The call of Juarez

This first-person shooter is a mixed bag. It should appeal to Wild West fans, but more discerning gamers may be put off by a lack of overall cohesion. The plot starts with cowboy Billy Candle returning to his hometown, to find himself quickly accused of murder and on the run, with a hired killer turned preacher, the Rev. Ray McCall, in hot pursuit.

The action jumps between the two characters — the more straightforward action which follows the psychotic reverend is much more enjoyable. Not only does this storyline see the reverend wield everything from shotguns to a Bible as weapons in his attempt to hunt down Billy, he comes with a bullet-time quick-draw mode. Billy’s segment involves far more sneaking around and platform jumping which can become irritating at times. Worth a rental by any means, but only Western aficionados will be prompted to part with their cash.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

Medal of honor: Airborne

Great, just what we need: another entry in the hideously overcrowded Second World War first-person-shooter genre. But to be fair, Medal of Honor: Airborne has new features that make it worthy of purchase. Players parachute into the action, and can set their own level of difficulty straight off the bat. It’s a refreshing departure from the usual combat fare, and adds a genuine challenge.

The single-player campaign covers the most important airborne missions of WWII, although the game takes a couple of levels to get going. It also features an online mode in which up to 12 participants can play in ranked (and unranked) battles, in three game types and across six maps. The game isn’t without problems — the graphics aren’t brilliant and the machine guns are difficult to aim because of the excessive recoil. But it serves up enough intense action and imaginative gameplay for a lengthy tour of duty