Maybe it’s because of how long it takes to make video games these days, but I’ve been surprised to see so few games going for what Helldivers 2 does so well. Its gameplay loop is extraction-ish in nature, but decidedly different too, as specific objectives keep players more focused than something like Arc Raiders, in which players might hop in just to screw around and see what happens. But one new game that just came out is wearing its inspiration on its sleeve, remolding Helldivers 2’s core into a first-person co-op shooter set in a Western world full of color and personality.
Far Far West comes from Evil Raptor, a team I really hope you’re already familiar with. If not, you’ve missed a few bangers. The team’s debut, Pumpkin Jack, was an ode to the 3D platformers of yesteryear made even better by its Halloween-inspired characters and setting. The small studio followed that up with Akimbot, a more on-the-nose homage to Ratchet and Clank specifically, and it’s well worth playing if you’re waiting for more from Insomniac’s mascots. Now, Far Far West retains those games’ vibrant color palettes, but shifts to first-person for a game that feels like Helldivers and looks like a Saturday-morning cartoon.
In Far Far West, teams of up to four players will choose their destination and mission parameters, drop into an open-world setting, and giddy up. Around the world, hordes of skeletal six-shooters, charging bulls, and vultures flying overhead will take aim just below your cowboy hat. if played solo on normal difficulty, the game packs quite a punch. You’ll need to complete a main objective, but you’ll always face a boss before you can extract, too, which differs from Helldivers but fits right in anyway. It’s definitely made for co-op, as some of the mission objectives can be completed alone, but just barely.
The game is freshly out now, in an early-access state, so it’s not without some issues. I find the default controller sensitivity to be too high, and sometimes my loaded rifle acts like it’s empty, but both of those issues have quick fixes (adjust settings in the former case; swap weapons and swap right back in the latter case), and the studio of eight people promises a busy roadmap of both fixes and new attractions over time.
While it lacks Helldivers 2’s penchant for friendly-fire tomfoolery, it also stands out from its inspirator thanks to its fast-paced nature and a visual style that I can’t get enough of. All of Evil Raptor’s games look so effortlessly cool that this is now the third time I’ve wondered why more games can’t be so aesthetically charming. In one way, it reminds me of my all-time favorite game, Sea of Thieves; beneath its sunny outlook, there’s an exciting level of gameplay depth that will challenge players of any skill level.
Though Far Far West does sometimes let you stop and smell the cacti, more often it’s pushing you to quickly manage crowds of enemies with sharp aim and wise use of the game’s air dash. It carries forward the developer’s past mechanics, now remade for a new context. There’s plenty of platforming to do as you shoot your way out of a showdown.
Like Helldivers 2, it also rewards you handsomely for going off the critical path. I’ve found hubs of enemies who just keep coming until you destroy their spawn point–a good way to practice shooting or farm some currency–as well as collectibles that unlock hidden challenges. I’ve completed big puzzles in the desert that rained gold down upon me, too. There are also per-mission modifiers that you can find, which will alter how you play, like giving you a speed boost when reloading, or trading your health pool for reduced spellcasting cooldowns–oh, did I mention you can cast spells?
Also like Helldivers 2, missions are somewhat procedurally generated, slapping together different regions with different objectives and filling in each world when you get there. Crafting and customizing your loadout, building up your character over time, and chasing down a stream of increasingly ruthless bosses in such an ever-changing world keeps it all fresh.
I didn’t know where Evil Raptor would go next after their first two games sought to satisfy the nostalgia its team members clearly have for certain kinds of games. To see them take on a much more modern style of game while retaining their signature look and feel has cemented this small team as one of my favorites to follow, both as Far Far West continues to change over time and as they head wherever their ambition takes them next.
