Red Dead Redemption

Blog Post: Read Dead Redemption :D

DerpyHooves — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 15:47:00 GMT

DERP DERP DERP I LIKE THIS GAME IT IS REALLY FUN AND ITS DERPING FUN!

Blog Post: Wombat On The Grill: Red Dead Redemption Review: Y'HAA!( PS3 VERSION )

Wombat01 — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:00:00 GMT

I'll be honest, though I did like GTA 4 it wasn't a game that stuck to m heart. I'm not saying it's bad, it's a great game, but I just never really felt connected to it. Red Dead Redemption changes everything there. This game is an amazing experience from start to finish.btw: I OWN THIS FOR THE PS3 so I can't comment on any 360 awards here.

Story: I didn't do story for Alan Wake and won't do it here. This is not something you wan't spoiled. It's full of twists and fun to go through.

Graphics: Outstanding. Horse animations, rocket above any other game horse animations. ( Except maybe Uncharted 3, I haven't played that part yet. ) Though an extremely occasional texture pop-up comes in, it does nothing to deny the amazing world of Texas that Rockstar has created. Everything is very detailed and runs smothly.

Gameplay: From treasure hunting to horse racing this game has it all. Though I won't rate all the gameplay I'll name a few. Gunplay: I love Deadeye. Some people complain it makes it to easy. Not for me, it is easIER, but not EASY. True, I play every single game on the hardest difficulty, so that might explain it. It's fun fluid and fast. Exploration: The world is huge, it's worth exploring, who knows you might just find some hidden treasure. Treasure Hunting: One of my favorite aspects of the game. It's fabulous and combines exploration with gunplay. Karma: Or so the call it in Infamous ( a favorite series of mine ). This game is worth playing through twice just to see and experience everything the game has to offer.

Multiplayer: Most don't like it. But I love it. It's different and actually fun. BUT BE WARNED, YOU WILL LOSE EASILY WITHOUT USING DEADEYE. My favorite thing about this was not the normal matches like capture the bag. But the free roam mode where I could do as I pleased with a friend and kill other people playing online who got in my way.

Overall: It's one of my all time favorite games. MY PERSONAL GOTY 2010. And with so much rich content you will almost never find yourself out of things to do. This... is a buy. After writing this all I can say is this. IT'S AN AMAZING GAME. BUY THIS GAME.

YOU'VE JUST BEEN SERVED... WOMBAT ON A GRILL.

Blog Post: Red Dead Redemption Review Ps3/Xbox 360

Tuvaya — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 00:55:00 GMT

Let me start by saying that I like western games. So is Red Dead Redemption the great western game that claims to be? Let's find out.

Presentation 1.5/2

The game looks very good; it really makes you feel like you are in the Wild West setting. From the intro cinematic, to the great, sad, and unexpected ending, it really makes you feel like a cowboy. You can see the detail, work and effort that were put into the making of this game. Almost everything looks astonishing.

Sound and Graphics 2.5/3

The sound plays a very important part in this game. It has beautiful music, that changes according to your current action, whether you are in a gun fight, or riding through the enormous fields, it is always there enhancing the experience. The voice actors in this game do a fantastic job. They are all top notch, with great dialogue to say. The graphics look all colorful, and the environments look very detailed, with wild plants growing, cows eating, wild horses, coyotes, etc. It feels alive, with great animations and graphics to give it a good look.

Story 2/2

The story is one of the best aspects in this game. It may be a little slow for some people, but it is a good western story, with background story, revenge, very well planted moments, that lead to incredible sequences. I won't spoil any of it, but it really great.

Gameplay 1/2

Now, the gameplay is where I feel the game loses its shine. More than anything, because of the controls. You are going to be pressing the same button a lot. To run, or to ride the horse. It started to annoy me after a while. But the controls overall are good. They are good in shootouts, taking cover, changing weapons, etc. It's fun to shoot with these controls. This is a free roam game, and while it is cool to go to so many places, some of the things to do are not so fun and that diminishes the amount of things to do. The multiplayer is can be pretty good for some, or a complete failure. The lobby is the single player map, but with online players. You can shoot yourselves up or join to play mini-games, poker, shootouts, etc. There's a lot to do here, you have your typical multiplayer modes, and many others. Also another thing to mention is the auto-aim. It so easy with it enabled, it kills the challenge of the game almost. But you can put it into expert targeting mode, in which you actually have to aim, This is how it is online.

Replay value and Extras 1/1

There's a lot of in game extras, suit and more. And the replay value is high, because it will keep you entertained for hours with the campaign. There are trophies/achievements to get and the online is good if you like it.

