Call of Juarez: The Cartel

 Xbox 360
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 117 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 49 out of 117
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 117
  3. Negative: 41 out of 117
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  1. Moertel
    Jul 26, 2011
    7
    First, my opinion on the game regarding that it´s a Call of Juarez title: It´s a disgrace for the franchise (just read the other reviews to see why). But it´s actually a decent game and it gets better and better every single mission. There is a acceptable amount of unfair difficulties, the story evolves pretty good and personally, I like theFirst, my opinion on the game regarding that it´s a Call of Juarez title: It´s a disgrace for the franchise (just read the other reviews to see why). But it´s actually a decent game and it gets better and better every single mission. There is a acceptable amount of unfair difficulties, the story evolves pretty good and personally, I like the characters and the setting. The graphics are not appropriate for a 2011 game, the whole environment seems to be dazzling all over the place. The gunplay is alright and there are some cool ideas like the "Team-Cover" system. Another negative aspect: Lots of graphic and script bugs, old dialog repeating after a cutscene, multiple dialogs at the same time and completely disappearing furniture when standing at a certain position in a doorway (nothing game breaking though)No must-buy, but a decent game if you´re ready to forget it´s CoJ name.… Expand
  2. DunleerUK
    Jul 27, 2011
    6
    Having played Call of Juarez: The Cartel to completion I can comfortably say that while it lacks polish in many places it is still a decent and enjoyable game, changing setting from the series traditional Wild West to present day south coast America is not surprising in the least, but that being said the game still manages to have a decent variety in terms of level location. There is aHaving played Call of Juarez: The Cartel to completion I can comfortably say that while it lacks polish in many places it is still a decent and enjoyable game, changing setting from the series traditional Wild West to present day south coast America is not surprising in the least, but that being said the game still manages to have a decent variety in terms of level location. There is a nice armoury of weapons to use and for the first time in the series, the shooting mechanics are spot on. While many will comment that the visuals aren't the best the 360 has to offer, the levels are varied and look pretty cool. The game isn't without its faults, many instances of clipping, "elastic banding" models and some doors that seem to lead to purgatory in the later levels are scattered here and there. On the whole there are some nice gameplay mechanics that set it apart from other FPS games, like the secret agendas and items that need to be collected out of site of your parterners. While the game is enjoyable and in my opinion a solid rental at least, it loses a point due to the lack of final polish. A 6 but a very high 6/10.… Expand
  3. amccann
    Jul 19, 2011
    5
    This review is only concerning single player. Don't expect this game to be on the same playing field as any of the COD series or any other top tier FPS. The story for this game was a good idea but was not fully realized in terms of actual gameplay from what I've seen so far. The level design has me scratching my head at times and I could not help myself in criticizing some of the decisionsThis review is only concerning single player. Don't expect this game to be on the same playing field as any of the COD series or any other top tier FPS. The story for this game was a good idea but was not fully realized in terms of actual gameplay from what I've seen so far. The level design has me scratching my head at times and I could not help myself in criticizing some of the decisions that were made. For instance, many of the levels are way too similar, the basic pattern is cut scene, drive, fight, drive. I would have no issue with the fighting except for the fact that the enemy AI is all the same as is the layout of the levels I've seen so far. If you dare wander two feet in the wrong direction at times the game will simply end and you get to start over. Not cool. There are some graphical issues that I would have never imagined seeing with an Ubisoft game including screen tearing and jaggies. I am not one to criticize character dialog most of the time, but I found the same repetitive juvenile language used in every other sentence a bit ridiculous, but then I guess a 12 or 13 yr old would get a kick out of it. I can tell you that if I knew someone that talked like any of these stereotyped characters they would not keep my company for long. It can be agonizing to listen to over and over again. The driving levels need work, the cars feel like you are driving a tank or RV. On a positive note the weapon variety and handling is decent, the aiming will take a while to get used to though. Overall I can't say that I would recommend someone dropping $60 bucks for this. Please take my advice and wait until the price is about half of that. I feel like this game is a bit of a step down in the Call of Juarez series.… Expand
  4. TheCoffeeMonkey
    Jul 23, 2011
    5
    Fans of the previous games will be hands down dissapointed. For this price it is near complete garbage, I tried making the best of the $60 but I couldn´t. The game is short , the overall quality is lacking in all areas is lacking and they convinced themselves that continously activating slow motion sequences we would be amused like little toddlers, every god damn time. ThisFans of the previous games will be hands down dissapointed. For this price it is near complete garbage, I tried making the best of the $60 but I couldn´t. The game is short , the overall quality is lacking in all areas is lacking and they convinced themselves that continously activating slow motion sequences we would be amused like little toddlers, every god damn time. This isn´t complete garbage but for the price and being a fan of the previous games you will be dissapointed hands down. Last game in the call of Juarez series for me, ubisoft has lost it.… Expand
  5. YetiConfetti
    Jul 29, 2011
    5
    I rented this one instead of buying, and I am so glad I did. I finished the campaign in one night (on normal and only with one character, but still...) and I almost didn't make it to the end. Listening to my teammates shout "If it wasn't for us, you'd be motherf@#$ing dead" every time they killed somebody shooting at me made me want to rip the game out of my drive and chuck it out theI rented this one instead of buying, and I am so glad I did. I finished the campaign in one night (on normal and only with one character, but still...) and I almost didn't make it to the end. Listening to my teammates shout "If it wasn't for us, you'd be motherf@#$ing dead" every time they killed somebody shooting at me made me want to rip the game out of my drive and chuck it out the window. The only thing that kept me going through it was the fairly large variety of weaponry (and the shooting engine is functional at least) and half-decent storyline. Other than that, this game has literally nothing going for it. Don't waste your money on anything more than a one-night rental for this. I can think of at least 5 games that have already come out this year and at least 5 more that have yet to come out this year that would be better to buy, so unless you're an absolute addict to videogames you're better off leaving The Cartel one alone. Even Duke Nukem Forever was better than this in my opinion.… Expand
  6. HighwayUK
    Sep 5, 2011
    5
    Hmmm was expecting a lot more from this TBH, nearly as bad as recent COD games with the gameplay with its flakey controls and terrible plot. God I hope they don't ruin Dead Island as well, the chrome 5 engine itself produces some decent visuals for the open areas, while not epic due to some of the lowest resolution textures I've seen in recent years, it does have some nice light and smokeHmmm was expecting a lot more from this TBH, nearly as bad as recent COD games with the gameplay with its flakey controls and terrible plot. God I hope they don't ruin Dead Island as well, the chrome 5 engine itself produces some decent visuals for the open areas, while not epic due to some of the lowest resolution textures I've seen in recent years, it does have some nice light and smoke effects. Sadly gameplay is rubbish, feels like a rush job.… Expand
  7. wing_zero
    Mar 8, 2013
    5
    awkward game-play mixed with technical bugs,bad story lines and mediocre graphics (the environments are all cloudy and undetailed make this a bad gaming experience
  8. twos
    Jan 12, 2014
    6
    Far from being perfect this game still does not deserve the terrible reviews lumped upon it.

