Last year at GC I had the chance to talk to some of the Techland guys and was a bit disappointed that they weren't focused on releasing games anymore. We were kind of expecting Warhound and Dead Island to be released as soon as possible, projects based of course on their well known Chrome Engine.

But instead, the focus of the Polish software company shifted a bit, and they invested everything into the development of their new Chrome Engine 4, a more powerful game development tool, alongside with enhancing its editor capabilities.

We were shown impressive stuff, like building roads, mountains and vegetation, basically an entire game level in less than five minutes. All pretty in pink, but I couldn't help but feel a void for those anticipated titles that were now left on indefinite hold.

So flash forward to summer 2009, when things seem to brighten up, as Techland and Ubisoft finally release the first Chrome Engine 4 based title, the second installment of Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood.

Thus, there are still high hopes for Chrome 2, Dead Island and Warhound, but let's get back to the title we are reviewing today for a moment.

The action in Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood takes place several years before its predecessor, making this title an interesting prequel for the shape of things to come. If you're not familiar with the game surroundings and backstory, you should probably know it is a western, with the plotline and complexity to rival a great cinematic production, and similar to golden titles like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly starring Clint Eastwood.

The story is told through William McCall, the youngest of the three McCall brothers, and a non playable character. He is a Reverend, a man of God, and he tries with all his power to guide his stray brothers back to the true way. The beginning clip sees him in the back and Ray, the elder brother is pointing a gun at Thomas, the middle one. They are of course fighting for Marisa, a woman who made them both madly in love with her.

In an effort to find a solution and to calm down spirits, Reverend William thinks back on how this whole thing happened.

Back when the Civil War was raging, Ray and Thomas were both fighting against the Union. Against superior officer objections, Ray takes the initiative and rushes to help his brother push back the Union attack. Together they manage the impossible, repelling the attack. But when the new general's order to gather around Atlanta comes, the McCalls decide it's best to desert their army and go back to defend their family instead.

They succeed in saving their brother William, but find out sadly that their mother didn't make it. With the promise to rebuild everything, they leave town as they are being hunted down for treason by Colonel Barnsby.

Even a few years after the Civil War ended, the Colonel never gave up on southern principles, and certainly never forgot his family died in Atlanta. With every chance he gets, he will not hesitate and relentlessly tries to kill you.