El Paso, Elsewhere

A phenomenal experience given how no one has ever come this close to Max Payne ever. From the voice acting to the level design, the atmosphere and the gunplay hit just as right if not better than Max Payne 2 (maybe not the level design but that’s what sequels are for). Give it a whirl, totally worth it at full price in my opinion, the devs deserve it.

This game belongs in El Paso, My heart

It would be worth recommending if it was a quarter of the length. 50 levels is far too many when none of them are particularly standout in layout or design, and all 6 - very simple - enemy types + 1 equally simple recurring miniboss are introduced before the halfway point. The game also never really raises the enemy density to throw an actual challenge at you, so it just gets really boring really fast. And then the final boss is a reactionary fight against a single bullet sponge with no ads at all...questionable choice at best. The game's vocal tracks are great and the highlight of the playthrough, but because of the inane number of levels, they end up feeling really few and far between.

Their is a wonderful character to this game. Interesting story and fun combat that reminds me of Hotline Miami. It wears its Max Payne influence on its sleeve yet manages to create something completely original.

El Paso, Elsewhere is a third-person action shooter developed and published by Strange Scaffold that blends supernatural horror, neo-noir storytelling, and emotionally charged psychological drama into a uniquely memorable experience. Inspired by the stylish slow-motion gunplay of classic action games while building a far more personal and emotionally vulnerable narrative, the game takes players deep beneath a roadside motel in El Paso, Texas where reality has collapsed into a violent supernatural nightmare. What initially appears to be a fast-paced retro-inspired shooter gradually reveals itself as a haunting story about grief, addiction, emotional abuse, and the painful process of confronting a toxic past. The story follows James Savage, a monster hunter descending through an impossible motel that stretches far beneath the desert into distorted supernatural dimensions filled with vampires, werewolves, fallen angels, and other horrors. His mission is to stop Draculae, his former lover and the powerful ruler of the monsters inhabiting the collapsing structure. While the premise sounds chaotic and exaggerated on the surface, the emotional core of the narrative remains surprisingly grounded. The motel becomes more than just a setting for combat; it evolves into a symbolic representation of trauma, memory, and emotional collapse. One of the game’s greatest strengths is its writing. James constantly narrates his thoughts throughout the journey, creating a deeply personal atmosphere where players are not simply fighting monsters, but also witnessing the emotional breakdown of a man trapped between guilt, regret, anger, and lingering attachment. The relationship between James and Draculae is written with far more emotional complexity than most action shooters attempt. Rather than presenting a simple hero-versus-villain conflict, the game explores the psychological damage caused by toxic relationships and emotional dependency in ways that feel painfully human beneath the supernatural themes. Combat is heavily inspired by classic cinematic shooters and quickly becomes one of the most entertaining aspects of the experience. Players dive through the air in slow motion while unloading pistols, shotguns, rifles, and explosive weapons into hordes of supernatural enemies. The gunplay captures the exaggerated style of early 2000s action games while maintaining enough speed and intensity to feel modern and responsive. Slow-motion dives become central to the gameplay, allowing players to avoid incoming attacks while turning chaotic battles into stylish action sequences filled with flying debris and gunfire. Enemy variety helps maintain momentum throughout the campaign. Werewolves rush aggressively toward the player, vampires attack from range, and grotesque supernatural creatures force constant movement during combat encounters. Battles often become frantic and overwhelming, encouraging players to remain mobile while carefully managing positioning and resources. Although the combat systems are relatively straightforward mechanically, the pacing and presentation keep the action consistently exciting. The atmosphere is where El Paso, Elsewhere truly distinguishes itself from other shooters. The game constantly shifts between gritty noir storytelling and surreal psychological horror. One moment players are blasting through motel corridors filled with monsters, while the next they are exploring dreamlike environments shaped by fragmented memories and emotional trauma. The motel itself becomes increasingly distorted as the descent continues, reflecting the psychological deterioration at the center of the story. This constant blending of action and emotional horror gives the game a unique identity that feels both stylish and deeply uncomfortable. Visually, the game embraces a retro-inspired presentation that intentionally resembles older PlayStation 2-era shooters. Character models, environmental textures, and visual effects prioritize atmosphere and style over photorealism. The lower-fidelity visuals ultimately work in the game’s favor because they reinforce the noir tone and surreal horror aesthetic. Combined with dramatic lighting, heavy shadows, and bursts of violent action, the presentation creates an atmosphere that feels raw and emotionally unstable. The soundtrack is another major highlight. Hip-hop music, emotionally charged vocal performances, and moody instrumentals accompany both combat and quieter narrative moments, giving the game a distinct musical identity rarely seen within the genre. Music often functions almost like an extension of James’ internal state, intensifying scenes involving rage, heartbreak, grief, and emotional collapse. The soundtrack adds tremendous personality to the experience and elevates many moments beyond simple action spectacle. Voice acting is equally impressive. James’ narration carries significant emotional weight, and the performances throughout the game help maintain the balance between noir dialogue and emotional vulnerability. Conversations feel natural despite the surreal setting, making the relationships and emotional conflicts feel believable even while surrounded by supernatural chaos. However, the game is not without flaws. Combat encounters can occasionally become repetitive during longer sections, especially when large waves of enemies are introduced in similar environments. Enemy AI remains functional but fairly simple, and certain battles rely more on overwhelming numbers than tactical variety. Some players may also find the intentionally rough visual presentation outdated rather than stylistically charming. The heavy focus on emotional narration and introspection may divide audiences as well. The game commits fully to its themes of trauma, heartbreak, addiction, and emotional abuse, which creates a consistently heavy atmosphere with very little relief. Players seeking a purely action-focused shooter may find parts of the narrative overly introspective or emotionally exhausting. Despite those shortcomings, El Paso, Elsewhere succeeds because of how fearlessly personal and emotionally honest it feels. Beneath the supernatural violence and stylish gunfights lies a deeply human story about pain, regret, and survival. The game transforms what could have been a nostalgic retro shooter into something emotionally powerful and surprisingly vulnerable. El Paso, Elsewhere ultimately stands out as one of the most distinctive indie action games in recent years. Its combination of fast-paced slow-motion combat, psychological horror, neo-noir storytelling, and emotionally raw writing creates an unforgettable experience filled with style, tension, and genuine emotional depth. While repetitive combat and heavy emotional themes may not appeal to every player, those willing to embrace its surreal atmosphere and deeply personal narrative will likely find El Paso, Elsewhere to be a powerful and haunting journey unlike almost anything else in the genre. Rating: 9/10

