A Fistful of Gun

 PC
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 10
  3. Negative: 2 out of 10
  1. Games.cz
    Nov 23, 2015
    80
    A frantic action shows how the Wild West really looked like. Funny top-down bloodbath has a perfect multiplayer mode. If only there were a bit less of a visual chaos.
  2. Gaming Nexus
    Dec 14, 2015
    74
    A Fistful of Gun is a tough-as-nails throwback to classic top-down arcade shooters. It's best played with friends, but its finicky control schemes and steep learning curve make it difficult to get into.
  3. Brash Games
    Jan 7, 2016
    70
    The game is very fast paced, over the top and utterly relentless. The roster of characters is very good, and gives some very interesting gameplay options. The game uses a unique style, with fun gameplay and funny moments. It’s a game that is worth taking a look at, and will challenge you.
  5. Vandal
    Oct 9, 2015
    70
    The lack of users is the most negative aspect of this games that tries to merge many action games from the 80s and 90s. If this game doesn't reach its full potential, we're already looking forward to whatever this studio may deliver next.
  6. Hooked Gamers
    Oct 9, 2015
    62
    As it is, A Fistful of Gun is a fairly run of the mill top down shooter.
  7. Destructoid
    Sep 28, 2015
    60
    A Fistful of Gun’s only major errors lie in its repetitive and muddied action, all blasted through an ADD pacing. It’s still fun and humorous, but that relentless nature condenses its longevity into just a couple of sessions.
  8. DarkStation
    Dec 18, 2015
    50
    While the different control types for the characters is super cool and all, the game only has fleeting moments of enjoyment before crushing you in defeat, leaving you with nothing to show for it.
  9. Twinfinite
    Oct 19, 2015
    50
    A stylish and fast-paced game that’s got plenty going for it, yet suffers from some lack of consistency.
  10. GameCritics
    Jan 1, 2016
    45
    I wish I enjoyed A Fistful of Gun more than I do. There's a lot about its visuals and arcade-style presentation to like, but it never stops feeling disappointingly shallow and overly-chaotic. Exciting and charming in small doses, it's just a relentless slog through hails of gunfire during extended play. Fans of the Western genre might get into it, but I'm riding to another saloon.
  11. GameOver.gr
    Jan 20, 2016
    40
    If this game was released two decades ago it may have hit a soft spot in the hearts of gamers raised in arcades. However, it was released in an era where it makes it look outdated with all of its features being completely obsolete.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 16 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 4 out of 16
  1. AMERIFREEDOM
    Sep 28, 2015
    9
    I really love this game because it is fast paced, has an older style of graphics, it's similar to spaghetti western, and overall it is fun forI really love this game because it is fast paced, has an older style of graphics, it's similar to spaghetti western, and overall it is fun for CO-OP! I would recommend it if you love to have a variety in characters, and fast paced action, some levels get hard, but once you get it, you are hooked! There needs to be more players, so buy it now!… Full Review »
  2. GobDeomMaster
    Sep 28, 2015
    10
    This is a shooter quite like no other. The Wild West themed bullet circus is utterly insane and enjoyable. All the mechanics of the game feelThis is a shooter quite like no other. The Wild West themed bullet circus is utterly insane and enjoyable. All the mechanics of the game feel finely tuned and precise: dodging bullets and sending them back feels so intuitive you should never have to stand there and bleed. The levels and areas are all varied and peppered with details and events such as carrying a giant explosive piñata, robbing banks, dodging rolling crates and so on. The structure of the game has these different level types shuffled around and enemy placement is randomized, but this only one small part of what keeps the action fun and exciting throughout.… Full Review »
  3. Rawrbuckle
    Sep 28, 2015
    9
    DISCLAIMER: I received A Fistful of Gun from a giveaway hosted by the Dev. I've kinda followed Fistful's development since it's beginning asDISCLAIMER: I received A Fistful of Gun from a giveaway hosted by the Dev. I've kinda followed Fistful's development since it's beginning as well.

    A Fistful of Gun is an arcade styled shooter developed by Farmergnome, published by Devolver Digital, off his Original Jam title of the same name, A Fistful of Gun. The story, taken off of the steam page...

    "When the evil railroad baron Clayton Boon decided to build a track to Hell, he didn’t reckon on a crazed shaman raising a posse of embittered psychopaths from the dead to stop him. Now they’ll pursue him across the whole Wild West, fighting their way through hordes of bandits, bears, braves and boogeymen just to find Boon and repay their debt with… A FISTFUL OF GUN! "

    The plot is as simple as it is. I'm not quite into spaghetti westerns, but the game, story-wise, proves to be quite like one.

    Gameplay wise, the "remake" and the original retain the same twitchy horde based bullet-hell gameplay. So if the idea of dodging large walls of shots, perhaps try the prototype first. There's numerous different enemies, each with different types of weapons, like the characters, as well as a few animals who are all out to kill you in a single hit. The premise or one-hit one-kill, is in effect in Fistful, leading to a few... rage moments to say the least. You have 3 "aces of spades" or lives, that you can obtain more through story mode minigames, but the modes will be discussed later. There are also discoverable maps, and alcohol, which slows down the game and gives it a rainbow-y wave while a random perk becomes active, like extra points or explosive shots. Adds some variety, but may lag lower end potatoes.

    The options menu isn't super detailed, but provides the basics. Controller schemes, screen resolution, pixel shaders, etc. It's the options menu. Fistful also has different adjustable control schemes for Gamepad, Keyboard, and Mouse on various characters, allowing up to 8 players co-op around a screen. Probably not hunched about your computer, maybe on a projector or television. But this mechanic makes Fistful an excellent party game with family or friends over. Adjustable when in game choosing characters.

    The character selection has increased from an original 3 characters, each with different guns, to a total of 11 different playable characters, all with different mechanics and weapons abound. Each characters mechanics may be better or worse individually compared to playing in co-op but i assume that each character should be able to be survivable in single player.

    Fistful has Singleplayer (+ Co-op) and Online Multiplayer with Arcade and a Versus mode.

    The singleplayer is quite simple. The Story mode, where you traverse from area to area alone, or with friends, trying to reach the end objective whilst encountering minigames, duels, new characters, and various random encounters or ambushes. There's also an Arcade mode for local co-op or singleplayer that's basically score attack. After every round though, various perks are available for your character to choose. Quite simple really. Not much, but pretty much the premise of Multiplayer, just locally with friends.

    The Multiplayer, has the two modes: Arcade, and Versus. Arcade is as explained earlier, score attack of killing enemies and collecting coins. Versus though, is like a duel mode. Over time, random enemies may wander in while you and your compadres are shooting each other senseless, and also, alcohol occasionally appears. Quite fun the more people you can get in without lagging out.

    Personally, Fistful has been alright, probably because I've got a friend I can tag along on Arcade on, but if possible, get the game with some people you know, for the game is currently quite empty due to release week. The basic experience is really in the original prototype of A Fistful of Gun, and the new version truly just adds more content towards the game and adds online capabilities.

    Some may not enjoy the fast pace of the game, but the game is kinda all about that. You may find your self running into bullets or having issues with the original base character mechanic, but you can get used to it over time, and the rebindable keys may help some of the issues.

    The dev, Paul "Farmergnome" Hart, has been actively supporting Fistful and has begun adding more content since it's initial release. He also has recently hosted a National Drinkoff Day event, that I sadly missed out. Possible ways to bring up the community.

    All in all, A Fistful of Gun is an entertaining quirky bullet hell game that has tons of replayability and a huge potential as a fun multiplayer party game. It just needs people to drop on in, like many multiplayer based Indie titles.    … Full Review »
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