the game is grindy, let's get that of the way, but this is an old west title that desperately wants to be a sim. it succeeds in several areas here: the interactions are immersive and seem organic; horseback riding is a joy, with some of the most realistic horse movement i've ever seen; gunplay can be tough, but it is fun, and your skill is rewarded; hunting is dangerous, time consuming and extremely lucrative; the roles - or professions, if you like - add weight and utility to the game, even going so far as to introduce small consequences to some of your actions.

the negative, i suppose, is that all of these activities require diligence, a lot of time and a lot of effort to perfect, upgrade and benefit from, so if you want quick rewards and instant gratification, this isn't the title for you.

the game is grindy, let's get that of the way, but this is an old west title that desperately wants to be a sim. it succeeds in several areas here: the interactions are immersive and seem organic; horseback riding is a joy, with some of the most realistic horse movement i've ever seen; gunplay can be tough, but it is fun, and your skill is rewarded; hunting is dangerous, time consuming and extremely lucrative; the roles - or professions, if you like - add weight and utility to the game, even going so far as to introduce small consequences to some of your actions. the negative, i suppose, is that all of these activities require diligence, a lot of time and a lot of effort to perfect, upgrade and benefit from, so if you want quick rewards and instant gratification, this isn't the title for you.