Red Dead Redemption 

Of course no list of games where you can be a gunslinger would be complete without Rockstar’s western epic, Red Dead Redemption. The tale of John Marston takes the best elements of the open worlds that Rockstar is so good at making, and gave it one of the classic Clint Eastwood style stories of revenge and well…redemption, and that glorious combination is what makes the game so beloved. It’s only here on the list because of just how obvious it is.

The Gunstringer is Kinect’s best game. The best of the best! It has to mean a lot since it’s been one year since Kinect came out. I haven’t been engrossed in such a motion controller game for a long time now. It’s a cleverly crafted game worked around the strengths of the Kinect and there are a very few moments in the game where you go, “why doesn’t this thing work properly!” I’m sure plenty of you have faced this situation when playing a Kinect game, but showcasing the capability of the sensor is pretty tough, and Twisted Pixel are the studios that get it right. The game controls like a charm.

You play as The Gunstringer, and the central theme of the game is revenge. Yeah, nonsensical plot but what did you expect? So you take revenge on people and mow down tons of them on your way. It’s an on-rails game, so you really don’t have to do anything. The game controls the character for you, but you can move sideways using your left hand and it is pretty responsive. The movement is usually for dodging obstacles like rocks or hiding behind cover and peeking out to kill your foes. It rarely becomes annoying, or you don’t really encounter any discomfort when playing the game.

The narration in this game is splendid and keeps the game really exciting, and sort of reminds me of the XBLA game called Bastion. The quality of voice over is simply phenomenal. These are the things that make you immersed in the game, and Twisted Pixel knows that. There is a reason Microsoft bought them, as their work with this Kinect game is simply second to none. It’s an extremely entertaining game where you are the puppet and the developers are the puppet masters. It’s so cleverly done and seamlessly integrated that you will just keep on playing it.

You shoot with your right hand and all you have to do is move your shoulder up and the auto lock on does its trick. The game sends you to various western locations which are decently created and for an arcade game it looks pretty good. There will be a large circle which you have to hover over your foes to make them light up, which means they are targeted. You can kill 5-6 enemies with each shot along with various environmental hazards like TNT and so on. There are some platforming sequences in the game where you have to use your left hand to jump. It is extremely responsive again, and I really have to say, they nailed the controls in this game. If anyone asks you Kinect isn’t that good or unresponsive, show them this game.

There are a lot of enemies on display here, including ghosts. You can blast away all of them. The game has a lot of unlockables that will keep you busy, which includes behind the scenes footage. The retail copy also comes with a copy of Fruit Ninja HD, which if you have played on the iOS, is a terrific game and works well on the Kinect. The game also supports co-op and can be a blast playing with a friends. The Kinect accommodates them all pretty easily. Should I say that this is the best game that is on Kinect? Definitely is. Not only is the game fun but if you own a Kinect this should be in your collection, simply because it works really well.

This game was reviewed on the Xbox 360.

Developers Twisted Pixel are proud to announce that Gunstringer is now available for the Xbox 360 Kinect as their first retail title released. Play as a gun toting, cowboy, skeletal marionette as you shoot away as enemies only using you swift fingers, hands free for Kinect only.  The game also comes with free DLC entitled ‘The Wavy Tubeman Chronicles’ as well as a code for Fruit Ninja for Kinect for free!  You can’t beat a deal like that for only $39.99.  Check out the launch trailer above and the full press release below as Twisted Pixel has said this is the craziest thing they have done yet.

Sept. 13th, 2011 – Austin, TX – Today is a red letter day for Twisted Pixel, as their first retail title, The Gunstringer, hits shelves nationwide.  In The Gunstringer, you control the fiery gun-toting marionette through his adventures, combining solo platforming and shooting mechanics into fun, competitive action with a full suite of collectibles, unlockables, abilities, rewards and more.  Our story begins with you buried alive and left for dead by your former posse.  As a skeleton cowboy marionette you begin your journey of revenge, aided only by your gritty resolve and trusty pistol. Track your betrayers down, one by one, and bring justice upon them. They will pay a mean price on their own turf, from the plains of the high desert, to the swamps of the bayou, to the east Asian mountains, down to the depths of the undead underworld. Nothing can stand in your way, nothing will stop you on the vengeance trail.

As a special bonus to celebrate the release of The Gunstringer, players can also download a free add-on pack for the game at launch called The Wavy Tube Man Chronicles which pits players against the time-traveling son of Wavy Tube Man, the first boss players battle in the game. As “The Stranger”, fight side by side with Wiley Wiggins as Future Buddy and Aisa Palomares as Future Vixen in this full live action epic.  And let’s not forget the always unpredictable Lloyd Kaufman of Troma Films as Doc Lloyd as you aid him in reclaiming his stolen Time Traviz device.

Along with the disc for The Gunstringer, the retail package will include a token code for the full
downloadable version of Fruit Ninja Kinect via Xbox LIVE. Fruit Ninja Kinect is an amazing evolution of the slice-em-up genre created by Halfbrick, which brings the worldwide mobile gaming phenomenon to Kinect so you can use your arms as blades in an epic battle against the world’s most delicious produce.   All this for $39.99 and in stores now!

Check out this awesome box art revealed for The Gunstringer.

The Gunstringer is a unique and innovative Kinect-based platformer/shooter by Twisted Pixel. The twist: you puppeteer an awesome gun-toting cowboy marionette with your hands.