Red Dead Redemption 2, currently under construction at the studios of Rockstar Games, it will annihilate your (and our) social life for quite some time, starting with the next one 26 October. To increase the hype (because we're bad inside, "WANTED" stuff) here you go a dusty roundup of the best titles set in the Wild West. Load the gun, tighten the saddle to your horse, and get ready for an unforgettable ride, strictly accompanied by the notes of a signed melody Ennio Morricone! The special is divided into 5 parts: (Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5).
The Oregon Trail (1971)
Let's start with The Oregon Trail, a videogame made in educational purpose, set on the "Oregon track"(Hence the title of the game), one of the main emigration routes to the West used in the XNUMXth century, which led from Missouri to the Oregon Country. The player's task was to manage a group of emigrants aboard a wagon, to try to successfully reach their final destination. The title was used as an educational tool in many US elementary schools. Do you think it was so successful at the time that the phrase "You have died of dysentery" was printed on themed t-shirts!
Gun Fight (1975)
Gun Fight was developed in 1975, born from a collaboration between Midway e Taito. All the charm of the Wild West shone in this cabinet which, like all the best coin-ops of the time, also included a multiplayer mode for up to two players. One button each to fire, 2 sticks to move around the game environment between snowy trees, cacti and caravans. Gun Fight boasted a resolution equal to (hold on tight) 256 × 224 pixels. Today, they would hardly be enough to recreate a perfect pupil of a protagonist of a triple A production.
Outlaw (1976)
Outlaw is a single-player arcade game made by Atari, published in the distant past 1976. The title simulated the classic duel between gunslingers (called Gunslinger, Gunfighter, o OK Corral) which is so popular in the greatest western films in the history of cinema. Outlaw was Atari's "answer" to Gun Fight, released the year before. The passage of some caravans made it possible to find shelter from enemy fire.
Boot Hill (1977)
Midway proposes the direct sequel to Gun Fight (1975) two years later, in 1977, titling it Boot Hill. The first thing that immediately catches the eye is the incredible improvement in graphic terms of the seabed, when compared with the first chapter. Each player used two small joysticks, one to move their character, the other to aim and fire by pressing the appropriate trigger. Moving caravans and cacti of various sizes were the only elements with which to defend oneself from the line of fire of the opposing gunslinger. Six bullets each and lots of prayers!
Sheriff (1979)
Sheriff, presented in a cabinet in the 1979 da Nintendo, allowed a player (or two, alternating phases) to take on the role of a Sheriff busy defending himself from a band of bandits who, encircling him on all sides, unleashed an endless rain of bullets on the poor man. Four caravans allowed the player to find shelter and take a breather before returning to the firefight. From time to time the enemies were capable of enter the player's "zone", making the shootings very exciting for the time. A vulture, which occasionally flew the skies of the game world, if hit, allowed to accumulate bonus points.
Custer's Revenge (1982)
Have you already noticed something strange in the image? It is exactly what you think! Custer's Revenge, published in 1982 da Mystique to Atari 2600, is a title with a western setting a erotic theme. The game allows you to "take on the shoes" of George Armstrong Custer, armed with… well, decent equipment! The purpose of our hero's mission was to cross the screen, avoiding a shower of arrows shot by Native Americans, to have sexual intercourse with a pretty Indian woman tied to a pole. The game's content was deemed offensive by both a good chunk of Native Americans and feminists such as "Women Against Pornography", and at that point Atari decided to sue Mystique and did withdraw the game from the market. We dare not imagine what would have happened today!
Wild Gunman (1984)
Wild gunman was published in 1984 as an adaptation of the “electro-mechanical” arcade created by Gunpei Yokoi in the far '74. A similar "electro-mechanical" game, at that time, to give you the idea, was "Sega Helicopter”(1968) which you can see in action in this video. Wild Gunman was part of the NES launch titles (Nintendo Entertainment System) and supported the use of the light gun "Zapper". Players were required to have a good dose of reflexes and speed of execution to get the better of this fun simulation of a firefight called "Gunslinger". (Image source: wikipedia.org).
Bank Panic (1984)
Bank Panic is an arcade title, released in a nostalgic and gorgeous coin-op in 1984 da SegaIn partnership with Bally e Midway. The player took on the role of a Wild West sheriff intent on protect a bank from an uninterrupted series of robberies. The conquest of victory was achieved once all the "rooms" were overflowing with money. On the other hand, what would the Wild West be without a good deal of robbery to thwart? (Image source: wikipedia.org).
Cheyenne (1984)
Cheyenne was published in 1984 da Exidy and asked the player to venture into the Wild West as Buster Badshot (the name says it all!). Each level was based on the classic settings typical of that era, including cemeteries, canyons, dusty saloons and dark mines, passing through forests and ghost towns. Not only bullets fired by gringos armed to the teeth, but also wolves, birds, rats, coyotes, bears, beavers and bats, undermining our Buster's health (bar)! Without a doubt, of those listed so far, Cheyenne is the most technically advanced title. (Image Source: wikipedia.org)
Gunfright (1985)
Not to be confused with 1975 Gun Fight, Gunfright is an arcade-style adventure released in 1985 da Ultimate Play the Game in collaboration with US Gold. The title was originally published on Z, to then land on Amstrad CPC e MSX. In this title, players took on the role of a sheriff from the city of BlackRock with the task of eliminating the numerous outlaws who dared to threaten the peace and serenity of the inhabitants. (Image source: wikipedia.org).
This concludes the first part of our journey through western titles in history. Your journey can continue by selecting the second part of the special (or any other part you prefer) by clicking on the following links: (Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5).
