An Old Friend

An Old Friend is the first chapter in Desperados: Wanted Dead or Alive. In it, you take the role of John Cooper as he arrives in Opelousas, Louisiana looking for Samuel Williams.

Overview[]

This level is a tutorial level for learning how to control John Cooper. You will learn how to walk, run, crawl, climb, shoot, reload, check buildings, punch, throw the knife, cut, ride a horse, and use the watch to lure others.

Cinematic[]

Desperados_Wanted_Dead_or_Alive_-_An_old_friend — Desperados Wanted Dead or Alive - An old friend

An Old Friend - Cinematic

The story began with a mysterious band of bandits robbing a train by killing the guards, taking the loot, blowing up the train wagon, and escaping. The image dissolved into a wanted poster being held by the bounty hunter John Cooper as he threw it towards B. Smith and asked him what he knew about the bandits. He explained that the group of outlaws had been terrorizing the railways for a while and that Marshal Jackson has too much to handle to deal with them. John retorted and asked where he may find the marshal and Smith informed him that the marshal was out of town and won't be back for 2 or 3 weeks. John took the opportunity of the marshal's absence to recruit a few men.

Just as John left, a worried Smith calls a mysterious figure from the shadows and asked what to do about the bounty hunter, the figure in red said nothing and will only take care of him if he became a problem.

Story[]

John arrived at Opelousas by train, looking for Samuel Williams. As he got off the train, he is seen by an old friend named Big Bill. The two exchanged a friendly conversation as Cooper asked where Samuel was, Bill explained that Samuel was taken into manuel work by a southerner named Charles Clayton. While Cooper wanted to leave as soon as possible, Bill convinced him to stay awhile due to the party going on in town.

Although busy, John agreed and the two ran off to a roof of a nearby building. Like old times, they made a bet involving John shooting a flower pot in the window of an adjacent building for payment of liquor at the bar. With one shot, John managed to hit the pot and in the process, attracted the attention of an old admirer named Lola. While she was mad at first, she quickly calmed down when she saw who it was. Infatuated again, Lola asked John if he was interested in coming over. John reluctantly responded with slight optimism, telling her that he may come later.

Following their adventure on the rooftop, the two went to try one of the attractions. One of them involved a ringmaster asking for volunteers to see who can take out his strongman Bonebreaker with one punch for $25. Bill volunteered John, who accepted the challenge. With one punch, Bonebreaker was taken a back and fell unconscious to the ground. The amazed ringmaster congratulated John and gave him the money as promised.

Unsatisfied with his losing streak, Bill took John to another booth, a knife-throwing contest. In this challenge, the one who got a bullseye on the target would get 25$ and have their liquor paid for. Once more, John won and picked up a pocket watch as a prize; he then turned to Bill and told him to pay. Unfortunately, Bill did not take it well and knocked John out and stole his property.

Seeing what was happening, Lola rushed out and told John that Bill had run to a cliff nearby. John took chase and along the way, he found his prize pocket watch; this gave him an idea. Using the musical tune build inside of it, he tried to lure in an armed civilian nearby; it worked. With a plan now in mind, John continued forward to find Bill resting on the Cliff.

Just as before, John set up the watch and left it to play out. Hearing the song nearby, Bill went down to investigate. Just as he made his way down, Bill spotted John rushing towards him. Before having time to react, Bill was knocked out cold. John was able to recover his stuff and took Bill's horse, immediately heading towards Clayton's plantation to find Samuel.

Characters[]

Playable Characters[]

John Cooper

Other Characters[]

Big Bill
Lola
Bonebreaker
Ringmaster
Knife Booth Owner
29 Civilians
2 Armed Gunmen

Animals[]

5 Horses
7 Cow
3 Pigs

Items[]

1 Horse Saddle
1 Pocket Watch

Objectives[]

Follow Big Bill and don't let him shake you off!
Shoot down the pot on the balcony opposite!
Follow Big Bill to the fist-fighter!
Knock out the fist-fighter and win!
Follow Big Bill to the knife-throwing stand!
Beat Bug Bill in knife-throwing!
Cut your prize down from one of the ropes on the Knife-throwing stand!
Try to find Big Bill!
Check if your watch still works!
Confront Big Bill, put him out of action and take his booty back off him! Make sure he doesn't see you too soon or he'll try to get away!

