West of Dead

West of Dead brings some interesting ideas to the well-trod Rogue-lite scene, but lots of technical and design flaws make it hard to enjoy them.

A fine balancing act of challenge and intrigue, with stabiliser wheels courtesy of Ron Perlman's voice.

While the game’s style is like a Homeric epic seen through the panel of a comic book, the soundtrack of melancholic twanging guitar complicates the theme to something new and unexpected, a kind of undead western. It’s slickly compelling stuff, if repetitive after a few hours and, invariably, punitive.

If you pumped hours upon hours into Enter the Gungeon then chances are you'll find a similar grab in West of Dead, but be fair warned that there isn't as much polish here. If it helps, it is launching day one on Xbox Game Pass so if you have that you can try it as soon as it launches.

Upstream Arcade’s West of Dead is an impressive roguelike. With a solid twin-stick shooting system, West of Dead has a more than serviceable gameplay loop. However, the game is truly anchored by it’s incredible visuals and art design. Add on top of this an excellent voice performance and unique sense of worldbuilding, and you’ve got a roguelike formidable in any standoff.

West of Dead elevates its experience thanks to to the storytelling and art design. Some aspects of the game can be frustrating, but the total package is generally rewarding in its gameplay and beautiful in its design.

With an atmosphere thick with tension and a world full of eerie mysteries waiting to be uncovered, West of Dead offers an intriguing foray into the dark underbelly of the Wild West. It will appeal not only to fans of shooters but also to players seeking subtle storytelling and thematic exploration. Anyone who wants to grapple with existential questions and experience a darkly enchanting adventure should undoubtedly step into the shoes of William Mason and immerse themselves in the chaos of purgatory. Here lies a game that masterfully blends action, tradition, and striking visuals, delivering an engaging experience that’s worth every moment. And the icing on the cake is Ron Perlman’s voice acting.

West of Dead does most things right as far as roguelites go. The random nature of almost every element of every run can cause some large difficulty spikes, but the overall difficulty evens out in the end. The premise works fine even if it means having to hear it countless times over multiple runs, and while the measured combat feels fresh for a Western, the zoomed-out camera angle doesn't help you appreciate it. Overall, West of Dead is a solid roguelike for those who aren't burned out on the genre yet.

While West of Dead makes only a fleeting pass at innovation, it is still enjoyable for a time and does a great job of nailing a sense of personality that will resonate with fans of the good ol' Western. It's only avid rogue-like players, though, that will find much here to keep themselves invested. The repetition in the core gameplay quickly saps it of its charm, in turn requiring a concerted effort to see this title through to the bitter end.

West of Dead has a great premise and manages to deliver a fun combat that certainly has its layers. As any good roguelike, you must master the mechanics of the game and go through a good number of runs before you can expect any success. However, there is a feeling of lack of polish thanks to some poor game design choices that prevents the experience from being truly memorable.