Desperados 3 review, stealth in the old west

If Gears Tactics hasn't appeased your hunger for strategy games, the team of Mimimi Games has a real treat in store for you. Let's talk about Desperate 3.

Once Upon a Time in the West

If you have never played Desperados, don't be fooled by the number 3, because in reality we are dealing with a prequel of the title released in 2001.

In this chapter we will discover the origin story of the gunslinger John Cooper and the birth of his gang, reuniting well-known characters such as Doc McCoy and Kate O'Hara. Iconic places from the series such as the mountains of Colorado, the swamps of Louisiana or the Mexican deserts, will be the backdrop to our journey to the Wild West.

Mezzogiorno di fuoco

Contrary to what one might think, in this game we will not go around filling people with lead like in Red Dead Redemption, but we will have to implement a more tactical / stealth approach to complete the different scenarios proposed.

Desperados 3 can be summed up in two words: Trial & Error. Each move will have to be carefully studied so as not to get shot by the different enemies. Through a system of visual cones we will be able to decipher the area observed by each npc to act better without being discovered, it will therefore be possible to exploit every bush and natural element to hide or even make the death of an enemy look like an accident. This last aspect will be fundamental especially when we will not be able to hide some eliminated minions: since in this case their companions will not give the alarm, no one will be able to blame you if a bell crushes three people. In case of alarm, however, we will find ourselves having to face many more enemies and being discovered will lead us in most cases to a game over. For this reason it is advisable to use the quick save and load function after each successful action.

Along our journey we will face different characters, each with its own elimination modality such as the Ponchos who never abandon their position and do not give in easily to distractions. You can still go for an old-fashioned shooting, but will you really be able to stand before you run out of bullets?

The good, the bad and the voodoo shaman

Cooper's gang boasts elements with at least unique qualities, each of which will allow us to implement always different tactics according to the situations:

John Cooper: The leader of the gang as well as the protagonist of the game. With his trusty knife he can silently dispose of enemies both up close and from a distance; it can also distract unwanted eyes by throwing a coin on the ground; in an emergency he can draw a pair of revolvers.

Doc McCoy: He's certainly not the health care doctor, this doctor is a skilled sniper and can distract enemies while patching up wounded allies.

Hector mendoza: This beast that looks like something out of Hateful Eight can set up a huge bear trap and can lure curious people into it by emitting a loud whistle while hiding. As a good lumberjack he has with him a large ax with which to silence the most capricious enemies.

Kate O'Hara: A true femme fatale capable of seducing anyone who is opposed between her and her goals, and then colds them with a blow to the head.

Isabelle Moreau: A powerful shaman who can control the minds of enemies to kill each other or reflect damage on multiple targets.

Depending on the situation we will be able to implement a different approach, perhaps failing, until we find the right execution.

A very interesting mechanic is the Showdown Mode, which will pause the game thus giving us time to organize the best tactics and execute coordinated actions, and trust me they are a joy to behold.

Scenography, costumes and soundtrack

The technical and artistic sector has nothing to envy to other games set in the Far West. The environments are full of interactive scenographic elements that leave no action to chance and allow a wide range of tactics. The playable characters enjoy an excellent characterization making them easily recognizable even in the most excited situations, even if many NPCs look alike it is not always easy to identify which is a civilian or an enemy. Finally, the audio sector takes us directly to the great classics of Western cinema by offering a series of environmental and musical tracks that make everything as immersive as possible.

In conclusion:

Desperados 3 can be a nerve-wracking title for many players at times, but I personally loved the hefty level of challenge even at the lowest difficulty setting. Completing a level section after a series of unsuccessful attempts gives a unique satisfaction. A criticism that I feel like making is on the management of the paths of our characters who will often throw themselves into enemies or leave their cronies behind. Finally, the absence of the español dubbing, especially after the first chapter boasted voices like Claudio Moneta and Emanuela Pacotto, is a real blow to the heart but certainly the Texan accent of the characters is certainly the icing on the cake.