Video games often use tropes as a way to create familiar and recognizable storylines and characters.Tropesare common themes, plot devices, or character types seen in various media forms. One of the most popular tropes in video games is theWild West, set in the American frontier during the late 19th century.
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The Wild West trope typically features cowboys, gunslingers, and outlaws in a rugged and dangerous environment. Games likeRed Dead RedemptionandCall of Juarezhave used this trope to create immersive Western worlds that allow players to explore, hunt, and engage in shootouts. Additionally, the Western genre allows one to explore morality, justice, and survival themes in a unique and exciting setting. However, not all games use the Wild West trope for immersion. Some also use it for humor and parody. Let’s take a look.
8Bastion
Bastionis an action role-playing game that was released in 2011. It is set ina colorful, post-apocalyptic world. In the game, players control the protagonist, the Kid, as he moves through various levels, battling enemies and discovering the truth about his world.
Bastionuses the “Wild West” trope by incorporating old-timey elements, such as a narrator with a western drawl and a soundtrack that features banjos and folk songs. These elements give the game a classic, western feel, adding to the overall atmosphere and experience of playing Bastion.
7Cartoon Network Racing
Cartoon Network Racingis a fast-paced video game that features some of themost popular characters from Cartoon Networkshows. The game revolves around a high-speed race in which players must first use their wits and skills to reach the finish line.
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One of the unique aspects of the game is its use of “The Wild West” trope, which is evident in the setting of “The Good, The Bad, and The Stupid.” This cowboy town is complete with a saloon, train cars, a post office, and gallows, which gives the game a classic western feel.
6Chip ‘N Dale: Rescue Rangers 2
Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers 2is a classic platformer game that features the famousduo of Chip and Dale as they embark on an exciting adventure.One of the levels in the game takes place in the Wild West section of Fat Cat’s Amusement Park.
The level includes thrilling Minecart Madness elements, and players must navigate through the dangers of the Western World to find one of the three keys to Fat Cat’s control room. The boss of the level is a cat magician who will challenge players with his playing card tricks. This level effectively uses the “The Wild West” trope, bringing a classic Western experience to the game.
5Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath Of Cortex
Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortexis a popularvideo game with a lovable protagonist, Crash Bandicoot, who must stop the evil Dr. Cortex from taking over the world. One of the themes in the game is the Wild West, which is represented in the levels “Smokey and the Bandicoot,” “Gold Rush,” and “Ghost Town.”
These levels bring players on an exciting journey through a wild west town, a platforming level filled with handcars and dynamite-throwing enemies, and a mining race in a ghost town. The use of the Wild West trope in this game adds a fun twist to the already entertaining gameplay, making it a must-play for fans of platforming games.
4Goofy’s Hysterical History Tour
Goofy’s Hysterical History Touris a classic platformer game thattakes players on a journey through time and history.The game’s second stage takes place in a Wild West museum exhibit, complete with dusty deserts, tumbleweeds, and wooden shacks.
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The stage boss is none other than Pete, who has disguised himself as a gunslinger to thwart Goofy’s progress. The stage’s design, music, and gameplay all come together to create an immersive experience that captures the essence of the Wild West.
3Plants VS. Zombies 2: It’s About Time
Plants vs. Zombies 2: It’s About Timeis a popular tower defense game that transports players through different time periods as they defend their garden from zombies. One of these periods is the Wild West, where players must navigate a western-themed environment filled with cowboy zombies, minecart rails, and other western-inspired obstacles.
The Wild West trope is used to create an exciting and unique game experience, with players being able to usewestern-themed plants like the “Pea Shooter” to defeat the incoming zombie horde.The game also features western-inspired zombies such as rodeo bulls, cowboys, and chicken wranglers, adding to the overall western feel of the game.
2Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time
Sly Cooper: Thieves in Timeis a popular platform game that takes players on an exciting adventure through time. One of the worlds in the game is Cotton Mouth Bluff, which is set in the Wild West. This world features guards in theform of coyotes, jackalopes, and steers, a train that runs through the world, a boastful armadillo sheriff, and saloons serving sarsaparilla.
The caper in this world involves robbing a train, and the player must use their skills and cunning to complete the task. The use of the Wild West trope in this game adds a fun and unique twist to the traditional Sly Cooper formula, making for a truly entertaining experience.
1Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2is a popular video game based on the iconic animated movie. The gamefollows the adventures of Woody and his friendsas they navigate through various levels and obstacles. One of the standout levels in the game is “Al’s Penthouse,” where players can find a room full of Woody’s merchandise and listen to a piece of western-style theme music.
In the game, players face a Gunslinger mini-boss as well, who adds an extra layer of excitement and challenge to the gameplay. The Wild West trope is evident throughout this level, as players are transported to a world of cowboys, gunslingers, and western frontier adventures.
