GAME COMPLETED #20: THE GUNSTRINGER

The Gunstringer is a platform shooter game by Twisted Pixel where you play as a zombie cowboy puppet. Awesome, right?

The game uses a lock and shoot game style like Panzer Dragoon, or other rail shooters.

GAME: The Gunstringer

REVIEW SCORE: 9/10

The Gunstringer is hands down one of my favorite Kinect titles to date. It is fun, it is funny, and it does a great job utilizing the Kinect peripheral.

Like other Twisted Pixel games, the programers integrated live action film segments into their game (Other Twisted Pixel works include: Comic Jumper, The Maw, and the 'Splosion Man series). The game is also riddled with humorous references and homages to both games and film.

As far as gameplay goes, Gunstringer provides a very natural feel to its Kinect controls. Basically, you act as a puppeteer controlling the stringed hero. This is one of the few games that you can play on the Kinect while sitting down.

The game has a lot to offer in way of bonus material. By playing the game and earning money, you can unlock videos, game art, bonus game modes, and music. Also, there has recently been a DLC release that adds achievements and extra gunslinger fun.

FITNESS SCORE: 1/10

As mentioned above, this game offers players the option of sitting down while playing. All actions are performed using arms and wrists. Although it doesn't offer much of a workout, this game would be ideal for gamers transitioning to the Xbox 360 Kinect.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

-Most achievements in this game are awarded by simply progressing through the story mode.

-If you are going for "Strings of Steele" achievement, you will certainly want to practice the dragon boss on stage 3-3. This boss is insanely hard at first, but once you get the patterns down and practice, you should be good.

-When going for god medals, you should plan on not getting hit. Even though the harder mode allows for better scoring opportunities, you lose too much score when hit. I would recommend playing on default and practicing stages until you can play through wile getting hit an minimal number of times.