Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood is a first-person shooter developed by Techland and published by Ubisoft. Released in 2009, it serves as a prequel to the 2006 game Call of Juarez. This title is set in the American Civil War and Wild West eras, the game follows the story of the McCall brothers as they seek fortune, redemption, and revenge.
This game was followed by the disappointing title Call of Juarez: The Cartel and then Call of Juarez: Gunslinger. Gunslinger was a far better game than The Cartel but moved away from what made Bound in Blood the standout title of the series, doing away with a gripping, engaging story from the Old West in favour of a ‘Spaghetti Western’ approach…both are good for different reasons.
Story
The narrative is one of, if not the game’s strongest point. Players control two of the McCall brothers, Ray and Thomas, who desert the Confederate Army to save their family home. Their journey takes them from the battlefields of the Civil War to the untamed wilderness of the American West, Mexico, and Native American territories. The plot explores themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the pursuit of treasure, providing a compelling backdrop for the game’s action.
The first couple of missions doesn’t give you a choice in which brother you play as, instead you start off as Ray and then Thomas, giving the players a tutorial into each of their differing abilities.
Prologue: The Civil War- Where brothers fought
The game begins in 1864, during the American Civil War. Placing you into the shoes of Ray and Thomas McCall, in a rarely seen protagonist role of Confederate soldiers fighting in Georgia. Starting as Ray, you are thrown in the deep end as Northern forces are overrunning your position through the trees, pushing them back with your trusty revolvers and fighting through lines of riflemen and snipers in the trees. You arrive at the command tent requesting reinforcements for your brother Thomas, although they are promised Ray must clear the way on his own. The American Civil War is pretty rarely seen in FPS’s but this section does a very good job of representing it and is a highlight of the game.
Ray reaches Thomas’s position as the Union forces begin to overrun the position. With the promised reinforcements are clearly never arriving, all they can do is hold off an incoming plethora of Union troops with cannon fire before setting up dynamite and destroying a bridge. After the betrayal of their commanding officers and discovering the blue shirts are marching through their hometown and with now plans from the confederate side, the brothers desert the front line intending to protect their family and homestead. Their decision to desert makes them fugitives from the Confederate Army, which surely won’t come back to haunt them…will it?
The McCall Brothers’ Venture Home
The brothers McCall, find their way to their hometown and find it overrun with Union forces operating under General Sherman and his policy of ‘war of attrition’ which essentially is to march through enemy lands with overwhelming force, killing livestock and destroying property on top of defeating defenders. Working their way through town, helping a couple of residents they arrive at the Casa del McCall, which is being used as a stronghold for Union forces.
After fighting their way through, Ray and Thomas enter the near destroyed home and discover their mother has died but manage to save their younger brother, William, who is a young preacher, and begins asking them to seek redemption for their past sins. After repelling a counterattack from a paddle-steamer the brothers decide to head west, searching for a new beginning and treasure to rebuild the family home.
Once the brothers leave a new cutscene plays showing their former commanding officer Colonel James Barnsby, has tracked the brothers to their house and even after the Union forces win the war, Barnsby and his faithful platoon vow to keep up the fight and track down the deserters.
This mission is completed as Thomas where you learn how to best use his stealth tactics and long-range shooting. Whether using throwing knives in a wheat field or using a lasso to climb a tree and expertly take out a gatling gun operator who has the brothers pinned down.
Gotta get out of Dodge
The next mission starts with Ray and Thomas having a huge argument in the saloon of a storm battered old western town, about how Thomas in Rays words “diddled the Sheriffs daughter” when Ray wanted her first. The brothers then get called about by the disgruntled law enforcer and this is the first mission of the game where you can choose which brother to take charge of, and you a thrust straight into your first duel.
The local town then builds a posse to chase the McCalls out of town…this does eventually happen but not before the death of multiple local guns and even the destruction of a couple of buildings, all while listening to Williams’ sermon on redemption and forgiveness. Once clear of the town the family decides its time to get out of dodge and head to what is seen as a haven for those running from US law…Mexico.
