BY NICK McCOY
Warning: This article contains spoilers for the story of Red Dead Redemption 2: If you haven’t played the game, stop reading this and do yourself a favor and play the game – you won’t regret a thing.
Over the years, I have played a lot of video games. I mean, a lot. Just over this past Christmas break, I must’ve gotten at least 10 new games to play and experience for the first time. With these articles, I plan to write about the games that I’ve played and why I think they’re worth checking out, why they connected with me, and so on. And what better way to start than by talking about my favorite video game of all time.
Yup, not even going to try and sugarcoat it: I absolutely love Red Dead Redemption 2. The second you become free to explore the vast open world and interact with the characters, you’ll be hooked, just like I was. It is an experience you’ll never forget and one I wish I could experience for the first time again.
The first Red Dead Redemption, released by Rockstar Games in 2010, is already a masterpiece in of itself. The story of John Marston, an outlaw forced to hunt members of his old gang by the government and slowly forging a path of redemption, has been ingrained in the hearts of gamers everywhere and rightfully deserves its reputation as one of the greatest video games ever made.
So, when Rockstar announced a sequel to their western gem in October 2016, one that would take place before the events of the first and feature a new protagonist, gamers everywhere were ptimistic, but skeptical. The new main character is what really got people worried. Will this new character, Arthur Morgan, be as good of a protagonist as Marston, a legendary main character himself? Will the two even be comparable, especially since Marston will be reduced to a side character?
The simple answer? Yes, yes he will. As a matter of fact, Arthur Morgan is considered by some to be even better of a protagonist than Marston. He showcases his own emotional journey to redemption in the prequel Red Dead Redemption 2, which, much like its predecessor, has earned its title as one of the greatest video games of all time and one of the best sequels ever. It takes everything great about the first game – its story, characters, open world, and themes – and cranks it all up to 11. Join me as I discuss what makes Red Dead Redemption 2 such a phenomenal game.
Graphics and attention to detail
In this era, graphics are becoming more and more of a focus when it comes to making video games, especially as studios gravitate towards making Triple A titles much more akin to movies. With the first Red Dead Redemption already having amazing graphics for the time, the sequel had a lot to live up to. Well, with how much graphics and technology had progressed since 2010, and the fact that Rockstar is already known for making beautiful and intensely detailed games, it was no surprise when RDR2 turned out to be drop dead gorgeous.
Whether you’re exploring the mountains of Amarillo, riding through the vast plains and grasslands of New Hanover, exploring the swamps of Lemoyne, traversing the great plains and dense forests of West Elizabeth and even the deserts of New Austin, you are going to be in awe at just the insane of amount of detail in each region.
The key word is detail; Rockstar already has a knack for putting copious amounts of detail in their games, but Red Dead 2 takes the cake. The way you and your horse’s breath can be seen in cold climates, the fact you’ll get sunburn if you stay in hot climates, the tracks your horse makes in the mud and snow, or the fact that your horse will be frightened by any nearby predators, and will buck you off if you don’t calm it down are all examples of the attention to detail put into the game.
The open world is full of various forms of wildlife as well, and each animal is appropriate to their respective region. Deer can be found virtually everywhere, alligators will only appear in swamps, certain lizards can only be found in the desert areas of the game, and bison will appear in herds on the plains. I remember spending hours my first time playing this game just hunting animals out in the world.
The people and the cities also have an insane amount of detail to them. Each city is distinct and has its own identity: From the mountain side resort town of Strawberry to the bustling, industrial city of Saint Denis, there was never a time where I thought, “These cities are all the same.” The NPCs are also unique; aside from just the ones you see walking about, some have their own routines. For example, in the town of Valentine, someone will always be carrying a bucket of water to the stables. I mean, you see them take the bucket, walk all the way over to a water pump, fill it up, and take it back to the stable. Every single detail of their job is shown to us. I mean, for crying out loud, you can watch an NPC eat a full meal to the very last bite. These are just a few examples of how much effort Rockstar put into this game.
Gameplay, characterization and story
The gameplay itself is pretty straight forward; if you’ve played a Rockstar game, then RDR2 will be all too familiar. Is that a bad thing? No. The gunplay is fun, and each weapon feels incredibly satisfying to use, from the repeater rifles to the shotguns down to dual wielding revolvers. And with Deadeye, an ability which slows down time and allows you to mark enemies, you can pick off an entire room in a matter of seconds. Plus, there’s nothing more epic than a slow-mo shot of a bullet passing through the enemy before the camera zooms in on Arthur with a classic 1800s camera filter.
Then, there’s the story and characters. To put it simply, if you go through the entire game without connecting with any of the characters and you don’t cry or at least don’t feel touched, you are not human. This game has one of the greatest sets of characters ever. As you perform jobs with them, go on heists, or go through the story with these gang members by your side, you are going to feel some connection with them. Some will make it, and others won’t. The characters who die will leave a lasting impact on you even after closing the game.
Now, what exactly is the story of Red Dead 2? It follows the van der Linde gang, a group of outlaws that John Marston hunted in the first game, led by Dutch van der Linde, as they try to get one last big score and retire during the last years of the wild west. To say they’ve had it rough is putting it lightly; the game begins following a heist gone horribly wrong, which left two members of the gang dead, and three of them missing. The main conflict of the game is how Dutch’s desire to live as outlaws and get enough money to flee to Tahiti is constantly stopped by the rise of civilization and the inevitable end of the wild west. By the end of the game, Dutch is a completely different person, and his shift is something you watch first hand.
The characters, much like the cities and NPCs, all have their own distinct personality. There’s Dutch himself, the charismatic leader of the gang. There’s Hosea, his right hand man and the voice of reason. Other members include the dim-witted but staunchly loyal Bill Williamson, Mexican outlaw and smooth talker Javier Escuella, the quiet Charles Smith, the lovable lazy drunkard Uncle, the well educated African-American Lenny Summers, the troubled priest Orville Swanson, slimy German loan shark Herr Straus, Irishman Sean Maguire, the camp cook Pearson, and all the women of the camp; Tilly Jackson, Abigail Roberts (later Marston), Susan Grimshaw, Karen Jones, Mary Beth Gaskill, Molly O’Shea, and widow Sadie Adler who you meet at the beginning of the game and whose story is worthy of her own video game.
We also get a younger John Marston, whose relationship with Arthur and ultimate endgame are all portrayed masterfully. Then, there’s Micah Bell, who will go down as not only one of the most hated characters in video game history, but quite possibly one of the greatest villains in video game history. Others characters you meet are Pinkerton Agents Milton and Ross, the latter of which appears as the main antagonist in the first game. These are two more characters you just absolutely love to hate. Some other memorable characters are the kindly Native American chief Rains Fall and his son Eagle Flies.
Keep in mind, these are just the characters you meet in the story; there are so many other NPCs you can interact with and do missions for, all of them providing their own unique routes and storylines. These include a pair of incest siblings who drug and rob you (that is not a joke), and a kindly, one legged veteran you can go fishing and hunting with. Again, these are just two examples.
Then, there’s the main man himself, Arthur Morgan. Again, people had their doubts when it was announced that Red Dead 2 would have a new main protagonist. But everyone’s skepticism and concerns were completely thrown out the window the second the game was released. Arthur Morgan is not only a fantastic main character, but he’s one of the greatest video game protagonists of all time, right up there with John Marston. In fact, like I mentioned earlier, say would even put Arthur Morgan above John.
Arthur is such a great character for a variety of reasons; his depth, personality, and character growth throughout the entire game had me and many other players hooked from the get go. His journey from a stone-cold outlaw to a caring, compassionate figure desperately seeking redemption while his father figure and mentor Dutch goes completely insane is engrossing, entertaining, and absolutely heartbreaking all at once. His interactions with all the other characters are amazing as well; the mission where you get red-faced drunk with Lenny is one of my favorite moments in a video game, period.
The thing about Arthur is that his journey and personality are shaped by the player themselves; whether you want to be a ruthless outlaw who cares about no one but himself, to a kindly soul who helps whoever’s in need and wants the best for his gang, is entirely up to you. However, if you want to give Arthur the ending he deserves, going the good samaritan route is the only way to go. He’s such a fantastic character, many of those who went into the game not sure if they were going to like Arthur made it to the epilogue, and didn’t even want to play as John Marston again.
Arthur’s relationship with the other characters isn’t the only thing you’ll be paying attention to. His relationship with his horse is also important; grooming it, riding it and feeding all increase your maximum bonding level with your horse. The higher your bonding level, the more reliable your horse becomes. There are several species of horse you can choose throughout the game; no matter which one you chose, you’re going to love that dang horse. I know I did.
By the time you get to Chapter 5, however, things start to get real; by that, I mean things get sad. I don’t really want to give away too much of the story and ending, because I want to let you experience it for yourself. However, keep this in mind: If you want the best ending, go for the good honor route. Not only will it keep you from feeling like total crap at the end, it makes a lot more sense when it comes to the themes and message of the overall. Either way, you will cry by the time you get to the end of your journey.
Soundtrack
The game’s soundtrack was produced by musicians Daniel Lanois and Woody Jackson, and much like the first game, the entire soundtrack is a masterpiece in of itself. With artists such as Lanois, D’Angelo, Rhiannon Giddens, Rocco DeLuca and even Willie Nelson behind the mic, each song and melody that plays will be stuck in your mind long after your ride is over. Just the simple guitar strumming as you ride across the vast open world is enough to leave an impact.
