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RED DEAD REDEMPTION II (PS4)
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Publisher: Rockstar Games.
Developer: Rockstar Games. Released: October 2018. Genre: Open world. Other versions: XONE; PC. Posted 20th June 2024. By Tom Clare © 2024 |
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Market evolution in the years prior to Red Dead Redemption II’s 2018 release saw Rockstar needing to alter their approach to open world game development. No longer able to rely on seismic technical steps to stand out amongst a fiercely competitive genre, RDRII would instead define itself through finer details. An epic storyline, unmatched standards of presentation and supreme world-building are all qualities familiar with Rockstar’s endeavours. Of greater significance, however, were a host of bold, potentially risky design decisions, resulting in a singularly immaculate experience.
The game plots the trials and tribulations of a rag-tag posse led by Dutch van der Linde, straight off the back of a botched robbery attempt, as they aim to escape their pursuers in a snowstorm. The more serious approach to storytelling (relative to GTA) is aided by appreciable character development amongst more or less the entire cast, helping craft a credible Godfather-in-the-Wild-West vibe. Playing as grizzled veteran Arthur Morgan, the player observes the group’s struggle to retain cohesion and trust under Dutch’s leadership, as they seek to survive the weather, the law, rival gangs and the march of modernity that’s in ever-present conflict with the gang’s dreams of anarchic freedom.
You don't have to look far to find a picturesque landscape in RDRII: there's beauty every way you look
The story is brought to life by a host of great personalities, an aspect of Red Dead Redemption II that’s so consistently strong, that even its side missions and smaller tasks are fascinating to undertake. Not all of the gang are clever, not all of them are eloquent. Some are impetuous, others ignorant and, at times, borderline bigoted. It’s the flaws that make folk interesting, after all, and in creating the kind of melting pot of relatable and at times problematic personalities that gaming so often glosses over, RDRII stands out like a beacon amongst its narrative contemporaries.
Wise head Hosea proves a cautionary voice amidst a group of trigger-happy vigilantes, a grandfather figure for the group. Sadie Adler, a ferocious widow, is the mirror of Arthur: fearless in the face of death because she places little value on her life. There’s weaselly Micah, sucking up to Dutch as a power play, whilst motormouth Sean will ensure plenty of earache and Kieran, an escapee from a rival gang, endures a tricky time trying to fit in. Lenny and Charles offer a more considered examination of race than we’re accustomed to from Rockstar’s normally more light-hearted tones. Indeed, the handful of missions set amid the Wapiti Reservation, as the dwindling community faces a sustained onslaught from the US army, are amongst the game’s most resonant.
Wise head Hosea proves a cautionary voice amidst a group of trigger-happy vigilantes, a grandfather figure for the group. Sadie Adler, a ferocious widow, is the mirror of Arthur: fearless in the face of death because she places little value on her life. There’s weaselly Micah, sucking up to Dutch as a power play, whilst motormouth Sean will ensure plenty of earache and Kieran, an escapee from a rival gang, endures a tricky time trying to fit in. Lenny and Charles offer a more considered examination of race than we’re accustomed to from Rockstar’s normally more light-hearted tones. Indeed, the handful of missions set amid the Wapiti Reservation, as the dwindling community faces a sustained onslaught from the US army, are amongst the game’s most resonant.
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I mentioned Rockstar taking risks, and here’s why. RDRII doesn’t play, or pace itself, like other modern open world games. There are a lot of features and quirks that may seem circuitous or obtuse at first glance and wouldn’t necessarily work elsewhere. Here, the game’s broader quality and cohesion is crucial. It unfolds slowly: you’ll do well to make it through more than a handful of missions per sitting. Like its predecessor, Red Dead Redemption II sees the player indulging in minutes-long, navel-gazing conversations on horseback at the beginning of missions which, again, likely wouldn’t have worked had the characters not been so strong and the setting so immersive. Fast travel takes a while to unlock and initially feels fiddly to deploy in the wilderness. However, by encouraging the player to ride through the landscape, you’re granted a better idea of how this remarkable world fits together. Had the player been able to skip large expanses from the off, it’s unlikely the extent of RDRII’s grandeur would have been appreciable.
