Weird West

Weird West is an immersive sim and action RPG. It is a debut project of WolfEye Studios, an indie team founded by Raphael Colantonio. We are talking about the developer who previously managed Arkane Studios, the team known, among others, from the Dishonored series. Game was published by Devolver Digital.

Plot

As the title suggests, Weird West takes us on a journey to the world which is a variation on the Wild West, in which besides cowboys and bandits there are fantastic elements such as magic or various monsters. Game allows us to play as five characters: a bounty hunter, an Indian archer, a oneirist, who is effectively a magician, a werewolf and a pigman. Although, at first, the adventures of the individual characters may seem unconnected, they eventually merge into a coherent whole. We get to know their stories one by one, over the course of successive chapters.

The plot is shaped by our actions and decisions, which not only determine the fate of individual protagonists, but also affect the entire world presented.

Game mechanics

In Weird West we observe the action from the top-down view. The driving force of the game are missions pushing forward the plot, which are accompanied by numerous side quests. The title doesn't offer a fully open world, but a number of different locations, between which we move from the map level. We visit various towns as well as gloomy wastelands or swamps.

While exploring the Weird West and completing the mission objectives, we often encounter enemies, among which we can find hostile people and monsters of all kinds. How we deal with them depends both on the specifics of the character and our own gameplay style. Nothing stands in the way to fight classically, with the help of revolvers and other firearms, bows or cold weapons. We can as well use supernatural combat skills, striking enemies with lightning, attacking with telekinesis or, as a werewolf, making use of superhuman strength. In addition, we can do things quietly, sneaking behind the backs of adversaries, eliminate them by surprise and hide bodies so as not to raise the alarm. As befits an immersive sim game, there's also the ability to use the environment to your advantage; for example, you can drop barrels of gunpowder on your enemies' heads (which explode when you hit them accurately) or even set fire to puddles of oil spilled beneath their feet.

The interactivity of the environment is also useful during exploration. Many objects, such as crates and barrels, can be moved and rearranged to reach various nooks and crannies, where useful and valuable items may be hidden. Speaking of items - as we progress we gain more and more equipment which increases our combat potential. In addition, we develop individual characters by unlocking new skills and improving existing ones, or gaining access to various perks.

While exploring the Weird West, we must remember that the decisions we take along the way have their consequences. Our actions affect not only the attitude of neutral characters towards our heroes (some of them may join us or on the contrary - take us as a target), but also the shape of the entire location. For example, we can kill all the inhabitants of one of the towns, but we must reckon with the fact that in the later phase of the game it will turn into a real ghost town or a hiding place for bandits. Our crimes also have their consequences. If we do not get rid of witnesses or are caught red-handed by the law enforcement, we can be arrested, and if we manage to escape - there will be a reward for our head.

Technical aspects

Graphics in Weird West is in the comic book style.

Last updated on 02 October 2023