Desperados 3

Desperados 3 is a real-time tactics game set in the late 1800s, where you control a gang of outlaws as they sneak and steal their way through the Wild West. Controlling the crude bounty hunter John Cooper, you'll meet new characters as you make your way through the rocky terrain of Colorado and down South, investigating marshy swamps and desolate deserts as you adventure across the frontier setting. While you might expect Desperados 3 to be full of crazy shoot-outs and bank heists, the game plays out at a steady pace, requiring careful consideration of your next move. While some elements of the game can be frustrating, any stealth gamer or fan of the Wild West should check Desperados 3 out!

Main Game Features

• Challenging tactical stealth combat
• Experience the ruthless Wild West
• Five playable characters

Story

The story of Desperados 3 acts as a prequel to the original game, Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive, and details the origin of main protagonist John Cooper. At the start of the game, John aims to hunt down a bandit general named Frank who killed his father. Arriving in the town of Flagstone, John meets a handful of characters, including the helpful Doctor McCoy, as well as his longtime friend Hector. While pursuing Frank, the group also meets Kate, the soon-to-be bride of the mayor, who betrays her fiancee in an effort to gain revenge. Continuing their hunt for Frank, the gang make their way toward New Orleans, running into more and more problems along the way.

While the plot is predictable and hits most cliches of the Western genre, the characters are intriguing and personable, each with a distinct personality and set of skills. As you play the game, all five of your party members will banter back and forth, adding an interesting dynamic to their relationship. Missions range from targeted assassinations to stealthy rescues, providing a good dose of classic gunslinging action. Overall, if you've seen lots of Western movies or played several Western games like Gun or Red Dead Redemption, you won't find anything surprising in Desperados 3's story. That said, it's still compelling enough to keep you motivated throughout the lengthy adventure.

Gameplay

Similar to games like X-Com and Medieval 2: Total War, Desperados 3 offers strategic real-time action, where players must carefully move around the battlefield while balancing active attacks and special abilities. As you work your way through the game's main areas, you'll meet new characters, engage in conversation, and pick up missions along the way. There are over 15 missions to complete, spread across three main story chapters. Each mission also has an alternative version known as the Baron's Challenges, which task players with completing the level with additional objectives or different characters. There are four difficulty options to choose from, so players looking for a less or more challenging experience can customize to their heart's content.

Although you start the game as John Cooper, you can actively switch between five different characters in your squad, each with a unique set of abilities and skills. Stealth is a must, as getting caught committing crimes will bring in hefty reinforcements, making objectives tough to complete. It's important to learn how to effectively combine each character's specific skills together, made easier by the game's showdown feature, which slows down time. A lot of your time will be spent hiding in the shadows or bushes, waiting for enemies to get distracted so you can make your move. Particularly stealthy players can even complete missions without incapacitating guards, but this requires lots of precision and coordination.

Conclusion

When compared to other real-time tactics games, Desperados 3 doesn't do anything exceptionally new, but it nails the tone and atmosphere of a Western story. John Cooper is a compelling but flawed character, and learning more about his origin helps flesh out the previous games. Combat is slow but satisfying, allowing players to experiment with different strategies.

Pros

• Fleshed out characters
• Enticing Wild West setting
• Cool ability combos

Cons

• Some very challenging missions
• Stealth can feel very slow at times
• Story is predictable