Call of Juarez: The Cartel is a 2011 first-person shooter for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360. Developed by Techland and originally published by Ubisoft, the PlayStation and Xbox versions were released in June 2011 and the Windows version in September. It is the third game in the Call of Juarez series, although narratively, it is unrelated to the two previous games (Call of Juarez and Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood). Unlike previous entries, which were set in the Old West, The Cartel is set in modern-day Los Angeles and Mexico. The series would go on to include one additional game; Call of Juarez: Gunslinger (also narratively unrelated to the other games, but which returns to the western setting).
The Cartel tells the story of an interagency task force investigating a powerful Mexican drug cartel after it bombed the DEA's Los Angeles offices. Featuring LAPD detective Ben McCall, FBI agent Kim Evans, and DEA agent Eddie Guerra, the team must face their mistrust of one another, as each is revealed to have their own agenda. When it emerges that the cartel has infiltrated the American government, the case morphs from a drug-related investigation into a political conspiracy, with no one sure where they stand.
The game met with controversy from the moment of its announcement. The decision to relocate from the Wild West to the modern-day was criticised by both fans and game journalists, although Ubisoft and Techland promised the game was still a Western in essence. Community leaders in El Paso and Juarez criticised the use of real-life violence and tragedy as material for violent entertainment. State legislators in Chihuahua went so far as to ask the federal government to ban the game entirely. When it was released, the game was also accused of racism and misogyny. In March 2018, as the rights to the title transitioned from publisher Ubisoft to developer Techland, The Cartel and Gunslinger were delisted from Steam, the PlayStation Store, and Xbox Live. Although Gunslinger returned in April, The Cartel remains unavailable on Steam or the PlayStation Store.
The Cartel received mainly negative reviews. Although some critics thought co-op mode featured some interesting ideas, the majority disliked the game. Common criticisms included poorly implanted game mechanics, a cliched storyline, underdeveloped characters, inconsistent audio quality, error-filled subtitles, tone-deaf racial and gender stereotypes, and poor graphics and animations. In particular, the game's glitches and lack of technical polish received a lot of negative attention, with many opining that it felt rushed, and at least one critic suggesting it was the worst game of 2011. In 2015, the game's lead designer admitted that The Cartel wasn't ready when it was released, calling the game "a mistake".
Gameplay Call of Juarez: The Cartel is a first-person shooter in which the player controls one of three protagonists: Det. Ben McCall (LAPD), Agent Kim Evans (FBI), or Agent Eddie Guerra (DEA). The two characters whom the player does not choose are controlled either by the AI, or by human player(s) in drop-in/drop-out co-op mode. Unlike the original Call of Juarez, which used alternating characters level-by-level, or Bound in Blood, which allowed players to choose which character to play as for each level, in The Cartel, players pick a character before beginning the first level and are confined to using that character throughout the campaign, unless they start a new game. Irrespective of the player character, each level is played through in the same manner. However, playing as specific characters does often result in different cutscenes and in-game dialogue. For example, in the first level, each of the three characters receives a phone call at different points, but the player can only hear what is said during the player character's conversation; thus, to hear all three phone calls, the player must play through the level three times, using a different character each time.
Each character can wield handguns, rifles, heavy and light machine guns, shotguns, and grenades. Each can interact with certain objects, such as ammo, weaponry, and collectables. Each can also drive vehicles when available, or ride shotgun if necessary. Each can also avail of "Team Cover", a special game mechanic only available at predetermined points whereby the under-fire player can move from designated cover spot to designated cover spot, with their companions automatically offering covering fire as they move.
The main differences between the three characters pertain to their weaponry. McCall gets a damage bonus when using handguns and heavy machine guns, whilst his speciality skill is rapid reloading of handguns. He's also stronger and slower than the others and can take more damage in both gunfights and melee combat. Evans gets a damage bonus when using rifles and sniper rifles, whilst her speciality skill is enhanced focus when zoomed in on a target and the ability to hold her breath when using a sniper rifle. She's weaker and faster than the others and is the only character who can simultaneously run and zoom. Guerra gets a damage bonus when using light machine guns and shotguns, whilst his speciality skill is the ability to dual wield SMGs. His strength and speed fall between McCall and Evans – he's faster and weaker than McCall but tougher and slower than Evans.
Each mission in the game features a series of primary objectives, which must be completed sequentially as the player moves through the map. Certain levels also feature optional side quests called "Secret Agenda" missions. In these missions, which are different for each of the characters, the player character will receive a phone call asking them to retrieve something hidden within the map. Not only must they find the item, but to get the full experience points and complete the mission successfully, they must collect it unseen by the other two characters. When playing in co-op mode, if a player is seen taking the secret agenda item, they get 50% of the available experience, with the other 50% going to the player who saw them. Experience allows the player to level up, with different weaponry made available for use at each level.
