Hard West

 PC
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

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  1. DaggettDBeaver
    Nov 26, 2015
    7
    Technically it is a good game - which is rare for complex games from smaller companies. It has very few flaws when it comes to programming, especially the AI.

    The combat system is a relatively blatant copy from the new X-COM - personally i still prefer games with systems that give me more freedom, but i guess for the commercial success it is better to make the system as easy to    Technically it is a good game - which is rare for complex games from smaller companies. It has very few flaws when it comes to programming, especially the AI.

    The combat system is a relatively blatant copy from the new X-COM - personally i still prefer games with systems that give me more freedom, but i guess for the commercial success it is better to make the system as easy to understand as it is here.

    Now to the negative parts:

    No saving, only checkpoints. I could live with "no saving in combat" to avoid "save-scumming" - but on the other hand i think that it is better to let the customer decide if he wants to "play fair" or not when it comes to single player games. But what really bothers me with the checkpoint system is that i can't test out things. Yes, if i get two options i love to see how both would end up - and honestly, i don't want to play all the way up to that scene of choice again. Please, dear companies, let us users save before making decisions. Offering a Checkpoint-Mode (No saving, but no permadeath) as middle-ground between free saving and "Ironman" (No saving and permadeath) is okay, but please don't force this upon the players.

    The next point is that there is no character development when it comes to numbers - yeah, sure, there is a lot character development when it comes to the story and the background of the characters, but there is no character or at least inventory development as there is in XCOM, Jagged Alliance or Silent Storm - and that is really something i miss in this game.

    Character/Inventory/Research development were always the most interesting things in the aforementioned titles - often i caught myself intentionally avoiding to drive the story forth so i could develop my characters first, research everything i wanted or manage my inventory to a point where i felt i was ready to move on in the story. In Hard West, sadly there is only the story as the only development you have.

    The chapters are so short that i honestly didn't care at all about my characters developing or what choices i made in the game, because i always knew that the chapters are way to short to make any of those things meaningful. This makes the game feel hollow - it even makes it hard to really keep me motivated to go on playing.

    I really hope that if there will be a sequel to this game, Gambitious tries to not chop it into several small, mostly independent parts, but keeps it as a whole and lets us transfer at least something of whatever we achieved in the last chapter into the next one.    … Expand
  2. ave
    Nov 3, 2018
    7
    Hard West was a pleasant surprise in the realm of tactical shooters ; trading the "usual" randomly generated characters / levels with crafted ones. The campaign is split into different chapters, each one following one character (and its eventual bunch) with their own goals and (cursed) path.
    The combat is satisfying, even if the presentation of relevant informations on the battlefield can    Hard West was a pleasant surprise in the realm of tactical shooters ; trading the "usual" randomly generated characters / levels with crafted ones. The campaign is split into different chapters, each one following one character (and its eventual bunch) with their own goals and (cursed) path.
    The combat is satisfying, even if the presentation of relevant informations on the battlefield can be improved. Aside of choosing a set of two weapons (and 3 other items) for your character, you may spend some time on the Cards screen to give them active or passive abilities that can totally make the difference. It's a really neat and thematically relevant idea, properly implemented.    … Expand
  3. Skulb
    Dec 12, 2016
    7
    I was hoping for something a bit more like the old board game, Gunslinger. But instead of that meticulous tactical western game, Hard West is a less demanding collection of unconnected wild west scenarios, all of them appropriately Oregon Trail-y dark and dismal.
    You get to play settlers trying to protect their families from bandits and other staple western scenarios. But you also get to    I was hoping for something a bit more like the old board game, Gunslinger. But instead of that meticulous tactical western game, Hard West is a less demanding collection of unconnected wild west scenarios, all of them appropriately Oregon Trail-y dark and dismal.
    You get to play settlers trying to protect their families from bandits and other staple western scenarios. But you also get to play a mad scientistst and other peculiar people. And the game play is pretty good I thought. As you would expect, the combat is cover-based and there is a large variety of abilities and weapons for you to use. But because it is not one large campaign, the RPG part of the game suffers a bit. There is no direct looting either, so the battles are just battles. There is no need for inventory management during them, and you will be focused on either killing enemies or using and looting items on the map. The world maps are loaded with locations of various kinds. Some are shops, some are battles and some are quest related locations. During your travels you gather cards, which you can combine in your inventory for bonuses. It's weird but alright I guess. What I do miss a bit is a leveling process. But then again, since you're playing isolated scenarios this isn't really needed I suppose.
    The writing is good though and the game looks and sounds appropriately Wild West. So although it is a bit oddly designed in places, Hard west is a game it is easy to recommend to anyone who likes wild west games. It isn't perfect, and indeed is missing some staple features of most tactical turn based games. So it might not be for everyone.

