Many developers have tried their hands at creating open world games over the past few decades. Few, if any, however, have been anywhere near as successful as Rockstar Games. The attention to detail that typically goes into creating the environments found in the studio's games is at times incredibly impressive and this is once again the case in the developer's most recent title, Red Dead Redemption 2.
The world in which the game's story takes place is full of little touches and details which help to make it feel as though it is truly alive. Perhaps the most well realized element of this comes in the form of Red Dead Redemption 2's wildlife and ecosystem, which bear many resemblances to those found in the real world. While some of the larger species may get the bulk of the attention though, that doesn't mean that the game's water-dwelling creatures aren't also true to life.
While recently exploring the state of Ambarino in Red Dead Redemption 2, Reddit user Catterpill420 found themselves at a waterfall at Granite Pass and made an interesting discovery about the game's fish. Just as they might in reality, they were using the waterfall to get from A to B; something that their real world counterparts do frequently in order to reach their breeding grounds. What's more, the Redditor also noticed that some of the fish weren't quite making it into the water below; instead falling too far and landing on a ledge. Not only was this also true to life, but it effectively provided the player with an unlimited amount of free fish.
Apparently the fish in RDR2 use waterfalls to get around, just like real fish do. However, some don't make it and land on the ledge. A little detail I wanted to share. from reddeadredemption
This isn't the only interesting design choice surrounding the fish in Read Redemption 2, either. Those which dwell in lakes and rivers with power plants or factories nearby can often be seen bearing the negative effects of water pollution in what is perhaps a direct reference to the damaging impact that humankind has had on nature. This can also be seen with some of the four-legged creatures too, with many of the ones out to the west of the game's world becoming mangy due to a lack of food and the loss of their natural habitats.
For as meticulous as the game can often be, though, there are times when things don't always line up with reality. One player recently shared a video of a duck carcass floating up into the air, for example, while another poster a picture showing what can sometimes happen when players revive a horse in Red Dead Redemption 2. Given the sheer scale of the game, however, the odd hiccup is perhaps to be expected from time to time and arguably takes very little away from the game's otherwise impressive realism.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.