Well, I finished the game...

[PZ]

The following contains some spoilers...


Some final thoughts:

• It took about 12 hours total to get through the entire game on the easiest setting.
• When you complete the game, you unlock an extra difficult setting.
• I encountered only a single bug or game glitch in which I had to restart from an earlier save, however, I do not have the patch installed.
• The trainer is an excellent way to w@&k your way through the story if you don't want to bother with being killed all the time.
• I love the sniper rifle; as you would expect, it is single shot, and looks like the one Clint Eastwood used in The Outlaw Josie Wales.
• The canoe chase scenes where there are numerous canoes and several Indians per boat reminded me of The Last of The Mohicans.
• There is a scene where the light filters through rocky canyons reminiscent of Monument Valley (where many westerns were filmed).  Lighting in general was very well done.
• The graphics turned out to be excellent once I hooked up a good monitor.
• I've still to play as Ray - the first time through the game I played each chapter as Thomas.  However, because i already know the story and the ending (you'd never guess the surprise ending) I'll probably start on ARMA2 and continue playing FC2 mostly.

In summary, I'd recommend COJ2 to anyone that loves westerns - as you w@&k your way through the game, you'll be reminded of many old westerns.  Personally, it will not have much replay value for me because you need not think about anything - all is scripted for you because this is a story, not a simulation.  I have to admit through that there were a couple of places in the game where you could become a bit emotional, just like in a good movie. 

For comparison (even though I have limited gaming experience), I'd compare this to Call of Duty 5, Brothers in Arms: Hells Highway, and Medal of Honor: Airborne.  I enjoyed each of those games, but played through only a single time due to the scripted nature.  Of them all however, I enjoyed COJ2 the most due to how well the story went.

[Art Blade]

I've read all your posts, PZ, including the screenshot topics you just created. I followed your detailed explanation from the start, which leaves me under the impression that I know the game, thanks for all that :)

CoJ2 was never really my cup of tea (neither am I a true western fan), and you helped me stay confident that way lol  :-X However, it was a good read and I'm glad you enjoyed the game. The screenshots were revealing and your additional remarks insightful. Some of the screenshots were beautiful indeed, and I too think the water looks great, as does the waterfall in one of your screenies. I had to laugh about your remark about changing monitors to discover that the game looks better on a better resolution  ;D

I hope you'll enjoy the "second part" when you swap roles with the other brother, I reckon there will be a few different aspects or side stories involved with that - so I'd definitely give that a go.

Pity the game just ends. Other than FC2 where you can keep playing or re-playing with different experiences each time... but that would be comparing apples with oranges, as you once said. However, 12 hours gaming time or even less (I think it took me roughly 5 to 7 hours to finish CoD5) is something I don't understand. Of course, if a game is 100% scripted, it will just end. Why don't devs leave some space for non-scripted gaming? In general, that's how FC2 worked: Have a plot, and have open world. If I follow strictly the plot, FC2 is a rather quick game too  ;D

[Fiach]

Thanks for all the info mate! Its great for me, as I have the game, but havent had a chance to start it yet, at least I can rest assured that I made a good choice.

Thanks for the bonus code and all the screenies, although I havent replied in each individual thread, I have read them avidly and appreciate them greatly.

Doing my best not to succumb to the lure of the spoiler thread, may have to check it out for ummmm research reasons :)

BTW, the stagecoach part you mentioned awhile back and its difficulty, how did you get past that in the end, was it character choice or just perserverence?

Thanks again :)

[DKM2]

I have to admit through that there were a couple of places in the game where you could become a bit emotional, just like in a good movie. 

Don't let the wife catch you crying in front of the computer.
You'll never hear the end of it...

[PZ]

@Art - Funny thing is that when the game ends, all you see on the screen is "The End" and the credits scroll, just like in a movie.  As to the time it took me to do the game, remember that I suck at gaming  ;D

@Fiach - I'm glad that you found the thread useful, an as to spoilers, I rely on them just so I can get through the game  ;)  About the stagecoach part - I was playing as Thomas so I get to throw knives (if you look at his vest, he must have a dozen of them).  At first, I tried all the guns thinking the knives wouldn't be as effective, but it turns out that Thomas can aim the knives much better than the guns.  Plus the fact that you have one in each hand (left/right mouse buttons throw) makes for devastating fire power.  I must admit though, that it took at least 5-6 tries to get past that point.  Luckily, the game automatically saves at "checkpoints" which evidently are placed at difficult spots so you don't need to rely on saving so much.

