Westward 3: Gold Rush
Game Review

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Westward 3 is the third entry in the hit Westward game series. This game - which can be classified as a "village" simulation game - has elements of strategy, time management, resource management and simulation in it, and is similar to games such as My Tribe and the Warcraft series.

The Westward series came out strong with their first chapter Westward, which featured a fresh take on the resource management games and was uniquely set in the Wild West. It was then followed by a groundbreaking sequel in Westward 2 that added a 3D look to the game and increased the graphical and techonological complexity, making the game look sleek and fresh. This third game follows in this tradition and doesn't disappoint, giving us another epic adventure as pioneers settling in the harsh landscape of the Wild West.

The gameplay in Westward 3 is very similar to that in Westward 2. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it! What it does though, is introduce us to a brand new story, with new quests, new buildings and new landscapes to explore.

There's gold in them there hills! The pioneers have discovered gold in northern California, and the settlers are starting to head west and try their luck in gold rush country. Just like in Westward 2, you have a choice in taking control of one of three pioneers. Each these new pioneers have different abilities that give you different advantages in the game, and each comes with their own backstory and personality.

The story evolves as you complete the many scenarios in the game. Each scenario also introduces you to new gameplay concepts. You start off learning the basics of the game, and as you progress through the scenarios, you will have to begin managing more and more resources and build more complicated and expensive buildings. All the while taking care of your people and protecting them from the land and the wilderness.

This game appears more polished than its predecessors, and the story and quests are pretty unique and entertaining. You can never get tired of stories of hardy pioneers making it big and stamping their mark in the harsh wilderness of the west.

However, the game mechanics is pretty much the same as in Westward 2. Most of the mechanics have been left intact, with just a little streamlining and a few graphical improvements. So don't expect this to be a totally brand new game. Think of it more like a continuation of the story of taming the wild west. Where Westward 2 dealt with pioneers arriving in the west and finding their way around, Westward 3 tells the story of how they found the motherlode that made their struggles worthwhile.

Westward 3 has a great feel to it, continuing the story of the Wild West. A great game both for veterans of the series and for newcomers alike. And when you're done, you can check out the other games in the Westward series.

Rating: 4.0/5.0  

Watch a demo video of the game!

 Download Westward 3: Gold Rush onto your computer

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