when reading this review, it doesn't sound like an eight.

    Doesn't really interest me. Another FPS trying to be different by being set in the Old West does nothing for me, just like neither Gun nor Red Dead did...

  • repairmanjack #61 5 years ago

    Tom, did you find it rather trial-and-error on your first playthrough? I'm a bit miffed with how many times I've died instantaneously, to be honest. And I can't believe how many bullets some of these enemies are taking.

  • Darren #62 5 years ago

    @RDexter - I got "over it", as you put it, months ago when I traded the PC version in, thanks! :p

  • Katsumoto #63 5 years ago

    I've only skimmed the thread - but can I just say the PC version was my favourite game of last year hands down. A 10/10 for me (check my profile if you think I give them out willy nilly). It really isn't run of the mill at all, it oozes atmosphere in a way that no other game has for years, if ever. The menu music alone gives me the chills!

  • smelly #64 5 years ago

    I found the pc version to be very very dull.

    I still have it on my pc.. unplayed for months and months - and i have little or no interest in going back to it (same as oblivion)

  • Katsumoto #65 5 years ago

    gutted! I suppose I can understand why - I have many friends who were frustrated by it. It just clicked with me (you can see why im not a reviewer) - the voice acting and the plot utterly grabbed me. I'm a big fan of the American West in general bla bla bla so basically yeah. It was fun.

    I must take issue with the notion of it being generic though - the dual character thing is inspired!
    Edited by 1 at 29/06/07 @ 19:32

  • TurboBailey #66 5 years ago

    I loved this on the PC! It was very buggy, but it looked awesome, and the action scenes are quality.

    Would definately recommend

  • Scimarad #67 5 years ago

    I didn't know anything about this prior to reading the review but it's safe to say I'm now very interested.

  • smelly #68 5 years ago

    Am I the only one that finds hannah from sclub sexy?

  • Azazel #69 5 years ago

    I'm gonna fuck the 8 in both holes if you don't stop arguing about the score. Then it'll never leave the house again.

  • Derblington #70 5 years ago

    Rangerwave - Don't recall having an R3 button on the 360 pad :-P

    It's the button when you push down on the right analogue stick (the L3 button is the same on the left stick, funnily enough).

  • YourMessageHere #71 5 years ago

    I really hope they do a Call of Juarez 2 with more Ray-ness and less Billy-ness. Unless Billy gets the bow at the beginning and gets no penalty for using it instead of sneaking past people, the bow mechanic was totally brilliant, even better than the quick-draw thing for me.

    Recharging health? That's pathetic, though.

    All this "meh another FPS but this time in the wild west, so generic, apathetic whinge" stuff fails to take into account that this is about as different from most FPS's as it's possible to be without stopping being an FPS altogether, and when it's not doing the pointlessly restrictive sneaking it's extremely good fun.

  • captain-future #72 5 years ago

    I want third person perspective!

  • Agent_Llama #73 5 years ago

    Wants.

  • Dezm0nd #74 5 years ago

    how long before this title is 19.97 in tesco? same for that hour of victory, massive piles of arse waiting to be reduced. Buy the darkness.

  • thefilthandthefury #75 5 years ago

    "no game on 360 deserves a 10/10 yet....even oblvion with its hugeness it's is at the end of the day after you get over the sheer size, awesome graphics and content quite bland and dull and very very repetative."

    In your opinion. In my opinion there are about three games on the 360 I'd give top marks to.

  • superflyninja #76 5 years ago

    stonking graphics.great so far. i traded in forza 2 for this.

  • GAmbrose #77 5 years ago

    People get far too hung up with the score. I hope someone like Eurogamer has the balls to do away with a 'rating' soon and let people decide for themselves if it sounds like their kind of game from what the reviewer is actually saying.