Daniel Lanois (left) and Woody Jackson (right) produced the game’s soundtrack. They would win the award for the best score/music for their work in Red Dead 2.
The music also gives way to some of the most beautiful moments I have experienced. Both Red Dead games have moments where it’s just you riding along a large expanse of land, listening to a hauntingly beautiful track as you take in the gorgeous scenery. For Red Dead 1, it was Jose Gonzales’ “Far Away” that played as John Marston crossed over to Mexico. In Red Dead 2, it’s when Arthur arrives back from the island of Guarma, and heads back to camp while the song “Unshaken” by D’Angelo plays.
Both moments leave a massive impact; John’s heading to completely uncharted territory, while Arthur is alone without his own horse and heads back to his camp, fearing the worst from the time he’s been gone. In both cases, the music only adds to the hauntingly beautiful atmosphere. I highly suggest just listening to the soundtrack on your own time. You won’t regret it.
Criticisms
Now, I know I spent all of this time praising the crap out of this game. It deserves every single bit of acclaim it gets, but believe it or not, there are some criticisms I have towards this game.
First things first: The opening chapter, Colter, is easily the most boring, dull chapter in the entire game. My first playthrough of the game, I was sitting there thinking, “Oh, man! I can’t wait to see what the rest of the game has to offer!”. My next playthrough, I just wanted to get the chapter over with.
And look, I get that it’s not meant to be super action packed or exciting; its whole purpose is to introduce you to the characters, their situation, and to show how gritty the world they live in is. It also introduces you to the O’Driscolls, one of the main antagonistic factions in the game. However, at the same time, I can’t overlook how dragged on and slow the whole chapter is.
There are only a few memorable moments in this chapter; you meet two new characters Sadie and Kieran Duffy, a member of the O’Driscolls who the gang captures. The last parts of the chapter where you rob a train are also quite entertaining. However, the rest of the chapter involves doing simple chores, going hunting, and finding John, who’s disappeared in the mountains. This mission, titled “Enter, Pursued By a Memory,” also showed how John got his iconic facial scars. The Colter chapter may have some standout moments, but it’s ultimately too dull and goes on far longer than its welcome too. The second you exit the mountains and enter Chapter 2 is where things really kick off, and where the true experience of Red Dead Redemption 2 begins. To those who couldn’t make it past the first chapter: it is sad, but I don’t really blame you.
Then, there’s the focus on realism. Now, this may sound stupid, especially since I took such a long time gushing about the insane amount of detail present, but hear me out. Aside from producing some of the most graphically impressive games of its generation, Rockstar is also known for putting a lot of time into making their games as realistic and grounded as possible, in order to make their game world more immersive. Now, I’m all for a more immersive gameplay experience; games like Dead Space pull this off perfectly. However, this focus on realism comes at a cost of player freedom. What I mean is that, things such as grabbing resources, looting bodies and skinning animals – things you will be doing a lot – each have their own animation.
Let’s just say you find a cabinet full of canned goods; instead of just a simple animation of Arthur grabbing the can, he painstakingly goes through the whole process of bending over/reaching up, grabbing the can, standing back up or lowering down, and putting the can in his satchel. This whole animation drags on for a ridiculous long amount of time. And guess what, champ? That’s one can of beans you just picked up. You’ve got five more to go.
Looting corpses is similar; Arthur bends down, lifts the body up, runs his hand through the body, grabs something, drops the body, and stands back up. And then you do that same thing for the 10 other bodies lying around. This entire time, your fellow gang members are most likely yelling at you, telling you to hurry up.
However, the worst offender is easily the skinning animations. Like I said before, I spent most of my time hunting animals when I first played the game. It’s not only a great way to kill time, but also produces a pretty decent amount of in-game money if you know what you’re doing. But, if there’s anything that’ll keep you from enjoying hunting to its fullest, it’s the insanely long animations that occur when you go to skin animals. Sometimes you’ll get lucky, and Arthur will just slice his knife through the animal in about three seconds and you get your pelt then and there. But nine times out of 10, you’ll be sitting there waiting as Arthur slices the animal and slowly removes its pelt. Keyword being slowly.
It gets even worse depending on the animal you kill. Smaller animals, such as raccoons and badgers, do take some time to skin but don’t anywhere close to the animations for foxes, coyotes, deers and boars. Wolves and cougars, however, are the worst offenders; you have to watch as Arthur skins the entire animal, while with deers and coyotes, he only removes the skin around the body. And once again, one wolf isn’t bad; it’s when you kill an entire pack of wolves that it gets annoying.
Conclusion
However, despite these criticisms, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an absolute masterpiece of a game. From its story, themes, characters, graphics, and open world, it is one of Rockstar’s greatest titles and, like I mentioned before, one of the greatest video games ever made.
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