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There’s no questioning it, Red Dead Redemption 2 is the most highly anticipated game of 2018, and has been since its initial announcement over two years ago. Hell, even before the official announcement there was a buzz around its potential release. This is quite ironic, considering that the announcement of its predecessor, 2010’s Red Dead Redemption, was met with no small amount of skepticism from the video gaming community.
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Red Dead’s developer Rockstar Games was most known and respected for its Grand Theft Auto series, and now they were releasing a game where you jacked horses, not cars? A Western? Cowboys and Indians? Clint Eastwood? Get the hell out of dodge! Which goes to show how greatly received and widely loved the series soon came to be.
Well, on the 26th of October 2018, Red Dead Redemption 2, the prequel to Red Dead Redemption, was finally released. And in case there was any doubt left in your mind about the game’s quality, we’ve reviewed it just for you.
The Great Frontier That Is Red Dead Redemption 2
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Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that is as vast as the Great Western Plains themselves. Let’s take a look at some of the many things to do and experience in Red Dead 2.
A Tale for the Campfire
Our story begins with a botched ferry robbery. The year is 1899. The antiheroes make up the Dutch van der Linde gang – which include Arthur Morgan (our playable protagonist) and a youthful John Marston (protagonist of Red Dead Redemption).
The gang is forced to flee their hideout in Blackwater and head East to flee the law (including federal agents and some of the best bounty hunters in the land). They have no other choice than to rob, steal, and fight their way across the country in a hail of gunfire and river of bloodshed, in a harsh and brutal attempt at survival and freedom.
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As tensions continue to grow within the van der Linde gang, Arthur Morgan finds himself caught between his ideals and the loyalty that binds him to his outlaw brothers in arms.
A Little Bit on the Side
Red Dead Redemption 2, not unsurprisingly, hosts a plethora of side quests and mini games. From fishing to gambling, dominoes to hunting, you won’t run out of optional activities to participate in.
The Gunslinger
You have a veritable arsenal at your fingertips in Red Dead Redemption 2 with the 50+ unique usable weapons available.
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You also have the option to customize your weaponry in Red Dead 2 alongside a wide range of different ammunition available which can improve accuracy, render greater damage, or have increased range. What also makes the weaponry in the game so unique is that the more you use the particular gun, the greater its accuracy will be. But, be warned, you have to make sure to keep your piece clean and well-oiled – otherwise, it will start to degrade.
Dead Eye
Like its predecessor, Red Dead 2 sports the “Dead Eye” feature: the ability to slow time down while you aim and make sure those bullets count.
The new and improved Dead Eye system becomes more sophisticated as the game progresses, growing as your skill grows.
Into the Wild
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Red Dead Redemption 2 features an impressive range of extremely realistic flora and fauna. With around 200 species of animals, from house cats to foxes, bison to sturgeon, turkey vultures to wolves, the animals and plant life found in the game help to make its world completely believable.
Caught up in the Technicalities
And now, for those of you who obsess over the minute details of things, we present the specifications of Red Dead Redemption 2. It is available for Sony’s PlayStation 4 and Microsoft’s Xbox One (sorry personal computer players). The game is presented in visually stunning ultra-high definition 4K. And right now it’s single player, with multi-player (online) coming soon for those of you who prefer to play with others.
Cough It Up
Of course, you want to know how much you’re going to have to fork out. The standard edition is going to cost you around 60 bucks, and around 80 for the special edition (but beware the special edition isn’t going to be around forever, so snatch it up while you can).
The price is pretty much the same for both platforms, but if you aren’t in a rush to buy it, keep an eye on the digital marketplace – the game’s bound to go on sale sometime. Though, in saying that, the chances of it being heavily discounted in the near future are pretty damn slim.
A Few Comparisons
We have selected several other titles in which to compare Red Dead Redemption 2 (for those of you who need a little more coaxing).
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Price
Amazon sells the standard edition of the game (for either platform) for around $60. The special edition sells for about $80. If you’re a serious fan, consider trying to score yourself one of the deluxe or special editions.
Storyline
If this game were a movie, it would be in the same league as The Shawshank Redemption and The Godfather. It’s an instant classic that’s epic, entertaining, deep, touching, and violent. The characters are absolutely real, the dialogue is as sharp as a straight razor, and the whole story packs a punch like both barrels to the chest.
Graphics
To say that Red Dead Redemption 2’s graphics are beautiful, would be a goddamn understatement. Never in the history of video games has a world been so completely rendered, so lifelike, so rich.
