by Joan Inong

Created on: November 23, 2010

For those who want to play Western-themed games on the iPhone, Westbang would be a good choice. This is a free iPhone app that offers plenty of shoot-offs and fun, as well as excitement and perhaps even a little bit of anxiety. Along with good graphics and a smooth gameplay that includes plenty of levels and bandits, Westbang gives players a fun-filled gaming experience.

Graphics: 8.5/10

Gameplay: 9/10

Keep in mind that these ratings are for my preferences, and that people's own preferences, especially in terms of what types of graphics they like, will differ from mine. At any rate, Westbang's graphics are a good bang for the buck (even if you don't have to spend any money to play this game). The cartoonish graphics made me feel like I was playing one of my Saturday cartoon television shows, except this time I got to shoot at the bad guys. There is a good variety of good and bad guys included. The scene of each level does not differ from one level to the next, but I don't mind just as long as the bandits are different every now and then.

One of the best parts about this game is that the doors open and you do not know who is going to be behind each door. The first time I played Westbang, I shot up most of the innocent citizens. I would shoot one of the bad guys too fast, and I would get a big "Fail" because the point is to wait for him to draw first and then shoot him. Some of the other bandits will draw their guns right after the door opens, so the player has to keep a good eye on who appears next. This app is like a test of one's memory and ability to coordinate. If you are too hasty in making a decision (just as I was before I got used to playing the game), then you will most likely need to do what I did - slow down.

However, I enjoyed the gaming experience overall because it ran smoothly and the app did not crash or lag or freeze. There are also plenty of levels and many of the levels are "unique" in that there are different types of bandits you have to shoot. Each one also has its own characteristics, as aforementioned.

All in all, I would highly recommend Westbang. This is perhaps one of the best Western-themed shooting games that I have played on my iPhone, and I am still surprised that it is free.

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