Test – Weird West : un action-RPG au western

Developed by Arkane alumni (Prey, Deathloop, Dishonored), Weird West presents itself as a very original Action-RPG in a dystopian western.

We are in 2019. Two executive employees of Arkane Studios are leaving the Lyon group to create their own independent studio, WolfEye, made up of around twenty developers. Very quickly, expectations are high around their first production, which will finally be presented at the Game Awards 2019: Weird West. An action-RPG in 3/4 TPS view taking place in a western.

A western, but not just any Great West. Indeed, Weird West immerses us in a “strange west”, in which cowboys, zombies and other monsters clash. Five characters are offered, each with a very particular and original story. Jane is the first protagonist and must hunt down a gang of thugs who killed her son and kidnapped her husband. The other characters are just as original and endearing, like an American Indian equipped with a bow or a cowboy… with a pig’s head.

Visually, Weird West adopts cel-shading, giving it that very successful cartoon aspect.

The context planted, direction the very heart of the game, its gameplay. Weird West thus presents itself as an action-RPG in immersive sim. This last term means that the title allows us to immerse ourselves directly in the adventure with certain persistent choices which are felt until the end credits of the title. Decimate a city and it will remain empty, befriend or save poor strangers and they will return the favor at a more perilous point in your adventure. In the dialogues, there are also many choices to be made, whether in your hostage management or in your relationship with NPCs.

Of course, the game has non-negligible action components. It immerses us directly in the American West and therefore offers us to confront various rival gangs of cowboys and … zombies. In good shooter that he is, the title requires that we control the sight of the weapon with the right joystick and that we shoot with the right rear trigger. The mechanics are easy to handle, although a little sensitive to the slightest movement when aiming at an enemy or an object.

Throughout the adventure, you will have to understand the different situations available to you either discreetly or in pure and simple action. Stealth is still fun to use, silently attacking enemies or distracting them with a throwable item. However, it is more difficult to adopt as the enemies are often numerous and difficult to fool. In addition, the AI ​​is not really successful and sees corpses when they are super well hidden, while it remains passive while sometimes killing an ally close to only a few meters. The action phases are meaner, but just as enjoyable, with in particular many weapons at your disposal with an often different firing range. However, beware of your ammunition, because they are very rare.

The title adopts some RPG elements, with the customization and improvement of our five characters.

On the other hand, Weird West incorporates some game mechanics directly inspired by the greatest RPGs. Our five protagonists are, at the start of the adventure, rather fragile and not very resistant to attacks. But, as the adventure progresses, they grow bolder and gain in resistance, thanks in particular to more sophisticated equipment and increasingly powerful skills. In addition, and that’s good, the evolutions of a character are transmitted to the other four, which makes it possible to maintain the progress acquired throughout the adventure.

In Weird West, you will have to progress on a huge map and travel from town to town, whether on horseback or on foot. The choice between one and the other is essential since you may well come across unpleasant surprises if you decide to walk. Acquiring a horse is very expensive and money is scarce in the title. You can then hope to steal one, but it will escape on the first stopover and you will then become a brigand. Make the trip on foot, it will not only take you longer but you will also risk being ambushed. On the other hand, you will be able to obtain new resources and perhaps come across a secondary quest.

Regarding content, the developers of WolfEye have been very generous. Count regarding twenty hours if you want to finish the game as quickly as possible and another ten if you want to do the side missions and loot as much as possible. For 40€, the bill passes relatively easily and we absolutely do not feel ripped off, far from it, especially since the title is available in the Xbox Game Pass. A good deal then.

The adventure takes us into a western ravaged by zombies and monsters and in which we have to face many rival bands.

Visually, Weird West is not doing too badly, even if it is more his universe and his artistic direction that we will remember. The title does not actually display visuals to take off the retina but can boast of being very immersive. Entirely in cel-shaded, as in the Borderlands, Weird West is adorned with a cartoon aspect that matches really well with the game universe and its slightly offbeat side. The narration and narrator are quite successful if not impressive, while the various melodies are skillfully composed and pleasing to the ears.

Conclusion

For their very first game, the WolfEye studio is doing extremely well with this very original Weird West. This top-down 3/4 cel-shaded action-RPG immerses us in a dystopian western in which cowboys, bandits and zombies kill each other. With its excellent lifespan (regarding twenty hours), its solid and original gameplay (thanks to the hero’s powers) and its so pleasant universe, Weird West manages to pull out of the game and establish itself as a title extremely fun to ride. Atmosphere level, the title rests on an extraordinary artistic direction and a very attractive soundtrack. Throughout the adventure, you will play five very different protagonists and will have many choices to make that will shape your story but also the universe. With very ingenious aspects of RPG for the improvement of the characters Weird West also allows us to adopt several strategies in the missions (offensive, infiltration…). If we had any complaints regarding the title, it would be above all at the level of its AI, not always clever but above all surprising due to bugs. Finally, the 3/4 view is not always ideal for visibility. Never mind, this is a very good surprise!

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Weird West

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