Call of Juarez: The Cartel

Call of Juarez: The Cartel is a first-person shooter in which the player controls one of three protagonists: Det. Ben McCall (LAPD), Agent Kim Evans (FBI), or Agent Eddie Guerra (DEA). The two characters whom the player does not choose are controlled either by the AI, or by human player(s) in drop-in/drop-out co-op mode. Unlike the original Call of Juarez, which used alternating characters level-by-level, or Bound in Blood, which allowed players to choose which character to play as for each level, in The Cartel, players pick a character before beginning the first level and are confined to using that character throughout the campaign, unless they start a new game. Irrespective of the player character, each level is played through in the same manner. However, playing as specific characters does often result in different cutscenes and in-game dialogue. For example, in the first level, each of the three characters receives a phone call at different points, but the player can only hear what is said during the player character's conversation; thus, to hear all three phone calls, the player must play through the level three times, using a different character each time. Each character can wield handguns, rifles, heavy and light machine guns, shotguns, and grenades. Each can interact with certain objects, such as ammo, weaponry, and collectables. Each can also drive vehicles when available, or ride shotgun if necessary. Each can also avail of "Team Cover", a special game mechanic only available at predetermined points whereby the under-fire player can move from designated cover spot to designated cover spot, with their companions automatically offering covering fire as they move. The main differences between the three characters pertain to their weaponry. McCall gets a damage bonus when using handguns and heavy machine guns, whilst his speciality skill is rapid reloading of handguns. He's also stronger and slower than the others and can take more damage in both gunfights and melee combat. Evans gets a damage bonus when using rifles and sniper rifles, whilst her speciality skill is enhanced focus when zoomed in on a target and the ability to hold her breath when using a sniper rifle. She's weaker and faster than the others and is the only character who can simultaneously run and zoom. Guerra gets a damage bonus when using light machine guns and shotguns, whilst his speciality skill is the ability to dual wield SMGs. His strength and speed fall between McCall and Evans – he's faster and weaker than McCall but tougher and slower than Evans. Each mission in the game features a series of primary objectives, which must be completed sequentially as the player moves through the map. Certain levels also feature optional side quests called "Secret Agenda" missions. In these missions, which are different for each of the characters, the player character will receive a phone call asking them to retrieve something hidden within the map. Not only must they find the item, but to get the full experience points and complete the mission successfully, they must collect it unseen by the other two characters. When playing in co-op mode, if a player is seen taking the secret agenda item, they get 50% of the available experience, with the other 50% going to the player who saw them. The game features two types of slow-motion attacks ("Concentration Mode"). Irrespective of the character, players charge their concentration metre by killing enemies, with headshots charging the meter faster than body shots. Once the player has filled the meter, they can activate concentration mode at any time. When they do, time slows down dramatically, but the player can still pivot, shoot, and reload at near-normal speed. In co-op play, when one player triggers their concentration mode, it also triggers for all other human players. Multiplayer The game's multiplayer mode is available via LAN and online on Microsoft Windows, LAN and the PlayStation Network on PlayStation 3, and System Link and Xbox Live on the Xbox 360. All three versions feature two types of multiplayer; cooperative and competitive. Both game types use a "cop v. criminal" system, where one team is the cops and the other is the criminals. All games also use a partner system whereby any two players on the same team can team up. If they remain close to one another, they get benefits such as extra experience or health. Additionally, if one partner sees an opponent, but the other partner does not, that opponent is marked on both partners' mini-maps. ==Plot==

