Hard West (2015)

Collector’s Edition Content

The Digital Collector’s Edition of Hard West offers an extensive package of extras for fans of the game. Included are a complete Digital Artbook showcasing the game’s visual design, an Original Digital Comic Book expanding the narrative universe, and the Full Original Digital Soundtrack. The soundtrack was composed and expertly mastered by Marcin Przybylowicz, known for his work on The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.

Game Overview

Step into a version of the Wild West unlike anything experienced before. After a tragic series of events, the protagonist, Warren, embarks on a path filled with supernatural chaos and the pursuit of revenge. Players will follow Warren as he navigates the darkest corners of the human psyche, confronting relentless dangers and making choices with profound consequences. In this unforgiving world, death is omnipresent, and any pacts made with otherworldly forces leave lasting effects on everyone involved.

Players will engage in eight story-driven scenarios and face forty individually crafted turn-based combat missions. The journey through Hard West introduces a diverse array of playable characters whose destinies are closely linked with Warren’s, requiring strategic decisions and careful planning to reveal the overarching schemes of ancient, mysterious powers. The narrative is complex and offers multiple endings that depend on the choices made throughout the game.

Game Features

A Unique “Weird” West World

Explore a Western setting intertwined with demons, arcane rituals, and satanic cults. In this world, the dead can return for a price, creating a dark and dangerous environment where legends and supernatural threats collide.

Compelling Turn-Based Combat

Players command one to four squad members in tactical, turn-based battles. Master Western-inspired special abilities, including expert gunslinging and survival skills, to defeat enemies across a variety of original maps with mission-specific objectives.

Collect and Combine Special Abilities

Earn unique cards by completing main and optional objectives, exploring the environment, bartering, and hunting treasures. These cards grant new abilities, which can be combined to form more powerful effects, providing additional tactical options during combat.

Choice and Fate

The story evolves based on the decisions made both during and between combat missions. Player choices influence future events and the fates of the diverse characters encountered, emphasizing the consequences of each decision throughout the game.

Luck of the Draw

Combat incorporates a unique system where luck plays a vital role, adding unpredictability and strategic depth to encounters, moving beyond mere probability mechanics.

Dynamic Cover

Utilize an extensive cover system to alter combat flow. Objects in the environment can be transformed into effective cover, enabling advanced flanking and tactical maneuvers that significantly impact battle outcomes.

Shadow Spotting

Take advantage of the blazing Western sun to detect hidden enemies through the shadows they cast and the sounds they make, adding a layer of observation and planning to engagements.

Ricochets

Metal objects can be used to execute ricochet shots, allowing skilled gunslingers to strike beyond the direct line of sight. This adds new tactical possibilities and creative planning options in combat scenarios.

40 Historically Inspired Weapons

Equip a wide array of weaponry, including shotguns, rifles, pistols, and sniper rifles, all modeled after real historical prototypes and inventive designs from the Wild West era. Each weapon provides distinct combat advantages and strategic applications.

Hard West is a solid pick for anyone who loves a dark twist on the Wild West. The game combines a gripping story with supernatural elements, giving players a unique world full of tough choices and meaningful consequences. Its turn-based combat is engaging and offers a lot of depth with character abilities, card combos, and tactical maneuvers.

The visuals and sound design are strong, creating a tense and immersive atmosphere. While the story can be heavy and the difficulty challenging, the game rewards careful planning and creative thinking. Fans of strategy and narrative-driven games will find plenty to enjoy here.

Overall, Hard West is worth playing. It’s not just another Western; it’s a strategic adventure with a dark, intriguing twist that makes every decision feel important. Recommended for those looking for something different and memorable.