    First off if you are looking for another wild west story don't get the game. It is not that it isn't a western, because you can admire the concept of trying to create a gritty western story in a modern day setting and at times this is successful especially within the classic juarez soundtrack    Far from being perfect this game still does not deserve the terrible reviews lumped upon it.

    First off if you are looking for another wild west story don't get the game.
    It is not that it isn't a western, because you can admire the concept of trying to create a gritty western story in a modern day setting and at times this is successful especially within the classic juarez soundtrack and the beat down modern day western settings. But the story itself is at times forced by excessively cliché characters and overuse of profanity beyond the point of meaningful impact and the cars and guns quickly make you lose touch with the western theme playing what is essentially just another FPS.
    The story itself isn't bad and having three playable characters each with different story content does make the game more replay able than other fps which simply let you do the exact same thing again and again.

    The load out screen is good, the mission loading is nice, the multiplayer coop would be good if anybody still played this game. graphics are better than the previous Juarez games and in spite of a lot of naysayers criticizing the shooting it is altogether smoother than the previous instalments (I think it is largely people who cannot handle iron sights and little auto-assist) The game does have glitches I had 3 occasions on which I had to reload chapters because I got stuck or objectives would not complete but the chapters are short enough that it does not feel like a chore getting back to those points.

    All in all this is actually a very entertaining and decent game, still this game probably shouldn't be called call of Juarez. I guess the issue is that all of us who played the previous games wanted another wild west story.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

61
#61 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2011
92
#92 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
47

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 62 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 31 out of 62
  3. Negative: 31 out of 62
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 19, 2011
    72
    The newest installation of the Call of Juarez franchise brings the series to modern day. Unfortunately this is like taking a shot in the kneecaps. The game can't stand in it's own feet anymore. The game is crowned with some really stupid game design flaws. It was once upon a time in the west, now it's just west. And plain west is not the best. [Sept 2011]
  2. XboxAddict
    Sep 29, 2011
    30
    Call of Juarez has been downgraded and is disappointing in every aspect of gameplay and design.
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  3. games(TM)
    Sep 13, 2011
    40
    A woeful misstep into the pantheon of disposable first-person shooters, and a balsa wood ghost town of a game that no amount of support patching could possibly shore up. [Issue#113, p.96]
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