My first two hours with Red Dead Redemption 2 were spent navigating a stunning blizzard atop a beautifully realistic mountain, revisiting an old friend, learning (and failing) to hunt, and befriending my first horse companion. It all capped off with me shoveling pig manure in exchange for completing a quest before dropping that and killing them anyways.
In a way, those first two hours sum my time with Red Dead Redemption 2 nicely. One minute, it’s a stunning experience like no other and the next it’s a glorious manureshow (in the best way possible). Needless to say, there is no video game quite like this one; be it from Rockstar Games or anyone else for that matter.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Review: A Slow Start
Red Dead Redemption 2 begins with a mostly linear introduction to Dutch’s gang and protagonist Arthur Morgan. The first chapter of the game is basically a glorified tutorial. The game teaches you various features like hunting, the revamped Dead Eye system, and horses here. Without a doubt, the beginning can be a bit of a slog (especially if you’re itching to explore the open world) but like everything else, it is intentional.
The level of care and detail put into Red Dead Redemption 2 is unparalleled. Yes, the beginning is slow but that’s because it is purposefully teaching the player how the game is intended to be played. Unlike Rockstar’s previous title GTA V, this isn’t a story you rush through. Neither are you meant to run into fights guns and arrows blazing.
It isn’t for everyone and that’s okay. Normally, I rush through a game for review but this was one I needed to really take my time with, hence why it took this long. The pacing, progression, and story are meant to be played in a natural way. For a good portion of the game, it shies away from revealing too much.
Certain bits and pieces of the backstory are hinted at but it does take a long time to really get going. This can, at times, be a little frustrating but the story makes up for this in its characters. Dutch’s gang that you are part of is full of unique characters, several of which I quickly was able to connect with. There is, of course, the original game’s protagonist John Marston as well as his family and a few others that are instantly likable.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Review: Dutch’s Circus
For example, any mission with Lenny was always sure to be a fun time and some of the most memorable in the whole game. Sadie, on the other hand, is crazy, wild, and hilarious in all the right ways. It’s worth noting that there are one too many old guys who look like they’re about to kick the bucket and also rivals that Arthur doesn’t seem to like for whatever reason. Overall, there are actually too many members of Dutch’s gang that it certainly would have benefited from fewer people to keep up with.
Then there’s Dutch himself. Without a doubt, he will go down as one of the most fascinating characters to dissect in the coming months and years. As leader of this ragtag group of outlaws, he comes off as the most conflicted, interesting, and realistic person of them all. His journey over the course of the 50 to 60 hour-long story is riveting as we see him react and change according to what occurs.
Much of this connection comes from protagonist Arthur’s connection to Dutch. On his own, Arthur isn’t always the most intriguing character. So much of his backstory and motivations take a dozen hours or more to actually make sense to the player. In a way, he can even be contradictory and is by no means a real hero. However, that does make his perspective both compelling and crucial to the narrative.
Without a doubt, the writing in Red Dead Redemption 2 is Rockstar at its finest work. The same can be said for the level of detail put into the game. Every single inch of this title oozes with personality and purpose. You aren’t just riding a horse from one mission to another; it’s almost like you’re truly simulating a real person’s life.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Review: A Dynamic and Realistic Wild West
Fast travel isn’t always available in the game so you will find yourself traveling manually the majority of the time. Along the way, though, you experience so much that it never becomes a drag. Random events will occur like coming upon a woman being kidnapped or a man stuck under his wagon. These aren’t mandatory objectives and you can certainly ignore them if you’d like. On the other hand, completing these grants sometimes surprising benefits that give them purpose.
Even when those events aren’t happening, you’re always managing the gameplay in some way. Arthur does have sim-lite elements like weight, thirst, and hunger but they never feel too intrusive. Most of this is tied into the cores system. Your health, stamina, and Dead Eye system are tied into cores.
These cores act as the regeneration system for your actual health bar, stamina bar, and Dead Eye bar. If your core runs out, suddenly your health won’t regenerate and you’ll find yourself in some trouble if you fight. This requires you to manage them occasionally by drinking tonics, eating food, and so on.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Review: Let Me Tell You ‘Bout My Best Friend
Rockstar didn’t end it there, though, as the same core system applies to your horse as well. Red Dead Redemption 2 can be a very lonely game at times and your best friend through it all is your horse companion. You can bond with each horse you meet, enhancing their stats and unlocking better moves. The horse, too, has needs as its core will deplete over time and will need feeding, petting, and even brushing.
Yes, even grooming is part of Red Dead Redemption 2’s attention to detail. Arthur will also get dirty as you go days without bathing and people will notice in towns. They will also comment on if you are bloody from a recent fight. This can be solved by taking a bath and even that singular action has some choice to it. The immaculate detail put into this game is unlike any ever before and better yet, these systems all have meaning behind them and connect to everything else seamlessly.
The open world is stunning even on a standard PS4. From the great plains to the snowy mountains to the murky bayou, the variety of environments is vast. Each section feels unique but what’s most impressive is how they transition perfectly from one to another. Slowly making your way down from the mountains will see the snow gradually fade away and the green trees and grass pop up more. Many times I found myself just staring out at the horizon or watching critters run about, forgetting entirely about what I was doing.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Review: Every Shot Counts
Surprisingly enough, you can go a couple of hours without fighting if you want and just ignore the main missions. These missions are typically available in a non-linear format, allowing you to complete groups of them in any order you’d like. In fact, completing one mission first will result in a reference to it in the next mission that you wouldn’t have experienced otherwise.
It’s in these missions that you experience much of the fighting you’ll do. Unfortunately, combat in Red Dead Redemption 2 is still one of the weakest parts. Like the story, it’s slow and realistic-ish but that doesn’t necessarily feel as good for the gameplay. Arthur feels very tanky and is slow to maneuver and control.
You have to be methodical and utilize cover if you don’t want to experience a ton of game overs. This can make every fight you do actually feel like a major event. Aiming and shooting are just as finicky as they probably were back in 1899, encouraging usage of the improved Dead Eye system. This useful slow-down ability, for better or for worse, is going to be your best friend if you want to actually get somewhere in shootouts.
It’s also worth mentioning that the user interface in Red Dead Redemption 2 is just as clunky as the combat. It’s unnecessarily confusing and a waste of time. For a game that has such immense detail, it does feel odd that the menu and map are so archaic in design.
Red Dead Redemption 2 Review: Final Thoughts
Red Dead Redemption 2 is, without a doubt, an unforgettable game and one of the best this generation. Once again, Rockstar has outdone itself completely when it comes to a compelling story, memorable characters, and an engaging world with countless things to do. The only catch is that it’s not for everyone.
It is a much slower and deliberate game that has meaning in every single inch. This can be offputting for some but for me, it was exactly the sort of game I was looking for right now. That isn’t to say it’s perfect, though, as it does come with its own share of issues.
The gameplay is too tanky and imprecise, requiring the player to rely on the Dead Eye system while I spent way too much time struggling with the UI for simple tasks like saving and opening the map. But by the end, I walked away from an adventure with Arthur, Dutch, John, and the rest of the gang that made it all worth it.
SCORE
STORY: 10/10
GAMEPLAY: 8/10
GRAPHICS: 9/10
SOUND: 9/10
FINAL SCORE: 9/10
This review was done with a review copy provided by the publisher. We are grateful for their continued support.