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Review: Mad Dog McCree: Gunslinger Pack

One of the things you have to be cautious about when you're the Reviews Editor of the internet's most beloved and powerful gaming portal is to never use that power selfishly, drawing attention to games you otherwise wouldn't because they have a special place in your heart.

A good example of this would be if I were to review the Mad Dog McCree: Gunslinger Pack, which is really just a Wii-based compilation of three very old games, Mad Dog McCree 1 and 2, as well as The Last Bounty Hunter. If I did that, it would just be because I have a dirty, dirty spot in my heart for FMV games, not because I think it has any real relevance to our audience.




You won't see me using the bully pulpit then to preach that this is the best looking iteration of these games outside of the arcade, or that the Wiimote actually does a pretty good job of replicating the pistol of the arcade machines with the help of the on-screen crosshair, especially if you're using some kind of blaster attachment.

I won't add that these games, while not always "fun to play" in the traditional sense, are always a joy to watch, thanks to some truly horrendous acting and production values that would make Olive Garden's "Mama Mia! That's Perfect Pasta!" training video look like an episode of The Wire.

If I were reviewing the game I would also report that Majesco made a huge misstep in allowing the games to be so difficult, even on the easiest setting. As funny as some of the clips are, their entertainment value is pretty much negated when you watch them for the 200th frigging time because Mr. McCree's cohorts have apparently been dipped in adamantium.

Had I been reviewing the game (which I'm not) I would have closed by saying that the game's multiplayer mode (basically just 2-4 people playing simultaneously) really helps to ease the difficulty and that, for $20, it's an easy package to recommend.

How sad then, that my news judgment and ability to sense what the readers want has prohibited me from even starting such a review. A shame, to be sure.