Rockstar Games’ 2018 title Red Dead Redemption 2 was their latest, and perhaps greatest release since the commercially and critically acclaimed Grand Theft Auto 5. Since Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the 2010 Red Dead Redemption, there are many things that the game succeeds in accomplishing.
There’s a lot of competition between Rockstars Games, as with each title they put in great efforts to outdo themselves each time. It shows just how brilliant they are at creating immersive open-world titles, that many enjoy. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the latest to try and take the crown as the best Rockstar game.
9 Abundance Of Activities
With most Rockstar titles, the open world can feel perhaps too open. There isn’t a lot to do in Grand Theft Auto when riding around in superfast cars, and not a lot of eye-catching moments that happen outside of story missions. Red Dead Redemption 2 changes that.
In Red Dead Redemption 2, players can’t exactly roll the windows up on their car. They are constantly on the trodden path on their horse’s saddle. Players can be approached by strangers who wish to race, need medical attention, or simply want to rob them. It brings life into the world, having these random activities.
8 Personal Story
When Grand Theft Auto 5 came out, players experienced a story that entwined multiple protagonists. The lives of Franklin, Michael, and Trevor were entwined in crime and broken bonds. This was executed greatly by Rockstar, but it wasn’t as intimate as a story would be with a singular protagonist.
Red Dead Redemption 2 features Arthur Morgan as the singular protagonist. Since players only have to focus on Arthur, they become far more invested in his story and health in the age of the dying Old West. Arthur Morgan has soon become an iconic character, all in part due to his performance by Roger Clarke.
7 Immersive World
Whether players are drudging through the snowy mountain tops or frolicking in the colorful flower fields, Red Dead Redemption 2 offers a great variety of immersion in its world. From the detail of the buildings, characters, and environments, to the lived-in feel.
The sound design of birds chirping in trees, and horse hooves trodding along mud tracks, all help to make the world seem so real. Players can spend hours just exploring this world, and enjoying it for its uniqueness compared to the world that we inhabit now.
6 Original Soundtrack
An important aspect of all visual mediums is that of original soundtracks. Red Dead Redemption 2 has no way to feature licensed music on a radio, simply because that would not make sense for the period. What the game does well, is feature great original music from composer Woody Jackson.
From the opening titles of Red Dead Redemption 2, the music grips the player and bolsters the great visuals. Whether that’s in the burning of Adler’s ranch, the scornful revenge of American Venom, or just riding along the open trail. Who doesn’t love an original track from Willie Nelson, with the beautiful “Cruel World”.
5 Sense Of Family
Another great aspect of this open-world western game is the gang that the player lives with. Much of the story involves Dutch Van Der Linde and the Van Der Linde Gang. As the group camps out in different locations, to evade the authorities in an ever-changing America, they further develop their bonds.
Players can play games, talk, dance, and sing with their gangmates. It makes the player develop a deeper emotional connection with the characters, as if Arthur strays from camp for far too long, a member will ride out to find Arthur and make sure he is okay. It all makes the tragedy of the Van Der Linde Gang even more heart-breaking.
4 Hunting Grounds
Grand Theft Auto 5 dabbled in hunting, as some missions have Trevor using a deer call to hunt and shoot the animals in the forest areas. This wasn’t something that was expanded on since GTA 5 was mainly about the heists and fast cars. With RDR 2, players are still inhabiting a world that is shared by nature, and not overly invaded by cityscapes.
Players can venture out to hunt legendary animals and even fish. They can track animals, and hunt them with the correct equipment to ensure the best materials are harvested from the animal killed. It’s a great activity in RDR 2, and one that bristles with detail.
3 Diverse Map
Red Dead Redemption 2 is the first Rockstar Game to feature more than one state in the map size. The gigantic map of RDR 2 features 5 major states: Ambarino, Lemoyne, New Austin, New Hanover, and West Elizabeth. What’s great about these locations, is that they all feel unique and warranted for their namesake.
Some areas are dry, and hot, which forces the player to wear summer clothing. Other areas can include freezing mountain tops and snowy hells that require the player to wear coats and gloves so that they do not freeze. The diversity in RDR 2’s map is an amazing feature.
2 Western Setting
Westerns have been an icon of Hollywood since the early years of the 20th Century. Hollywood helped to romanticize the Western era into this epic American adventure, filled with gunslinging, cattle rustling, and horse riding. Legends emerged from Hollywood like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood, all thanks to the success of Westerns.
Red Dead Redemption 2 perfectly encapsulates that western feel, bringing players into the Old West with a controller in hand. There’s a great amount of love for the genre that clearly shows in the game. From dialogue to costumes to the action set pieces involved in the story.
1 John Marston
All Rockstar games have their iconic protagonist. Whether that’s the great Tommy Vercetti from GTA: Vice City, or GTA: San Andreas’ CJ. None have quite captured the attention and love of audiences than 2010’s Red Dead Redemption protagonist: John Marston.
Rob Wiethoff returns to the iconic cowboy, John Marston in Red Dead Redemption 2. He is a character of great acclaim and tragedy, and RDR 2 seeks to expand his relationship with the Van Der Linde gang, and more importantly, his mentor figure Arthur Morgan. Seeing John Marston again, even if it was a prequel, was a great joy for many fans of the Red Dead franchise.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Stadia, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.