    Pros:
    - Action packed with lots of things to do.
    - A good amount of scenarios to keep one entertained.
    - Nice graphic and sound design.
    - Classic tactical game play.
    - Good writing and narration. Grim and dark though, so steer clear if you like things happy and cheerful.

    Cons:
    - No grand campaign, multiple smaller scenarios instead.
    - Poor performance, at least on my PC. Takes a lot of RAM to run and is occasionally slow to respond.
    - Weak RPG elements, lack of inventory and character control in places.
    - Lack of a zoom function.
    - Rather stupid and silly (also blind occasionally) enemies make things pretty easy.

    Pro and/or con, depending on one's tastes:
    - Rather....weird for a western game. In the second scenario I played a comet had made the entire community insane, and as a scientist it was my task to make them sane again with a sanity machine. Just weird all round. At one point during this mission, one of the Pinkerton agents who was assisting me turned into a demon. So that was weird too.    … Expand
  4. RagingPoet
    Feb 9, 2018
    6
    Hard West got an interesting premise, but the execution feels very clunky. There are a lot of mechanics in play and none of them is good enough.
    Stealth is absolutely horrible, slow and boring, rations mechanics is just tedious.
    The combat itself is very slow and unpleasant, with enemies almost always having overwatch on while player characters don't have this option at all. And AI    Hard West got an interesting premise, but the execution feels very clunky. There are a lot of mechanics in play and none of them is good enough.
    Stealth is absolutely horrible, slow and boring, rations mechanics is just tedious.
    The combat itself is very slow and unpleasant, with enemies almost always having overwatch on while player characters don't have this option at all. And AI sometimes just runs around doing nothing at all.
    Text quests are alright at least, but the writing is too ascetic and can't be compared to something like Space Rangers or Sunless Sea.

    I only finished 3 scenarios out of 8 in main campaign and got so bored that i couldn't continew playing.    … Expand
  5. LukeTheJedi
    Apr 10, 2019
    6
    I like RPG fantasy games, but I thought myself that it's time to try something new, so I found Hard West, because Weird Western setting really has interested me. Unfortunately after that game I want to come back to my RPGs game as fast as I can.
    Don't get me wrong, Hard West isn't bad game, just perhaps tactic games aren't for me. But let's start from the beginning.
    Hard West is    I like RPG fantasy games, but I thought myself that it's time to try something new, so I found Hard West, because Weird Western setting really has interested me. Unfortunately after that game I want to come back to my RPGs game as fast as I can.
    Don't get me wrong, Hard West isn't bad game, just perhaps tactic games aren't for me. But let's start from the beginning.
    Hard West is based-turn tactical game set in wild west, but with demons and devils. Story is divided on several scenarios, which are connected into one big story. And plot is the best part of this game. I don't want to spoil anything, but it's worth to play it just for story. Rest is mediocre. Fights are repetitive, RNG is sometimes really annoying, soundtrack is good, but after some time also repetitive and fact that you start every scenario from zero (you lost all equipment and skills on the end of each scenario) makes you don't feel progress and it doesn't motivate you develop your team of cowboys or buy new weapons. Sooo... very, very good story with mediocre and repetitive gameplay (even different activities between fights didn't help here). Worth to buy, but only with discount. Nonetheless I'm happy I tried something new, but next time I doubt I'll play tactic game (RNG, non clear cover system and shooting through walls spoil for me immersion).    … Expand
  6. Thilus
    Jan 15, 2016
    5
    Hard West is average in almost every aspect. The visuals are neither bad, nor are they stellar. Music and sound overall is ok, but nothing more, really. The gameplay is fine, but it becomes rather 'meh' before too long. In fact it's so average that I thought about writing a longer review, but lost the will to do so mid-way. Kind of what happened when I was playing the game.
  7. luksonije
    Nov 24, 2015
    7
    This is just unbelievable. So much satanism and spiritualism in one game what is supposed to be wild west game, cowboys and sh**.

