It would be easy to write a review of vs. Outlaws that is longer than this game of Wild West action itself. Printed on a 5.5" square trifold brochure, with a cover on one fold and a back cover on another, vs. Outlaws is an exercise in brevity. The main rules fit across the inner folds, with gamemastering notes on the final fold, and there's even room for a little spaghetti-western art.
The rules themselves are simple but tight, with a surprising number of customization options for player characters. The game uses a deck of cards to resolve actions, adding to the western flavor. Just about everything that's expected in a standard RPG is included, even a simple advancement system. Many of the rules are general in order to fit as much as possible into the game, but they are certainly functional.
The beauty of vs. Outlaws is that the entire game can be read and digested in a single setting, and an entire group can get a copy of the rules for less then what a single copy of another game might cost. In vs. Outlaws, Reed has created a gateway drug to gaming: it's easy to pick up, and everyone can afford a taste.