A quick trip over the border…what could go wrong?
The brothers travel to Mexico, where they hope to find clues about the fabled Aztec Gold of Juarez. They encounter a series of adversaries, from bandits and corrupt lawmen to their old comrades in arms. They meet a Mexican bandit named Juan “Juarez” Mendoza, who claims to know the location of the treasure. Ray and Thomas reluctantly team up with Juarez, who promises to lead them to the treasure in exchange for their help in dealing with his enemies. Ray the elder brother begins to have feelings for Marisa, a woman they end up tearing a town apart to save who ends up being the girlfriend of Mendoza. But Marisa has eyes for Thomas…
Conflicted Loyalties
As they progress, tensions rise between Ray and Thomas, fuelled by their different approaches to violence and morality. Thomas is more thoughtful and reserved, while Ray is quick-tempered and ruthless. William continually tries to mediate between his brothers, urging them to find a peaceful resolution and redemption.
Mendoza introduces the McCalls to an Apache Chief called Running River, who plans on waging war on the white man, and sends his son, Seeing Farther, down to Mexico to buy guns. Unbeknownst to Ray and Thomas the gun runner they are buying the weapons from is Colonel Barnsby. The ex-Confederate Colonel makes a deal with Mendoza to help him find the gold if he hands over the McCalls…and some of the gold to rebuild and reinforce the Confederate Army.
Betrayal and Revelations
Through a whole heap of trouble with kidnappings, betrayal and fighting alongside Native American tribes, the brothers eventually discover that the Gold of Juarez is hidden in an ancient Aztec temple. They also learn that Juarez plans to betray them and keep the treasure for himself. A climactic confrontation ensues, where the brothers must fight Juarez and his men to claim the treasure.
Mendoza interrogates William on how to use the amulet given to him by the Apache to find and open the vault full of gold. Mendoza orders the youngest McCalls execution before Marisa escapes with the amulet and tells Thomas how to use it, Thomas doesn’t want to leave Ray but decides he has to, while Ray stays behind to save William.
Ray and William head to the location of the gold where they catch up to Thomas and Marisa…the brothers face off…Ray is besides himself with rage…William stands between them, pleading with them to end this madness. He unfortunately reaches for his bible, Ray thinks he is being betrayed again and opens fire killing his own brother, at this moment the chamber is attacked by Barnsby, the brothers finally reunited in trust for the first time in years repel their old platoon and finally kill Colonel Barnsby.
The brothers then make a decision based on choices made throughout the game, that the gold is indeed cursed and leave it behind or whether they take it with them. Either way Ray renounces violence and takes William’s place as the family preacher, even performing the wedding ceremony for Thomas and Marisa, before the three head off to Texas. This peaceful preacher version of Ray is the one found in the previous game, Call of Juarez back in 2006.
Characters
Ray McCall
Ray starts as a hardened soldier driven by anger and a thirst for revenge. Throughout the game, his character is challenged by William’s plea for redemption and Thomas’s more measured approach. His journey is one of grappling with his violent instincts and the desire for a better life, eventually ending as a peaceful preacher.
Thomas McCall
Thomas is more introspective and moralistic compared to Ray. His character development revolves around balancing his loyalty to his brother and his own sense of right and wrong. His relationship with Ray is central to the story’s tension and resolution. Thomas is the perfect middle child, showcasing the violent and impatient tendencies of his older brother Ray and the peaceful approach of his younger brother William.
William McCall
As the moral compass of the trio, William’s role is crucial in pushing Ray and Thomas towards redemption. His death is a pivotal moment that forces his brothers to reevaluate their lives and choices. Although his two older brothers are the main characters, William could be seen as easily the most important.
Juan ‘Juarez’ Mendoza
Juarez serves as the primary antagonist, representing greed and betrayal. His interactions with the McCall brothers highlight the darker aspects of human nature and the corrupting influence of the treasure.
Marisa
The wedge in between two brothers, she does whatever she needs to to survive, including dating Juan Mendoza. She finally becomes inspired by the faith shown by William and eventually chooses the brothers side.
