If you’re in the market for an action packed western vampire first-person-shooter (fps), then look no further; Darkwatch has exactly what you have been looking for. In fact, if you are in the market for a fast paced fps that has a solid single-player experience you have probably found it. Darkwatch isn’t your typical fps, but even with its rather limited multi-player options and its ten hour story mode, there is enough here to satisfy just about any fps fan.

Darkwatch puts you in the boots of outlaw train robber Jericho Cross. The game starts off with Cross pulling off his last job before retiring from a life of crime. Unfortunately Cross chooses the wrong train, and inadvertently releases Satan’s son Lazarus from captivity. Lazarus curses Cross with vampirism, and unleashes an army of skeletons and other baddies upon the world.

Cross immediately joins forces with Cassidy, who works for a secret society called the Darkwatch. Cassidy fights along your side for a while, but then points you in the direction of the Darkwatch’s headquarters. I don’t want to spoil too many story elements for you, so I’m not going to go into much more detail. But not to worry, you get an ample amount of cut-scenes to guide you through the story which even has an alternate ending depending on one choice you make later in the game.

Cross has plenty of weapons and abilities to battle the forces of Lazarus. You have your requisite pistols, shotgun and rifle. You also have dynamite, a crossbow with exploding arrows, and even a rocket launcher to give you a little extra oomph a little later on. Each weapon has its various benefits, and since you can only carry two firearms at a time you find yourself making some tactical decisions about which ones you think you will need. You can usually find a pistol lying around from a dispatched foe, so I stuck with the big guns most of the time. But even the standard pistol was satisfying in a fight due to the high number of rounds you can kick off at pretty quick.

In addition to the firearms Darkwatch has a decent melee attack with just about every weapon. You will probably spend a great deal of time hacking away at enemies with the butt of your shotgun because it is very efficient and conserves ammo. One good hit from the ax shaped butt of your shotgun will dispatch most basic foes.