The game begins as the fledgling but powerful Mendoza Cartel bomb the DEA's offices in Los Angeles, killing seven agents. In response, Deputy Attorney General Joseph Reynolds orders Assistant Attorney General Shane Dickson to put together an interagency task force. She selects LAPD detective Ben McCall, FBI agent Kim Evans, and DEA agent Eddie Guerra. She tells the team that FBI agent Patrick Stone, who was killed in the bombing, had been investigating the sale of military-grade weaponry to the cartel. After the bombing, Stone's daughter Jessica contacted McCall and told him that several days prior, her father was threatened by a man named Antonio Alvarez, who was squadmates with both McCall and Stone in Vietnam. After causing chaos to the cartel's street operations, the team learn that Alvarez is scheduled to take delivery of a sizeable amount of cash. En route to the exchange, Guerra's bookie calls and tells him his $70,000 debt has been paid off, much to his confusion. After the exchange is made, the team give chase, with Alvarez fleeing on foot. While Evans pursues, she is called by FBI Assistant Director Allen Waters and told that Alvarez is an FBI informant, and is not to be arrested. Nevertheless, the team are able to get the money Alvarez was carrying. Later, Guerra gets a call from whoever paid off his debt, telling him that they want Jessica moved to a less secure location. As Guerra reluctantly obliges, they are attacked en route, although they manage to escape. Seeing that Jessica has a missed call from Kevin Donleavy, a former FBI agent who worked with her father, the team have her ring him back, whereupon he tells her that her father sent something to him; evidence of a conspiracy that "goes all the way to the top." Jessica arranges to meet Donleavy in a rooftop bar. Guerra is again contacted by his creditors and is told they no longer need Jessica, now they just need Donleavey's evidence. Evans is informed that Donleavy is working for the cartel, and follows an order to shoot him. This prompts Jessica to flee, pursued by Alvarez, who was also in the bar. The team then learn that Jesus Mendoza, son of Juan Mendoza, the cartel's leader, is coming to LA to handle the arms deal. They apprehend Jesus, learning that the cartel is buying the weapons from Peace Keepers International, a private military company run by Michael Duke. Alvarez tells Evans that Donleavy was not working for the cartel and offers intel on the exchange with Duke in exchange for custody of Jesus. He also confirms that the cartel has apprehended Jessica. McCall, however, contacts Juan directly, offering Jesus in exchange for Jessica, to which Juan agrees. At the prisoner exchange, Alvarez kills both Jessica and Jesus. He then offers a new deal - the location of the weapon trade in return for the money the team stole during the money exchange. Donleavy's evidence proves to be an audio recording in which Stone reveals that Dickson is working with the cartel. McCall reluctantly agrees to Alvarez's deal, and the team heads to the location; an old fort in Juarez (the same fort occupied by Juan Mendoza in the previous games), where they kill all of Duke and Juan's men and steal the trucks with the weaponry and money. As Alvarez manipulates Juan and Duke into each believing that the other is responsible for the heist, Evans tells Waters that Dickson is working with the cartel, and they are planning to arrest Juan, as they need his testimony to convict Dickson and attest to the conspiracy. At Jesus' funeral, Duke attacks and is killed. The team pursue Juan and Alvarez to Juan's hacienda. Juan surrenders, but is immediately killed by a US military drone operated by Dickson. After cornering Alvarez, McCall wants to kill him for his crimes, Evans wants him alive so Dickson can go to prison, and Guerra wants to split the drug money three ways. Alvarez also reveals that it was the FBI who paid off Guerra's debts so they would have leverage over him in the future. Each draws their weapon, and the player is presented with a choice of whether or not to kill their teammates. There are four possible endings. If the player chooses not to kill their teammates, Alvarez is taken alive and testifies against Dickson, leading to her arrest. Guerra and Evans are arrested for leaking Jessica's location and killing Donleavy, respectively. The game ends with McCall visiting Stone and Jessica's grave. If the player chooses to kill their teammates, Alvarez detonates a grenade and escapes. If McCall is the player character, he is subsequently arrested, while the U.S. considers invading Mexico as the Mendoza cartel spreads into the highest echelons of government. If Evans is the player character, she is awarded the FBI Medal of Valor by Dickson at a press conference but is arrested after assaulting Dickson. If Guerra is the player character, he is later assassinated in a hotel room, while Dickson is congratulated by the U.S. president on TV. The game ends with either McCall (if he is the player character) or Dickson looking at a postcard sent by Alvarez, which states: "happiness is having friends in high places." ==Development==