    Other than that, once you skip demonic stuff, you have the game. It is Xcom style game set in the wild west environment. Dark and shallow story leads this adventure. Too bad, because we have enough evil in every day, I personally do not need more during my    This is just unbelievable. So much satanism and spiritualism in one game what is supposed to be wild west game, cowboys and sh**.

    Other than that, once you skip demonic stuff, you have the game. It is Xcom style game set in the wild west environment. Dark and shallow story leads this adventure. Too bad, because we have enough evil in every day, I personally do not need more during my relaxation hours and gaming hours. I will give it 7/10, however if you never tried XCom, that should be your first choice.    … Expand
  8. DartVader
    Jun 22, 2019
    5
    Very boring monotonical game. Skill mainly useles. Items too. After commpleteing half of gamme drop it.
  9. Klewer
    Jan 27, 2019
    7
    A very solid turn based game, similar to XCOM but in the Wild West. A little rough around the edges but well worth a look for fans of the genre.
  10. RMDsilva
    Mar 12, 2018
    7
    Interesting premise, interesting gameplay.
    However, both fall short of greatness. Still an enjoyable game.
    Minus points for still having a glitch that got my savegame on the prospector's mission to make it impossible to finish!
  11. MR67
    Nov 9, 2018
    6
    Fairly enjoyable Wild/weird West tale with elements of the occult that follows the adventures of a family struggling to make a living on the Oregon Trail. The main story consists of several interlinked campaigns which must be completed in sequence, and as you cannot save your progress, checkpoints are instead automatically taken during your progress through each campaign. GameplayFairly enjoyable Wild/weird West tale with elements of the occult that follows the adventures of a family struggling to make a living on the Oregon Trail. The main story consists of several interlinked campaigns which must be completed in sequence, and as you cannot save your progress, checkpoints are instead automatically taken during your progress through each campaign. Gameplay essentially consists of a travel section, where you move your party (represented by an ox skull) to various locations on an overland map, and a combat section, which uses similar mechanics to the XCom or Shadowrun games.

    While travelling overland, you explore new locations, find treasure or shop at various stores. Sometimes you are given a choice as to what you want to do (eg. shoot the bandits or let them flee), otherwise events that happen at certain locations are resolved automatically. There is also a rather poorly implemented food system, where you have to purchase food supplies and then have each member of your party consume a portion of food each day (you have to do this individually for each person via a menu) or else have them go hungry and suffer penalties later on. Strangely, this system is only used while travelling in one of the campaigns and not in any of the other ones. Combat takes place on a large 3d map like X-Com or Shadowrun and typically has your main character and up to 3 followers engaging in gunfights with enemies. The combat system is a bit more simplistic than either of those games, though - you simply equip 1 or 2 guns, 2 single use items like healing herbs or bombs, and a single equipped item that provides certain bonuses in combat like a pair of boots which increase your movement speed or a shirt which makes you more resistant to damage. Taking full or partial cover is mandatory as characters can be one shotted by enemy attacks if they are not careful, so combat can be quite challenging. You generally get 2 actions each turn, one or both of which can involve movement and the other which involves firing or reloading your chosen weapon. Using an item or a card ability is generally free. Enemy AI is not the greatest and occasionally enemies will finish their turns outside of cover when moving, making them easy targets. There is also a clever card system you can make use of where you earn playing cards for completing certain objectives in the campaign and can then make use of these cards to give your characters various active and passive bonuses which can be used in combat.

