Red Dead Redemption 2 is definitely Rockstar’s most ambitious project to date. A beautiful, expansive, meticulously crafted world awaits you as the stories of a ragtag crew of outlaws in 20th-century America begin to converge into one of family, loyalty, treachery, and eventual collapse. Rockstar does a masterful job telling the story through the eyes of its ensemble of characters, the world at large, and the overall exposition. It’s such a smorgasbord of things to do that it’s hard to know where to begin once you get past the opening chapter of the story. Speaking of the story…
Game Name: Red Dead Redemption 2
Platform(s): Xbox One (Reviewed), PlayStation 4,
Publisher(s): Rockstar Games
Developer(s): Rockstar North
Release Date: October 26, 2018
In 1899, Dutch van der Linde and his gang are caught in a massive snowstorm as they seek refuge away from Blackwater, the town where they are wanted dead or alive for a robbery gone horribly wrong. You are put into the role of Arthur Morgan, who was raised by van der Linde since he was a child, as we learn about some of the central pieces of the story, including younger versions of the protagonist and antagonist of 2013’s Red Dead Redemption, John Marston and Bill Williamson.
The opening chapter of the game serves as its tutorial, teaching the mechanics in typical Rockstar fashion. What makes this chapter even more unique, even by Rockstar standards, is the way it’s structured. Red Dead Redemption 2 is notably an open world. It’s an expansive universe left only to your imagination. The opening chapter intentionally locks you into a snowy area in the mountains while you complete the necessary missions for that part of the story. Traversing the mountainside while dealing with the O’Driscoll Gang, handling your initial hunting and scouting missions, and rescuing John Marston is well crafted and gets you primed for everything you’re going to experience throughout this epic masterpiece of a game.
And it truly plays out like an epic. Every detail appears to be meticulously designed for pure exploration. Playing this game on an Xbox One X—where I’ll echo Digital Foundry’s sentiment that it’s the definitive way to play both Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2—brings out the beauty of the landscape Rockstar has created. Exploring the countryside is so much fun that you’ll easily get sidetracked by all the different things to do. Fishing, hunting, gathering, and simply admiring the day and night cycles as you explore the West Elizabeth region can leave you in awe. The attention to detail may not rival a game like Forza Horizon 3, Forza Motorsport 7, or Forza Horizon 4, but it’s just as impressive. The feeling of wind rushing through your hair, the effects of the cold on your body, and the blinding nature of certain times of day are where Red Dead Redemption 2 shines—and it truly shines while playing on the Xbox One X.
Outside of the nearly three-day playthrough of the main story elements, there are many pop-up stranger missions and interactions you’ll encounter while exploring West Elizabeth. Completing your Compendium of animals and plants that inhabit the countryside, finding fishing spots for various kinds of fish, and taking territories before rival gangs get to them all add hours of gameplay. The various bounties you’ll fulfill as you move through towns and homesteads further enhance the experience. There is never a shortage of things to do in Red Dead Redemption 2, and that’s a testament to what Rockstar North has created over the past half decade.
The story feels like it was written with historical accuracy to what we know of wild-west America, yet it also contains a sense of inclusion that feels genuine. It’s well known that America, both then and now, has struggled with deeply rooted sexist and racist views. Rockstar handles these themes with near-surgical precision. I love the subtle touches, such as a random person in Saint Denis advocating for racism to remain, or the idea that in the town of Rhodes, “progressive” is considered a dirty word, and supporting women’s suffrage could get you killed. Yet within the van der Linde gang, there’s a sense of unity and equality. Despite Karen Jones, Mary-Beth Gaskill, and Tilly Jackson initially seeming like harlots, they prove themselves to be capable, especially Karen and Mary-Beth, who excel at gathering information. Sadie Adler, saved by the van der Lindes after the O’Driscolls raided her home, is revealed to be just as fierce as any of the men. Charles Smith, born to a Native American mother and African-American father, is a trusted guide and a formidable fighter. Needless to say, Red Dead Redemption 2 pulls no punches when it comes to telling a great story. It’s more than enjoyable to play through, even if it can feel like a slow burn at times.
Despite the slower moments, Red Dead Redemption 2 plays fairly well. Combat is as smooth as it’s ever been, keeping things simple and not straying from the formula established in the previous game. I’m enjoying the crafting and cooking system that’s in place. Having the ability to cook and make tonics from meat and plants acquired through hunting and gathering to replenish my health, stamina, and Dead Eye rings is a blessing in disguise.
Speaking of health, stamina, and Dead Eye, leveling up each of these returns in this entry, now enhanced by the new core system. Each of the cores, available for both you and your horse, serves as an emergency reserve when your rings run out. In short, your rings are your main reserve, while the cores are your backup. Both are influenced by your overall health. Being underweight or overweight affects your core and your ability to absorb damage. This makes proper nourishment far more important in this game than it was before.
Hunting is a lot of work, especially when trying to land clean hits for the best possible pelts used to craft hats, vests, coats, and other gear suited for surviving the wilderness. But it’s worth the effort—landing that perfect pelt is fulfilling, especially after finally taking down that damn bear. Horseback riding is just as smooth as it was in the 2013 title, with some welcome additions. The horse bonding system is a highlight. I loved maxing out my bond with my horse, Carrie. And yes, you can drift horses. The Horse and the Furious: Wild West Drift. Let’s do it.
Red Dead Redemption 2 excels at one thing above all: emotional investment. That’s where many story-driven games fall short, but this game delivers in spades. While its ending might not hit quite as hard as the 2013 title’s, it still tugs at the heart with the kind of poignant storytelling Rockstar has mastered. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a modern classic and a must-have in any gaming library.
Review Disclosure Statement: Red Dead Redemption 2 was provided to us by Take-Two Interactive for review purposes. For more information on how we review video games and other media/technology, please go review our Review Guideline/Scoring Policy for more info.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Summary
I’ve given quite a few games 5-star ratings for various reasons, but this specific 5-star rating feels different. If I had to equate Red Dead Redemption 2 to another form of art, the first thing that comes to mind is Illmatic by Nas or Madvillainy by Madvillain—two absolute classics in hip-hop. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a true video game classic, and being in elite company wasn’t something that hindered its vision. Effective storytelling, fleshed-out characters who never trample over one another, an amazing soundtrack, and unrivaled photo-realism come together to make a truly complete game.
