Gunslinger is a 2D Western side-scrolling shooter that's actually slightly fun, despite plenty of evidence to the contrary. In Gunslinger, you navigate a cowboy through some of the staple scenery of the Old West, like deserts and saloons. Your objective is to shoot threats, which consist of all the moving people in the environment, before they shoot you (or in some cases, merely come into contact with you). There are basic platforming elements that involve jumping around obstacles and on top of buildings, either to avoid enemy confrontation or to pick up bonuses and health packs that are scattered throughout the levels. Gunslinger is mildly entertaining, though the bizarre feel and bare-bones style of the game really get in the way.
As a card-carrying member of the Old West, you don't need an excuse to shoot, only a weapon. The gun that you carry with you at all times has unlimited ammunition and can be shot in six directions, though you'll only need to shoot it in two directions. Although enemies will appear on the stories above or below you from time to time, you can easily adjust to shoot them laterally. Diagonal shots require that you stop moving and disrupt the flow of the game. This makes the character's already jerky movement seem that much worse. All of the controls are awkward--particularly the galloping jump that the character performs--which is surprising considering the amount of platforming required. Merely coming in contact with pickups or platforms does not often create the desired effect; you must jump from the exact spot the game wants you to in order to get pickups or successfully complete a jump. This lack of flexibility is unfortunate, because it hinders the gameplay immensely.
The harder difficulty levels make enemies move more quickly, do more damage, and shoot more often. Playing through on hard is actually quite a challenge, even though the game is fairly short, both in the number of levels and in their length.
Gunslinger feels like a classic game because of its simplicity and minimalism. Although it would have been nice to see more details in the gameplay, changing it any might have ruined the basic fun of the game. The graphics in the LG VX7000 version could have benefited from some additional work, however. The character looks vaguely like a stick figure, and the environments are dull. Because of this, it's difficult to look at something and tell if you can interact with it during play. Although there are no sound effects in the game, the looping Western music is quite catchy.
All in all, you'll find some entertaining moments in this game, despite the fact that it's simple and a little awkward. That said, there are plenty of better action games on the market, making Gunslinger difficult to recommend.