    The main game is quite short though (and very dark), consisting only of 4 linked campaigns which you play though in sequence. A full playthrough of this will probably take about 10 to 20 hours at most, though there are several other separate campaigns which seem indirectly related to the main story and can also be played through once you have completed the main game.

    The game is definitely worth getting (on sale, which it currently should be) if you enjoy tactical XCom type combat, but is let down a bit by its budget graphics, somewhat clunky interface and short game length. The game also has some performance issues, as it frequently lags when opening the inventory screen. The music is OK though (if a bit sparse) and the voice acting from the main narrator is pretty good, if a bit limited. It would have been better had they focused on fleshing out the main characters more and made the main game a bit longer.    … Expand
  12. OwenPhreak
    Apr 5, 2019
    7
    In a very short way:
    Nice tactic game in an unusual setting of Weird Western, which I really like. Pretty good story, fine idea with different scenarios you can play in order you'll choose. Game has some problems with what is happening between fights, because all you get is a wall of text plus not so great side activities. Also because of so many scenarios it's hard to like characters,    In a very short way:
    Nice tactic game in an unusual setting of Weird Western, which I really like. Pretty good story, fine idea with different scenarios you can play in order you'll choose. Game has some problems with what is happening between fights, because all you get is a wall of text plus not so great side activities. Also because of so many scenarios it's hard to like characters, cause you change them really often plus all your equipment you got is lost between scenarios. It's a shame that we didn't get one, big, epic story.
    But believe me, it's a very good tactic game, with many possibilities of winning fights. I recommend it.    … Expand
  13. hileger
    Nov 30, 2022
    6
    Неплохо но desperados 3 лучше, скучный сюжет добыча золото нахера это фуфло , покупка всякой херни лишнее для тактики. Лучше б игра ставила интересные задачи ,чем прокачка хуячка покупка хуюпка
  14. vicferd
    Jan 30, 2022
    7
    Hard West es un sólido juego de estrategia por turnos, pero que no logra resaltar en ningún aspecto. Sus mecánicas son muy parecidas a las vistas en XCOM, la premisa de la ambientación y la historia le aportan un atractivo inicial que no termina de desarrollarse del todo. La forma de contar los eventos y el hecho que los personajes no aumenten de nivel, por los cortos escenarios, hace queHard West es un sólido juego de estrategia por turnos, pero que no logra resaltar en ningún aspecto. Sus mecánicas son muy parecidas a las vistas en XCOM, la premisa de la ambientación y la historia le aportan un atractivo inicial que no termina de desarrollarse del todo. La forma de contar los eventos y el hecho que los personajes no aumenten de nivel, por los cortos escenarios, hace que no lleguemos a empatizar con los protagonistas.

    En general se podría decir que es un buen juego para los fanáticos del género, pero que no revoluciona o innova. Es difícil de recomendar para quienes no han jugado otros juegos por el estilo, pues supone que sabes moverte en este tipo de experiencias.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

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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. Pelit (Finland)
    Mar 3, 2016
    90
    Hard West is turn based combat in the Wild West with demons. I really like this! [Jan 2016]
  2. CD-Action
    Feb 4, 2016
    75
    Hard West delivered exactly what I wanted – a dark atmosphere and a decent story with a twist. If only AI and the interface were more polished... [01/2016, p.58]
  3. GameSpot
    Jan 29, 2016
    70
    Satan and six-guns make a great partnership in Hard West. While the game mechanics and scenario design are somewhat predictable, the aura of high strangeness on the lonesome prairie does a lot to freshen up what could have otherwise been a little dated and formulaic. Tactical combat fans and horror buffs alike will find a lot to like here in both the spooky surroundings and the shoot-em-up scenarios.
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