Red Dead Redemption 2 will clearly be a work of fiction, but that doesn’t meant it won’t play up realism. Case and point: personal hygiene will affect how the world reacts to protagonist Arthur Morgan. You can totally ignore what the world’s inhabitants think of you, but you do so at your own peril.
Stay Squeaky Clean in Red Dead Redemption 2
As was shown in this recent gameplay trailer, Red Dead Redemption 2 players will be able to perform otherwise mundane tasks such as getting a shave or taking a bath. On the surface, it may seem like these tasks were simply put into the game to add flavor. However, players will find that if they make the extra effort to keep Arthur prim and proper, people will notice.
Go long stretches without taking a bath and you’ll notice people giving you a wide berth. Routinely show up covered in the blood of your enemies and your gang-mates might stage an intervention. Walking down a street covered in dirt and sporting an unkempt beard will garner a much different reaction than strolling down after a fresh shave and a bath. Showing proper hygiene may even cause some NPC’s to be more forthcoming.
Granted, there will be times when maintaining a proper appearance won’t be your highest priority, and that’s ok. The game’s hygiene system can help players decide what sort of criminal they want to be. You can be the dirt-covered survivalist whom NPC’s avoid, or you can be the scrubbed up gentleman who’s not afraid to get his hands a little dirty when needed. The game will never force you to bathe or shave, but occasionally performing such routine tasks can have many unforeseen benefits.
For more on Red Dead Redemption 2, be sure to watch its debut gameplay trailer. Rockstar’s highly anticipated sequel will launch for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on October 26.