Platform: PlayStation 4

Developer: Rockstar Studios

Publisher: Rockstar Games 

Release Date: October 26th, 2018

Genre: Action-Adventure

Nerd Rating:  9.5 / 10

Reviewed by Rhutsczar

We have finally arrived. Many weeks ago, we started on the trip of a lifetime. We visited Armadillo to pay off our exorbitant bounty from our previous adventure so we could be fresh and clear for this trip. Oh and what a trip to Blackwater, our favorite city in the West, has turned out to be. Freezing to death in the mountains to be constantly hunted by federal agents, we are glad to ride along with Dutch’s Gang and experience the life of an outlaw once again. We just need money, then we will go to Tahiti. Until then, grab your horse and ride with us in Red Dead Redemption 2.

We will follow you anywhere Dutch!

Now settle into your stagecoach for a moment while we set the scene. Set during the turn of the 20th century, the world of Red Dead Redemption 2 is changing, as the time of outlaws and the lawless West is coming to an end. Cities such as Blackwater and Saint-Denis are growing, pushing bandits to live in camps and caves constantly running from the law. Every day, lovable outlaws are being put out to pasture in the name of progress. Right from the prologue, we already have a clear idea that this lovable gang we are joining, well, their days are numbered.

For those whose head has been stuck under a rock since Red Dead Redemption 2 was released, let’s go for a rundown. The story begins in 1899, after a completely botched heist involving a ferry by Dutch’s Gang in the city of Blackwater. On our initial escape from federal agents, the gang escapes to the Ambarino mountains to lose them in a storm. However, this is only the beginning of the gang’s troubles, as members of the gang (unmet NPCs) begin to die due to various complications. The gang realizes that retirement in the West sounds like a solid plan, so they plan on how to steal they 401(k)s. What follows is the harrowing tale of the outlaw life disappearing among the blaze.

Arthur Morgan and Sadie Adler…time to kill them O’Driscolls!

As Rockstar Games has proved time and time again, they craft amazing and complex characters. The player takes control of Arthur Morgan, a certified badass gunslinger that seems a bit one-dimensional at first…until a traumatic event changes his life and forms him into the moral compass. The gang is led by the ever-charismatic Dutch Van Der Linde, who could convince you to literally do anything for loyalty. His slow descent into madness is one of the driving forces of the narrative. Other characters include the revenge-seeking widow Sadie Adler, the snake in the grass Micah, father figure of the group Hosea, as well as Red Dead Redemption‘s protagonist John Marston with his family in tow.

Slow down and explore the wilderness…OI IS DAT O FEESH?

Now once you have control, the general gameplay isn’t that hard to figure out. If you have played any Rockstar game prior, the controls feel familiar, almost like second nature. The majority of the systems, such as the weapon wheel and general conversation amongst NPCs, have been streamlined in order to not take you completely out of the experience. On the other hand, the in-game inventory system has been expanded and improved with an attention to detail that is one of a master’s. For example, you decide to go for a hunt and you kill a deer. If you decide to utilize the resources you have earned (unless you’re a monster and just killed the animal for pure bloodsport) then you have to skin the animal for its meat and pelt. After skinning, the inventory divides up all the resources you have earned…but you can always carry the carcass back to camp for more.

Think about it, if there is one thing that most gamers can agree upon, it is that games are visually appealing. Rockstar has transformed a game into a complete cinematic experience. Just traveling from town to town, you can experience the wonder of the sunbeams flowing through the trees, while the shadows just lightly shroud Arthur as he rides down the well-traveled path. As the weather changes, it feels realistic, convincing you that this fragile world is definitely passing you by…but what a sight it is. Every moment you spend in that world is far beyond today’s standards, even down to horses defecating once you stop riding. Seriously, don’t even get me started on the horses. I have seen too many detailed horse testicles throughout my adventure that I’m fine with never seeing any again (who am I kidding).

We just need a gif of horses pooping and it would be even better.

You know that attention to detail I mentioned? Yeah, Rockstar absolutely blows it out of the water. Head into any town, the cozy town of Valentine for instance, and the town feels like an old Western town. All of the NPCs seem slower, taking their time to actually enjoy their lives as they mosey through the town they call home. Speaking of these NPCs, you can literally talk to anyone in the game, at least with a greeting. When you control Arthur or Marston, you have limited dialogue commands to utilize such as greet, antagonize, and defuse.  While the dialogue tree doesn’t seem as polished as various other features, the conversations run deep, and can even sound ridiculous at some points.

Now, if you have read anything that on the Internet that has been written by me, then you would know that music and soundtracks are what keep me alive at night. During casual sequences throughout Red Dead Redemption 2, the music lands on two ends of a spectrum. Either the music is minimalist and focuses on using ambient sounds/beats to heighten your experience, or the soundtrack feels like a beautifully paired score to this Western cinematic adventure we call Red Dead. The further you progress in Arthur’s story, you have more sequences where you are alone, riding to find your friends, and are entrapped by the seduction of music. If I could suggest one track, check out D’Angelo’s “May I? Stand Unshaken”. It has been filling my office as I silently write away.

Sick and weary…of his own power curve.

If I have to nitpick, then I share one complaint that many players have encountered as they progress further into Arthur’s story. Many people even say that this could be the biggest drawback to Red Dead Redemption 2 as a whole. There is essentially a power curve that Rockstar may/may not have created, which creates the illusion that Arthur doesn’t actually improve his skills and become stronger the further you reach. There are only three main cores that you can upgrade (health, stamina, and dead eye) which are also only upgraded the more you use them. I definitely acknowledge that this power curve exists, but it makes complete sense when you actually think about. There will be no spoilers in this article, but it will be discussed in our next upcoming Red Dead article

Upon launch, Red Dead Redemption 2 just came packaged with a solo campaign, with promises for an online multiplayer mode. That mode has since been released (with 1-day notice, mind you) but is still existing in beta form for now. In Red Dead Online you are able to craft your own customized character and take the world by storm. Do you want to head out solo, or start a posse with all of your friends? Go for it. There are quests for you to complete, but there is still mainly a framework in place. Griefing has become a major problem, with many players shying away from the mode entirely.  While Red Dead Online has its problems, Rockstar has proved that their games only become better with age. We’re looking at you Grand Theft Auto Online.

Want to join my posse? Sorry we have to do this at gun point.

If you have been waiting for the last 8 years since the first Red Dead Redemption like the rest of us, I bet you are pretty damn elated right now. Not only does Red Dead Redemption 2 have an amazing story with interestingly complex characters, the game easily holds your gamer heart hostage until the final credits roll. This is topped off by a well-orchestrated soundtrack that feels organic in the space it inhabits and a world that feels shockingly vibrant and lively that we could almost be breathing in the 1899 air.  Red Dead Redemption 2 will easily be a contender for game of the year and we can’t wait to see what Rockstar will improve in further updates.