Red Dead Redemption

A Review on a Break-Through in Gaming

 

I only recently got this game, and very quickly realised why I should have got it years ago. Red Dead Redemption came out for PS3 and Xbox on the 18th of May 2010 a an open world Western Action Video game, developed by Rockstar, the famous creators of the Grand Theft Auto Franchise. The Game instantly became universally critically acclaimed, worshiped by gamers, and averaged a 94% on reviewing websites such as MetaCritic.

 

In many ways, the game is very similar to Grand Theft Auto 4. It's 3rd person, a reacreation of America to suit the story's needs, and uses the same kind of storyline techniques. I fell deeply in love with this game as soon as I started playing it, and couldn't believe the raw beauty of the map that Rockstar created. It is everything you would visualize in a Western setting, including famous areas like The Great Plains. It definitely makes a change from the slightly dull map of Grand Theft Auto 4, and offers a lot of different spare-time activities to complete while you are waiting for your next mission. It is so much fun, and never allows you to get bored. The weapons are also very intriguing, showing you the kind of guns Westerners used to hunt bounties and survive with, like the Scofield Revolver or Winchester Repeater, and it is even better to be able to use them yourself! And instead of stealing cars and parking them outside your Apartment, you steal horses and Hitch them to make them your own. Trust me when I say that riding a horse while in a gunfight on this games is one of the most satisfying things you will experience in gaming.

The Storyline:

Most of Red Dead Redemption takes place around 1911 in Old Western America that was still socially forming, but also includes Northern Mexico in the same state. You play as John Marston, a man whose beloved family (wife and teenage son) have been captured and held to ransom by the government in exchange for John's services as a bounty hunter. He is tasked to hunt and kill 3 members of a gang of revolutionaries that he used to be a part of. Not only does this create moral questions for John to oppose, it means he has no choice. He must ride far into America to find them, which is not always easy. With the help of hilarious, memorable, and sometimes touching characters such as Bonnie McFarlane, Nigel West Dickens, and Irish, John must track down the three members of the previous gang before it is too late... The single player of this game involves some interesting and awesome cut-scenes, intriguing dialogue, amazing settings like wide open desert or small towns, and twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The game's story is memorable and amazing experience that you will definitely reflect upon with fondness.

 

The Graphics:

You probably will already have picked up that the graphics of this game are good. Like, really freakin' good. But words cannot describe the atmosphere or the settings created by these visual effects. It's stunning. Even really tricky details such as shadows or the plant life are perfect. Another thing to notice is the weather. The weather changes all the time, seemingly very naturally. You can go from scorching hot weather and bright sunlight to storms and rain at random, which I think is a very clever feature. As you can see in the picture above, the sky and time of day are always portrayed with complete realism. Seriously, the graphics are brilliant.

The Multiplayer:

The multiplayer of this game is a difficult subject. It is a very good concept. The player will usually enter what is called a "Free Roam" Session, which is where a certain number of people will be put into the same session. They can then try to take down forts together or battle the Law Enforcement together, and try to level up while doing so, which is always good fun. And you can also select other game modes to enter freely online. However, these sessions seem to take a very long time to load. Also, inviting a friend to your game session or making a "posse" with them is extremely difficult and complicated, and so far, my friend any I have only played about 1 full game mode together without lagging out in the middle of it. The multiplayer of this game is very frustrating and seems to be over-complicated, but it is great fun when it works. The Multiplayer reminds me of the Multiplayer in Grand Theft Auto 4, but more complicated.

Extra Stuff To Do:



There are a lot of things to do in this game that will keep you from ever getting bored. The most basic thing would probably be finding a new horse, which you can do by going out into the desert to find some horses, lassoing them and breaking them by balancing on them for long enough. Then just hitch it somewhere, and it's yours! This is always good fun, and means you can buy stuff for your horse to make it more your own. When it gets dark and you cannot complete missions for anyone, the best thing to do is a night-watch. This is where you follow a dog around a village, until it detects any crimes. Then all you have to do is subdue the criminal(s) by any means necessary. You may decide to shoot them or lasso and tie them up. You usually do this about 3 times, then you collect your cash reward, which can be around $100. Other great things to do are hunting bounties, which you obtain by taking "wanted" posters and finding the bounty. You usually have to take out their gang first, then you can kill them, or earn more money by tying them up and bringing them back to the sheriff alive. You can also hunt animals out in the Plains of America. You can then skin the animals and sell what you get from them at shops to make money. Many achievements can be obtained through hunting skills. Possibly the most awesome thing you can do is duels. If you are in new town, people may approach you and challenge you. You then use slow-motion to win the duel. It's great!

Overall:
Red Dead Redemption is an astounding Open-World Game with lots to do and see, and a great story to propel you through the beautiful map. It is definitely worth a buy, as the game gives you a memorable experience that cannot be beaten. The only negatives I can think of are the complextity of the Multiplayer lobbies. I honestly cannot decide between this game and Grand Theft Auto 4, but something tells me that I prefer Red Dead redemption.