Hard West

 PC
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Dec 7, 2015
    I’d say it’s definitely worth picking up if your XCOM and Jagged Alliance itches currently feel unscratched, but expect something to dip in and out of, not some grand timesink opus.

Awards & Rankings

72
#72 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
70
#70 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

User Reviews

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User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 174 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 104 out of 174
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 174
  3. Negative: 26 out of 174
  1. GeneralGonzo
    Nov 19, 2015
    8
    Nice tactic game in an unusal setting (wild west with demons....). The combat system is similar to XCOM and a shallow "RPG" layer is used forNice tactic game in an unusal setting (wild west with demons....). The combat system is similar to XCOM and a shallow "RPG" layer is used for your characters.
    Though this mix isn´t superb in regards of either the tactics part nor the RPG or adventure one, it is still very satisdying for a bnch of hours and makes fun.
    Recommendation for friends of turn based combat (play it on hard!) and unusal settings.    … Full Review »
  2. Michalina
    Nov 19, 2015
    10
    Fantastic game, I encourage everyone to play in it.

    Well played characters, cool graphics style and beautiful music. Well showed history    Fantastic game, I encourage everyone to play in it.

    Well played characters, cool graphics style and beautiful music.
    Well showed history and consequences of my decisions.    … Full Review »
  3. JediMasterRadek
    Nov 20, 2015
    10
    That thing is seriously awesome!
    -Difficulty is quite serious. For now, hard feels actually hard. Far harder than Dragonfall on very hard or    That thing is seriously awesome!
    -Difficulty is quite serious. For now, hard feels actually hard. Far harder than Dragonfall on very hard or Wasteland 2 on ranger in Arizona
    -AI seems decent. Enemies are good in flanking. Usually when enemies are leaving cover they do it to make more damages to the player(at least it looks so).
    -No hp sponges. 2-3 bullets and both enemies and players die
    -First mission after tutorial has a good encounter design. (defending a house)
    -There is a possibility to start the tutorial as a tutorial or as a normal mission. There is written a promise that it is short and to the point which is true. The best part: if player declines playing it as a tutorial then he must deal with a quite strong opponent on the start which is not attacking during tutorial:)
    -As most enemies and player can't stand more than 2 hits, positioning is vital. Fighting is deadly and fast. Enemy can quickly turn tables with a good shot.
    -Encounter design is fantastic. Had a rescue mission which looked as it was supposed to be done with minimal killing. Game respected my choice to kill everybody and after eliminating everyone on the map mission was successful without a need to complete an objective of opening the prison doors. Had an optional mission which starts the player surrounded and outgunned. It was thrilling and challenging. Maps are small, often reused, but different enemy placement makes encounters feel distinct.Big number of covers and hight places offers many approaches on how to tackle objectives.
    -Ricochet ability is fun.
    -Luck mechanic is really interesting. It works as a mana pool for abilities, but it protects from being hit. The more severe a hit chance is the more luck it takes to stop it. Luck is automatically used for that purposes. Being hit and losing hp replenish some of it.
    -There is some environment manipulation. Could open wells doors to improve its cover. Environment can be destroyed like windows.
    -Abilities are presented as cards which can be assigned to characters. Looks like 1 ability cannot be used by 2 different characters. You can take 5 of them on missions. Depending on which one you have chosen, you can get a passive buff on top of their standard uses. I suppose those bonuses are poker inspired.
    -Rotating camera is horrible. Don't understand why they can't bind it to the mouse. It's worse than Wasteland 2 camera. Also when the enemy from different hight attack, camera should change the height, now it is always on the same level when it was left during player turn.
    -Height seems to influence aim and range.
    -Enemies can do overwatch. It looks player cannot use it. I had many times when I was begging for overwatch.
    -The biggest surprise: CYOA. This part is good enough it would be acceptable if it was a game in itself. There are many C&C moments which actually include consequences! Game autosaves, so I didn't retry anything but results were enough specific it seems highly unlikely both options led to the same outcome. In scenario I played the main goal was collecting gold, which was quite complex with many tools, ways to do it and hidden mines. Got even an optional mission.
    -Writing and story are really good. Love the character of the devil who is a mysterious, well dressed gentleman who appears and disappears on the whim tempting people.
    -Game has a nice aesthetic and art direction.
    -Looks like there are secondary objectives/consequences to missions (having to pay gold if hired merc dies)
    -Always had luck with bugs but so far haven't encountered any. Enemies think a little too much before turn. Game runs smooth, but I have a good pc.
    -There is an ironmode and a mode in which being low on hp gives debuffs, but there is more xp.(or skill points, whatever is used)
    Had a good feeling when buying it, but (as for now) it surpassed expectations. I recommend this. We may have got a sleeper hit.    … Full Review »
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