Ubisoft announced The Cartel in February 2011, revealing that Techland, who had developed both of the previous titles (Call of Juarez and Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood), would be returning. Explaining that the game would be set in the modern day, Ubisoft's director of marketing, Adam Novickas, stated, "the game will bring the best elements of the Wild West into modern times with a very gritty and relevant plot." The decision to relocate the game from the Wild West to the modern day was met with skepticism by many. After a non-playable demo was shown at PAX in March, IGNs Martin Robinson wrote, "it looks like Call of Juarez has ditched its one point of distinction, exposing an insipid shooter that's lost a fistful of charm in the process." On June 29, a month before the game's release, IGN published an article called "Call of Juarez: The Cartel Should Be Delayed", in which Ray Gallegos argued that the game was nowhere near release quality; "I've seen games a year out that are in significantly better shape." On April 12, Ubisoft explained that the reason for the removal was "per the terms of agreement, Call of Juarez: The Cartel and Call of Juarez: Gunslinger licensing/publishing rights have reverted back to Techland, while others remain active with Ubisoft. This is why a few titles have recently been removed, but it is our understanding that Techland is working to bring those titles back." Gunslinger returned to all three platforms on April 30, with Techland stating, "as Techland Publishing moves forward as a leading publisher, we are delighted to welcome Call of Juarez: Gunslinger to our publishing division." Techland promised that information on The Cartels return would be provided "at a later date", but no such information was ever released, and the game remains unavailable on Steam, the PlayStation Store, and GOG.com. ==Reception==

Call of Juarez: The Cartel received "generally unfavourable" reviews across all systems, with the PC version holding an aggregate score of 51 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on fourteen reviews, the PlayStation 3 version holding a score of 45 out of 100, based on forty-two reviews, and the Xbox 360 version holding a score of 47 out of 100, based on sixty-two reviews. GameSpots Kevin VanOrd scored the PC and PlayStation 3 versions 6.5 out of 10 and the Xbox 360 version 6 out of 10. He liked the idea of the secret agendas, but he was critical of the shooting mechanics, lack of character development, poor dialogue, bad voice acting, poorly animated cutscenes, and the general glitches and lack of technical polish. In relation to the audio, he cited characters speaking over one another, unexplained reverb, and subtitles which didn't match the spoken dialogue. He concluded, "the potential is hard to see hiding behind all the glitches and obscenities." Eurogamers Dan Whitehead scored the Xbox 360 version 6 out of 10. He praised the storyline, the secret agenda mechanic, and the basic shooting gameplay, but he was critical of the "sloppy production values", citing subtitles that didn't match the dialogue and characters speaking over one another. He concluded, "it's a workmanlike experience, but not without its charm." Game Informers Dan Ryckert scored the PlayStation 3 version 4.5 out of 10, calling it "generic and glitchy." He praised the idea of the secret agendas, but was critical of the glitches, citing abrupt loads, inconsistent frame rates, enemies appearing out of thin air, floating characters, NPCs stuck in animation loops, and poor grammar and spelling in the subtitles. He concluded, "the game is generic at best, broken at worst." IGNs Anthony Gallegos scored all three versions 4.5 out of 10, calling it "rushed, unpolished, and repetitive." He was highly critical of the graphical glitches, noting poor texture mapping and animations, a lot of pop-in, empty environments, constant clipping, and NPCs disappearing and then reappearing in a different location. He also called multiplayer "mundane", and concluded, "it's not the worst shooter I've played, but it's got all the problems of a budget title and few redeeming qualities." Official Xbox Magazines Andrew Hayward scored the Xbox 360 version 4.5 out of 10, calling the characters "absolutely insufferable." He found co-op to be "intriguing", but was very critical of AI in single-player games. He was especially unimpressed with the glitches, noting poor animations, clipping, animation loops, floating characters, subtitles riddled with typos, and vehicles spinning in the air. He concluded, "much of this game demonstrates a lack of care and an inattention to detail." Writing for the magazine's UK edition, Ben Talbot scored it 4 out of 10, finding the storyline "bumbling" and the game "ugly in every conceivable way." Writing for Australia's PlayStation Official Magazine, Adam Mathew scored the PlayStation 3 version 4 out of 10, calling it "a total bust". Of the graphics, he noted, "a criminal amount