Top 10 Things You Need To Know About Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar set a new standard for open world games with the release of “Grand Theft Auto III.” Since then, the virtual worlds they’ve created have only grown more immersive and interactive. The one downside, however, is that many buildings solely exist for decoration purposes. When you can’t enter a house or shop, the world feels more restricted and less inhabitable. “Red Dead Redemption 2” not only permits players to enter most of the dwellings on display, but the interiors are bursting with rich attention to detail. We’re free to roam through drawers, knock on doors, and chat with every NPC. Sometimes it’s the little, commonplace things that make a game’s environment all the more involving.

The title may lead you to believe it’s a sequel, but “Red Dead Redemption 2” is actually a prequel set 12 years prior to its predecessor in 1899. While a younger John Marston does appear in the game, the focus shifts to Arthur Morgan, a loyal ally of Dutch Van der Linde. (xref) When a robbery in Blackwater takes a turn for the worse, the Van der Linde gang is forced to go on the run with a fleet of authorities and bounty hunters hot on their trail. Stepping into Arthur’s boots, the player must not only get their hands dirty to survive, but also make a difficult choice between your morality and sense of camaraderie.

Just because you’re a lowlife doesn’t mean you can’t wander the wildness in style. Like various other Rockstar titles, “Red Dead Redemption 2” allows players to change outfits as they please. Even if you don’t put that much stock in fashion, you still might enjoy hunting for rare pieces of clothing. When we say, “hunt for clothing,” we don’t mean like a Black Friday sale. We mean that there are roughly 200 animal species dispersed throughout the game, ranging from alligators, to grizzly bears, to bald eagles. The Legendary Animals are especially difficult to come across. If you can track one down, though, you can loot their body for unique clothing material.  

As we mentioned before, choice plays a major role in “Red Dead Redemption 2” and this is largely due to the game’s sophisticated NPCs. You can interact with pretty much every character you come across and each exchange comes complete with a menu of possible responses. The way you greet people may range from honorable to temperamental, possibly even igniting a brawl. Either way, your behavior will alter your reputation and sometimes affect the outcome of a plot point. The player’s actions haven’t always had considerable consequences in Rockstar games. So it’s refreshing to see a title where words alone can determine how others view you, leaving Arthur’s journey open to multiple paths.
 

Rockstar has gone out of their way to make the world and characters of “Red Dead Redemption 2” feel as alive as possible. The game’s atmosphere is constantly altering as the player encounters rain, snow, and other weather conditions. Arthur will have to change his outfit in order to adapt to his environment, which influences his stamina as well. Just as Arthur must be conscious of the weather, he’ll also have to remain mindful of his appetite. Although satisfying Arthur’s hunger is important, overeating will naturally affect his appearance and stamina. Like CJ in “Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas,” however, Arthur can always slim down by partaking in physical activities.

In a market oversaturated with open world games, standing out from the crowd is easier said than done. Early footage of “Red Dead Redemption 2,” however, has entranced gamers with its beautifully rendered environments, suggesting that Rockstar has officially outdone themselves. The building interiors are of course packed to the brim with subtle touches, but there’s a whole world waiting to be explored outside of the various towns. As Arthur Morgan, the player will trek through barren desserts, lively forests, snowy mountains, and slimy swamps. The game reportedly features the biggest map that Rockstar has ever made, guaranteeing we’ll be spending hours traversing the wildness, be it on foot or on horseback.

Although over-the-top violence has always been a staple of Rockstar Studios, sometimes it’s hard not to feel bad for those innocent NPCs who get caught in the crossfire. Not every activity in this game needs to end in bloodshed and unwanted attention, though. If you don’t wish to leave a big mess behind, the player can intimidate somebody by slightly pressing the d-pad upward to unleash a warning shot. This also comes in handy while trying to hitch a ride aboard a stagecoach. While the mere sight of a gun won’t phase every character, this method can oftentimes save the player a great deal of trouble… unless trouble is what they’re looking for, that is. 

Rockstar hasn’t always strived for practicality when it comes to gunplay. Hell, in “Grand Theft Auto” you can casually walk around with several heavy weapons at once! The action is more grounded here, limiting the player to carrying a pair of side arms and a pair of riffles, along with throwing weapons like knives. Your weapons remain visible throughout the game, whether you’re lugging them around or storing them on your horse. Also, be prepared to clean and fix weapons as they show signs of wear. While more realistic in some respects, the player can still slow down the action with the Dead Eye mechanic, but this time there will be five levels of targeting. 

With the next gen re-release of “Grand Theft Auto V,” Rockstar added a first-person perspective to create an even more engaging experience. This innovation will see a comeback in “Red Dead Redemption 2,” letting the player perceive this world from a whole new viewpoint. Of course, if you don’t want to play the entire game through Arthur’s eyes, you can switch to a more traditional third-person perspective at any time. These aren’t the game’s only camera angles, as it also features a cinematic setting that puts a stronger emphasis on the vast, atmospheric environments during travel. Whichever setting you prefer, another breathtaking sight awaits around every corner.

 
While the original “Red Dead Redemption” did include an online multiplayer mode, Rockstar is stepping up their game for the sequel. One month following the game’s initial release in October 2018, the company will launch “Red Dead Online” as a beta with no additional charge. Despite taking a few welcome cues from “GTA Online,” “Red Dead Online” will be a radically different experience. This isn’t just due to the setting, technology, and timeframe, but also because of the game’s overall tone. Although “Red Dead Redemption 2” is a single-player game above all else, the developers are aiming to take the best elements from their previous online multiplayer ventures and evolve them to a new frontier.