Gunman Clive Review
Gunman Clive was initially a mobile game that ended up being ported to the Nintendo 3DS. It was developed by Hörberg Productions and became well-known for being a $2 game. While its cheap price made it an easy sell, it also featured fantastic gameplay that found an audience on Nintendo’s handheld. Gunman Clive would then go on to be released on Steam, and as part of a Gunman Clive HD Collection on Wii U. And of course, now on the Nintendo Switch, which is the version that I’m reviewing today. I skipped the collection on Wii U, but always wanted to play the game on a bigger screen. Now that I have, I can say that Gunman Clive is every bit as good as I remember it being, so you’ll only find joys in today’s review.
Fantastic Action Platforming Gameplay
The soundtrack is great, but I've always felt bad about shooting these horses. #NintendoSwitch pic.twitter.com/Qs00l0rbBd— Joy-Con Reviews is Playing🕹️ Gunman Clive🤠(@JoyConReviews) October 17, 2019
I compared the game to Mega Man, but the comparison is only meant for the basic gameplay. You run, shoot, and jump similar to a Mega Man game, plus have a similar health meter. The screen transitions and level layouts are also similar, but that’s essentially where the comparison ends. Gunman Clive is a linear experience that sees you completing levels one after the other, with a boss fight waiting after every four levels. Bosses don’t give you their weapons, and they don’t have weaknesses. You have to rely just on your skill to make it through the game. There is also a shoot ‘em up inspired level to keep the game feeling fresh to the end.
Its Wild West Theme is Done with Style
A Game that Keeps on Giving
Conclusion
Gunman Clive is a fantastic action platformer that may feel basic at times, but really delivers an unforgettable experience. Its unique visuals set it apart from most other games, and despite the developer’s tongue-in cheek joke about it being generic, Gunman Clive is anything but. The game is fairly short, but it has a good amount of content, and it’s good enough to revisit multiple times. I highly recommend the Gunman Clive HD Collection, which can be found on the Nintendo Switch eShop. If you've already experienced the game, perhaps you'd be interested in checking out the one level Game Boy demo.
Final Score: +3
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