Sometimes, the controls feel convoluted: having to tap X to sprint feels oddly retrograde, whilst the player must remember to manually select their guns from the saddle before dismounting, or else finding themselves equipped only with revolvers. It appears Rockstar tried to keep as many ‘game’ elements in play as possible, not allowing the minutiae to feel passive or automated. The sum of these quirks is a very involving experience that turns small interactions, such as maintaining weapons or cooking and crafting at the campfire, into satisfying gameplay endeavours.
Sometimes, the controls feel convoluted: having to tap X to sprint feels oddly retrograde, whilst the player must remember to manually select their guns from the saddle before dismounting, or else finding themselves equipped only with revolvers. It appears Rockstar tried to keep as many ‘game’ elements in play as possible, not allowing the minutiae to feel passive or automated. The sum of these quirks is a very involving experience that turns small interactions, such as maintaining weapons or cooking and crafting at the campfire, into satisfying gameplay endeavours.
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Whilst there’s fun to be had with chases on horseback and some well-gauged stealth sections, it’s the gunfighting we’re here for. Happily, the shooting is top-notch. Wonderfully crisp aiming mechanics and a fantastic range of punchy rifles and shotguns help, whilst tracking down and besting gunslingers allows Arthur to acquire unique weapons. Dead Eye grants the player a few moments of precise timing with which to dispatch trickier enemies, or to help take care of a group. Whilst this isn’t a new idea, it’s very well executed. Intelligent enemies can encircle the player, but with an astutely thrown fire bottle or stick of dynamite, Arthur can cause absolute havoc.
Whilst the mission structure sees RDRII align with modern open world games, there’s still a strong aspect of the make-your-own-mayhem spirit championed by its neighbouring sandbox genre. Exploring the landscape nearly always results in something exciting or unexpected. Arthur can rob stagecoaches or trains, and encounter a myriad of strangers in the wilderness, some in need of help, some who’ll attempt to kill him. Even bounty hunter missions provide an establishing story, as well as the ability to lasso and hogtie your prey, returning them for a reward from the local sheriff. More significantly, there are birds and wildlife to study, as well as legendary animals and fish to hunt. The most formidable include alligators who hide amongst the swamps, bears in the mountains and wolves who hunt in packs, often unseating Arthur from his spooked horse, leaving him vulnerable to attack. It may be 1899, but there are still consequences to breaking laws: typically, a bounty on your head throughout the various counties, whilst crimes in St. Denis see the local police out in full force at the merest sniff of a disturbance.
Whilst the mission structure sees RDRII align with modern open world games, there’s still a strong aspect of the make-your-own-mayhem spirit championed by its neighbouring sandbox genre. Exploring the landscape nearly always results in something exciting or unexpected. Arthur can rob stagecoaches or trains, and encounter a myriad of strangers in the wilderness, some in need of help, some who’ll attempt to kill him. Even bounty hunter missions provide an establishing story, as well as the ability to lasso and hogtie your prey, returning them for a reward from the local sheriff. More significantly, there are birds and wildlife to study, as well as legendary animals and fish to hunt. The most formidable include alligators who hide amongst the swamps, bears in the mountains and wolves who hunt in packs, often unseating Arthur from his spooked horse, leaving him vulnerable to attack. It may be 1899, but there are still consequences to breaking laws: typically, a bounty on your head throughout the various counties, whilst crimes in St. Denis see the local police out in full force at the merest sniff of a disturbance.
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Visually, RDRII is an absolute triumph. Strong character models sport expressive animations, and you can have great fun customising Arthur’s hair and beard. Browsing provisions from an illustrated catalogue is a gorgeous little touch. Breathtaking vistas capture the scale of untamed America and during nightfall, towns bathed in lantern light look idyllic. The interiors are some of the best I’ve ever encountered, thanks to its superb attention to period detail, visual quality and interactivity. A myriad of harsh weather effects showcase the full range of graphical capabilities and deformable terrain, and the game rarely struggles with performance issues, even when pitting the player against dozens of bandits.
