Cowboys, Cowgirls, Horses, Hats & Train Heists!
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a dream come true for any gamer looking to visit the old west. This game has everything you’d ever want in a western setting. The graphics are absolutely stunning, the story telling is incredibly engaging, and the action is iconic to say the least. Red Dead Redemption 2 took the gaming world by storm when it launched. Twitch streamers were in the saddle and wreaking havoc before I even had a chance to get the game in my hands.
I had been planning on buying Red Dead Redemption 2 for a long while. I had always regretted not playing the first Red Dead game, and I was not going to miss out this time around. I watched a good bit of game-play prior to getting the game myself. I knew right away that this was a game I wanted to experience. I love the wild west setting, and I’m a sucker for anything related.
Saddling up and riding out…
Getting started in Red Dead Redemption 2 takes some patience. There is about an hour of intro to wade through before you can even think about riding off into the sunset. The intro is not as much a tutorial as a movie though, and if you are looking for an engaging cinematic experience, then you won’t be let down. Just go in with the expectation of a play-along movie.
It’s not too long though before you get cut loose. There are a number of exciting missions at the start of the game. You will get to experience a rival gang shoot out and a train heist pretty early on. The game has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat the whole time. The wild west doesn’t feel like a safe place.
Setting up camp and putting down roots…
After completing Chapter 1 of the story, I was excited to get out and explore. The world really opens up quickly. Right after setting up a camp, the boss tells you and the gang to go out and make a living anyway you see fit. I decided to do a bit of exploring and looking for trouble, before continuing my story line. And it didn’t take long to find some.
My first encounter was with a bank coach that was being robbed. (I am going to jump in here and point out that I was not the one doing the robbing.) The banker man was yelling for help and I of course was ready and willing. I leapt off my horse and went in guns blazing.
After a sloppy shootout, I was happy to see that the Banker man had survived. He thanked me for saving him and told me that I could loot the carriage since he had insurance or something of that sort. I guess being a good guy pays off.
Speaking of being a good cowboy…
My goal in my first play through of Red Dead Redemption 2 was to be a good cowboy. I figured there would be enough troublesome opportunities throughout my play-through that I would not have to prey on the weak and feeble. I was very correct in this assumption. There was no shortage of bad guys to mess with.
It turns out that the world of Red Dead is filled with nasty people who have nothing better to do than rob everyone they see (and I hadn’t even played Red Dead Online yet). Everywhere I turned there was a damsel in distress or a person looking to rob me. This of course makes for a fun time. After I started getting the hang of surviving shoot outs, I started to get creative. Red Dead allows you to fight with your fists and even tie up folks. You can then carry them around, drop them in rivers, throw them over cliffs or take them for a ride on the back of your horse.
You may be beginning to understand why so many people Twitch streamed this game. Red Dead Redemption 2 is an open world wild west adventure. There are basically no rules.
Red Dead Redemption 2 (Online Review)
As if a beautifully crafted single player experience wasn’t enough. Rockstar launched Red Dead 2 Online shortly after the game was released. Playing online allows for multiplayer experiences with friends and enemies. You can build up your camp, team up with other folks or just set out to explore. You can wreak havoc on the game world or other players. You can even treat it as an extension of the game itself. There is a whole new (shorter) story-line to explore online.
I have only played a few hours online so far, but I am enjoying it. It feels a lot like playing Tom Clancy’s: The Division. It’s not quite an MMO, but it sure has a lot of MMO-like features. So far, I am enjoying the online world more than the single player one, probably due to the fact that I can show off my awesomeness to other players.
I never let my horse die in the single player campaign, and I tried to be a good guy, so I did not experience a lot of what the game had to offer. I had such a good time customizing my look and horse and weapons; even more so when I knew that other players would see my customization.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an amazing game all around.
This game is violent and it is rated M for a reason. I do not recommend it for young gamers. I recommend this game to mature gamers who can tell the difference between real life and video games. Rockstar, the game developer, has a history of creating games that can bring out the worst in people. Having the freedom to do whatever you want in a video game often leads people to do bad things. This is one of the reasons that I wanted to play as a good cowboy.
I wanted to have mercy on enemies, rescue folks in distress and try to see if the game would still be fun. I am happy to say that playing Red Dead Redemption 2 was and still is a total blast. I really do love the western setting and I have long since dreamed of being a cowboy. This game really scratches that itch.
Release Date: October 26th, 2018
Rated: M
Price: $59.99 (Target and Amazon)
HFR Rating:
