Gunsmith Simulator

by Howie Howard
reviewed on PC
Is shooting a gun really all work and no play?
Definitely not all work, but Gunsmith Simulator is still a work related simulator game pure and simple. Being a gun enthusiast myself with a focus mainly on target shooting and collecting, I figured this would be a good opportunity to learn more about the art of being a gunsmith. Along with having some fun repairing and then shooting the devices that I repaired in game; I can say that the games visuals really are outstanding in their detail. Since I believe I have a pretty good grasp on things when it comes to handling and doing minor repairs on my own firearms, I must say that Gunsmith Simulator helped to give me a more in-depth view of the inner workings of what gun repair might be.
Like all simulator games there is a learning curve as to the procedures that need to be followed in order to be successful, and Gunsmith Simulator is no different. The game starts out with the player sitting behind the shop computer reading an email from Grandpa, as he is referred to in game. It seems like the old fellow wants to retire and he wants someone he can trust to take over and run his beloved business. Thus starts your journey in to the world of taking a wide range of firearms apart, of determining what is wrong with them and then fixing them. Of course that's not all that is involved because there is so much more.
Proper gun handling and safety techniques
All games should contain a solid tutorial, especially games that focus on mechanically based subjects such as firearms. In reality, guns are like any other complex mechanical device in that they are simply a large collection of parts all assembled together according to drawings and blueprints. These devices require maintenance just like a car would and they also need occasional upgrades that serve to enhance their operational attributes. A gunsmith needs to be mechanically inclined. They need to be a machinist, a wood worker, an artist and be able to repair damaged firearms and then sell them to customers. In Gunsmith Simulator you will do all of that and more.
The tutorial itself is quite comprehensive in that it takes the game player through the step by step process of being able to accomplish all of the various in game tasks. In the beginning Grandpa requests that you repair his old Colt 1911 pistol. After accepting the job a package arrives in the mail and you commence to disassemble the piece on a work bench used specifically for that task. The disassembly and reassembly of a gun is accomplished by highlighting various parts of the gun with the mouse. If the part is highlighted in green, left clicking and holding the mouse on the part will remove it from the assembly or reattach when reassembling. Of course most if not all of the parts will be secured by a screw or metal pin that needs to be removed or screwed back in when reassembling. Some parts will need to be assembled or taken apart in a certain sequential manner and once that is done, the next part in line can be worked on. There is also a parts list present on screen that when clicked on brings you to the part.
The proper equipment is key
It's not always about how good you are at something it's whether you have the proper equipment to be able to accomplish your task, and this shop has everything. When cleaning parts, producing wooden parts and sand blasting rusty parts, players need to click on the appropriate tool. After further processes are completed the part will be finished and ready to be incorporated in to the assembled gun. These controls are very simplistic in nature and learning the steps is easy as well. The tutorial is incorporated very well in to the game and serves as the basis for how more advanced processes and equipment is unlocked.
In addition to the assembly work bench there is a packing and unpacking station, a sand blasting station, a wood working and wood painting station, a gun part bluing station, a parts cleaning station, an add-on bench where things such as scopes and silencers are attached, and a gun customization booth where stickers and custom paint can be applied to the finished gun. The use of these is really intuitive and self-explanatory. And of course there's a gun safe where you store your personal firearms and an office that contains a camera set up where pictures of your for sale guns can be taken. Add in the old bunker room behind the sliding bookcase in the office that can be used as a sort of museum where prized guns can be displayed shows the thought that went in to this game.
The game also have various shooting galleries, target shooting ranges, skeet and trap areas, an area where grenade launchers and RPGs, rocket propelled grenade launchers are used to shoot tanks. The nice thing here is that you can either use the guns that have been repaired for customers or your own personal arsenal on these shooting ranges. I particularly enjoyed the contests that can be entered in all of the various gun ranges available. My favorite was the pop up target maze or Hogan's Alley as some call this particular training course. While competing at these ranges you will realize that certain guns or their set up might not be as efficient as a different set up or gun might be for the particular shooting range. I found this to be true because the Glock 17 pistol I customized with its 17 round magazine produced a time that was reduced almost in half by using a highly customized M4 short barrel carbine with a 30 round magazine! The number of rounds in the mag made all the difference because there were no reloads needed.
Well, how does this gun really shoot?
It shoots very well indeed. Although Gunsmith Simulator does have a few minor glitches. Nothing game changing though. Some of the text present in game emails and descriptions of guns was missing a word or two. I'm going to assume that the translator missed putting a few words in the text. Another issue was present on the scope zeroing device because it wasn't easy to line up the laser barrel insert projection with the small circle on the test grid area. Another involved applying oil to parts needing oil. On some of the smaller parts it was difficult to distinguish where oil needed to be applied which made that process sometimes frustrating. Lastly, on the target shooting range, the targets could be larger because seeing where the shots hit on the bulls eye target was difficult. Having more of a variety of targets would be nice too. These are all very minor issues that could probably be addressed if or when new content is added in the future.
With that said, there is a lot to this game and unfortunately I was only able to lightly brush over some of the more important areas. I'm by no means a gun expert myself but with my limited experience in the field I find that this game comes off as being quite realistic in nature. Everything from the machines in the shop to the various shooting ranges present, with the guns themselves, and how they shoot looks fantastic and true to the real thing. Of course game mechanics can't replicate real life actions exactly but it was implemented very well which I think gives the game player a good idea of what the profession might be like. If my opinion counts for anything, Gunsmith Simulator accomplishes the task of being interesting and fun to play. Hopefully Game Hunters can expand the game with new guns, maybe add in a gun barrel making machine along with new gun shooting opportunities and different targets.
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9.5
fun score
Pros
Very comprehensive and detailed presentation of being a gunsmith. Looks great and accomplishes what it set out to do
Cons
A niche category of computer simulator games.