One. Good. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. Game

Really fun PS1 style callback to games like Max Payne, but there are a few things that really elevate it above it's inspirations. FIrstly, the story, acting and the music are fantastic editions on top of it's visual style. Really great stuff. Would have been easy to just have some run-and-gun-guy you've no attachment to, but for me it really sold me on it's protaganist as a realistic & nuanced character. Which wasn't exactly the easiest thing to do when you're mostly interating with things by John Woo diving while shooting! Great stuff! Great music too, didn't expect some of those tracks to get stuck in my head. Some really nice visuals aswell. There's a simplicity to the levels, which is a complement! No extra frills, just exacly whats needed without anything unnecessary. It's intended to just have plenty of areas to have interesting combat encounters. There's only a few enemy types, but in different combniations and different areas makes combat really engaging. Now much and all as I enjoyed the game (which I really really did), and this sounds like it would not be worth complenting, but it really is; the difficulty sliders are fantastic. Nearly every option in the game can be tweaked to your preference. Less health to infinite health, or maybe you just want to ajust the speed heal animations, or change how much you heal by. Enemy health, speed, slowmotion, just everything. It's the gold standard for difficulty and preference sliders. Just fantastic stuff!

Suitably short and tightly designed, arcadey yet character-driven, El Paso Elsewhere only begins to wear out its welcome once it's already in the final act and the plot is more to the forefront. It's primarily a Max Payne wannabe but it's a very good one. My only real complaint is that the boss fights feel clunky, but that's more than made up for with the rest of the experience.

Game was great, especially if you are nostalgic for Max Payne. I have been listening to the soundtrack long after playing the game, can't wait for the sequel!