Don’t just watch anti-heroes like Walter White and Paul Atreides — find out what it’s like to become one. “Red Dead Redemption” is an open-world game about a cowboy who attempts to redeem himself after a failed heist. “Red Dead” has a lot of cowboy and classic Western elements such as riding horses (which you can call whenever needed) and dueling with sharpshooters, but besides the violence and mature subject matter, what makes the videogame so unique?
The story of “Red Dead Redemption 2” (released originally in 2018 as a prequel to the first, which came out in 2010) follows a cowboy and his crew who recently had one of the biggest failed robberies in history. The main character, Arthur Morgan, aims to absolve himself of his wrongdoings, leading to the player determining whether to do good or bad deeds to lead to their redemption. Each deed then affects your honor level. As the story progresses, you make new friends and enemies based on the actions you decide to take. This game takes place before “Red Dead Redemption,” so it’s better to play this game first before the first one. Overall, the game does a great job of telling an old Western story due to the game implementing a lot of clothes, weapons, and world design that recalls iconic films like “The Good, the Bad & the Ugly” or “Once Upon a Time in the West”.
“I like the story of Arthur Morgan because it shows the progression of his redemption,” Niko Leon (11) said. “From a wanted outlaw who had no morality towards others and would do anything for his benefit to a character who, depending on what path you take, turns into the good guy of his story and [a] compassionate person who gives back to the people [he] has wronged.”
The graphics in this game are amazing and among the best in gaming history. Not only that, but the visuals are so detailed and nuanced throughout gameplay, whether it’s adding a sunburn when your character is in the sun for too long, Arthur’s facial hair growing as time progresses or people building houses throughout the map as you progress. Speaking of the map, there are many biomes like the prairies, tundra, and even tropical deserts making for a surprisingly diverse in-world experience. It also matches the outside to the time of day, so when the sun sets, for example, it only adds to the game’s Western vibe. The characters in the game also look realistic due to them each having distinct features so no one looks the same but each is definitively a Western archetype, from vicious outlaws to charming conmen. The water graphics are also excellent as you can see the water rippling and waterfalls.
“Red Dead 2” offers you a map you can always use and peruse a vast inventory of guns and medicine you can use to aid yourself in fights. The weapons can range from a shotgun to a hunting rifle, and even as an unarmed Arthur Morgan, you can roll, sprint, or jump as your form of movement. The coolest ability in the game is the deadeye feature, which turns your screen red and slows down the time for you to shoot your enemies.
“I think the games are entertaining and have an amazing depth to the story while also showing the beautiful landscape of the Wild West,” Mason Leon (11) said.
“Red Dead 2” has such a good mix of amazing storytelling that won’t make you snooze, a good variety of likable but flawed characters, a vast map that you can explore, and impressive graphics. As I was playing through the game, I was just so locked in the game that no other game caught my attention — I just had to finish the game.
If you like story mode games or have ever been curious about trying one, “Red Dead 2” would be the perfect choice.
