Fast Draw Showdown
Encyclopedia
Fast Draw Showdown is a live-action laserdisc video game
, released by American Laser Games
in 1994 (see 1994 in video gaming
) for a limited number of platforms. As one of the last live-action rail shooters released by the company, which began the series with Mad Dog McCree
, it is also arguably the shortest. The game was filmed entirely in at the Old Tucson Studios
near Tucson, Arizona
, with sets used for several notable films belonging to the Western
genre. It was also re-released for PC
only by Digital Leisure
in 2004 (see 2004 in video gaming
), with mouse
and light gun
support. This game has also been re-released for WiiWare
in North America on January 4, 2010 and in the PAL region on January 22, 2010.
s: deputy, sheriff
and marshal. The Old West setting is the scene of up to five showdowns, during which the player must draw his revolver
as quickly as possible and shoot the enemies before they manage to shoot the player.
The aim of the game is to defeat all the foes the player is up against; if this is achieved flawlessly, the lawman takes part in a final showdown in which he faces Wes Flowers, "one of the world's fastest quick-drawers
", who is not a fictional character, but a real-life Fast Draw champion. If Flowers is also defeated, the player receives the title of Best Deputy, Super Sheriff or Master Marshal, depending on the difficulty level.
At times, the player faces two opponents instead of one, but, invariably, only one will draw his or her gun and thus pose a threat. The game ends successfully when the player has defeated all of the villains, including Wes Flowers.
Lifetaker Larry- the first showdown. He offers you life insurance right before he shows a pistol.
Pat Yukon- An overweight,drunk who takes the longest time to shoot during the Sheriff level. When he dies he claims that it was the whiskey that got him.
The Good and the Bad- Two men who taunt the player by calling them "The ugly".
Dancing Dom- a man who dances before the showdown. During his dance he draws his pistol.
???- during the Marshall level there is a hidden showdown that occurs after the player beats evry showdown under 1 second. This character has the fastest time (0.53) and does not state their name or do/say anything humorous which makes it harder to know when they will draw their gun. If the player shoots him, he acts wounded then runs away.
The Reverend Brothers- Over the course of the game the player will fight a reverend in each of the 3 levels. These men act seriously and have fast shooting times.
Loraine- A prostitute who taunts you in between showdowns. She only appears if the player lost the previous round.
Jack- A man who congratulates or scolds the player. When he praises you its because you broke your record. When he scolds you its because you took your gun out of the holster during the HOLSTER sign.
Headmaster Helen- A school teacher
- In the wii ware version of this game several characters have been renamed
Laserdisc video game
A laserdisc video game is an arcade game that uses pre-recorded video played from a laserdisc, either as the entirety of the graphics, or as part of the graphics.-History:...
, released by American Laser Games
American Laser Games
American Laser Games was a company based in Albuquerque, New Mexico that created a wide variety of light gun laserdisc video games. The company was founded in the late 1980s by Robert Grebe, who had originally created the system to train police officers under the company name ICAT , and adapted the...
in 1994 (see 1994 in video gaming
1994 in video gaming
-Events:*Nintendo calls this year "1994: The Year of the Cartridge".*Nintendo Australia Pty. Ltd, the Australian subsidiary of Nintendo Co., Ltd is established and opened by Hiroshi Yamauchi and effectively ends Mattel Australia's distribution of Nintendo's products throughout Australia.*"Project...
) for a limited number of platforms. As one of the last live-action rail shooters released by the company, which began the series with Mad Dog McCree
Mad Dog McCree
Mad Dog McCree is the first live-action laserdisc video game released by American Laser Games. It originally appeared as an arcade shooting game in 1990....
