“Secret Ponchos” is an experience unlike anything else in the twin stick shooter genre, such as “Super Stardust” or “Dead Nation”. Its dependence on multiplayer and the lack of any standalone single-player campaign also sets it apart in terms of gameplay. The game was developed by a small studio named Switchblade Monkeys comprised of just a handful of developers. The theme of the game is western and is authenticated by the game’s look and feel. There is a slightly understated soundtrack that works well with the western theme.

The theme of this game harkens back to the feel of “Red Dead Revolver”, a western themed PlayStation 2 game developed by Rockstar Games, which is also the creator of the massively successful franchise “Grand Theft Auto”, and does it in fine style. While both games are different, the multiplayer aspects in each are quite similar due to each character having unique strengths and weaknesses.

The graphics are very clean and polished. The maps are sparse in certain areas as they were designed this way because the core audience for the game is the multiplayer community. The game also runs on the same graphics engine of Playstation 3 exclusive “Journey”. The colors are neutral with lots of tans and browns to reinforce that authentic western feel. The characters themselves are also in keeping with the western theme and are brought to life in a very simple, effective way.

With a team of only five developers it was a wise decision to focus the bulk of their resources into just multiplayer. A polished online experience has much more longevity than a half polished experience with both modes. It allows for them to grow their game into a more diverse experience through the course of updates and DLC (Download Content). In a recent interview with IGN, the developer has said it is on the way.

The goal of “Secret Ponchos” is simple: eliminate the enemy team. There are slight variations to this formula through different game modes and characters. The gameplay stagnates when playing solo so the real advantage of the game is the ability to play split screen. You and a friend can join the action together on the same system. This might seem like a novel concept in terms of gaming but there are less quality split screen experiences due to the rise of the detached online experience.

The controls handle as well as any shooter of this nature. Symbols appear on the ground before your character to indicate the range and spread of its attack. These attacks range from precise ranged to straight melee. Each character has a different amount of range and accuracy.

The way the game teaches the controls to the player also harkens back to the days of eight-bit gaming.

There is no manual to fall back on and no prompt on the screen to tell which button does what. The player is thrown into the game and let him figure it out on its own. This automatically makes the initial learning phase much more satisfying also giving the player a much more solid grasp on the controls.

For example, in the franchise “Assassin’s Creed” prompts appears all over the first few sections of the game which beat the controls into the brain of the user making it more universal but at the same time detracting from the element of discovery which makes games fun and exciting.

“Secret Ponchos” is a competent twin-stick shooter. It, however, has flaws. The gameplay is simple and effective but there is a high chance the gameplay will stagnate the more you play unless, you find some friends to sit down and play.

This game is far from an engrossing experience. It caters towards a bite sized experience rather than a long and immersive one. The game is a quick way to have a few minutes of fun. Ultimately if top down shooters such as “Dead Nation” or “Zombie Apocalypse” do not hold your fancy, chances are this one won’t either.