Gunman Clive HD Collection

Genre: Compilation / Action-Platformer

Players: 1

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Review:

Gunman Clive HD Collection is two games (Gunman Clive and Gunman Clive 2), both action-platformers. The games are fairly simple and straightforward in terms of gameplay, yet manage to still be fairly unique and clever.

In part, this is due to the presentation, which uses a cel-shaded style with a limited color palette to create a distinct old-timey look. The first game is almost entirely in beige and browns, while the sequel has a variety of colors, but rarely more than a few at a given time. The result is a game that looks very unique, as if it were hand-drawn, although at times the novelty of the look of the first game in particular can start to wear off, and the sound of both games seems muted and uninteresting.

However, these games also boast some interesting and inventive level design in places, as well as boss design, such as one boss in the first game where you fight along the top of a moving train, only to get to a locomotive that transforms into a cartoonish mech that fights you.

That’s one of the charms of this series too – it starts off with a very clear Wild West theme, but gradually adds elements that start dragging it away from that theme for at times inexplicable reasons, such as Clive’s apparent rivalry with ducks, pelicans, and wildlife in general, and enemies like a giant mechanical spider mech in the beginning of the second game… though we may have Will Smith to thank for that.

If these games have one flaw, it’s that the platforming seems a bit slow-paced and rudimentary, and although there’s good variety in the stages, your moveset is pretty limited and it feels that way.

Still, this is a solid, simple pair of action-platformers that looks sharp, plays well, and is overall a solid addition to any Switch library.

tl;dr – Gunman Clive HD Collection is a pair of solid action-platformers with a unique cel-shaded “hand-drawn” look. Although the gameplay is fairly simple and straightforward, the game’s stages and bosses can be amusingly creative at times. Definitely worth a look.

Grade: B

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