of environment reuse", and felt that the game was rushed, calling it "buggy, ugly, and uninspired." PC Gamers Tom Senior scored the PC version 35%, calling it "a steaming turd", "bland, repetitive, and dull," and "brainless, generic and devoid of personality", citing "pathetic guns, horrible characters, and stupid enemies." Calling it "one ugly game", he concluded, "Call of Juarez: The Cartel could be the worst game of 2011." PALGNs Cian Hassett scored the Xbox 360 version 3 out of 10, calling it "rubbish in almost every conceivable way", citing "flimsy gameplay, idiotic AI, and some of the worst driving sequences you'll ever be forced into screaming through." Destructoids James Stephanie Sterling scored the PlayStation 3 version 2.5 out of 10, calling it "a by-the-numbers first-person-shooter with only half-hearted attempts to stand out from the pack." They were heavily critical of the glitches, writing, "Call of Juarez looks and sounds like a school project". They felt that the game was so poorly made, it should have been a budget title, calling its full-price status "disingenuous and shameful". They concluded, "Call of Juarez: The Cartel is a sloppy serving from people who should know better, and ought to be ashamed of themselves." ==Controversies==

Less than two weeks after the game's announcement, before any major plot details or gameplay images or videos had been revealed, community leaders in both El Paso and Juarez spoke out against the game, accusing it of glorifying cartel violence and exploiting very real suffering. In Juarez, youth worker Laurencio Barraza stated, "lots of kids say they want to be a hitman, because they are the ones that get away with everything. This glorifies violence, as if victims were just another number or another bonus." In El Paso, Gomecindo Lopez, of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, compared the game to the narcocorridos ("drug ballads") that portray drug trafficking and cartel leaders in a positive light; "this goes along the lines of narco-songs that portray cartel leaders as heroes, but both are a gross misrepresentation of who they are. They are criminals". They argued that seeing the region's real-life violence depicted as entertainment in a video game would desensitise youths to the horrors of that violence. Congressman Ricardo Salmon stated, "we should not expose children to this kind of scenarios so that they are going to grow up with this kind of image and lack of values ". State congress leader Enrique Serrano argued, "children wind up being easily involved in criminal acts over time, because among other things, during their childhood not enough care has been taken about what they see on television and playing video games. They believe so much blood and death is normal". After the game was released, James Portnow, writing for Extra Credits, criticised an achievement for killing 40 or more enemies, on the only level in the game where there are African-Americans, and no enemies other than African-Americans (he also noted this is the only achievement for killing a certain number of people in the entire game). He stated, "this might be the most racist game I've ever played by a major publisher," arguing that "the entire game is about the evils of minorities, about their criminal behaviour and how we should put them down." He also echoed the concerns of those in El Paso, Juarez, and Chihuahua, arguing that the game "does not respect the lives that have been lost in this conflict". Furthermore, he criticised the game's depiction of sex trafficking as involving cartels coming to the US and kidnapping American women for sale in Mexico; the real-life practice is the opposite - they kidnap Mexican women and sell them in the US. In an interview with Eurogamer in 2015, Paweł Marchewka, the CEO of Techland and the game's lead designer, said that The Cartel was a "mistake", adding that while the game was not "bad", it was not ready when it was launched. This issue was further addressed in a 2018 Game Informer interview with Krzysztof Nosek, the game's multiplayer lead programmer. According to Nosek, from December 2010 to May 2011, due to some "unlucky business negotiations" with Ubisoft, Techland found themselves with not enough time to finish the game and thus they were forced to crunch, which compromised the quality of the work; "we all had the enthusiasm and drive to create a good game, but there simply weren't enough hours around the clock to fit everything in. Out of exhaustion, we were making stupid mistakes." Even staff who had completed their work on the game had to work longer hours; "the atmosphere was that all hands must be on deck since it would be a hit to team morale if some people didn't sit and crunch while others did." Paweł Zawodny, the game's producer, confirms this, saying that for the last few months of development, he was a "mindless zombie". ==References==