Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is a quality video game experience. Every once in a while a video game comes along that reminds me why I play in the first place. This is one of those games. Not only does RDR2 give you fantastic gameplay but the story is also a solid experience in itself. It’s got a little bit of everything for everybody. So much so I’m not even really sure where to begin.
It’s 1899 and you play as a high-ranking member of the Van der Linde gang, Arthur Morgan, set in the fictionalized west. Arthur is the right hand to Dutch Van der Linde the gangs charismatic and galvanizing leader. When you start the game things aren’t going well for Dutch’s gang. After a heist gone wrong, it’s slowly becoming clear to Arthur that the time of lawlessness is coming to an end. The United States government is growing in power and with it the federal law. The west itself is becoming more and more settled. There simply isn’t a place left for outlaws in the ‘Wild’ West anymore. And so you follow Arthurs struggle to make the right, or wrong, choices along the path to finding his place in a world that’s quickly outgrowing him.
Gameplay in RDR2 is open-world so after the introduction, you’re free to go wherever your heart desires. The amount of things to do in this game is downright staggering. Besides the main story missions, there are also side missions with their own storylines and characters. Besides that, you can partake in several optional quests like hunting or fishing. There’s also hundreds of collectibles and plenty of secrets to find if you enjoy spending your time that way. While you do that the game will often react in surprising, intense, or humorous ways through random encounters with the denizens of the west.
In true Rockstar fashion, the characters are the heart of the game often eccentric, thought-provoking, and always entertaining. I instantly found myself drawn to the diverse cast of Red Dead Redemption 2 each with their own fears, motivations, and interests. One memorable encounter was during a ride back to camp when I heard a fallen woman calling for help on the side of the road. I dismounted and walked over to see what I could do. The moment I helped her stand was the moment she stuck a revolver into my chest and demanded my valuables. Raising my hands in surrender I allowed her to pat me down and watched silently as her gang stepped out from the nearby trees.
“You don’t want to do this lady…” Arthur said quietly.
“Oh yeah?” she laughed as she took my things,” and what are you gonna do about it, mister?”
Three seconds later four bodies lay cooling in the evening sun as I rode off, my pockets heavy with stolen goods and my heart just a bit heavier than that. It isn’t all dark though, there are plenty of humorous moments like tracking down and meeting a family of carnival entertainers. Or hitting the saloon with a gang member and getting into a huge brawl where you get tossed out the window in true western movie fashion.
When your done gallivanting across the west you can switch over to multiplayer and join your friends to form your own gang. From there you can explore the open map with its own campaign missions or jump straight into a lobby where you can play standard PVP modes like team deathmatch and gun game. There’s plenty to do in this game and more than enough to keep you from getting bored anytime soon. If you enjoy westerns, solid gameplay, and an engaging story then this is the game for you. Red Dead Redemption 2 comes from Rockstar and can be bought at your local game retailer for $59.
