Game Review #2: Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption is a 3rd-person western themed adventure game. Set in 1911, you play John Marston, a rancher and former gang member. Marston is blackmailed into searching for and eliminating his old gang members, in order to see his family again. The player must ride on horseback or by carriage to get places, kill enemies, and aid different characters to advance the story of the game. Red Dead Redemption was made by Rockstar Games, the studio that was also responsible for creating the Grand Theft Auto game franchise.
The most meaningful moments in this game were the ending and the epilogue. At the end of the game, John Marston must defend his ranch against the corrupt agents who forced him to hunt down his former gang. These agents ride in with a posse, and John must defend his family and his ranch. John is ultimately killed by the posse at the end of the game. There is no way to kill all of the enemies before John is shot and killed. However, the epilogue gameplay is rather surprising. Here, you play as John’s son, Jack, who is a young man. As Jack Marston, you hunt down the agents that killed your father, and you ultimately get your revenge.
At the end of the game, you are forced to avenge your father’s death. In other words, you can’t chose to let your enemies go, you have to kill them. I tried to walk away, but to no avail. The game will not allow you to advance until you do this. While I didn’t necessarily enjoy taking revenge on those that killed John, these events displayed the strength and determination that Jack’s father instilled in him. This act of revenge, while not a positive one in my eyes, was one that Jack was willing to fight for, and he was determined to see it through. By exacting revenge, Jack felt that his father would not have died in vain.
The intentionality of the gameplay in these stages struck me. The game had a fixed outcome with the ending and epilogue, there were no other choices that I could make. The futility of the player’s actions during these stages ultimately teaches the player that sometimes, you have to take chances. You have to act, whether your actions will make a difference or not. You have to die trying if you believe your cause is worth fighting for.
While I don’t condone revenge, as it’s against my religion, I thought that the other aspects of the game were necessary in order to communicate the message of the game. It felt satisfying to see Jack carry on the legacy that his father had left behind, to see that man that Jack had become. While John was alive, he taught his son valuable skills. He instilled in Jack a sense of morality, telling him to care for his mother, and to fight for the things he held near and dear to him. While John may have disapproved of his son’s revenge, he would have been proud of his son for caring for his mother, up until her death. In this situation, he took initiative, and showed his strength when times got tough.
The mechanics that made the story work were the dialogue and the events. Ultimately, what made this work the best was the bond between father and son. I was touched by the depth of emotion and story that was presented in Red Dead Redemption. It was a story, not of selfish gain, per-say. Rather, it was the story of a man who would do whatever it took to get back to his family. This cause was most important to him, and he strove to fulfill it, no matter the outcome. This story really resonated with me, as I could relate to it well. Family is the most important thing to me, and I’d be willing to fight for them any day.
The most dramatic aspect of these events was the legacy of John Marston, and how it was passed down from father to son. As I mentioned before, John ultimately instilled in his son strength and determination. He showed Jack, through his actions, that helping people was the most important thing, and that you should pursue a cause you believe is worth fighting for to give your life purpose.
The whole story was enhanced by the environments and dialogue of the different characters. You meet many different people, and travel to many different places throughout the game. Many of the characters throughout the story were searching for riches, wealth, and fame. However, to John Marston, his family was all that mattered to him. Under all of the chaos and violence of the wild west, there was a man who fought, and died, for his family. This aspect of the game is what resonated with me the most. Additionally, we can see these same values instilled in Jack, as he goes to avenge his father’s death. Red Dead Redemption really had a deep and meaningful story, one that some may not even have expected. For me, the depth of the story was the most meaningful part of the game.
