Twisted Pixel Games has really nailed down the art of making unique, fun and, in some cases, completely ludicrous downloadable games, between the enjoyable The Maw, the hardcore shoot-em-up Comic Jumper and the two Splosion Man games, most notably the Ms.-empowered sequel that came out a couple of months ago. A lot of folks were probably wondering when they would go with something along the lines of a full retail release, but wonder no more, as the Kinect-supported title The Gunstringer has drawn its way onto store shelves. And, honestly, it’s the best of both worlds. Not only does it carry the kind of refined, uproariously hilarious style that Twisted Pixel has gotten used to over the years, but it also presents the kind of experience that makes the Kinect feel worthwhile. You’re not limited to certain movements or executing dance moves. Nope, you’re pointing your target and shooting like a madman at anything that comes your way – even goats. Your character is a marionette cowboy, who’s come back from the dead to avenge his passing. It seems some unlikable characters put you in that position, including a girl that’s a little too busty for her own good and…a balloon man.
No, not a guy with balloons, but rather one of those inflatable balloon figures that wave around out of control. Like the ones at the car dealership, y’know? Yeah, there’s an evil one of those in the very beginning of the game, and it’s a better encounter than you might expect. The way the gameplay works is like this. You use your left hand to control your character on the screen, moving him left and right as he automatically walks, and jerking your hand upward when you need him to jump over obstacles. The right hand allows you to point the on-screen cursor, moving it around the screen. When you have a target lit up (it locks on Panzer Dragoon style when you run your cursor over him or her), you lift your arm up quickly to fire, as if you were shooting a gun and the recoil was taking some effect. There are also mini-segments thrown in for good measure, including a fun little steering contest, a dual shooting segment where both hands become cursors as the guns fire automatically (we love this part) and platforming segments similar to the old Donkey Kong games, where you merely jump over barrels.
For the most part, the game works very well with Kinect controls, though there are times your arm recoil isn’t read as smoothly as it should be. Sometimes you’ll need to re-calibrate to get the most out of it, but it’s an adjustment worth having, as the game really picks up in fun later on. The boss battles you’ll encounter get better with each go-around, and even the shootouts, where you peek around corners and pick off targets using motion controls, are a blast. The only segments we could’ve done without are the platforming ones. This cowboy’s meant to shoot, not jump around. Along with a single player campaign that lasts about three hours or so (modest for a Twisted Pixel production), there’s also a slew of unlockables, including concept art, videos and other Twisted-related surprises. You can also have a friend join in for two-player shooting fun via co-op, though it’s local only. Still, if you have the needed space to bring in a buddy, it’s a rompin’ good time. The visuals in The Gunstringer are actually very good, despite some slight glitches here and there with the somewhat pedestrian art style. No matter. The environments smack of Western flavor, whether you’re shooting up a cardboard town or taking a ride on a shoddy looking riverboat ferry.
The animation is outstanding, as your cowboy character really moves around like a puppet would, complete with the strings that are holding him in plain sight. (For good measure, Twisted Pixel also includes footage from an audience that’s watching this vengeance happening in real time.) Some stuff could use a little cleaning up here with a patch, but overall it’s a swell Western affair. As for the audio, it’s great. Along with the kind of music that Sergio Leone himself would approve of in his films, the narrator is right up there in quality with Bastion’s. He makes all sorts of whimsical comments in the style of a Sam Elliott wannabe, complete with some that will fly right over your head until you figure out what the heck he just said. It definitely helps to play through the game again, just to see what you missed. The other sound effects are good too, complete with classic revolver noises and explosions. For good measure, The Gunstringer also comes with a pair of bonuses. The first is a free download code for Fruit Ninja Kinect, another outstanding experience for Microsoft’s motion controller. We reviewed it previously, but it’s definitely nice to have if you didn’t already download it.
The second is a just-released DLC pack called The Wavy Tube Man Chronicles, a full-motion video game made by Twisted Pixel, in conjunction with Lloyd Kaufman and his team at Troma Pictures. It’s a Mad Dog McCree style affair, where you shoot at baddies – and even some good folk – just to see the hilariously bad reactions that follow. Even Lloyd himself gets in on the action, complete with overacting skills. This isn’t on the disc, but the download is certainly worth it – and it’s free of charge. We just wish it had some Achievements tacked on for good measure – like a “Poultrygeist” award or something. Despite some rough visual patches and the overall short game length, The Gunstringer is one of the best games you can get for the Kinect right now. It utilizes motion controls almost perfectly, whether you’re sitting down or standing up. (Word of caution – be sure to take breaks or your right arm will get sore on you.) It also has a humorous audio presentation, and plenty of extras between the DLC and Fruit Ninja Kinect. This is one of the better values you can get for your buck right now, and proof positive that Twisted Pixel is gonna do just fine on the retail front. Now then…let’s see what this Beard-powered company does next.