@DKM2 - are you kidding?  I usually use a "boss" key so that she doesn't see what I'm up to.  "What are you doing on the computer, dear?"  "Oh not much, just setting up the new N router..."  "Why are you crying then?"  "Tears of joy my dear...I finally finished it..."

[Art Blade]

lol - your wife: "Really. I thought I've heard gunshots and someone holler, almost like an Indian war cry. Does setting up your router involve that?"  ;D ;D ;D

[Fiach]

Cool, thanks for the tip. Checkpoints can be a godsend .... or the spawn of satan, depending on the game. Halo 1 can be quite trying with its checkpoint system. So its nice to see they are well implemented in CoJ.

[PZ]

lol - your wife: "Really. I thought I've heard gunshots and someone holler, almost like an Indian war cry. Does setting up your router involve that?"  ;D ;D ;D

haha, that's why I wear headphones!

@Fiach - glad to be of help - please don't hesitate to ask if you come across other stumbling blocks - there are quite a few.  Will help wherever I can.

[eor123]

Topic's been dead a while, but...

I just finished COJ2 and enjoyed it -- not a much as Far Cry 2 but it is the only game I kept and played all the way through in my search for something after FC2.

Not particularly a fan of the western genre but I am a fan of FPS's that bear some semblance to reality and have a plausible story line. The sci-fi / fantasy / cartoonish stuff just doesn't w@&k for me.

This game would be so much more fun if the AI was developed a little more thoroughly. For instance, when you rescue the rancher's daughter or people being robbed by bandits along the road, it seems someone should say something -- rather than just disappearing or standing there staring at you.

I'm still trying to figure out why there are buckets of water everywhere when you only use them in the game a couple of times. I put one on front of my horse to see if if would drink but nothing happened. As they say...you can lead a horse to water....

I wonder how many prefer to play Thomas on the first time through? And why?

Personally, I liked his hat better.  ;D 

Love that "Failure. You are dead. " screen. Saw that quite a bit during the high noon standoffs. Helps to crank up the controller sensitivity a tad. 

[PZ]

It's been a while since I played the game, but I liked to go through as Thomas because I enjoyed the sound of Ray's voice (his arrogant manner), and the unique way he had of saying things.

Several of us are waiting for Red Dead Redemption, which is an open world western shooter that looks quite promising - you might enjoy that one as well.

[eor123]

Been watching the trailers for that one and it does look promising.

 

[JRD]

... but I am a fan of FPS's that bear some semblance to reality and have a plausible story line. The sci-fi / fantasy / cartoonish stuff just doesn't w@&k for me.

Welcome to the club...  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

[eor123]

Other than the high noon duels that I seem to find so hard to master, I don't like how the game keeps rushing me along -- typical linear play.

If I take some time to locate all the secrets or money in an area,  my damn brother keeps taunting me. I can ignore him but when I get the "Failure!" screen I can't ignore that.

I guess battles and gunfights are somewhat time-critical.  ;D

   

[Dweller_Benthos]

Yeah, that was my big gripe with the game too, even in the more open areas of the missions, you can't wander around and look for stuff, or just at the scenery, if you get too far from your brother, it's the end. The sections in between missions where you can wander around at will were pretty cool, exploring, getting bounties for bad guys, stuff like that. I wouldn't have minded the main missions, you have to expect some linear action in this type of game, but making EVERY mission essentially an escort mission was a bit dull. At least it seems your brother can't be killed no matter what, you just have to stay close to him.

[eor123]

I went back and played through as Ray, but didn't collect many more secrets. There just doesn't seem enough time to search for them in regular game play without suffering through several restarts as a result of your brother getting killed. I might try it on Easy to see if you get more time to search.

I still haven't figured out the mechanics of the co-op concentration mode where the two brothers kick in a door and enter a room full of enemies.

I live not far from Fort Smith and an uncle wrote a book about the Deputy Marshals based there who rode the Indian Territory. I was happy to see a segment of the game played there.

