Red Dead Redemption Review

I consider Red Dead Redemption 2 to be one of the greatest games of all time. I have always been part of the folk who spend a large number of hours on Grand Theft Auto titles, but all of them are spent messing around with the open world.

Never had I actually sat down and experienced the story of a Rockstar Games title until the tale of Arthur Morgan captivated me and changed my entire outlook on life. It took me months to finish the game because I tried to savor every moment of it, and I could not get it out of my mind ever since.

The game moved me so much, in fact, that I ended up buying a used PlayStation 3 just so I could play the chronological sequel, Red Dead Redemption. I'm sure the reason is well known at this point—there was no way of playing the original title on any platform other than the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox consoles after the 360. I know a surprising number of people will relate to this situation.

Do I regret that impulsive purchase now that the game has finally become more accessible, with higher-resolution textures and better performance? Absolutely not. It was a pleasure to experience Red Dead Redemption in its original state, and it makes me appreciate the visuals of the PC release. Rockstar Games knows how to make an open world, and this title has the same sort of quality you would expect from them.

That doesn't mean I don't have any qualms with the PC version of Red Dead Redemption, though. The game had already been out on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch since the year prior, and even then, the $49.99 price tag seemed steep. There have been no changes to the game itself other than a resolution and updated textures bump.

The worst part? It ran at only 30FPS, even on the PlayStation 4. Sure, the PC version now supports higher refresh rates, but the fact that it came out a year after the console rerelease at the same full price does not make sense. As much as I love the Red Dead Redemption series, this feels more like an attempt at easy money than the slew of remasters of games newer than this we have been getting in recent years.

While the price of the game could certainly do with a discount, I cannot discount the original Red Dead Redemption from being an excellent game. For its age, this game holds up very well. Obviously, playing Red Dead Redemption in 4K certainly helps mend the game's age, but it is by no means a bad-looking game today, and there were still plenty of times when I would admire the game's environments and detail. I love the game's aesthetic and art style. The soundtrack, like with most Rockstar games, is impeccable.

The open world feels so alive—all the different towns, NPCs, and random events breathe life into the world, whether it's being robbed by a random gang of NPCs or performing mundane yet immersive tasks like going to the local theater to see a very disturbing movie.

There are all sorts of shops where you can purchase a large variety of weapons, ammo, clothing, horses, medicine—you name it. The classic Wild West saloons, where you can play all forms of different card games. If The Witcher 3 taught me one thing, it's that every open world needs a good card side game. What's even better is you can cheat.

There's lots of variety and detail in all the locations, from the open country by the McFarland Ranch to the more rural and war-torn parts of Mexico and the modern, bustling city of Blackwater.

Not to mention the incredible quality side content—from the stranger missions, where you experience some of the most dark, twisted, and odd stories the Wild West has to offer, you meet so many unique and colorful characters and personalities; it's almost impossible to predict how some of these are going to play out.

The bounties may be a little repetitive, but they provide you with the opportunity to become a bounty hunter, hunting down the West's most dangerous criminals for a good sum of money. You can also undertake the town's night watch, preventing crimes and keeping peace in the different towns you visit, liberating large areas of enemies and helping a fellow man in need.

Red Dead Redemption may not be on the same massive scale and offer as much as its sequel, but there's still plenty of freedom and exploration to be had, where you can discover cool details and lore, go hunting, and experience all the unique stories and random events happening within the world.

The honor system gives you the choice to be a law-abiding bounty hunter and all-around good man—which fits more with John's character—or the complete opposite, where you can be a total menace and be the outlaw you've always dreamed of.

You see, normally, I like to be an absolute menace and go low honor, which has me rolling out and shooting everything in my sight. Though having played Low Honor Arthur before, it wasn't long until I reset my save and played like a good cowboy.

The gunplay is weighty and satisfying, and the best way I can describe it is it just feels crunchy. I know, I know, that sounds a bit odd, but it just feels so good. Deadeye is one of the coolest gunplay features I've seen in a video game.

The range of weapons, including a variety of pistols, shotguns, snipers, rifles, and all the different variations, are great. The weapon progression is so satisfying, starting the game with a simple revolver and ending it with a fully automatic pistol.

There is some heavy aim snapping, which may look a little bit odd, but considering my controller aim, I'm totally okay with that. Red Dead Redemption, of course, also has these amazingly hilarious Rockstar physics.

As for traversal, you do spend the majority of the game on horseback, which isn't always the most exciting form of traversal, but the world events and constant lively scenery help keep things immersive and exciting rather than tedious.

There's kind of fast travel with the stagecoaches, but I didn't really find it all that necessary. Although I will say that the horse's whistling can be kind of broken, There were multiple times when the horse would get stuck on geometry or simply just not show up when I called it.

I really enjoyed Red Dead's customization, though—it was fun unlocking all the different outfits, and quite a few of them actually give you gameplay advantages, like the Elegant Suit, which allows you to cheat at poker, and the Deadly Assassin outfit, which recharges your Dead Eye twice as fast.

You get lots of cool advantages and benefits like that. The mission structure is a bit outdated, with repetitive shooting sections, and herding cattle gets tedious really quickly. It's not a huge deal because the gameplay is so fun, and there is still your occasional unique mission. Again, though, like with most Rockstar games, what really makes this game is the story.

At its core, Red Dead Redemption is a game about its characters and story; most of all, it keeps you invested - it makes you care. The story of John Marston is a relentless trek of redemption, and it captures the brutal reality of the Wild West, where ideals clash with survival.

Torn between the urge to settle down with his family and to perpetually be haunted by his past, you really feel each of these highs and lows across the open plains and mountains that you ride with him.

The supporting cast adds a layer of depth, each character stamping their mark from Bonnie McFarlane's earthy kindness to the almost fatherly guidance of Landon Ricketts. The game's villains, particularly Edgar Ross, make it rather easy to support a cause like John's, and as this game continues, you will see just how convoluted his world has become.

Red Dead Redemption isn't content to merely drop you into the Wild West, and it lets you feel its raw beauty and harsh violence. The soundtrack to this experience is perfectly punctuated. That icon of twisted guitars and somber strings underscores every sunset, every gunfight, and every moment of solitude in the wilderness, becoming a character of its own.

In the end, Red Dead Redemption is a masterpiece that endures. Sure, it's a little rough around the edges, and the price point for this rerelease feels like a bit of a reach, but what you're getting is a weird little piece of gaming history story-driven experience that rarely comes along in such an unfiltered form.

If you haven't yet ridden through its dusty landscapes, this is your sign to dive in. Just maybe wait for a sale. It's a timeless tale with a super-richly designed open world filled with unforgettable characters, making it all worth every shootout, dusty sunrise, and bittersweet goodbye.