I've seen games a year out that are in significantly better shape than Call of Juarez: The Cartel . Slated to release July 19th, the third entry in the franchise looks like it could use many more months of polish. Although, having played its multiplayer, I don't think any amount of polish would make it any good. As a shooter, it just didn't control well and isn't doing anything new or different enough with its game modes or gameplay to warrant more than a passing look and a shrug.

Call of Juarez: The Cartel's multiplayer pits police officers against gangbangers in deathmatch or a mission-based mode called Objective. In Objective, up to six players on either side fight to complete a task or prevent the other side from doing so. For instance, in the maps I played, the gangsters were trying to blow up a safe and get the contents of that safe into a car that they then had to drive to a specific point on the map. Each step in the mission (i.e. the safe detonation, carrying the goods, et cetera) were rounds that each side tried to win to earn points towards their team's overall score.Not every game has to reinvent the genre time and again, but Call of Juarez: The Cartel not only has predictable game modes, it also plays poorly. It looks like an original Xbox game right now and performs badly despite this. It visuals make it look like a title that's an afterthought; one that needs some serious attention to be brought up to a competitive place amongst the rest of shooters out this year.The shooting is also problematic in The Cartel. Despite messing with the settings, I could never get the controls to feel precise. I'm generally decent at first-person games, but I always felt impeded by The Cartel's sluggish characters and floaty aiming. Instead of feeling like the dashing, in-shape cop I played as, my controls made me feel like a cop with arthritis and a donut gut. Not very empowering or fun.The one interesting takeaway I had with Call of Juarez: The Cartel's multiplayer was the partner system. Two players on the same team can elect to become partners, granting them benefits as long as they stay in close proximity of one another. For instance, you might take less damage when close to your partner or get extra experience for assisting a partner in killing an opponent. It's a clever way to try and encourage team play but was largely overshadowed by The Cartel's shortcomings.Could Call of Juarez: The Cartel's multiplayer turn into something worth your attention before July 19th? I doubt it. Maybe if it was a year out and they could take time to implement the feedback they're getting, but this title is well on its way to store shelves.