Despite their rich history as a staple of media, the Western has never really caught on in gaming. Though there has been the occasional title in the subgenre, even a couple that made it big, it often seems like a fiction that isn’t mined often. Switchblade Monkeys, the team behind the upcoming Secret Ponchos, is looking to change that, and I recently got a chance to play their upcoming game firsthand.
Secret Ponchos is a pure multiplayer isometric shooter, designed to be friendly to short game sessions. Each of the five playable Outlaws, including the recently added Matador, has their own weapons and special attacks. Across all gametypes, the action takes place from an isometric viewpoint, with players attempting to complete varied objectives.
The final version of the game will have many game modes, but for the purposes of the preview I focused on Domination mode, which was the most complete and helped encapsulate what Secret Ponchos is all about. In this mode, two teams of two players battle to gain a kill difference of more than five than the other team. This immediately struck me as a cleverly designed mode; if the teams are extremely mismatched in skill, the game will be over quickly, instead of prolonging any dread for the losers or lack of challenge for the winners. Meanwhile, more evenly matched teams may wind up slugging it out until the timer runs out.
The gameplay is quick and responsive, with each outlaw controlling admirably and having a versatile skillset. Phantom Poncho’s bullwhip and shotgun may not reach very far, but he can kill an opposing player in record time. The Deserter is a much slower character, but his high health pool, ability to heal, and long-ranged service rifle make him a walking artillery cannon. The only problem I had while in the heat of the game is that a couple of the design choices felt a little awkward to me. Though it’s an intentional decision by the designers, having to hold down right-click to switch into firing mode, as opposed to being able to do so on the run, takes a lot of the spontenaity and unpredictability out of the game. On the bright side, it does allow a bit of strategy and deliberate pacing, so it likely falls to player preference.
For $15, Secret Ponchos might be a fun multiplayer distraction for PC and PS4 gamers, but it’ll fall on Switchblade Monkeys to ensure there’s enough game types and outlaws to keep the replay value high.
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