Secret Ponchos Review

Secret Ponchos Gameplay

The gameplay of Secret Ponchos primary focuses on player-versus-player gameplay and online duels where you can gain reputation and notoriety. The camera view is top-down, and controls are styled in twin-stick shooters manner. The game features various maps and game modes as well as multiple different characters with unique playstyles.

The setting is the Wild West, and players use fitting the weapons and other tools of those times to eliminate the opponents. Various game modes include both one-on-one and team shootouts, such as:

Domination is a three-versus-three mode where players kill each other to reach a total of five kills to win the match.
Deathmatch features a mode without respawning where teams compete to be the one who survives the shootout.
Posse Leader is a mode to protect your team leader and eliminate the captain of the other team. Each kill increases the damage output, and there are multiple rounds to select the winner of the match.
Free-for-all is a solo deathmatch where players compete to have the best kill-death ratio by the time when the timer reaches zero. It means that you do not only need to eliminate as many players as possible but also you should die as little as you can.

At first, you need to create your character. You can choose from a range of archetypes and slightly modify their attributes, and after that, you can choose a skin and name for your outlaw. The success or failure on the battlefield will define the bounty on your head, and a higher number allows you to level up faster and acquire various reputation and gold points quicker. Levelling up brings certain benefits, such as new perk points that improve your combat properties. Gold coins allow to buy new skins and purchase new outlaws that will have separate statistics and attributes.

The progress in Secret Ponchos is tracked via the achievement system, and you can earn them by completing various objectives and challenges. Achievements have many rewards, and it grants the players access to new skins, gold coins and extra bounty. The gold coins can also be spent in the in-game shops for new visuals and other benefits.

It can be difficult for new players to jump straight into online battles, and that is the reason the game offers a tutorial to learn all the basics. The Arcade Mode features AI bots to fight against alone or with friends. It can also be convenient to practice using split-screen mode.

The combat in Secret Ponchos is complex and involves various mechanics, such as stamina, reloading, covers and movement. Every action you perform has a cost with a risk of failing. Dodging bullets cost stamina and make you slower, but it's allowed to use surrounding as a cover. Manual reload times are not quick, so you need to take into account the trajectory and the speed of the bullet, and a missing shot can lead to a powerful counter-attack.

Every class of the outlaw offers unique abilities to use in battles. Some can use powerful weaponry to eliminate opponents, and others can survive and heal themselves to prevent certain death. Some of them use bombs and Molotov's, and others rely on deadly traps. It is not allowed to change the characters during matches, and they have separated statistics and ratings.

Secret Ponchos is a unique project in the Wild West setting, and its flexible gameplay fits both casual and hardcore players. Various archetypes can satisfy most of the players, and they need to put time and effort into levelling and mastering one of those.