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Pardon the dust! This page includes some jargon that hasn't been added to the site's glossary yet. I'll be around to fix this later, but sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime. |
Review: Gunman Clive
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:Your progress is saved whenever you complete a level. There are also three save slots to choose between, allowing you to have several games going at the same time. If you need to pause the action, simply press ESC. Time needed per session:It's possible to complete this game in a single thirty minute session, so use that as a guideline for planning your time.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | No - this is a great game for Christians This is an extremely tame game, even though it's about cowboys and robots shooting at each other. |
Screenshots
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/gunman_clive_0.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/gunman_clive_1.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/gunman_clive_2.jpg)
Game Overview
For a game about gunfights in the Wild West, Gunman Clive has a very dreamlike feel to it. The art style really sets the tone, as the animations are slow, smooth, and almost detached from the action you're seeing. The controls, while very responsive, also feel sleepy (if you could picture that).
In fact, this entire game feels like something a child dreamed up on a warm summer's night. The story began realistically enough, but as the story progresses, its grip on reality starts to fall apart. It all began when outlaws kidnapped Mayor Johnson's daughter and the heroic Gunman Clive headed out to rescue her. Initially, he was fighting bandits in a western town. Then he was following them through the old mines, a desert expanse, and even a woodland fortress. By the end of the story, Clive's fought cyborgs and transforming locomotives, and even traveled into space to fight giant robot bandits on the moon.
It's the sort of story that makes sense while you're dreaming it, but not after you've had your breakfast and had time to think about it. Also, like a dream, this game is remarkably short. The entire thing can be completed in about thirty minutes. This does keep prevent the game from being stretched too thin or stuffed full of filler, but it also leaves you somewhat unsatisfied, as it's over too quickly.
As it is, Clive's first outing is definitely something fans of platform shooters and old school games will enjoy. It's also a good game for the kids, as the slower gameplay doesn't require fancy skills and there's nothing terribly offensive to be found during this adventure.
In fact, this entire game feels like something a child dreamed up on a warm summer's night. The story began realistically enough, but as the story progresses, its grip on reality starts to fall apart. It all began when outlaws kidnapped Mayor Johnson's daughter and the heroic Gunman Clive headed out to rescue her. Initially, he was fighting bandits in a western town. Then he was following them through the old mines, a desert expanse, and even a woodland fortress. By the end of the story, Clive's fought cyborgs and transforming locomotives, and even traveled into space to fight giant robot bandits on the moon.
It's the sort of story that makes sense while you're dreaming it, but not after you've had your breakfast and had time to think about it. Also, like a dream, this game is remarkably short. The entire thing can be completed in about thirty minutes. This does keep prevent the game from being stretched too thin or stuffed full of filler, but it also leaves you somewhat unsatisfied, as it's over too quickly.
As it is, Clive's first outing is definitely something fans of platform shooters and old school games will enjoy. It's also a good game for the kids, as the slower gameplay doesn't require fancy skills and there's nothing terribly offensive to be found during this adventure.
Points of Interest
Three playable characters
When you start a new game, you can choose between three different characters and three difficulty modes. The latter seems to only effect how many hits your character can absorb before being defeated, but each character has a very different playstyle.
The "normal" way to play this game is to select the titular Gunman Clive, but you can also choose to play as Miss Johnson. If you do select Miss Johnson, then it's Clive who gets kidnapped. But, Miss Johnson can't fire her gun while walking, nor can she run particularly well. She can however hover when she jumps, which can allow her to find new areas or dodge obstacles that can cause trouble for Clive.
There is also a hidden joke character who becomes available once you've completed the game as either Clive or Miss Johnson. This third character is unable to use a weapon at all, forcing you to work your way through the game without harming anybody.
The "normal" way to play this game is to select the titular Gunman Clive, but you can also choose to play as Miss Johnson. If you do select Miss Johnson, then it's Clive who gets kidnapped. But, Miss Johnson can't fire her gun while walking, nor can she run particularly well. She can however hover when she jumps, which can allow her to find new areas or dodge obstacles that can cause trouble for Clive.
There is also a hidden joke character who becomes available once you've completed the game as either Clive or Miss Johnson. This third character is unable to use a weapon at all, forcing you to work your way through the game without harming anybody.
Steam community features
There is a set of Steam trading cards available, but you're probably going to be more interested in this game's nine achievements. Each character gets their own achievement for completing the game, but the other six achievements will take considerably more effort to earn, as they require you to not only complete the game, but you need to do so flawlessly or in record time.
Controls are slippery
Although this fits the animation style and overall atmosphere to a T, the controls aren't nearly as precise as most other platform shooters. If you typically rush through levels, this is going to feel strange at first. Once you get the hang of it though, it stops feeling like your character is walking around on banana peels.
Concerns and Issues
Mild violence
Like you'd expect from a game based around bandits and the Old West, most of the game involves people shooting at each other. However, there is no blood, no gore, or anything like that. When shot, bandits simply fall over and disappear in a cloud of smoke. Of course, the various robots explode instead, but nobody really worries about stuff like that.
On a side note, while it's not stated anywhere, it's entirely possible that the "bandits" are just humanoid robots too. After all, the second boss is a cyborg, and after that, you only fight robotic enemies.
On a side note, while it's not stated anywhere, it's entirely possible that the "bandits" are just humanoid robots too. After all, the second boss is a cyborg, and after that, you only fight robotic enemies.