Rockstar‘s Red Dead Redemption looks great, as the video above shows. I like the trimmed down UI, and the quick shot of the “store” UI looked pretty slick as well. Interesting choice for that persistent mini map in that lower left. Looks like it with lifted right from Grand Theft Auto IV.

The popularity of themes seem to come in in waves on every medium: books, television, movies and games are no different. Sci-Fi is popular for a while and then Fantasy then World War Two games take the spotlight. Now it seems we have moved once again into the territory of the wild west. Rockstar’s Red Dead Revolver is getting a sequel with Red Dead Redemption and Ubisoft‘s Call of Juarez also getting the sequel treatment with Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood. Codemaster‘s is publishing the steampunk-ish Damnation which includes it’s own western overtones, and now Red Steel 2 is going to the wild west. That’s four all due to hit the market very soon.

So with all these western games looming what does this mean for the players and developers? Well it’s a underplayed theme in a lot of regards, it’s not another fantasy game nor a World War II shooter so it will feel fresh. It’s been a while since Gun, Call of Juarez, and Red Dead Revolver and even longer since my favorite western shooter LucasArts Outlaws. While not an original setting it’s definitely a good time for the market to see the wild west make a comeback. So I think the potential for some great gameplay his here.

Giving players a fresh new environment to explore is always a plus, but it also puts a lot of pressure on the game developers, your environment won’t add much to your appeal if you are just another wild west shooter. A player isn’t going to want to experience the same desert setting, with the same dried up ghost towns, the same weaponry and the same bad guys. Unlike fantasy and sci-fi where ranges are broader and pretty much anything goes, the westerns genre can’t be as capacious. It’ll be up the the developers to draw clear separation between their product and others coming to market.  A theme doesn’t guarantee results, you’ll need solid game play, a good story, excellent controls and UI, on top of that fresh theme to really pull it off, in other words, a solid user experience as a whole.

BioShock used a unique setting and rich story to engage players and move away from other horror-themed shooter. Gearbox‘s Borderlands is doing a good job as well. Being a pseudo-apocalyptic sci-fi wasn’t enough they went with a different art style and a new direction in co-op gameplay separating themselves from the approaching wave of apocalyptic MMOs. It’s a good direction and the distinct style and approach is separating them from the masses.

In a surge of western themed titles a developer has to work to standout or risk their title following into more of a me too spot. Oh… and yes, that is Freddie Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist up above.