Helldorado

A very nice, highly tactical game with an unusual difficulty curve (not really a curve), some patches are exceptionally hard and require pin point timing and planning where as some scenarios you can simply run in and punch. I got into the series when I got a demo of the 1st game "Desperado: Wanted Dead or Alive" free with a box a cereal (what a great promotion). I remember spending hours and hours silently knocking out every enemy in the one demo level and hiding their bodies in various outbuildings. This game still has the same great core game play with some less welcome mechanics bolted on such as the 1st person mode and movie export mode. This title improves upon the originals planning system in which you can set up satisfying combinations involving all your people silently taking down how a town. Some people may be put off by the large quantity of quick-saves and loading, but in this tittle I see it as slowly creating a masterpiece stroke by stroke. All in all I highly recommend this title or if you can get hold of it cheap, then "Desperado: Wanted Dead or Alive"

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imagine after all these year and this game still one of the superiors in stealth tactics . I love it

Ну стратежка на диком западе, это уникальное сочетания, тем более тех лет, поэтому за идею лайк, но игра устарела, конечно.

Helldorado is a standalone expansion to the second game in the Desperados series (Desperados 2: Cooper's Revenge), so you can think about it as Desperados 2.5 if you like. I really enjoyed the first game in the Desperados series (Wanted Dead of Alive), but this game not so much. It was made during a time when everything was moving to 3D, and the game suffered from the transition. The charm of the isometric levels was lost and everything was harder to control. I didn't find the story or the gameplay as engaging as the first game. If you enjoyed the first game, I'd say skip this game and go straight to Desperados 3, where the game went back to its roots.

太棒啦！真的太棒啦！这个2代的资料片比本体做的强多了，相比起来，感觉2代更像是一个未完成的半成品，而这部HELLDORADO才应该是真正赏金2代想呈现的样子。它在保留二代的诸多创新的前提下改进了大量的痛点，并做了进一步的创新，画质更是肉眼可见的提升。组合技的这个创意我觉得蛮有意思的，虽然有部分组合技感觉有点意义不明，比如医生的毒气+凯特的化妆粉LOL。另外感觉行动视角下，敌人的灵敏度增加了，这样就不会造成像2代本体一杆枪从头杀到尾的不合逻辑情况发生。整体的操作丝滑度比二代流畅多了。过场CG与二代一样依旧采用了PPT手绘画风，真还蛮耳目一新的。这个资料片对赏金2的挽救，让我想起了类似仙剑5前传挽救仙剑5口碑的感觉，太棒了！好评好评！强推本作~ 个人对赏金系列的评价是：赏金3>HELLDORADO>赏金1>赏金2

Barely workable garbage thank God we got a proper desperado game in desperados 3. Even when this dumpster fire does work it gives you the worst designed levels in the series.

Helldorado is a real-time tactics game developed by Spellbound Entertainment and published by THQ Nordic that brings players back into the unforgiving world of the Wild West. It serves as both a continuation and a spin-off of the Desperados series, carrying forward the same blend of stealth, strategy, and squad-based action that defined its predecessors. Set in 1883, the story begins in Santa Fe and follows bounty hunter John Cooper and his team as they uncover a conspiracy involving kidnappings, corruption, and a dangerous web of enemies. The game captures the grit and lawlessness of the frontier while layering in complex tactical challenges that demand careful thought and precision. The narrative builds directly off the events of Desperados II: Cooper’s Revenge, but it functions well enough as a standalone experience for those unfamiliar with earlier titles. Fans of the series, however, will appreciate the return of familiar characters and the continuation of lingering story threads. Missions draw players through classic Western scenarios: train heists, jailbreaks, ambushes in dusty towns, and tense standoffs in saloons. These scenarios are not mere backdrops but carefully designed arenas filled with opportunities and hazards, pushing players to adapt and think creatively. Gameplay remains rooted in squad-based tactics, with six different characters each bringing unique skills to the table. Cooper is skilled with pistols and knife throws, while others specialize in explosives, disguise, or crowd control. The game introduces “combo actions,” where two characters can combine their abilities to create more effective results, such as pairing stealthy takedowns with distractions or using explosives in tandem with environmental traps. The option to switch between an overhead tactical view and a more zoomed-in third-person view allows for different play styles, making missions feel dynamic and layered. This dual perspective system also supports a cinematic quality, especially when combined with the built-in “movie mode” that lets players record and replay their exploits. One of the defining characteristics of Helldorado is its punishing difficulty. The game expects precision and patience, often requiring players to study enemy patrols, experiment with different strategies, and repeat sections multiple times until they succeed. Even early missions are uncompromising, and success relies on mastering each character’s strengths and learning how to coordinate the group effectively. For some, this steep difficulty curve creates an engaging and rewarding experience where victory feels earned through skill and persistence. For others, the trial-and-error approach can feel tedious, making progress seem more like grinding through obstacles than enjoying tactical depth. The presentation captures the essence of the Western setting with a good variety of locations, from desert towns and sprawling ranches to railroads and New Orleans-inspired streets. While the visuals were serviceable at the time of release, they show their age today, with stiff animations and occasional clunky camera angles. The audio design, however, enhances the atmosphere with a solid soundtrack full of Western motifs, environmental effects that make towns and saloons feel alive, and gunfire that punctuates tense situations. Voice acting is functional, though uneven, with some performances enhancing immersion while others sound unrefined. Replay value comes from the flexibility of missions and the variety of ways players can approach objectives. Different combinations of characters, the use of combo actions, and experimenting with stealth versus more aggressive strategies provide room for creativity. Difficulty settings also allow players to test themselves further once they’ve mastered the basics, though the harsh learning curve ensures that only dedicated players are likely to push through to the end. Some repetition does creep in, as certain maps are reused with altered objectives or enemy placements, but the overall mission variety helps offset this. Helldorado stands as a niche but worthwhile entry in the real-time tactics genre. It doesn’t try to simplify its systems or compromise its challenge, making it a title best suited for players who enjoy meticulous planning, stealth-heavy gameplay, and the satisfaction of overcoming tough scenarios. It may lack the polish and accessibility of more modern strategy titles, but for fans of the Desperados series or Commandos-style tactics games, it delivers a demanding and atmospheric Wild West adventure. For those willing to embrace its unforgiving nature, Helldorado offers a satisfying mix of strategy, tension, and Old West storytelling. Rating: 7/10

Retro, toporny western strategiczny. Daje trochę paździerzem, ale grać się da.