The Gunstringer
PAL cover art
Developer(s)Twisted Pixel Games
Publisher(s)Microsoft Studios
Writer(s)Edward Kuehnel
EngineBeard
Platform(s)Xbox 360
Release
  • NA: September 13, 2011
  • AU: September 15, 2011
  • EU: September 16, 2011
Genre(s)Third-person shooter, rail shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The Gunstringer is a third-person rail shooter video game developed by Twisted Pixel Games and published by Microsoft Studios for Xbox 360 with Kinect. It was originally planned as an Xbox Live Arcade release, but was later made into a full retail game.[1]

Gameplay

Players use Kinect to control the protagonist. One hand is held as though controlling a marionette while the other is used for aiming and firing the character's weapon.

The Gunstringer is a Kinect title which makes use of the player's body to control the game rather than a gamepad. The player controls the character's movement with their left hand, while the right is used to aim and fire the character's gun.[2] Players can mark multiple enemies to fire on and once the player makes a firing gesture all marked enemies are shot by the character.[2] Certain moments in the game are presented as a rail shooter and allow the player to use both hands to control two guns while the character moves along a pre-defined path.[3]

Plot

The Gunstringer is set as a play that takes place in the Old West, with some modern and fantasy aspects. The game is played as though it were acted out on a theatre stage. It begins with live-action footage in a theater (The Paramount Theater in Austin, TX) where people have attended to see the show.[2] The setting of the play revolves around a character known simply as The Gunstringer, an undead marionette sheriff betrayed by his posse. The game begins as he rises from his grave, bent on revenge.[2] The game is broken up into four different areas or acts, each one based around a member of the Gunstringer's former gang: the desert controlled by the Oil Baron, the bayou being cleared up and settled by the Brothel Madame, the valley being influenced by the Beard Master, and the wasteland and underworld ruled by the Lady of the Dead.

Development and marketing

The game was first announced February 1, 2011. A trailer showcasing elements of gameplay was released at that time.[4] Prior to the announcement developers Twisted Pixel Games shot live action footage to integrate with the game.[5] The video shoot took place at The Paramount Theatre in the developer's location of Austin, Texas.[5]

The character was designed by Josh Bear, President of Twisted Pixel Games. The idea was created during a meeting between Twisted Pixel and publisher Microsoft Studios. During a moment while Twisted Pixel were alone in the meeting they noticed a painting of an Old West-styled skeleton and decided to use it as a theme for their character.[6] Bear later revealed that the idea was fleshed out in the few minutes that the Microsoft Studios representative had left the table. Twisted Pixel's original idea could not be done with the capabilities Kinect then had and the team had to change the pitch quickly. "It was really cool, but it didn't have the fidelity to do what we wanted, it couldn't really track finger movements," Bear said. "I was like 'Oh shit, we're going to pitch this whole thing and they're gonna know that it's not possible with the hardware.'"[7]

The Gunstringer was distributed with a code to download an Xbox Live Arcade Kinect title, Fruit Ninja Kinect. A free downloadable content addon was also released, entitled Wavy Tube Man Chronicles.[8] Instead of the hybrid computer generated/live action presentation of the main game, this add on is a live action FMV rail shooter in the vein of laserdisc games like Mad Dog McCree. Troma Entertainment co-founder Lloyd Kaufman appears as an actor in the downloadable content.[9] The soundtrack was also made available at no charge via the game's official website.[10]

Reception

The Gunstringer received "generally favorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[11] In Japan, where the game was ported for release on October 6, 2011, Famitsu gave it a score of 30 out of 40, while Famitsu Xbox 360 gave it a score of all four eights for a total of 32 out of 40.[15]

Common Sense Media gave it four stars out of five and said, "Teen and adult gamers starving for a more satisfying Kinect experience should be well served by this unique game."[26] However, The Daily Telegraph gave it three-and-a-half stars out of five and called it "one of the best and most original Kinect games to date, and enormously entertaining in the short bursts of play the device is designed for. Perhaps most refreshingly of all, it can be played while seated; couch potatoes discouraged by the activity demanded by most motion-based titles may have just found their ideal Kinect game."[24] Digital Spy gave it three stars out of five and called it "another strong Kinect title let down by a lack of longevity and a few minor issues. Certainly, the short play time is offset by the inclusion of Fruit Ninja Kinect and the budget price, while occasional control issues are easily overlooked with a little patience. For the most part, Twisted Pixel has crafted another wonderfully outrageous video game, which plays well and offers a great deal of entertainment, however short-lived that may be."[25]

