West of Dead review code was provided by Raw Fury so, special thanks to them

Roguelikes have recently seen a surge in popularity with the success of titles such as Dead Cells. With its tight controls, incredible visuals, and high replayability, gamer passion for the genre has been reignited. For those unaware; roguelikes are a subgenre of action role-playing games that are characterized by their dungeon crawling nature. Other notable aspects are the inclusion of procedurally generated levels and the permanent death of the player character.

Roguelikes are typically played for their difficulty as they aren’t the type of game that is completed in one run. Failure will result in the loss of progress and will require rebuilding your arsenal to tackle the random challenges thrown at the player. The best in the genre strike a balance when it comes to difficulty and presenting a demanding but fair challenge.

West of Dead is a cover-based shooter with roguelike elements developed by Upstream Arcade and published by Raw Fury. West of Dead follows a lone cowboy named William Mason who wakes up in purgatory with no memories. With no other way to go, Mason heads west to go stop the Plain Walker who has been disturbing the balance.

Ready Aim Fire!

West of Dead will start players off at a bar with a gate that leads out west. Leaving the bar will begin the run as players pick up new firearms, sub-weapons, and charms to give them a fighting chance against the threats that await them. The cover-based gameplay is done remarkably well, requiring quick reactions from the player to make use of their environment to make it through encounters alive. The battlefield is covered in rocks, crates, and plenty of other blockades that can be used to defend oneself from enemy onslaught. The player is also capable of a dodge roll, but this will stop your weapons from reloading. This further emphasizes the importance of using cover rather than attempt to roll through every attack.

Every encounter in this game is exhilarating, making the player feel as if they’re in a western film in the middle of a shootout. The controls are tight and responsive and thus you feel in complete control of your movement. Aiming with your firearms is just as precise, allowing for pin-perfect shots against enemies. There is never a moment in West of Dead in which the controls are what lead to death

Making use of the environment isn’t just about taking cover. There may also be lanterns scattered around the arena that when turned on, will cause a flash of light to stun foes, thus allowing players to get the jump on them. This is strong game design, encouraging the player to make use of their environment to both defend themselves and debilitate their targets. Bosses especially take great advantage of the stellar control system. Fights against outlaws are classic gun duals while large monster fights require careful hiding behind cover to defend yourself, waiting for an opening before striking. The boss battles in West of Dead set a gold standard for smart design.

Mason in the Middle of a Gun dual

Check Your Gear 

Scattered around maps will be different types of weapons that players can make use of. Every run will begin by granting the use of either a pistol, rifle, or shotgun. Pistols have average reach, damage, and ammo amounts. Rifles have the best range but at the cost of power while shotguns deal high burst damage but lack range. Players may carry two of these at a time and can acquire different ones through shops or simply finding them.

The variety in weapon type is appreciated though, as the number of guns in each of those classes leaves a lot to be desired. Runs through the game’s four chapters will typically look the same gear wise as West of Dead lacks in a large pool of options for weapons. The same pistols, shotguns, and rifles will typically be encountered and while players can only carry two at a time With how little options the player has in terms of weapon choice, the way your character is built won’t vary much from each playthrough.

Roguelikes are predicated on their replayability and one aspect that contributes to this is weapon variety. West of Dead unfortunately does not have enough selections in gear to change playthroughs. Though this issue with variety doesn’t extend to every aspect of this title.

Mason Leveling up his Abilities

Get to Know Your Environment

West of Dead features many roguelike elements and one of these includes its randomly generated dungeons that players will crawl through. Each map has a theme; ranging from a set of mines to a haunted farm. Each area has a different set of enemies that roam its grounds and want nothing more than to kill Mason.  The variety in enemy type is quite expansive, offering a fresh challenge in each new area. Some use firearms while others attempt to assault you physically.  

Depending on the opponent a player encounters, fights can range from quite exciting to downright irritating. Combat works the best when going up against human opponents who follow the same rule the player does. Just as the player, they can be caught hiding behind cover and stopping for a brief reload, leaving them open for attack. Not all human-sized enemies follow this rule but, they all still have exploitable weaknesses that offer an enjoyable challenge. 

The monster type enemies are where West of Dead falters a bit. The dog enemy is a good example of this. They will typically move far faster than Mason, and due to their small stature, run underneath your bullets. This wouldn’t be an issue if they had smaller health pools to compensate, but unfortunately, they do not. It takes the same number of bullets to kill them as any other enemy type and this leads to plenty of times where players will be swarmed by dogs, only to be left with little ways to defend themselves.

Mason fighting beast during The Hunt

Ride off Into the Sunset

West of Dead is a somber mystery that will be slowly uncovered as players explore purgatory. Across the game’s four chapters, players will uncover the tale of William Mason as he gets his memories back. The story on display here is well told, with a fairly interesting mystery driving our quest forward: just how exactly did our lone cowboy die?

If there is one area where West of Dead shines, it is in its presentation. The art direction here is stunning, featuring a cell-shaded world bathed in stark blacks. The colors are vibrant against the browns and greys of the world. The character and enemy design are top-notch too, featuring striking enemy designs that truly capture the feeling of an undead wasteland out west. 

The sound design deserves just as much praise. Gunshots have a satisfying hit to them and the ambient tones build tension incredibly well. All of this comes together to create a truly foreboding atmosphere that works in tandem with the gameplay to truly cement the feeling of a lost soul, fighting through the worst death has to offer.

Overall, West of Dead is a fantastic and well-designed shooter that makes use of its environments and ties them directly into combat. Though the title stumbles in its finer details, each run is sure to be an exhilarating experience.

Well, that’s it for this review. Thank you for reading and until next time…

If you’re looking for more reviews to check out, take a look at Daniel’s review of Kingdoms of Amalur: Re-Reckoning