Gunman Clive is a very unique, super polished, platformer. Taking place in the old west, you embark on a rescue mission. There isn't much of a story but that doesn't matter. This highly-stylized adventure is not only beautiful but a blast to play. It may take a lot of inspiration from classic platformers but the game is a whole new twist on the genre that is definitely worth checking out.
At its core, the gameplay is quite simple. Dodge enemy bullets, return fire, and navigate the various obstacles in your way. Your reflexes will be tested as the action is fast. This helps simulate the feeling of being stuck in the middle of the shoot-outs you see in a classic western. When you're not exchanging fire there a plenty of platforming segments as you jump around various moving objects. The tight controls leave no need for guess work. You'll feel great with the mobility of your character feeling very fluid and natural.
You can choose to play as Clive or Ms.Johnson, the other of which will be kidnapped. There isn't too much of a difference between the two, Clive can move a little faster and Ms.Johnson can float for a bit. After beating the game a third character is unlocked that plays dramatically different. As you proceed on this rescue mission you pass through several different environments. These include the desert, the woods, a cave, and beyond. Each area provides new, varied, obstacles and enemies that will try to slow you down.
One of the neatest parts of this experience is the artwork. The backgrounds and characters look like they popped right out of a stretch book. As the lines shift and dance on screen it really feels like a drawing has come to life. The arrangement of the soundtrack is also superb. Clearly who ever composed the music for this game knew exactly how to set up a wonderful atmosphere. As you play through the levels, even if you die, the music keeps playing. This really helps keep you in the game and ready to face the challenges set before you.
I absolutely adore this game. From the beautiful artwork, to the smooth platforming, everything about this game fits perfectly. If you're a fan of old-school platformers you need to play Gunman Clive. Even those who don't play this genre as much can enjoy this game for its atmosphere. I'm still having fun in my second play-through and I'm really looking forward to playing the sequel. So put on your cowboy hat and charge in guns blazing.