Sterling acting performances help, and Red Dead Redemption II is enhanced further by a fantastic soundtrack. The mission ‘Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern’, sees the gang riding towards the imposing Braithwaite Manor under cover of darkness, framed by trees. The aim is to reclaim a kidnapped child, and this incredibly memorable sequence is defined by its music. It reinforces a spine-tingling tension, a spark ready to ignite. Indeed, the game has an unerring habit of getting these flashpoint moments right. It recognises that when the stakes are raised, when the action is at its most fraught, the music should also be at its most affecting. The drama is incredible.
Sterling acting performances help, and Red Dead Redemption II is enhanced further by a fantastic soundtrack. The mission ‘Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern’, sees the gang riding towards the imposing Braithwaite Manor under cover of darkness, framed by trees. The aim is to reclaim a kidnapped child, and this incredibly memorable sequence is defined by its music. It reinforces a spine-tingling tension, a spark ready to ignite. Indeed, the game has an unerring habit of getting these flashpoint moments right. It recognises that when the stakes are raised, when the action is at its most fraught, the music should also be at its most affecting. The drama is incredible.
Stealth sections, though relatively infrequent, work well and come with a sense of jeopardy
With almost 100 story missions, RDRII is an enormous endeavour. It requires weeks of sustained play to beat, and players must consider its less rapid pacing. There’s a sizeable epilogue, taking the story down an unexpected path, and again highlighting the remarkable effort that has gone into every phase of this game. Just a small blemish, but the post-game doesn’t allow the player to finish outstanding side missions and certain avenues are closed off. It’s therefore wise to make manual saves along the way. Though there’s a constant thread of good/bad moral options, being a vigilante offers few upsides, short of needing to be less discriminating in a fight. Considering the scale of the experience, this is a little disappointing.
Red Dead Online provides additional entertainment, with the biggest upshot being a host of new missions you can play as a group. It also offers different experiences for those aiming for opposing ends of the moral spectrum. However, travel is more of a hassle, the price of useful items is disproportionately high, and there’s the usual multi-currency setup and uninteresting cosmetics. I can take or leave the online, but going on the single-player, Red Dead Redemption II is fantastic. A bold fusion of ideas mix with mechanics new and old, it’s the game’s consistent quality that ensures an often-busy jumble of features coalesce as a complete experience. Just as with Nathan Drake’s momentous adventure in Uncharted 4, Arthur Morgan’s journey carries a sense of finality. We may not see the likes of RDRII again, but if it is the last of a dying breed, we should enjoy it for what it is: a truly outstanding game.
Red Dead Online provides additional entertainment, with the biggest upshot being a host of new missions you can play as a group. It also offers different experiences for those aiming for opposing ends of the moral spectrum. However, travel is more of a hassle, the price of useful items is disproportionately high, and there’s the usual multi-currency setup and uninteresting cosmetics. I can take or leave the online, but going on the single-player, Red Dead Redemption II is fantastic. A bold fusion of ideas mix with mechanics new and old, it’s the game’s consistent quality that ensures an often-busy jumble of features coalesce as a complete experience. Just as with Nathan Drake’s momentous adventure in Uncharted 4, Arthur Morgan’s journey carries a sense of finality. We may not see the likes of RDRII again, but if it is the last of a dying breed, we should enjoy it for what it is: a truly outstanding game.
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VERDICT
"A powerful story amidst and unforgettable setting. RDRII may not have modernised in quite the same way as other open world games, but its quality is unrivalled. Eight years in development were not wasted: a remarkable endeavour." OVERALL: 9/10 |
OTHER WORLD-CLASS OPEN WORLD GAMES REVIEWED
Grand Theft Auto V (2013, PlayStation 3)
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Ghost of Tsushima (2020, PlayStation 4)
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