The Gunstringer Xbox 360
Metascore
77 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 60 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 46 out of 60
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 60
  3. Negative: 2 out of 60
view
per page
  1. Joystiq
    Sep 13, 2011
    100
    With all the chaff you have to swipe through on the Kinect, you can forget just how good it feels when something just works. That's exactly what The Gunstringer does: It works, and in a smart, slick way that feels simultaneously natural and fresh.
  2. Gaming Age
    Oct 7, 2011
    91
    I pretty much love The Gunstringer, and it is easily my favorite thing Twisted Pixel has put out so far.
  3. 1UP
    Sep 13, 2011
    91
    It's a game that takes a handful of seemingly unrelated genres and forms a union between them that exudes impossible amounts of charm. It's also a game that provides irrefutable validation for adopters of Kinect.
  4. DailyGame
    Dec 12, 2011
    90
    In spite of an abundance of cheap shots, the game's personality and originality elevate The Gunstringer into the upper echelon of Kinect titles. In fact, it's my favorite Xbox Kinect title to date.
  5. Gamestyle
    Oct 21, 2011
    90
    Had The Gunstringer been released as a full priced title with none of the added bonuses, then there would reason to complain, but released at a low price point and packed to the rafters with bonus content and a forgiving aiming system that doesn't want to punish the player. This is one Kinect game that should be in every Kinect owners collection.
  6. Worth Playing
    Sep 27, 2011
    90
    TwistedPixel's impassioned effort succeeds because they overlooked few details in production, properly balanced gameplay even though it means you won't see much of The Gunstringer at Major League Gaming events, and, most importantly, kept their ambitions for the game within the scope of Kinect's limitations.
  7. Totally360
    Sep 13, 2011
    90
    Gunstringer is a fantastic title and definitely one of my favorite titles for Kinect. I was impressed with how well it controlled and how the whole package came together. It has the standard Twisted Pixel humor throughout the game so if you have enjoyed their previous titles then you should enjoy this one as well.
  8. Official Xbox Magazine
    Sep 13, 2011
    90
    At four hours, Gunstringer's a short ride, but it's a thrilling one you shouldn't miss.
  9. Game Chronicles
    Oct 6, 2011
    88
    Sadly, The Gunstringer is rather short, clocking in at around 5-8 hours depending on your skill and dedication. There are plenty of reasons to replay the game, chapter modifiers, optional commentary tracks, and a host of unlockable bonuses, so you won't stop playing even after you've won.
  10. XGN
    Oct 2, 2011
    88
    The Gunstringer is a short game but it packs a lot of power. The gameplay is simply great, with the odd movement registration failure in between, and takes you on an adventure through a very weird and at time hilarious version of the Wild West. You'll be sure to play this game more than once, considering the tons of unlockables and extra features.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 33 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 2 out of 11
  1. sergio11
    10
    by far the best game for kinect, its fun innovative and really seems like the way kinect should be going. and the fact that its only 40 dollars and includes a 10 dollar game its a great buy if u own a kinect.… Full Review »
  2. FabioSooner
    3
    Take a collection of Wii minigames - not the Wii Sports fun variety, but of the shovelware 'tradition' - give it a coat of paint of 'weird' humor, release it as an independent company and you have The Gunstringer: a game that's idiotic in all levels possible but critics and 'core' gamers will praise because they want to 'support the small guy' - not to mention justify the fact they did bought Kinect but are too lazy to use it to play what it's generally best for, dancing and sports/exercise games.

    Don't believe the hype: this game no different from what most 'core' gamers have come to expect from Wii/Kinect/Move shovelware minigame collections. It's totally on rails, it's gimmicky, it tries to rely on the idea of 'making gaming fun' by removing any kind of challenge or depth - just an example, wherever else you would get to play platform sections *on-rails*, just flicking your arm up to jump? Even 8-bit games had more depth than this. Worse yet, it doesn't do anything with Kinect that better games, such as Child of Eden or Rise of Nightmares, haven't done before. It just hides it in a uncensored humor sheen and the promise that you can play it sitting on the couch.

    Oh, and it's by an indie company, which makes people *way* more forgiving. The only real upsides to the game are the controls, which work very well, but even then it's hard to give it much credit since they're absurdly simple - that is, the game doesn't really go the distance to use Kinect such as Rise of Nightmares or even Kinect Sports did.

    What's even more annoying is that the game tries so hard to be funny that just ends up being silly. There's a difference between crazy, out-there humor such as in Shadows of the Damned ,and what Gunstringer tries to do when it shows a grown cowboy stickin' it into a giant alligator; it's not toilet/dick humor, it's 10-year-old-giggling-at-porno-magazines humor. Which says a lot about how the industry, even its indie side, views 'core' gamers: as complete idiots who will never grow up. And in part they're right, given how this trainwreck of a 'game' is being received by so-called 'trusted' sources such as Joystiq and Game Informer.It's sad to notice how platform wars and political ideologies have trumpled people's best judgements. But time will show how Gunstringer is forgettable, I hope.    … Full Review »
  3. beavermatic
    10
    game was tons of fun, insane & action packed, just the right length of time, and very well done. Couldn't stop playing once i started, and the humor is just as admirable. The controls work amazingly well, and the game could the inspiration for a new IP for Microsoft... they should really buy up this development group.

    Let's put it this way... if this isn't convincing enough for you: I was knee-deep in Gear of War 3 [and enjoying it], and a friend told me to goto pickup this game just on a whim... I wasn't expectiong much, and alone and behold, here I sit at midnight replaying through Gunstringer while GoW 3 sits on the shelf... it was that much fun!

    I want to see alot more of The Gunstringer in the future!!!

    definetely worth buying, with boatloads of extra content too! easily the coolest Kinect title, and great game for the xbox 360! oh, you also get fruit ninja for free :)

    PS: im not sure how anyone could have given this game any less than a 9/10... either they are just that ignorant, or they are kinect trolls who have some sort of odd grudge against a pretty slick piece of technology.    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »