How the west was won

It has been a long time coming, eight years in fact since we last saw Rockstar’s western series. Red Dead Redemption is widely considered one of the best games of the previous generation. From its unique open world to unforgettable main protagonist, the game still resonates with so many players even nearly a decade later. So when Rockstar announced a sequel was incoming, more than a few people took notice. Red Dead Redemption 2 is not a sequel in the traditional respect. Instead this game takes place before the events of the first game. While an extremely bold move it works out and delivers yet again a generational masterpiece.

I might as well start this review out with my issues with the game. This is still a Rockstar open-world game. Ever since the release of the original Redemption the genre has advanced in almost every facet. Instant fast-travel, modernized controls, and tons of quality of life improvements that simply make them feel more like games. Redemption 2 doesn’t bother to adopt a lot of these things. I still had to mash the A button to sprint. Everything feels stiff and dedicated to the animations.

MSRP: $59.99
Platforms: XB1 (reviewed), PS4
Price I’d Pay: $59.99

Those little touches everyone always talks about with these games are also annoyances at times. Having to clean my gun to keep it tip-top condition. Fumbling through two menus to restore my health with an item or just trying to select the proper firearm. Rockstar’s attention to detail is commendable, but also frustrating at times.

Sure these things can be annoying, but the world Rockstar has crafted with Redemption 2 is unparalleled in both scope and beauty. Little details that other open-world games fall short on are here. The wildlife for example is dynamic and flourishing. NPCs greet the player and react to them. They remember things players have done and live their daily lives not just when they are in the vicinity. Helping a stranger on the side of the road could lead to a whole new storyline or quest opening up. It is a world that lives and breathes, and it is overwhelming at times.

The game almost feels like a living simulator at times. I could take my time, stop to talk to people, hunt, or even go fishing at my leisure. Sure there is a story being told, but there is never a sense of urgency in getting to the conclusion. I felt like Arthur Morgan, living my life as I saw fit. Shaving when I wanted, or deciding not to bathe and making people at the Post Office uncomfortable. This is the world Rockstar has built.

Arthur Morgan has gotten a bad rap. I admit, when I found out I wouldn’t be playing as John Marston in the new game, I was bummed. Especially since it takes place before the events of the first game. The more I played as Arthur though, the more I liked him. He is an outlaw. Old, rugged, and doesn’t have time for anyone’s crap. Yet players can certainly play him differently. The freedom the game allows to either help or hurt anyone I met is incredible. Most times it feels shoehorned in, but my actions always had consequences. Even without arbitrary dialogue choices, my actions made the difference. I still enjoy the dialogue sequences while riding with my crew. Rockstar writers are still the best at dynamic storytelling without having to use cut scenes constantly.

Red Dead Redemption 2 feels like a world players could be discovering things in for a long, long time. Every inch of the world feels handcrafted, which is rare these days. I imagine there are a bevy of secrets tucked away in the far corners of the massive map. I love that there are varying types of terrain such as swamp and deserts, snow-covered mountains, and of course traditional countryside. Weather is also dynamic and impressive, though I felt at times it came and went a little too quickly breaking the immersion.

Playing Redemption 2 takes some getting used to. As I mentioned this is a Rockstar game, so everything has their stamp on it. Tapping the A button to run can get annoying. I do love the subtleties though. Tapping the right trigger cocks the gun, while pulling it fires. This is great for threatening people, or robbing them. I could also fire into the air to scare people off their horses. It is things like this that stand out.

While I am not a fan of survival aspects in games, Redemption 2 finds a nice balance. Cleaning guns is not intrusive and doesn’t need to be done often. Taking care of my horse has benefits such as increased stamina and loyalty. I also loved the progression. Run more and Arthur’s stamina goes up. Shoot his gun more and Deadeye increases. He could also get fat if he ate too much, or skinny if he did not. This also affected stamina and health. These are not forward facing things though, it doesn’t happen quickly, nor does the game require players to babysit it. That is what makes it interesting.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is an absolutely stunning game. For those that have the upgraded consoles it is even more so. Seeing this game run in 4K with HDR is simply jaw-dropping. The lighting is incredible, the amount of detail on everything from rocks to trees to streams is unmatched. The world feels alive. Trees sway in the wind, deer scurry across the road as I passed by. The world is both beautiful and dangerous. Running on my Xbox One X this is the first game to cause it to fire up. I thought during the intro sequence it was going to take off into space. Rockstar has squeezed a lot out of even these beefier machines. It is worth it though as the game is simply breathtaking.

Music is also once again stellar. Hearing the various tunes spin up at opportune times really sets the mood. Chase music, eerie themes at night. It is perfect and never intrusive. Until I stopped to appreciate it I didn’t notice how perfect it really was. It sets the balance for every scene. Combine that with incredible voice acting and writing across the board, and the sound matches the visuals on every level in quality. These are the things that make Rockstar games special.

It is impossible to live up to hype and expectation. Red Dead Redemption 2 has been heralded as Game of the Year since it was announced. No matter what Rockstar did people were going to be watching this game with eager eyes to see if it could possibly top the tales of John Marston. I can safely say this is one of the best, if not best game of 2018. Possibly even the generation. There is simply so much care put into this world. Sure there are gripes, nothing is perfect, but Red Dead Redemption 2 comes very close when it comes to its execution and presentation. There is a good reason why so many games avoided releasing close to this behemoth.

I wish there was more I could say about the game. There is so much to discuss, but that would take away from the experience. Avoid spoilers, avoid videos of this game, just buy it, play it, and fall in love with this world the same way I did.

Review copy of game provided by publisher.