Gun (2005)
Main info
| Category | Information |
|---|---|
| Title | GUN |
| Release Year | 2005 |
| Developer | Neversoft |
| Publisher | Activision |
| Engine | Neversoft proprietary engine |
| Genre | Third-person action-adventure / Western shooter |
| Setting | American Old West frontier during the late 1800s (around the 1880s) |
| Platforms | PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, GameCube, PlayStation Portable |
| Perspective | Third-person shooter |
| Main Character | Colton White — a skilled gunslinger searching for the truth about his father and his own past |
| Playable Character(s) | Primarily Colton White; some multiplayer modes feature other characters |
| Story Focus | Revenge, betrayal, family secrets, greed, and the search for a legendary treasure |
| Main Antagonist | Thomas Magruder — a powerful railroad tycoon obsessed with finding a lost treasure |
| Other Major Villains | Reverend Reed, Hoodoo Brown, Hoodoo’s gang, and various outlaw groups |
| Main Companion Characters | Ned White, Jenny, Honest Tom, Soapy Jennings, Clay Allison, Marshal Hood |
| World | Open-world Western frontier featuring towns, deserts, mountains, mines, forts, and wilderness |
| Major Locations | Dodge City, Empire City, Caldera River, Fort Spencer, Magruder’s Mine, Badlands |
| Story Length | Approximately 8–12 hours for the main story |
| Gameplay Style | Gunfights, horseback travel, exploration, duels, stealth sections, and mission-based combat |
| Combat System | Third-person shooting with pistols, rifles, shotguns, explosives, and melee attacks |
| Signature Mechanic | Quickdraw mode — slows time and allows precise targeting during gunfights |
| Weapons | Revolvers, rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, dynamite, knives, and mounted weapons |
| Horse Gameplay | Players can ride horses, engage enemies while mounted, and travel across the open world |
| Side Activities | Bounty hunting, poker, ranch tasks, gambling, horse races, duels, and wanted missions |
| Mission Structure | Story missions combined with optional side missions and open-world activities |
| Main Story Missions | 18 missions |
| Collectibles | Wanted posters, gold, weapons upgrades, and hidden items |
| Multiplayer | Split-screen and online multiplayer modes (platform dependent) |
| Reception | Generally praised for its Western atmosphere, story, voice acting, and gunplay |
| Criticism | Short campaign, repetitive side activities, and technical limitations on some versions |
| Voice Cast Highlights | Thomas Jane (Colton White), Kris Kristofferson (Ned White) |
| Music Style | Western-inspired soundtrack blending cinematic orchestration and frontier themes |
| Historical Inspiration | Inspired by real Old West figures, locations, and events, though the story is fictional |
| Rating | ESRB: Mature (M) — violence, blood, language, and adult themes |
| Awards / Recognition | Notable for being one of the few major open-world Western games before the popularity of later titles like Red Dead Redemption |
| Related Media | No direct sequel; spiritual successor themes later appeared in other Western games |
| Legacy | Remembered as a cult classic Western shooter and an important precursor to modern open-world Western games |
Missions
| # | Level / Mission | Short description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Hunt | Colton and his father Ned go hunting in the wilderness, introducing the player to the world, weapons, and horseback combat before disaster strikes. |
| 2 | Steamboat Massacre | A routine trip on a riverboat turns into a deadly attack when enemies board the ship. Colton must fight to survive and protect his father. |
| 3 | Honest Tom | Colton travels to Dodge City and meets Honest Tom, helping him deal with criminals while learning more about the mysterious Reverend Reed. |
| 4 | The Red Hand Gang | Colton takes on the notorious Red Hand Gang, proving himself as a dangerous gunslinger in the frontier underworld. |
| 5 | Quick Killer | Colton hunts down the outlaw Quick Killer, leading to a tense showdown involving speed, accuracy, and revenge. |
| 6 | Whore Coach | Colton protects a stagecoach carrying women across dangerous territory while fighting off attackers along the route. |
| 7 | Law and Order | Colton works with lawmen in Empire City, helping restore order and confronting criminals who control the streets. |
| 8 | Escape the Jail | After being betrayed and imprisoned, Colton must break out of jail and escape from his captors. |
| 9 | Ambush the Train | Colton launches an attack on a moving train, battling guards and enemies while trying to stop a dangerous shipment. |
| 10 | Defend the Hideout | Colton helps defend a resistance hideout from a large enemy assault. |
| 11 | Take Down Hoodoo | Colton goes after Hoodoo Brown, one of the men responsible for the violence spreading across the territory. |
| 12 | Save Soapy | Colton rescues Soapy Jennings, fighting through enemy forces to save his ally. |
| 13 | Hollister’s Fort | Colton attacks a heavily defended fort controlled by enemies and begins preparing for the final conflict. |
| 14 | Attack the Fort | A full assault begins on the fort, with Colton leading the charge against overwhelming opposition. |
| 15 | Battle at the Steamboat | Colton returns to the river for a major battle involving ships, explosives, and a final confrontation with enemies from his past. |
| 16 | Across the Badlands | Colton travels through harsh desert terrain while fighting enemies and moving closer to the truth about Magruder. |
| 17 | Escape the Ambush | Colton survives a deadly trap and fights his way out of an enemy ambush. |
| 18 | Magruder’s Mine | The final mission takes Colton into Magruder’s mine for the climactic showdown and the revelation of his family’s secrets. |
| Animal | Location | Short Description | Reward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grey Wolf | Near the Dodge City bridge | A slow, non-aggressive wolf. Sneak up from the western side and take it down with a headshot using the bow. | $10 |
| Great White Buffalo | Plains in the Badlands | Grazes peacefully and rarely moves, making it one of the easiest hunts. The Old Canyon Mine provides a good approach. | $10 |
| White Wolf | West side of Piper Lake | Similar to the Grey Wolf—non-aggressive and easy to ambush with a well-placed arrow. | $15 |
| Great Mountain Lion (Cougar) | Southwest of the Indian Hunter in the Northern Rockies | An aggressive predator found along a dusty road. It will charge if alerted, so be ready to fight while backing away. | $15 |
| Black Wolf | Behind the Badlands mines | The trickiest hunt to trigger. Approach the hairpin bend on foot (leave your horse behind) to avoid scaring it. Aggressive when spooked. | $20 |
| Grizzly Bear | Northeast of Empire, near the railroad | A dedicated side mission. The bear charges immediately, so fight from horseback and use Quickdraw or a rifle instead of the bow. Completing the hunt finishes the Great Beasts questline. | $20 |
