Bringing storytelling to a whole new level.
By: Bima Matthew Poetiray on January 8, 2018 at 9:50 PM
This review pertains to the critically-acclaimed story mode of the game, excluding any online features. It is spoiler-free, as its plot is a narrative opus best experienced by players firsthand.
The End of an Era
1899, the Golden Age of the Wild West begins to fade into obscurity. The game centers around outlaw Arthur Morgan and 22 other characters in the fictional “Van Der Linde” gang. Their story revolves around their escape from law, with Rockstar’s lead writer, Dan Houser, masterfully piecing together the stories of each of the 23 members – leading to meaningful player-NPC relationships as the plot progresses. Each piece of dialogue tells a story, with every hour passing strengthening and establishing Arthur Morgan’s emotional attachment with his ‘family’. But Dan Houser’s creativity is not limited to excellent character development, he tells a familiar story that parallels the 21st Century: the end of that era marked the beginning for the Industrial Age and its visible consequences; giving voices to the voiceless, highlighting changes in technology, and deeply illustrating theme of human nature. This incorporates a universal theme within the microchosm of the West that resonates well with the modern audience, playing into the game’s decision-making mechanics, with choices torn between serving self-interest or altruism.
Gunslinging Adventures
The honor system of the previous title returns once again, keeping in check Arthur’s actions. Players are offered a variety of approaches to the Wild West – combined with the honor system, roleplay opportunities become allowing high replayability. Gameplay is further detailed through the ‘challenges’ list allowing Arthur’s character to adopt various roles, whether it be a bandit, explorer, gambler, herbalist, horseman, master hunter, sharpshooter, survivalist and weapons expert, strongly linking character development to playstyle.
Red Dead 2 presents a world of possibilities studded with interesting NPCs and side storylines, with easter eggs referencing pop culture or garnering players unique items, bounty hunting missions extending Arthur’s heroic gunslinging ventures, even encompassing Arthur’s day-to-day with dilemmas of either purchasing clothing or crafting them through hours of hunting and skinning pelts. Every aspect of gameplay provides a three-dimensional outlook on Arthur, even after finishing the main story. But when it comes to playing as an ‘outlaw’ in Red Dead 2, there was definite room for expansion.
Red Dead 2’s outlaw ventures lack exciting features that the main missions incorporated: bank heists, however, it could be argued that increased bank heists provides an unrealistic bit to the near-perfect narrative – thus it may excluded for story-related reasons. It could also be noted that Red Dead 2’s wanted system runs awry in some instances. For example, when Arthur robs stores using fully-hooded mask, and returns to the robbed town without it, he is identified by the authorities immediately – making the mechanic near-irrelevant. However, the whole aspect of robbing stores or trains are ultimately fun in providing the thrill of gunslinging and looting – provided that players are ready to deal with the ensuing dishonorable points.
An Immersive Wild West
Red Dead 2’s world offers scenic realism of different American terrains each beautifully crafted with day-and-night cycles, weather conditions, temperature differences, beautiful lighting conditions and small, perhaps unnoticed details that immerse you into the terrain of the Wild West. The magnificient sound design of the game creates breathtaking moments of beauty that does much to enhance ambiance, from the noise of sliding off a steep hill, the harsh winter blizzard of the Grizzlies West to the soaring sound of an eagle flying off the distance. There is much to be praised about the beauty of nature in-game, but Red Dead 2 revolutionises realism to the next level with the smallest of details. The animalistic need for your horse to excrete waste, bodies of animals and humans decaying after leaving them for a certain period of time, visible animal tracks left in the snow, detail of dirt signifying that Arthur or your horse requires a shower and a lot more. Red Dead 2’s immersive world building could fill up more than half this review, but it goes without saying how much attention to detail Rockstar placed in the pursuit of a realistic take on the Wild West.
Verdict
A revolutionary game brutally detailed aesthetically in its pursuit for realism complemented with a masterpiece narrative that could, if it were a movie, win Dan Houser Best Screenwriter at the Oscars; its gameplay truly breathes the essence of what it means to be a cowboy, with Arthur either finding redemption to become a better person, or remain a savage outlaw, showing us all that the West can truly make – or break – a man.
I give Red Dead Redemption 2 a 9.9/10.
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