Mimimi Games and THQ Nordic‘s strategy game Desperados III is given another short lease of Wild West life with its three chapters/three levels Season Pass Money for the Vultures.
Desperados III: Money for the Vultures (PC)
(Germany 2020, developer: Mimimi Games, publisher: THQ Nordic, platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One)
John Cooper and his gang of misfits are asked by Hector’s former one-night-stand aquaintance Rosie from Baton Rouge to find a treasure hidden by their old enemy Vincent DeVitt.
Treasure hunting with old friends
Storytelling-wise, there’s not a lot happening in the Season Pass, at least not in the first two parts in which the gang gathers information about the location of the treasure. Even though Rosie’s return and her relationship with Hector in Part 1 are a nice touch, especially with her being the narrator, one rarely feels any emotional attachment or suspense. Fortunately, the story ends on a touching note, adding a bit more depth to Hector and giving more meaning to the companionship of the gang.
Old and new places to be
Late to the Party takes place at the Villa DeWitt from the base game, the second one at a plantation in the Bayou State, and the third one in the Eagle’s Fortress from Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive. So only one of these isn’t recycled material, even though it’s understandable to provide a logical continuation of the third game with the first level and fan service with the third one.
Finding information about the treasure, Part 1
Late to the Party is a rather short experience with around 2 hours of playtime, the first objective being to find a hidden compartment with information about the treasure in a statue which is obviously guarded by many enemies who have to be disposed of first. Then one has to open a safe which is protected by even more bad guys, making this a very tedious and less exciting experience. One can choose to pick up Cooper along the way, but this optional goal could have just been included as part of the main mission.
Finding information about the treasure, Part 2
Five Steps Ahead is a bit longer, but doesn’t cross the 3-hours playtime mark. Isabelle makes a welcome return to help out in this mission in which one first has to reach the owner of the plantation on top of his villa to force a treasure map out of him. It soon turns out that it has been divided into five parts which are held by individual enemies. This is reminiscent of a mission in the base game in which one had to kill five people, only now one doesn’t necessarily have to use violence to steal the parts. It’s not the most original idea, but as one can choose which targets to go after, gameplay is much more open.
Finding the treasure, Part 3
Once More With Feeling is less punishing than the first game‘s particularly hard level set in the well-guarded fortress, but its inspiration is clear to see, including the option to mow down enemies with a gatling gun at the end. It’s one of the longest levels with around 4 hours of playtime, but with more interesting objectives or rather options. So one can either try to enter the fortress by sneaking in from the back while climbing a mountain or by simply blowing the gate open with a cannon. Getting out with the treasure also turns out to be rather difficult, although it’s not as unfair as the original level.
Great atmosphere, check!
Presentation-wise, the game still looks as pretty as the base game, while a few music variations are nice to listen to as well, in addition to some good voice work. As is to be expected, the in-game cut-scenes add to the cinematic flair, but one shouldn’t expect any other real surprises.
More of the good, bad, and not ugly
Desperados III: Money for the Vultures gives players another chance to have a few hours of fun and frustration with its polished gameplay and difficulty. But if it weren’t for the emotional ending, one wouldn’t have missed a lot if one had skipped the storyline which is neither engaging or suspenseful. The missions are still worth playing for their varied objectives and open gameplay, but they don’t offer anything particularly new from what one hasn’t already experienced in Desperados III.
Score: 7.5/10
Buy the Season Pass for PC on
GOG
Steam
Buy the base game for PC on
GOG
Steam
Buy the digital deluxe edition (includes extended soundtrack and Season Pass) for PC on
GOG
Steam
Buy the Season Pass for PS4 on
the PSN store
Buy the base game for PS4 on
the PSN store
Buy the base game as digital deluxe edition (includes Season Pass) for PS4 on
the PSN store
Buy the Season Pass for Xbox One on
the Xbox store
Buy the base game for Xbox One on
the Xbox store
Buy the digital deluxe edition (includes Season Pass) for Xbox One on
the Xbox store
Buy the retail version of the base game for PC on
Amazon Germany
Amazon UK
Amazon USA (import)
Buy the retail version of the base game for PS4 on
Amazon Germany
Amazon UK
Amazon USA
Buy the retail version of the base game for Xbox One on
Amazon Germany
Amazon UK
Amazon USA
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