We join Paula Cole in wondering: Where have all the cowboys gone? It’s a longstanding question in videogaming, and suddenly two of them mosey along at once: a new Call of Juarez and Rockstar’s just-announced Red Dead Revolver sequel.

Upon examination of the former, we remembered how the first Call of Juarez should have been great — it had jailbreaks, train robberies, and ladies of loose morals to consort with. Unfortunately, it also had graphics ropier than a hangman’s noose, wonky physics, and dreadful A.I. Fast-forward two years, and Bound in Blood aims to make good on these numerous flaws, starting with a plot that acts as a prequel to the original game.

Once again, the story follows two characters, only this time they’re far more closely associated. Not only will brothers and Civil War deserters Ray and Thomas McCall be charging around the Wild West together on a shared search for hidden treasure, but they’re also related by blood — blood that’s likely to boil when a saucy señorita threatens to come between them.

Each brother will play slightly differently — the elder Ray is more suited to close combat and revolver-play, while the younger Thomas is handier with a rifle, bow and arrow, and throwing knives. Our immediate assumption was that this game would be an Army of Two–style collaborative co-op experience, but actually co-op is off the table, which is something we’d urge Techland and Ubisoft to reconsider in this era of brilliant social shooters.

Still, if the promises of a rich and varied Western landscape ring true, then your quest across Civil War–era America should be an interesting one. Apparently, the brothers McCall will have run-ins with Mexican bandit kings, Apache war chiefs, and an enraged Confederate colonel in what is being touted as a darker, more involved storyline. It’ll be interesting to see how much the brothers’ relationship will degenerate, and how far they’ll push their bitter rivalry once things break down.

We’re honestly sad to hear that a shooter this firmly built on the collaborative efforts of two players won’t boast cooperative play throughout the campaign. Techland protests that its competitive multiplayer will make up for the hole, but with Red Dead Redemption incoming, let’s just hope Juarez’s second outing is more Wild West than Mild West.