Quotes[]

Intro

Damn me, if it ain't John Cooper! - Big Bill
Bill, you lousy horse-thief, you! - John Cooper
They still not strung you up? - John Cooper
No way! - Big Bill
I'm looking for Samuel! - John Cooper
You haven't run across him by any chance? - John Cooper
Sam? Hmm, as far as I know he got taken on by some fine dude by the name of Clayton. - Big Bill
Charles Clayton - some farmer down south. Fairly rich guy... - Big Bill
Hey, you ain't planning on dissappearin' again rightaways, are ya? - Big Bill
There's gonna be a big part here today. - Big Bill
Well, I'm in kind of a hurry... - John Cooper
Ah, come on. Sam's not gonna run away! - Big Bill
Come on with me! See if you're as good as you say you are... Follow me! - Big Bill

Climbing next to Bill

Not bad! I can see you ain’t lost your knack for climbing. - Big Bill
I wonder if you’re still as handy with a gun? - Big Bill
See that flower pot up there on the balcony? - Big Bill
Big Bill points at flower pot.
Bet you can’t shoot it down from here! - Big Bill
How much? - John Cooper
Whoever loses pays for the liquor! - Big Bill
It’s a deal! - John Cooper

Shooting at Flower Pot

Damn it! What nut is doing is doing all the shooting around here? - Lola
Yeah, in the name of all that’s unholy! Is that you, John? - Lola
Why don’t you come up and see me some time, sweetie? - Lola
Thanks for the offer! Maybe later! - John Cooper

Reload gun

Satisfied? - John Cooper
Hmm, looks as though Lola ain’t forgot… - Big Bill
Yeah, looks as if she is still carrying a torch for me… - John Cooper
Come on, let’s get out of here! - Big Bill

Approaching the Ringmaster

Which of you is tough enough to take on Bonebreaker? - Ringmaster
Let’s have a look at the strongman. - Big Bill
Ah, looks to me as though we might have found a couple of volunteers with guts! - Ringmaster
Come on up, just step this way! - Ringmaster
There’s 25 dollars waiting for you if you lay Bonebreaker out with one blow! - Ringmaster
What do you think, John? He should be a dead cinch for you! - Big Bill
25 dollars, huh? That’s easy money… - John Cooper

Punching Bonebreaker

Well, I’ll be….. - Ringmaster
This gentleman here’s done it! - Ringmaster
Give him a big hand, ladies and gentleman, a big hand! - Ringmaster
There you go, Mister… 25 dollars! - Ringmaster
It was a pleasure… - John Cooper
Not bad! Seems to me you ain’t forgot all your tricks, John! - Big Bill
How about a little duel at the knife-thrower’s stand, just to round things off…? - Big Bill

Approaching the Knife Booth Owner

Right this way, gentlemen, right this way! - Knife Booth Owner
How about a round of “double or nothin’”? - Big Bill
The loser pays fir the drinks AND gives the winner 25 bucks. - Big Bill
Why do I get this damn feeling you just want to provoke me, you old crook? - John Cooper
Shoot! Come on, take a chance! Stop making such a damn woman fuss! - Big Bill
Stand on the line, please, and throw just as soon as you’re ready! - Knife Booth Owner

After throwing the knife

…….that’s one eagle-eye shot, Mister! - Knife Booth Owner
Just cut down a prize from one of the ropes! - Knife Booth Owner
And don’t forget to take your knife along with you! - Knife Booth Owner

Cutting down bag

Mmm, a musical watch…well, it’s still better than missing the target! - John Cooper
Just ain’t your day today, is it? - John Cooper
Don’t forget, you owe me 25 dollars! - John Cooper
Bastard! - Big Bill

Cooper gets knocked out and wakes up

That cheater! I saw it all! - Lola
They oughtta string that no good polecat up! - Lola
Hurry up, you might just catch him! - Lola
He left town heading out east so fast it made your head spin! - Lola

Finding the musical watch

My watch! That no-good thief must have dropped it, he couldn’t get away fast enough… - John Cooper
Mmm, maybe I can use it to give him a little surprise… - John Cooper
Let’s see if it still works… - John Cooper

Approaching Big Bill