‘Red Dead 2’ is an achievement in all categories
By Drew Henderson// A&E Editor
With their first game in five years and the first time the studios of Rockstar Games have come together as a collective since the release of “Max Payne 3,” their newest critically acclaimed hit, “Red Dead Redemption 2,” is released. Not only does the game dazzle with its graphics and one of the most detailed open worlds ever to be made, but it tells the story that was only previewed in the first game of the series. Being set in 1899, the story of RDR2 takes place at the end of the century and also the era of outlaws. Arthur Morgan enters as one of the most trusted members of Dutch’s gang and the right-hand man to Dutch himself. Throughout this 60-hour epic, we get to see how the gang began to unravel and how Dutch became the unhinged man that is hunt down in the original. The game starts slowly at first but picks up fairly quickly. The plot was so engaging I found myself eagerly anticipating what would happen next from mission to mission. Also, Arthur Morgan has to be one of the best protagonists in the history of Rockstar Games and maybe one of the best of all time. Morgan may come off a cliche at first, but as the story picks up and the gang starts to unravel, he becomes the collective man of reason trying to hold together the only life he has known.
The fall of Dutch van der Linde is fascinating because he is known as a psychopath in the original game, but started as a man who thought he had the moral high ground as an outlaw. Dutch does seem like an anti-hero an audience would root for on a television series, but darker actions take place as the story goes on.
Dutch is not the only returning character. Other members of Dutch’s gang, who were also antagonists in the original, additionally return. The audience begins to see why they sided the way they did in the first game. But the highlighted character that everyone seemed most excited to see return was a younger John Marston, the original cowboy from the first “Red Dead Redemption.” This Marston is a less experienced, but still as headstrong as the character he was in the original game. He is constantly trying to decide if this is the best life for his family who has only ever experienced life on the run. As they evade the law throughout the four states, the area will ultimately become your playground as the tragic story unfolds.
The open world has set the bar high for future open world games to come and probably will not be reached anytime soon. The open world of “Red Dead Redemption 2” takes place in four states, the grassy plains of New Hanover, the Louisiana-like Lemoyne, the harsh Ambarino and the familiar West Elizabeth. Each of these places is so different from one another, and the variety of scenery makes this game shine.
In each of these states are cities and towns with people who play an essential role. If someone were to commit a crime that the citizens remember, the Sheriff might call you out on your offense as well. The new system that included interacting and antagonizing other characters makes the world feel so realistic. But the cities and towns are not the only sources of entertainment in the world. Anyone could get lost in the wilderness grounds in the game, fishing and hunting to their heart’s content.
Once again Rockstar Games has set the bar high and showed the world how open world games are supposed to be created. “Red Dead Redemption 2” will be seen as a hallmark for its achievement in building one of the most detailed and realistic open worlds to ever exist, and I am enjoying every single minute in the world they created.
A Week after its release “Red Dead 2” has been breaking records and sweeping up critical acclaim from all. Photos by Rockstar Games