Sequel

On January 3, 2013, a sequel titled The Gunstringer: Dead Man Running was released exclusively for Windows 8 devices.[27][28] It was delisted on May 21, 2014, due to Microsoft deciding to delist all titles not owned by them, and they deemed unfit for their current portfolio.[29]

References

  1. ^ Chester, Nick (June 7, 2011). "E3: The Gunstringer ditches XBLA, going retail". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on June 10, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Hatfield, Daemon (February 24, 2011). "Pulling Gunstringer's Strings". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  3. ^ Newton, James (February 19, 2011). "Interviews: Twisted Pixel – The Gunstringer". KINECTaku. Archived from the original on February 21, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  4. ^ Adams, Ross (February 1, 2011). "Twisted Pixel reveals 'The Gunstringer', a western themed shooter for Kinect". XBLAFans. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved March 2, 2011.
  5. ^ a b Fletcher, JC (January 26, 2011). "Twisted Pixel shooting video in Austin for unannounced game". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  6. ^ Tong, Sophia (February 24, 2011). "The Gunstringer Michael Wilford Interview". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  7. ^ McElroy, Justin (September 26, 2011). "The three terrifying minutes that created The Gunstringer". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Archived from the original on May 28, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  8. ^ Kietzmann, Ludwig (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer's launch DLC free to all Xbox Live members on Sept. 20". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  9. ^ Mallory, Jordan (September 12, 2011). "Watch the first 15 minutes of The Gunstringer's FMV DLC, 'Wavy Tubeman Chronicles'". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Archived from the original on February 19, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  10. ^ Mallory, Jordan (September 17, 2011). "You must download The Gunstringer's soundtrack". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  11. ^ a b "The Gunstringer for Xbox 360 Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved September 13, 2011.
  12. ^ Chester, Nick (September 13, 2011). "Review: The Gunstringer". Destructoid. Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on April 23, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  13. ^ Edge staff (September 14, 2011). "The Gunstringer review". Edge. Future plc. Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  14. ^ Whitehead, Dan (September 16, 2011). "The Gunstringer". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  15. ^ a b c "ザ ガンストリンガー [Xbox 360]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  16. ^ Reiner, Andrew (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer". Game Informer. GameStop. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  17. ^ Hayward, Andrew (September 13, 2011). "Review: The Gunstringer (360)". GamePro. GamePro Media. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  18. ^ McShea, Tom (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer Review". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  19. ^ "The Gunstringer Review". GameTrailers. Viacom. September 16, 2011. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  20. ^ Davis, Ryan (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer Review". Giant Bomb. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on July 21, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  21. ^ DeVries, Jack (September 14, 2011). "The Gunstringer Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 19, 2021. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  22. ^ McElroy, Justin (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer review: Dig my grave". Engadget (Joystiq). Oath Inc. Archived from the original on June 2, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  23. ^ Cohen, Corey (September 13, 2011). "The Gunstringer review". Official Xbox Magazine. Future US. Archived from the original on September 26, 2011. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  24. ^ a b Schilling, Chris (September 14, 2011). "The Gunstringer review". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  25. ^ a b Martin, Liam (September 20, 2011). "'The Gunstringer' (Xbox 360)". Digital Spy. Hearst Communications. Archived from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
  26. ^ Sapieha, Chad (2011). "The Gunstringer". Common Sense Media. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  27. ^ Sapieha. "Gunstringer: Dead Man Running (Game) - Giant Bomb". Giant Bomb. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  28. ^ "Buy The Gunstringer - Microsoft Store". Microsoft Store. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  29. ^ Smith, Rebecca (2014). "The Gunstringer: Dead Man Running to be Delisted". TrueAchievements. Archived from the original on November 15, 2019. Retrieved May 6, 2020.

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