I sure enjoy watching Marisa walk.  ;D   

[PZ]

I too had problems with cooperative concentration mode - it seems my timing was always off which ruined it.  I did enjoy the differences in concentration mode when you played each of the two brother's roles.  :-X

The concentration mode reminds me of the VATS in Fallout 3

[eor123]

I located a walk through with the approximate locations of the "secrets."

I went back through on Easy difficulty level so I could better concentrate on locating the hidden scrolls.

There are 89.

I collected 87.  :D

Failed... even with a cheat sheet.  ;D

The 'bookkeeping" for the scrolls is a needlessly complicated. You can get an over all total in the Statistics section at any time but can't see how many you have collected in each chapter until you have completed that particular chapter...and you can only see how many your particular character has collected in that chapter.

Unless you have a photographic memory or keep a manual record of what you collected as the other character, when you see that 3 of 5 secrets have been collected at the end of a chapter, you don't know if you have left two behind or if you got 0, 1, or 2 playing as the other character.

In retrospect, I should have designated one of the characters as the scroll collector. It would have made keeping track of them MUCH easier.

I have some clues as to what chapters may have scrolls remaining, but it is going to be a very tedious process if I pursue them.

[eor123]

Great...now I have 88 of 89 secrets and have the unaccounted to secret narrowed down to only four of five chapters.

The walk through I was using was a bit lacking in details and I had to back up with a different one.

In case anyone is interested, here is a good and complete walk through of COJ2

http://www.gamefaqs.com/computer/doswin/file/955866/57374

If I had any sense I'd just walk away and start another title, but I can't. I guess I'm like Ray.  ;D

[Art Blade]

nice of you to post that link :) Maybe some players are interested in another playthrough now :)

I can understand what you are doing, it's just the satisfaction of going "YESSSS" when you found that last bugger  ;D Not the same as a systematic treasure hunt from scratch :)

[eor123]

I found the "sumbitch," as Thomas would say.  ;D

There are TWO safes in front of the Ghost Town bank building in Chapter XIII. I've only seen the first one and been opening it on successive play-throughs, finding nothing and assuming I had grabbed the secret the first time through. The second walk through I read mentioned that it was in an "open" safe. Since the first one is closed, I thought I'd look around some more, just in case.   

The second safe is a few steps behind the first and is obscured by the fog unless you are right on top of it. 

Figures the last problematic secret would be in Chapter 13.

Now I can concentrate on completing the game on the Hard difficulty setting without listening to Thomas complain that I am too slow or getting "Failed!" messages because I'm checking secrets locations.

I don't know if I'll tackle Very Hard or not. I can't imagine how I'll defeat the snipers or gunslingers on that setting...but I never thought I could beat Far Cry 2 on Infamous either.

There's no guarantee I'm going to beat it on Hard, for that matter. The final gunfight and showdown were pretty ugly even on Medium. I died a lot.

I showed COJ2 to a few friends and they all say it looks like fun and would like to try it.

I've gotten kinda attached to it. I enjoy the period weapons and think the developers did a good job with them. If the two chapters with the quests were expanded into a more open world game like FC2, imagine what a hoot this would be!

   

[PZ]

... If the two chapters with the quests were expanded into a more open world game like FC2, imagine what a hoot this would be!

Absolutely - if the entire game was open, it would be a great game.  This is what I'm hoping for Red Dead Redemption  :-X

[DKM2]

I finally got around to picking this up over the holidays too.
It was quite fun once I got a handle on the gunfight dueling thing.

Here's the main Fan / Mod site I found;
http://www.cojmodding.com/

The whole design suite seems to be available and is quite in-depth for mission design.
They have about 20 extra missions for single player you can try, they're
not as good as the game, but...

I wish I had the time to try a write a few missions, it looks interesting.

[eor123]

Hey thanks!

[PZ]

Great find DKM2  :-X

I wasn't even aware that a mod site exists, and a quick glance revealed that there are currently 111 maps to download - this opens up the game all over again, and despite the linear nature, it is a fun play  ;D

[fragger]

Absolutely - if the entire game was open, it would be a great game.  This is what I'm hoping for Red Dead Redemption  :-X

Hear hear, I love the idea of an open-world western-themed game.