And extra late!

But there’s a reasonable explanation.

Red Dead Redemption is a difficult game to review.

Its structurally flawed in so many ways that I can’t recommend it to everyone.

But its one of the most emotionally relevant games I’ve played in this generation.

But my God can it get boring.

But my God is it beautiful.

Graphics

It is the best looking open world title ever made.

Ever. And may remain so until the next generation of systems arrive.

“Red Dead Redemption is the first open world game I have encountered to try my suggestion: Being underambitious so as to provide a visually consistent experience.” -Me.

This rings true but I am most suprised at the texture work. Gone are the wild colored blobs meant to represent New York. In comes convincing open world surfaces!! Convincing, photorealistic … everything.

Without a city to render Rockstar set about creating every cigarette ad every filmed or photographed.

Then letting you ride on horseback through them.

And as much as Alan Wake’s poor graphics affected the gameplay negatively …

Rhythm

… Red Dead Redemption’s graphics completely fuel the gameplay.

With all due respect to Rockstar and their long resume of reputable open world titles.

But I have never played a game where almost all extra curricular activity is useless.

You can play horseshoes … and poker … you can go on nightly hunts … with dogs …

But why?

The big issue is that it seems as though Rockstar stumbled upon a setting and a world that would actually be better suited to an Uncharted-style linear adventure. Rockstar instead decided to persist with the prerequisite 12 hour tutorial. While maintaining tradition with the 10 minute ride to Cutscene Activation Sector. Where I get to ride for 10 more minutes listening to a Cutscene Activation Sector Representative explain human nature through the stimulated and worldly scope of 1911.

Strangely enough the game’s incredibly slow start is necessary. It does set the mood just so. There is little to do. It is in fact 1911. You are left with much time to yourself and nothing to do but ride your horse and think. This is where you build your relationship with the game’s main character, John Marston. Red Dead Redemption delivers the story through an IV. You will earn a single relevant Marston-related sentence every 3 hours. But something about all the horseback riding through postcards and engaging in the occasional bit of adventure fills in the missing story. You begin to realize that because it is 1911 this IS Marston’s life. His desperation to save his family is genuine because it is in fact all he has. There are no cousins or brothers or strip clubs. There is nothing here but inhospitable desert and his goal. You do (after many, many hours) get roped in (many hours) and begin to care (many) about John (hours) Marston and his family. And you begin to resent those that stand in the way.

Whenever the hooks go in you will be carried on horseback to the game’s extremely satisfying and emotional conclusion. There are two dynamics at work here. First, if the hooks are not in then you will get bored and you will stop playing not even seeing the ending. Second, if you DO care then the conclusion and preceding quest may be one of the best you’ve ever experienced.

The difficulty comes in recommending a game that is a coin flip. It isn’t a game about revenge as the marketing campaign would have you believe. It isn’t an action game as the gameplay trailers would have you believe. It also isn’t a recreation of the Old West, since Marston is simply too nice of a guy to take full advantage of the “opportunities” available in such a setting. Its simply a game about a single man. I think Rockstar’s hesitance to admit this is what will cause a split in opinion.

Arbitrary Numerical Grade: 9.2/10. If I were to compare this to a single game it’d be Ico. It was advertised as a game about a boy and a girl. Nothing in the game was as important as these two people. If you had no interest in their story or its conclusion, then you were strongly advised to not play the game.

Red Dead Redemption is simply a story about a man. Nothing in the game is nearly as important as John Marston. Neither the gameplay. Nor the characters. If you have no interest in his story. Then you are best advised to not play the game.

-A.

Relevant notes:

Multiplayer seems to be a lifeless husk of the original game world where the only entertainment comes in harassing random internet people. This whole “All Games Must Be Multiplayer” phase we’re in has to end soon.

It would actually be appropriate to call Red Dead Redemption an American Japanese RPG.

This game also contains the single most satisfying single kill I’ve ever gotten in all of my years of playing videogames.