Helldorado (video game)

Lore & Background

The plot follows Angel Face's widow, who kidnaps and poisons Doc McCoy. She forces John Cooper to perform 'menial' tasks in exchange for McCoy's antidote, which inevitably brands Cooper and his friends as criminals—including robbing a bank and stealing a train full of U.S. Army weapons. While carrying out these tasks, the team discovers they are pawns for Mexican revolutionary El Cortador's plan to assassinate President Chester Alan Arthur. All six characters from Desperados 2 (John, Kate, Doc, Sam, Sánchez, and Hawkeye) return. The game introduces a new character system where attacks are shown on the left side of the HUD and characters are selected from a circular menu resembling a revolver cylinder, replacing the portrait system used in previous games. A Combo System allows two characters to combine abilities, such as Sam and Hawkeye's Missile combo (dynamite on an arrow) or John and Sam's Brawler combo to subdue enemies in an area.

Reader's Guide

Helldorado holds a 65/100 aggregate score on Metacritic, indicating mixed reception. IGN gave it 5.7/10, criticizing its trial-and-error approach and calling it 'only for the hardcore strategy fan that has a massive reservoir of patience.' GameSpot gave it 4.5/10, praising its huge levels but criticizing frustrating difficulty where a single mistake can cost the game. The game's significance lies in its role as a direct narrative and mechanical continuation of Desperados 2, while attempting to innovate with a new character selection interface and combo system. Its legacy is that of a niche title appreciated for its scale but hampered by punishing difficulty and design choices that limited its appeal to a broader audience.

Did You Know?

• Helldorado is a spin-off/sequel to Desperados 2: Cooper's Revenge.
• The plot involves a plan to assassinate President Chester Alan Arthur.
• The game introduces a circular character selection menu shaped like a revolver cylinder.
• Sam and Hawkeye can combine abilities for a Missile combo using dynamite on an arrow.