12 Is Better Than 6 by Ink Stains Games

There is a lot that can be said about the quality of products making it through Steam Greenlight lately, but when a game is Greenlit in only four days there is usually a good reason. This is the case with “12 Is Better Than 6”, the upcoming Wild West themed shooter from Ink Stains Games. Its hand drawn visual style certainly makes for a striking first impression, but we were fortunate enough to also play an extended version of the pre-alpha currently available.

The game is set in 1873, but features some action packed Hotline Miami inspired gameplay. Starring Juan, a character who is on the run after he was wrongfully incarcerated, you are required to sneak and shoot your way around the Wild West on a quest for revenge. Most of our time with the pre-alpha was spent blasting bad guys and chatting to the locals, but according to the developers the full game will also feature hidden treasures, train robberies and other activities popularized by the Western genre.

Enemies shoot to kill in this game and bullets really, really hurt, so avoiding combat when possible will keep your character alive for longer. A quick knife to the back of an enemy will stain the beautiful ink drawn visuals with red without alerting his friends, but sometimes gunfights are inevitable. It’s not a matter of holding down the trigger either as you need to cock the revolver before shooting. This makes the shoot-outs even tenser and really tests your reflexes. Speaking of the weapons, the game will feature authentic Wild West fare, such as Winchesters, revolvers and double-barreled guns.

12 Is Better Than 6 is already half way through development, with a lot of features already in place, according to the developers, so a successful Kickstarter will enable them to focus on working full-time on the game. The pre-alpha is a great showcase of what the completed game will offer, but hopefully the stretch goals for more enemies, levels and multiplayer modes are also reached. Oh, and in case anyone is wondering about the strange title, being judged by a jury of 12 people is better than having your coffin carried by six people! 12 Is Better Than 6 has a goal of £15,000 on Kickstarter, so head over to the project page for more information and to make a pledge. A pre-alpha version is also available to the public, so grab it and check out what the game has to offer.