, it is also arguably the shortest. The game was filmed entirely in at the Old Tucson Studios
Old Tucson Studios
Old Tucson Studios is a movie studio and theme park just west of Tucson, Arizona, adjacent to the Tucson Mountains and close to the western portion of Saguaro National Park. Built in 1939 for the movie Arizona, it has been used for the filming of several movies and television westerns since then,...
near Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, with sets used for several notable films belonging to the Western
Western (genre)
The Western is a genre of various visual arts, such as film, television, radio, literature, painting and others. Westerns are devoted to telling stories set primarily in the latter half of the 19th century in the American Old West, hence the name. Some Westerns are set as early as the Battle of...
genre. It was also re-released for PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
only by Digital Leisure
Digital Leisure
Digital Leisure, Inc. is a Canadian publisher of software. The company formed in 1997 with the vision to acquire, remaster, and publish numerous classic video-based arcade games such as Dragon's Lair, Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp and Space Ace. These three games were among the first to use...
in 2004 (see 2004 in video gaming
2004 in video gaming
-Events:*January 20 — Wireds Vaporware Awards gives its first "Lifetime Achievement Award" to recurring winner Duke Nukem Forever.*March 4 — Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts 7th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts Peter Molyneux into the AIAS Hall of Fame*March 22-26 — Game...
), with mouse
Mouse (computing)
In computing, a mouse is a pointing device that functions by detecting two-dimensional motion relative to its supporting surface. Physically, a mouse consists of an object held under one of the user's hands, with one or more buttons...
and light gun
Light gun
A light gun is a pointing device for computers and a control device for arcade and video games.Modern screen-based light guns work by building a sensor into the gun itself, and the on-screen target emit light rather than the gun...
support. This game has also been re-released for WiiWare
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
in North America on January 4, 2010 and in the PAL region on January 22, 2010.
Plot
The player, as is the standard in American Laser Games releases, assumes the role of an anonymous individual who takes part in a series of showdowns with several different gunfighters. It is suggested that the protagonist is a lawman. This is confirmed by the three available difficulty levelDifficulty level
In general usage, difficulty level refers to the relative difficulty of completing a task or objective.In computer and video games, the term specifically delineates the ease or difficulty with which an average user may complete a game or a part of a game. Arcade games as well as many early console...
s: deputy, sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
and marshal. The Old West setting is the scene of up to five showdowns, during which the player must draw his revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
as quickly as possible and shoot the enemies before they manage to shoot the player.
The aim of the game is to defeat all the foes the player is up against; if this is achieved flawlessly, the lawman takes part in a final showdown in which he faces Wes Flowers, "one of the world's fastest quick-drawers
Fast Draw
Fast Draw is a sport based on the romanticized art of the gunslingers in the American Old West, using traditional single action revolvers. Unlike Cowboy action shooting, Fast Draw is shot with special blanks or wax bullets...
", who is not a fictional character, but a real-life Fast Draw champion. If Flowers is also defeated, the player receives the title of Best Deputy, Super Sheriff or Master Marshal, depending on the difficulty level.
Gameplay
In each of the gunfights, the player must attempt to out-draw the villains, first by holstering the available light gun, and proceeding to wait until a signal is given that lets him know he must draw, aim and fire at the enemy or enemies, as quickly as possible. A foul occurs if one draws the gun too soon, with a maximum of three allowed, and a chance to face Wes Flowers is only given if all four of the previous gunfights are victorious for the player.At times, the player faces two opponents instead of one, but, invariably, only one will draw his or her gun and thus pose a threat. The game ends successfully when the player has defeated all of the villains, including Wes Flowers.
Characters
Several unique characters appear in this game and usually do/say something humorous before each showdown.Lifetaker Larry- the first showdown. He offers you life insurance right before he shows a pistol.
Pat Yukon- An overweight,drunk who takes the longest time to shoot during the Sheriff level. When he dies he claims that it was the whiskey that got him.
The Good and the Bad- Two men who taunt the player by calling them "The ugly".
Dancing Dom- a man who dances before the showdown. During his dance he draws his pistol.
???- during the Marshall level there is a hidden showdown that occurs after the player beats evry showdown under 1 second. This character has the fastest time (0.53) and does not state their name or do/say anything humorous which makes it harder to know when they will draw their gun. If the player shoots him, he acts wounded then runs away.
The Reverend Brothers- Over the course of the game the player will fight a reverend in each of the 3 levels. These men act seriously and have fast shooting times.
Loraine- A prostitute who taunts you in between showdowns. She only appears if the player lost the previous round.
Jack- A man who congratulates or scolds the player. When he praises you its because you broke your record. When he scolds you its because you took your gun out of the holster during the HOLSTER sign.
Headmaster Helen- A school teacher
- In the wii ware version of this game several characters have been renamed