Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption 2 (RDR2), which released on October 26, is revolutionizing the gaming industry and setting the bar for quality gaming, raising it to another level beyond what anyone has ever experienced before. And by far, it is the best game I have ever played.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is an awesome epic of outlaws on the run from society and monotony. This game effortlessly blends immersion cinematics, storytelling, and gameplay. This often makes the player feel like they are watching a movie.
Role Playing, from World of Warcraft to Skyrim, has always focused on creating an individualized experience. The main character, Arthur Morgan, is the character the player gets to mold and customize. From choosing the characters clothing, hairstyle, and even their morality, the game allows the player to be Arthur Morgan.
This game is truly a masterpiece and to better express that I’ve separated the games best qualities into 4 sections: Gameplay, Cinematics, Customization, and Overall Immersion.
Cinematics
Starting with cinematic (the stuff that makes it feel like a western movie), the game’s intro feels like a scene pulled straight out of Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight. It was glorious. The game starts off with a weakened gang escaping the law in a blizzard. The gang is desperately trying to find asylum from the harsh weather. The way the game shows the caravan through a dark and blurry screen and upward camera angle gives it a dark somber tone. This mixed with a shot of a house burning down in the middle of the snowstorm as an awesome score plays with the camera slowly panning out makes this games cinematics almost unparalleled.
Mechanics
Next, the game’s mechanics are incredibly realistic, from the horse-riding to the satisfying shooting. The game delivers on its gameplay.
The fighting, shooting, and horse-riding mechanics are the same in basis as the first Red Dead Redemption, just way more polished.
The fighting is more interactive since you can now block and parry opponents punches. If they land a blow to your face, even your hat will fall off and you’ll have to pick it up eventually. Bruises and sometimes blood also appear that last for a significant amount of time.
If you pull out a gun, opponents might knock it out of your hand and it’ll stay on the ground until you are able to retrieve it. Shooting is now more manual and more realistic. Everything is individually rendered and has a purpose, from your gun to your satchel. When you need to reload, the chamber moves. When the wind blows, your clothes react. A player’s stats and health can be affected depending on the clothing they choose to wear. Wearing too much when it is hot or too little when it is cold will negatively impact stamina and health.
Immersion and Customization
All these factors tie into the game’s immersion. Its customization and cinematics make it the most immersive Role Playing Game (RPG) out there. All game Non-playable Characters (NPCs) are interactive and their deaths are permanent. Any random NPC interaction can lead to a number of different outcomes. You are given the option to either greet or antagonize the NPCs. People in the game remember you and if your actions were good or bad. Cause enough trouble in a town and they might disrespect you or even shoot you on sight upon reentry of the town or city. Help enough people out or kindly greet enough people then they might buy you things from the general store or gunsmiths and even get discounts in the town.
This all relies on the honor system which adds a lot of immersion and provides characters with unique experiences. Red Dead Redemption 2 is not just the game of the year, but the game of this generation and will revolutionize the way games are made and will remind game developers why they do what they do. It is a must buy.
Written By Moises Zatarain, Editorials Editor