The Wild West, romanticized in film and television as a frontier where anyone could make it if they worked hard enough, was a dangerous place. The earth, scorched beneath an unforgiving desert sun, made farming next to impossible. Being so far away from civilization and their laws, it could be really easy to succumb to the worst of our nature. Danger lurks around every corner, waiting to pounce on the first sign of weakness – and the tactical turn-based Hard West will make sure to remind you of that.
Hard West is, to be so direct about such things, a squad-based tactical turn-based game set in the lawless deserts of the old west. Developed by Creative Forge Games, a collection of designers who have previously worked on games like Call of Juarez and Dead Island, Hard West promises to deliver decisive and unforgiving combat that will reward you for quick thinking, but punish you dearly for making boneheaded decisions.
But Hard West isn’t just about gunfights inside every saloon you come across. There is an expansive world to explore, with all manners of adventures to embark on and mysteries to solve. As you progress through the game’s many chapters, you’ll confront questions about your own mortality and the afterlife, and perhaps even learn what happens to you after you die – if you so unfortunate to meet death, of course. If you find yourself outgunned and outnumbered, you can use the environment to your advantage by flipping over tables or attempting skill shots that let you ricochet your bullet off of a steel pillar or iron jug to drop enemies around corners without being seen.
Support for Hard West from established voices in the video game industry has been impressive, with names like John Romero and Obsidian Entertainment’s Chris Avellone stating their excitement. With their help, and through having a downright awesome idea that taps into a woefully under-represented western genre, the developers were able to blow past their Kickstarter goal and unlock three of their six stretch goals. If you missed the Kickstarter but still want to take advantage of the low pre-purchase price, you can donate via PayPal here.
Creative Forge Games promises that Hard West will find its way to Steam Early Access by October 2014. The game is still for pre-purchase, but until then you can learn even more about the game – including details about the different weapons and locations in the game – by visiting the Official Hard West Wiki.