Gameplay
Red Dead 2’s game play mechanics work like a well-oiled six-shooter. The game is extremely fluent and incredibly realistic. Characters change outfits depending on the weather conditions, the protagonist can lose or gain weight, and citizens will remember you for your previous actions – so keep that little detail in mind.
Atmosphere
If we could give the atmosphere of Red Dead Redemption 2 six stars out of five, we would. The five states that you travel through are filled with countless nuances, and you can’t help but feel like you were actually back in 1899.
Pros
Cons
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This one isn’t really going up against Red Dead Redemption 2. We just know some of you guys out there are too young to purchase the M-rated game. So this one’s for the kids.
You know the Jurassic Park movies? Well, this is like those. But everything’s made out of LEGO.
Price
You can purchase LEGO Jurassic World for around $20 on Amazon.
Storyline
You get to replay selected scenes from all four Jurassic Park movies. Pretty cool if you’re into Jurassic Park. And LEGO.
Graphics
The graphic in this game isn’t anything special to behold, and definitely, don’t do this generation of console justice. But, for what the game is, they suffice.
Gameplay
With LEGO Jurassic World’s relatively simple game play mechanics, you’d think it would all play out a little more fluently – which it doesn’t.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere of this game feels like what it is: cheap cash in.
Pros
Cons
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Sundered is a side-scrolling arcade-style game, similar to Castlevania. Again, it’s not a serious contender against Red Dead Redemption 2, but if you can’t afford Rockstar’s latest offering, this will keep you occupied for the time being.
Price
Sundered is available from the PlayStation.Store for $19.99.
Storyline
You play as Eshe, a woman wandering the wastelands of scorched earth who finds herself trapped in a sandstorm. When stumbling across the site of mysterious ancient ruins, she is suddenly drawn into its depths. Trapped in a brutal and terrifying underworld, she is forced to fight to survive.
The story isn’t bad, though the writing itself is somewhat inconsistent. At times it’s deft, and at other times it’s edging on being bad.
Graphics
Sundered works graphically, for the game has a hand-drawn cartoon style (think Masters of the Universe, not South Park).
Gameplay
The gameplay is fluent and truly fun. Eshe can acquire some pretty badass abilities – like turning into a gargoyle. In saying that, the game can get challenging at times. If you’re an old school player with button mashing fingers of fury, you’ll be okay.
Atmosphere
The game’s atmosphere and the vibe are truly unique in parts, and very aesthetically pleasing. Though, Sundered seems to be confused at what it wants to be. Eldritch surrounds can suddenly be sullied by the appearing of something like a flying robot. Bummer.
Pros
Cons
The Last Night is an upcoming 2.5D cinematic platform game to be released for the PC and Xbox One. It’s included in this review to give you something to look forward to, and any observations made here, are speculation at best.
Price
The Last Night isn’t available for pre-order yet, and no price has been confirmed at this date, though we speculate it should sell for around $10 – $15.
Storyline
The concept of this same looks very interesting. You play as Charlie – a second-rate citizen struggling to exist in a technology-driven world (which looks very much like where us humans could actually be heading). The player interacts with other characters, can get involved in gunfights, and explore the city that surrounds him. He is an apathetic and relatable character, who can’t connect with the soulless society that we have now become.
The Last Night seems to be a game that is brimming with personality and is desolate, touching, and deep. Its subject matter is dark and seems to pull no punches.
The Last Night is a game that looks extremely promising.
Graphics
It’s hard to assess the graphics in this game accurately. And not only because it actually isn’t out yet. The Last Night is a pixelated game. So there’s no way it’s going to stand up against the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2. But, in saying that, it certainly looks to be the most visually-stunning pixilated game that we’ve come across.
Gameplay
You seem to wander about a lot in this game and talk to people, interact in small and simple ways. Which is awesome, and it’s safe to say that the developers won’t be able to mess that up. We should hope.
Atmosphere
Even though The Last Night is a pixilated game, it most definitely has a strong sense of self and oozes atmosphere. The guys behind this know what they’re doing when it comes to style and direction, that’s for damn sure. We predict The Last Night’s atmosphere will be one of the most captivating and visceral ever rendered in Pixelated style.
Pros
Cons
How the West Was Won – A Conclusion
Is this isn’t the game of the year, then feel free to take us out back and shoot us. 5 stars with no questions asked. Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece. Rockstar has made the follow-up that we all hope for; a game that keeps all the aspects that made us fall in love with what came before while improving on them, expanding upon the overall world, better graphics, smoother gameplay, the returning of familiar faces. Red Dead Redemption 2 is well worth its full price. You won’t regret buying it. That’s a promise.