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Product Features

Genre
Action and Shooter
Publisher
Microsoft Studios
Release Date
September 16, 2011
Available Platforms
XBox 360

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The Gunstringer includes Fruit Ninja Kinect Kinect Required

Please note requires Kinect sensor to play The Gunstringer marries Twisted Pixel's beloved storytelling, characters, and polish with fresh gameplay mechanics. Players can puppeteer a character through a variety of 3D and 2D gameplay styles, controlling every jump and dodge with one hand, while filling enemies with lead using the other. The Gunstringer provides players with new Kinect shooter experiences that have never been seen before. Game Features Be the puppet master with Kinect, and move the Gunstringer through his adventures as if you were actually controlling a marionette. The Gunstringer takes standard solo platforming and shooting mechanics and evolves them for fun competitive action. With a full suite of collectables, unlockables, abilities, rewards and more, there's always...

  • Scott McIndoe May 02, 2012 360
    ****

    Finally, a Kinect game which targets an audience of over the age of 5 and has controls which will not send you into a fiery rage; The Gunstringer combines innovative controls with mind-blowing set-pieces and an easy on the eye art style to set a new standard for Kinect games.

    To my mind it is the first campaign-based game on Kinect which is anything more than mediocre.

    Originally The Gunstringer was set for an arcade release, so when it was later announced to be a full retail title, scepticism arose about whether the amount of content would merit the higher price. However the expansion of the games length definitely proved worthy, including the main shooter gameplay, platforming sections and boss fights. Plus the inclusion of different weapons like shotguns, flamethrowers and dual-wielding pistols stop the game from becoming repetitive or tedious.

    What surprised me the most about this game and another thing that set it apart from arcade games, other than actually having functional controls, was it's highly original set-pieces. I shall try to avoid spoilers, however just mentioning that you have a shoot out, whilst you and your enemies ride fireworks like broomsticks, shows how creative twisted pixel has been in designing them.

    This same creativity is used to create a completely original control scheme, where you act as the puppeteer to manipulate the actions of your character. These unique controls add a level of immersion which would be impossible on a normal controller. Developer, Twisted pixel have finally fulfilled Kinect's original purpose, unlike countless party games, very few of which are even worth playing.

    The game's graphics make up for not being particularly good technically, by using an art style which supports the graphics being deliberately basic. The majority of the environment is made of materials easily found in the house like toilet roll tubes. This further shows the fact that the game is actually set in a theatre, with a puppet as the main character..

    A further aspect of The Gunstringer's success is it's great sense of humour which is present throughout the game. This great comic value is mainly in the voice-over, describing and at the same time mocking your journey. Plus little things like comments at the end of each level, usually slating your performance, will provoke a laugh or two and make the experience all the more enjoyable.

    The Gunstringer has definitely set a new standard for Kinect games which sadly, I doubt will be met unless there is a Gunstringer 2 or Lionhead's Fable the Journey lives up to the standard of its predecessors. However, whatever happens, The Gunstringer shall remain a great game in its own right.