The untamed frontier of the Wild West just got a supernatural twist in Hyperstrange’s latest creation, Blood West. This gritty, fast-paced first-person shooter has drawn a lot of attention since its early access release. Promising players an adrenaline-fueled experience that fuses classic Western themes with supernatural horrors. As we ride into this blood-soaked sunset, let’s see how Blood West lives up to its expectations.
Background
You enter the game as an undead bandit that has been brought back to life because of a curse. To end the curse, you must go on an expedition in the brutish and forsaken frontier while battling demons and other types of horrors. Similarly, ending the curse can put a stop to your rebirths as an undead and put your soul to rest.
Credit: HyperstrangeVisuals
From the moment you step into the dusty landscapes of Blood West. It’s clear that Hyperstrange has poured a great deal of love into the game’s visuals. The art style beautifully captures the essence of the Wild West by combining realistic environments with a comic book-inspired 2-bit flair. Moreover, the attention to detail in character models, weapons, and supernatural elements enhance the game’s unique atmosphere. However, since the game is still in early access, some minor graphical glitches and optimization issues do exist. Although this is to be expected and should settle as development progresses.
Gameplay
Blood West’s core mechanics revolve around intense shootouts against waves of enemies, both human and supernatural. The array of weapons is very diverse, ranging from classic revolvers and shotguns to more exotic, otherworldly firearms. The supernatural abilities that your character possesses adds an extra layer of excitement and turns the tide of combat with their devastating effects.
One of the game’s standout features is its “Blood Time” mechanic. This feature allows you to slow down time temporarily, offering an advantage in gunfights, by enabling you to pull off precise shots. It’s a feature that not only fits the old Western theme but also brings the gameplay to a new level.
Credit: HyperstrangeContent and Progression
Since Blood West is still in early access stage, it is currently giving players 2 chapters to play. The available content includes several maps, each with its own unique challenges and environments. As well as a variety of enemies to face off against. What’s more, the game features both a single-player mode and a cooperative multiplayer mode. This allows you to team up with friends or other players to take on hordes of foes. As for progression, the game has a system where you can earn experience and currency through many different ways. Such as battles which can then be used to unlock new weapons, abilities, and cosmetic upgrades.
Final Thoughts
Even in its early access state, Hyperstrange’s Blood West showcases a remarkable blend of Western aesthetics and supernatural action. With its familiar art style, fast-paced gameplay, and unique mechanics like “Blood Time,” it’s a promising addition to the shooter genre. While a few technical difficulties are expected from a game in development, the overall experience is undoubtedly captivating. Once the game is fully finished, Blood West can become a must-play title for fans of both Western and action-packed shooters. In addition, Hyperstrange has announced its third chapter and full release date for December 6. So, grab your hat, load your guns, and dive into the relentless chaos of the Wild West like you’ve never seen before.
Blood West is currently available on Steam for early access.
You can check out their trailer down below:
