As much of a fan as I am of F. Douglas Wall's Adventures in Oz (which really is a superb product), I must say that I am a tad disappointed in the character sheets.

For the new and improved price of .99 you can not go wrong, but still... something seems missing.

First off, the characters: Dorothy Gale, the Tin Woodsman, Trot, the Scarecrow, the Woozy, the Cowardly Lion, Prince Inga, Queen Ann Soforth, Professor H.M. Woggle-Bug, T.E., the Frogman, Toto, Bungle the Glass Cat, Omby Amby (aka, The Soldier with the Green Whiskers), Private Files, and the Shaggy Man.

In addition, Mr. Wall has provided two blank character sheets that are full page spreads, unlike those provided in the Adventures in Oz rulebook.

Layout of the individual sheets are clean and open spaced. Each character has stats, first appearance listings (which is helpful), a paragraph of background information, and a whimsical black & white picture.

The problem is in the lack of substance. Sure, it is nice having the heavy hitters and a couple of the obscurities to populate the game world - but as a fan of the game, I would have liked to have seen a character sheet that reflected the overall 'feel' of the game book. As it is, the sheet feels (and looks) like a basic converted word document.

Pros: Characters are stat'ed out by the creator of the game with a sense of careful balancing. Great price.

Cons: Plain presentation not on par with that taken in the Adventures in Oz game book.

If Aces and Eights is the John Ford of tabletop westerns, Wild West Cinema is most certainly the Sergio Leone of the genre.

I swear, the dice rolling even has reverb!

Using the F.A.S.T. system, author Dave Bezio has bottled the cinematic western in a fun, easy-to-learn, and player-driven mechanic that is sure to please.

What most appeals to me is the flexibility and freedom Wild West Cinema offers. If I wanted, I could run large tables, small tables, or even one-on-one sessions with no worries whatsoever; the cinematic nature covers all bases.

Despite a few questionable game terms used (which, admittedly, is all a matter of opinion) Mr. Bezio manages to capture much of what I loved about westerns and gaming in the first place.

'It's a Dogs Life' from Beyond Belief Games surprised the heck out of me. Of all of the games in their product line, this one was the game I least wanted to like. American Indian-like Prairie Dogs? What's next, neurotic and hard-boiled hamsters?

In the end, I found it the most charming and interesting of Mr. Washbourne's games; one that I can share with not only my wife (who dislikes RPGs), but also my daughters. And in an age of neopets, iCarly and a general lack of family time, what more can a parent ask?

Very much recommended.

For the price, this bundle is well worth the investment. Indy game or not, Beyond Belief Games provides rich and creative landscapes to not only enjoy - but also as means to introduce younger players to the role-playing genre. From the childhood idealism of Lashings of Ginger Beer and It's A Dogs Life to the shoot-em-up Western of Go For Yer Gun!, Mr. Washbourne reminds me why I became a fan of RPGs in the first place.

Highly recommended.

A fantastic bridge from old-timer Boot Hill to the modern d20.

Mr. Washbourne doesn't get nearly as much credit as he deserves.