Colonel Jeremy Barnsby
The brother’s former commander is a constant foil, operating behind the scenes to orchestrate his revenge. In the despair of losing a war in which he whole heartedly believed in, he broke and blamed the brothers for the loss and vowed to personally take revenge.
One thing the ‘Old West’ is full of is symbolism
Redemption:
Like the other biggest game franchise from the cowboy era, Rockstar’s Red Dead games, the quest for redemption is a central theme in this genre. This is shown particularly through William’s influence on his brothers and their ultimate decision regarding the treasure
Brotherhood and Loyalty:
Bound in Blood is really an apt title for this game, being reference to the complex relationship between Ray and Thomas, marked by loyalty, rivalry, and conflict, drives much of the game’s emotional and narrative weight.
Greed and Corruption:
The pursuit of the Gold of Juarez symbolises the destructive power of greed, leading to betrayal and violence among those who seek it.
Moral Ambiguity:
The game explores the moral ambiguity of its characters, particularly the McCall brothers, who are neither purely good nor evil but struggle with their own flaws and past actions. From their start in the Confederate Army, which in pop culture are often labelled as “the bad guys”, right to when they begin working for corrupt crime lords. Each character in this game goes through trials and tribulations and change in their own way for the better.
Gameplay
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood offers perfectly solid first-person shooter mechanics with a mix of traditional gunplay and some unique character abilities.
Character Abilities: Players can switch between Ray and Thomas, each with distinct skills. Ray is more of a fighter being better at close combat, can dual-wield pistols, and use dynamite, while Thomas excels at long-range combat, can use a lasso to climb, and fire a bow. This duality adds a layer of strategy, as players must choose the best brother for specific situations and leads to a chance to replay the entire game from a different perspective, with different dialogue and paths for each McCall.
Duel System: The game features a very impressive duelling mechanic where players engage in traditional one-on-one gunfights. This adds an authentic Western feel and breaks up the standard shooting sequences, and the system in this game is possibly the best duel system in gaming.
Cover System: A dynamic cover system allows players to take cover behind objects and lean out to shoot, enhancing tactical gameplay.
Horseback Riding: Several missions involve horseback riding, adding variety and a sense of scale to the environments.
Graphics and Sound
The game utilises the Chrome Engine 4, which delivers impressively detailed environments, realistic character models, and lighting effects, for the time. The Western landscapes, from dusty towns to lush forests and rocky canyons, were visually appealing, genuinely on a par with the first Red Dead Redemption…just on a much smaller scale.
The sound design complements the visuals with authentic weapon sounds, ambient noises, and a fitting musical score. The voice acting is strong, particularly for the McCall brothers, adding depth to the characters and story.
Multiplayer
The multiplayer mode offers several game types, including traditional death-matches and team-based objectives. While not revolutionary, it provides additional replay value with a variety of maps and character classes. Players earn money to unlock new weapons and abilities, encouraging continued play.
Conclusion
Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood weaves a genuinely compelling tale of family, loyalty, and the quest for redemption against the backdrop of the Civil War and the Wild West. Through the journey of the McCall brothers, the game delves into themes of greed, morality, and the search for a better life, offering a rich and immersive narrative experience. It provides a fantastic background as a prequel for Ray, but also a good narrative for those with no prior knowledge of the series. It is a real shame that this path wasn’t kept up for later titles.
Joys
- Compelling Storyline – The narrative is engaging, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps players invested.
- Character Abilities – The distinct skills of Ray and Thomas add depth and variety to the gameplay.
- Atmospheric Setting – The game effectively captures the essence of the Wild West, with detailed environments and authentic sound design.
- Duel System – The duelling mechanic is an impressive and standout feature that enhances the Western experience.
Cons
- Linear Gameplay – The game is really linear, with limited exploration and side quests, which may reduce replay value for some players.
- Multiplayer – While pretty competent, the multiplayer mode lacks innovation and may not hold players’ attention long-term compared to other shooters of the time.
- AI Issues – Enemy AI can be inconsistent, with occasional moments of predictability or poor decision-making.