The game features two types of slow-motion attacks ("Concentration Mode"). Irrespective of the character, players charge their concentration metre by killing enemies, with headshots charging the meter faster than body shots. Once the player has filled the meter, they can activate concentration mode at any time. When they do, time slows down dramatically, but the player can still pivot, shoot, and reload at near-normal speed. In co-op play, when one player triggers their concentration mode, it also triggers for all other human players. The second type of concentration mode is dual concentration, which happens automatically at certain points in the game, always at doorways. The player character and one of the AI characters (or two player characters in co-op mode) simultaneously burst into the room, and the game goes into slow motion for several seconds.
Multiplayer The game's multiplayer mode is available via LAN and online on Microsoft Windows, LAN and the PlayStation Network on PlayStation 3, and System Link and Xbox Live on the Xbox 360. All three versions feature two types of multiplayer; cooperative and competitive. Cooperative gameplay allow up to three players team up to complete campaign missions. When playing cooperatively, the game features random challenges throughout each level (this feature is not available in single-player mode). These challenges may include objectives such as hitting a certain number of headshots, avoiding damage, or getting to a certain part of the level. All human players (whether two or three) receive the same challenges at the same time, and the first to complete the challenge gets the experience points.
Competitive mode is traditional player v. player gameplay for up to twelve players, with two game types available - "Objective Based" and "Team Deathmatch". Both game types use a "cop v. criminal" system, where one team is the cops and the other is the criminals. In objective-based gameplay, players set out to either engage in criminal activity or prevent the other team from doing so, with a series of objectives to be completed or prevented. All games also use a partner system whereby any two players on the same team can team up. If they remain close to one another, they get benefits such as extra experience or health. Additionally, if one partner sees an opponent, but the other partner does not, that opponent is marked on both partners' mini-maps.
Plot The game begins as the fledgling but powerful Mendoza Cartel bomb the DEA's offices in Los Angeles, killing seven agents. In response, Deputy Attorney General Joseph Reynolds orders Assistant Attorney General Shane Dickson to put together an interagency task force. She selects LAPD detective Ben McCall, FBI agent Kim Evans, and DEA agent Eddie Guerra. She tells the team that FBI agent Patrick Stone, who was killed in the bombing, had been investigating the sale of military-grade weaponry to the cartel. After the bombing, Stone's daughter Jessica contacted McCall and told him that several days prior, her father was threatened by a man named Antonio Alvarez, who was squadmates with both McCall and Stone in Vietnam.
After causing chaos to the cartel's street operations, the team learn that Alvarez is scheduled to take delivery of a sizeable amount of cash. En route to the exchange, Guerra's bookie calls and tells him his $70,000 debt has been paid off, much to his confusion. After the exchange is made, the team give chase, with Alvarez fleeing on foot. While Evans pursues, she is called by FBI Assistant Director Allen Waters and told that Alvarez is an FBI informant, and is not to be arrested. Nevertheless, the team are able to get the money Alvarez was carrying.
Later, Guerra gets a call from whoever paid off his debt, telling him that they want Jessica moved to a less secure location. As Guerra reluctantly obliges, they are attacked en route, although they manage to escape. Seeing that Jessica has a missed call from Kevin Donleavy, a former FBI agent who worked with her father, the team have her ring him back, whereupon he tells her that her father sent something to him; evidence of a conspiracy that "goes all the way to the top." Jessica arranges to meet Donleavy in a rooftop bar. Guerra is again contacted by his creditors and is told they no longer need Jessica, now they just need Donleavey's evidence. Evans is informed that Donleavy is working for the cartel, and follows an order to shoot him. This prompts Jessica to flee, pursued by Alvarez, who was also in the bar.
The team then learn that Jesus Mendoza, son of Juan Mendoza, the cartel's leader, is coming to LA to handle the arms deal. They apprehend Jesus, learning that the cartel is buying the weapons from Peace Keepers International, a private military company run by Michael Duke. Alvarez tells Evans that Donleavy was not working for the cartel and offers intel on the exchange with Duke in exchange for custody of Jesus. He also confirms that the cartel has apprehended Jessica. McCall, however, contacts Juan directly, offering Jesus in exchange for Jessica, to which Juan agrees.
At the prisoner exchange, Alvarez kills both Jessica and Jesus. He then offers a new deal - the location of the weapon trade in return for the money the team stole during the money exchange. Donleavy's evidence proves to be an audio recording in which Stone reveals that Dickson is working with the cartel. McCall reluctantly agrees to Alvarez's deal, and the team heads to the location; an old fort in Juarez (the same fort occupied by Juan Mendoza in the previous games), where they kill all of Duke and Juan's men and steal the trucks with the weaponry and money.