Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Lafferty
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Arcade game is fast-paced but bland; lacks inspiration.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Sombrero Spaghetti Western Mayhem
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
SOMBRERO SPAGHETTI WESTERN MAYHEM is a two-to-four-player two-dimensional arcade game that pits players against each other in four game modes (Loot, Bandidos, Capture the Flag, and Deathmatch) on timed levels. Players have the ability to play online and offline with more than a dozen premade characters. The game modes, played across five gameboards (Avery's Saloon, Clampett's Hideaway, The Southern Ruins, Jones Hill Boneyard, and Monasterio de los Muertos) dictate the gameplay rules. There are, of course, power-ups (including shotguns, bow and arrows, and dynamite) that can be fired in a 360-degree arc to hit and disable other players. There are no real plotlines in the game, only a need to score more points than your opponents.
Is It Any Good?
The spaghetti western angle is well realized but, overall, nothing new is offered in this fast-paced arcade game. Sombrero Spaghetti Western Mayhem has music and navigation screens worthy of a Sergio Leone film, but at its core, the game is fairly bland. The two gameplay options (couch play offline or online) are nice, but the problem with the online element is that there aren't any others frequently in the game's lobby to play with, leaving the only viable option someone sitting next to you. Blame this on the online network having only one server (located on the East Coast) with no one on it. While Sombrero has some nice ideas, the major problem is that this is a "been there, done that" game with not a lot of innovation. The look is pleasant, and the music fits the theme, but there doesn't seem to be enough novelty to set the game apart or bring players back time and time again.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in games. Is the violence acceptable in this game because it's cartoonishly presented?
Talk about limiting screen time. How do you balance playing games with having active time away from a screen?
Game Details
- Platform : Windows
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Alliance Digital Media
- Release date : October 27, 2016
- Genre : Arcade
- Topics : Adventures
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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