Weird West

When you cross a fantasy RPG with a spaghetti western, what do you get? Weird West! As much as that sounds like a terrible dad joke, it's actually the only way to define this upcoming title at this point. The game is set to break the traditional boundaries of the genre by transporting players into a strange Western-themed world.

This dark fantasy looks incredibly intriguing, to say the least. We haven't been treated to any playable demos yet. But the gameplay showcases look to seamlessly translate the spaghetti Western-type film into a living, breathing, story-ridden world. There's an aura of excitement surrounding Weird West, and definitely worth exploring more.

There's a Three-Headed Snake in My Boots

You'd feel that Weird West is a very apt name for this RPG epic. The game's premise is that the player assumes the role of a drifter that gets involved with some of the weirder, fantastical aspects of this Western world. It features all the stereotypical characters of gunmen, lawmen, and minor town personalities you could think of.

However, it's your foes that through the anomalies into the mix. All of them are fantastical creatures that you'll need more than just a six-shooter to stop. In typical RPG fashion, you'll need to cast spells, upgrade, grind, and make decisions to be the best cowboy you can be. At present, it would seemingly be there are pre-formed characters with stories to follow.

So what drives this dark world in Weird West? At the moment, that's where we fall a bit short of information. All we know is that it's a decision-driven environment where choices matter on your unique journey. Developers describe that dialogue as 'high-stakes,' which could mean small actions in dialogue or gameplay could make all the difference on how you end up.

The concept is intriguing and very reminiscent of those hardcore RPGs that consider players' cognitive and academic skills. The whole package of Weird West already looks excellent, including visuals and gameplay, despite the lack of supporting narrative yet. I'm sure that's because the developers don't want to give the mystery away before it even lands.

Wild, Weird West

In its current presentation, Weird West reminds me of a dark Western fantasy version of Pillars of Eternity. It would seem that gameplay is geared more towards the hardcore end of the RPG genre spectrum, making players effectively manage their skills, resources, and strategies. That's an exciting notion for those that enjoy a bit of a challenge in their games.

But despite the more challenging gameplay, Weird West does look accessible to most players looking at its clean interface and presumably accessible control functions.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A new theme threw into the fantasy RPG genre
• Diverse gameplay in combat, puzzles, and dialogue choices
• Beautifully crafted Western world

Cons:

• No information about the narrative yet
• Maybe a bit challenging for hardcore players