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WE'RE SHOCKED. WHILE GAMEPLANET loves a good deal as much as anyone, what we're not used to is a game of this quality turning up at half the price of regular new releases.

Like Ubisoft's strangely underpriced Beyond Good and Evil, Dead Man's Hand demonstates not only great technical mastery but also provides a thoroughly engaging and enjoyable experience. All this adds up to one hell of a bargain, and it's great to see such a refreshing game appear in this part of the year. Mind you, with Ubisoft about to hit the market with another round of (from what we've seen) outstanding products in the next couple of weeks as well, this year is certainly hotting up and might even prove the economists wrong about the games industry in 2004.

Using the latest Unreal technology (Epic Games), Dead Man's Hand lets players step into the boots of El Tejon, a Wild West gunslinger hell-bent on settling a score with a double-crossing gang of outlaws. Filled with gun-slinging, horseback chases, poker games and epic showdowns, this first-person shooter features non-stop action including competitive and cooperative play modes using Xbox Live. Dead Man's Hand also features authentic firearms and 20 different levels featuring locations from the old Southwest to the mountains and mineshafts of the great Northwest and the riverboats and cities of the Midwest.

Your arsenal includes a variety of weapons including pistols, rifles, shotguns, and dynamite. During levels you can carry one side arm, one long arm, and one thrown weapon. In total there will be around 30 different weapons.

The Wild West is realised with a wide variety of environments. Dusty towns, windswept prairies, rugged saloons - all of the elements that one would expect to see in a classic Western movie respectfully integrated into the game.

What we really like about Dead Man's Hand is the well-balanced gameplay and level design. Single-shot rifles and revolvers mean a good aim is imperative. Enemies might appear from anywhere - a second-storey brothel window, behind a pile of barrels, or from hiding around the stairs and balconies of buildings in the town levels.

The official Web site has more information and features downloadables (movies, screenshots, wallpapers), character profiles and details about the weapons. Dead Man's Hand is due for release on 26th March.

Show me the screenshots!