When the first game to bear the Call of Juarez name hit the scene back in 2007 all the wide range of critical responses could agree on two things: the game introduced one of the coolest main characters in recent memory, and that it failed miserably when trying to induce stealth and puzzles into the gameplay.

Two years later the sequel has been released, and while Techland has addressed and fixed just about every complaint laid against the first installment, they seem to have forgotten to spend as much time including many of the things that made the first game so memorable. 

The result is a game that while fun and fairly unique, still struggles with mediocrity at times and still can't be included in the pantheon of great first person shooter sagas.

Whereas in the first game we were treated to the main character Reverend Ray spouting off verses from a Bible in his left hand while he struck down his enemies with a six shooter in his right, the second game is sorely lacking in personality. He's still one of the main characters in the game, but his personality isn't nearly as developed as it was before. In the second game that awesome juxtaposition is replaced by the banter of two brothers bickering throughout the entire adventure.

For the most part though, even the incessantly repeated lines aren't too much of a bother because the voice acting on all three of the brothers McCall is quite good. The third brother, the young pastor does a more than competent job providing a great set up for the up coming level as he narrates scenes in between playable segments.

Early on the dynamic works well, and I was genuinely impressed by Bound in Blood's ability to make me actually like these despicable men. But it doesn't last very long, and soon you'll grow tired of them calling each other “brother” in every single sentence they speak to each other, just in case you forgot.

The single-player campaign progresses with very little deviation from the standard events that take place in a first person shooter. They're done very well, but they're just not all that remarkable. You'll flank enemy positions, man turrets, and gun down enemies on horseback. In some of the levels in Bound in Blood the area has a distinctly “open” feel to it, even though it really is not. It's refreshing to at least feel like I have a choice in how I tackle a situation even if I truly do not. This is a technique that more linear first person shooters should adopt.

One of the few deviations Bound in Blood makes from its genre brethren is that it allows you to choose which brother you want to play as during each level. Before the level begins you'll be asked to choose to play as either Ray or Thomas McCall. Each one has his own individual advantages. Ray is tough, and can dual-wield pistols which makes him deadly at close range, and Thomas can get to out of reach areas with a lasso as well as use his throwing knives to take out enemies without all the ruckus of a six-gun.

You may have expected a Call of Juarez game to have a good single-player campaign, but much more surprising are the deep and wonderfully fleshed out multiplayer modes. Bound in Blood is one of the few and the proud to stray away from the laziness of deathmatch and capture the flag game types, and invent all new game types that fit within the context of the game's setting, as well as offer a really good time. These modes are fantastic and are well worth your time.

In addition there's also 12 unique classes to explore in multiplayer all with their own specific strengths and weaknesses. Five are unlocked from the start, but you'll have to earn money in multiplayer matches to buy the other classes. These classes can then be leveled up themselves. For the most part the large number of classes are pretty well balanced, save for an overpowered sniper class. Though it's never enough to ruin the fun. All told it's a great addition to the package, but it's not exactly going to steal you away from Team Fortress 2 if class based shooters are your thing.

Bound in Blood is a game that has its issues, but is still undeniably fun. Mostly this is due to the great work Techland has done to craft a convincing setting. From the aforementioned voice acting talent, to the convincing visuals and consistent aesthetic, Bound in Blood never falters in its pursuit to create a wonderful realized world for the game to take place in. That makes it much easier to overlook some of the more minor flaws.

The entire package emerges as greater than the sum of its parts, and becomes a game that is just on the brink of greatness, but stumbles. That doesn't mean it isn't worth your time, though. Especially, in the dull summer months, Bound in Blood will more than serve to tide you over until the holiday release onslaught if it's an FPS fix you're craving.

Gameplay: 7.5 
Not much is new in this latest installment, but it's still fun old-west action. Duels in the town square are still as epic and fun as they used to be, and they offer a tough challenge for even the most skilled of gunslingers.

Graphics: 8.5 
Some of the backgrounds weren't very impressive, and looked like a JPG superimposed. Character models were good looking though. Multiplayer maps were in dire need of some variety though, and the “dusty old town” type map got old quickly.

Sound: 9
Great voice acting from our lead characters, and good sound effects on all the different weapons in the game. There's also a bevy of good ambient effects that really work to ground you in the game world.

Difficulty: Medium 
The difficulty is in a pretty good place. You'll die a few times here and there, but doesn't break up the action. It offers a decent challenge. Regular gun fights can be a breeze, but the duels really amp up the challenge.

Concept: 9 
The Western setting is as awesome as it ever was and that gives this game a big boost. There's still not nearly enough westerns in gaming which gives this game a big boost over the next 25 sci-fi shooters.

Multiplayer: 8.5 
The biggest surprise of the package. A lot of unique modes, tons of classes and a leveling system to boot. Though communication and team work aren't really very necessary. Snipers can dominate in the right hands.

Overall: 8 
While the game itself is better than the original by far, the western aesthetic isn't as fresh as it once was. If you're not interested in the multiplayer then this game will probably feel short and empty.