Red Dead Redemption 2

5th October 2023

I'm a big fan of Rockstar Games in general; GTA V was my first beefy console game, and I saved up my pocket money for a whole year to buy it when I was a bit younger. I think something that Rockstar as a company does really well is know their target audience, and produce storylines that both appeal to those target audiences. People who play their games become enamoured with the characters, so I can't think of a better game that displays this ability than Red Dead Redemption 2. I have RDR 1 on Xbox 360, but I have only got through a small portion of it so far, so I will probably be reviewing it in the future.

I initially played RDR 2 about a year after it was released (I usually play games a bit after release to hurt my wallet a little less), and I was obsessed with it, playing it daily after school. It was a game that my friends and I cried over, laughed with and fully enjoyed every second of. I started replaying it recently to relive the Wild West experience through Arthur Morgan's eyes.

Storyline

I think one of the prime aspects of this game, and most Rockstar games as I've already mentioned, is the incredibly immersive and authentic storyline. I love a good cowboy story, and I was a hardcore horse game fanatic as a child (Barbie Horse Adventures served as a stellar precursor to Red Dead). Right off the bat, you are thrust into a cold landscape, with immediate camaraderie and quips from the Van Der Linde gang. Playing this game, you quickly form opinions and a strong love or hatred for certain characters. The fleshing out of each character in the Van Der Linde gang makes this game so incredibly enjoyable and re-playable, as they all seem like real Wild West characters that could really have been kicking around in the 19th century. Each character has such strong values, opinions and behaviours that you can't help but form a strong attachment to some, and forge a strong hatred for others (Micah). Aside from main story missions, every side mission is just as interesting, valuable and intriguing. The honour system is a great example of how the game makes the player really want to be someone in the west; doing good is directly rewarded when revisiting strangers or mission participants, whilst doing bad actions is equally as immersive in a dog-eat-dog Wild West.

World

The world and everything in it in this game feels like a carefully curated museum of Wild West memorabilia. From wanted posters to treasure maps and hunting guides, the amount of work that has gone into the environment in this game is visibly and obviously substantial. Aside from that, the actual scenery and landscape is gorgeous. It actually makes you want to live on a simple campsite, getting your coffee from the fire each morning before you tend to camp chores (and sometimes a quick shave). The variety and variation in the towns (and city) of the landscape in this game has a real charm and individuality to it, and the way it is woven into the general nature of the land is incredibly good. It invites the player out to do anything from rob stagecoaches, to having a relaxing afternoon fishing. Every mountain, trail and homestead feels as real as the next.

The little things

The level of detail, from having to shave your beard, feed and care for your horse, do little chores around camp; I truly feel like a cowboy living day to day in a life full of adventure. I don't think there are any other games that can convince me, never mind actually motivate me, to do such menial tasks. With Red Dead Redemption, I can't get enough. I think it adds a nice bit of pace to the game as well, and for those who are completionists, it allows for a multitude of accomplishments to be got before retiring the game for a while. Also, I love a game that allows me to pet every dog that I see. I don't think I even fully utilised many mechanics of this game; I definitely didn't set up a temporary camp in the wild often enough, or craft meals and materials for myself.

Music & Audio

Obviously a large part of what makes the characters in this game great is their voice actors. There are some incredibly good performances in this game throughout, from both lead characters and side characters or NPCs. On top of that, the soundtrack is incredibly good at giving you a reflective outlook on mission events. I distinctly remember the moments leading up to Willie Nelson's 'Cruel World' in the game. The timing and placement of these soundtrack gems is impeccable. I loved the soundtrack so much, that I actually chose RDR 2 as a project for both foley and music in my Music Technology class, re-recording D'Angelo's 'Unshaken', as well as re-recording foley for the scene with the O'Driscolls at the beginning of the game.

Closing remarks

I love this game. I sincerely hope Rockstar release a sequel soon, although I realise that since the remaster of RDR 1 has just come out that that may be a while away. I will continue to relive my life as Arthur Morgan many times, living out my Wild West fantasies in the beautiful and immersive world that has been cultivated in this game.