In the end Red Dead Redemption is a pretty good game that will grip you with the story, but with not so good controls, and a divided decision in the online, it may not be the game you are looking for. But in the end RDR gets a:

Final score of: 8/10----Good, but not for everyone.

Blog Post: My Review of Red Dead Redemption

Buddy Acker — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 02:51:00 GMT

I finally, finally, finally got a chance to play Red Dead Redemption. Wow, what a game. I had been following it since its official announcement in 2009. When I heard that Rockstar Games was planning on making an open world Western that was a sequel to Red Dead Revolver I said, “AH HA HA HA HA. Yeah right. That should turn out well.” Rockstar San Diego (a division of Rockstar Games) made the first game and it was not that great so how could a sequel, especially one based off of the Grand Theft Auto IV design (which is great), even be considered? Luckily, it was considered, and I’m glad the risk was taken. Red Dead Redemption is without a doubt one of the best games I have ever had the honor of playing.

I won’t lie. There are occasional glitches and bugs and there is a lot of pop-up in the game but my gosh, with a world this big, how could there not be? It’s still a GORGEOUS game and I do really mean that. The landscapes are absolutely stunning. The character models are all interesting in one way or another and beautifully designed. I cannot fault this game for its graphics because my mouth dropped open more than a couple of times.

Every one of the voice actors is extremely talented. I don’t know who Rob Wiethoff (John Marston in the game) or Kimberly Irion (Bonnie MacFarlane) are but I do know that they were in the game thanks to IMDb.com and I do know that they are both great. Wiethoff in particular delivers a sense of realism through his character that is rarely seen in video games or any other entertainment medium for that matter. I have to give credit to Anthony De Longis also who is quite good as Marshal Leigh Johnson. I enjoyed walking around and just taking in the sights and hunting all the various critters in the game so the music got very repetitive to me after a while but that doesn’t mean it isn’t good because it is magnificent. It is pure candy to the ears and I will be picking up a copy of the soundtrack.

I have never seen such perfect controls in an open world game and they just might be the best in gaming history. The gunplay is really simple to understand yet challenging to master, the way it should be. Riding a horse is as fun as it has ever been and I’m saying this after playing the Assassin’s Creed games. There are some platforming elements to the game and they are extremely fun. Move over, Mario. Okay, so maybe they aren’t THAT good. Hunting and skinning animals was oddly addicting to me for some reason. It never got old. Well, I take that back. There is one achievement in the 360 version in which I had to kill and skin 18 grizzly bears and it took me forever to find them all and I got a little impatient with that. I don’t see how anybody wouldn’t. The annoying D-Pad on the 360 controller is rarely ever utilized, which is a good thing. As far as I can remember, the only thing I used it for was to call my horse.

Even with all the other goodness, the plot of Red Dead Redemption is my favorite thing about the game. It is a sweeping epic that most movies can’t even manage. If I made a list of my top 10 favorite gaming tales, Red Dead Redemption would be placed at least 3 or 4. It made me laugh and, believe it or not, cry. The ending is BRILLIANT and I have never seen anything like it. It is also very shocking. That’s about all there is to say about it other than I think everyone should experience it in all its majesty.

Blog Post: There's a reason almost everyone sees this as a Game of the Year...

Michael — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 03:53:00 GMT

Ahh, Rockstar...

When they get it right, they get it RIGHT...

And when they effectively decided to port Grand Theft Auto's open-sandbox to the Wild West, they effectively got it right.

Red Dead Redemption was seen as the Game of the Year in almost every competition which could include it, and there was little reason why not: The game is solid, flows freely, and offers a variety of challenges spread out over a massive expanse of wilderness with a vibrant landscape.

You start out as a half-dead old cowboy after a failed revenge attempt, nursed to some degree of health at a farm in the American part of the game. You then not only work for your keep (in ways such as keeping watch over the farm (and later cities at night), but also on the missions to advance the storyline of the game to the cities.

Bored? Try your hand at Texas Hold 'Em. Memory-based button pushing...

However, as often happens with Rockstar, the strength of this kind of game lies in the missions -- the storyline that leads the protagonist on a journey of redemption, revenge, and eventually reunion and reconciliation.

The ending, however, is quite unexpected.

You can even go ahead and, if the timing is right, do a bounty-based minigame where you go to take out henchmen and a boss character. You can decide to kill him, or wound him, tie him up with your lasso, and take him back.

However, when you do try to take either proof of the death or the accused back, his friends try to take you out on horseback. Really fun and a great way to build up some ammunition for free.

There are two problems with the game which reduce it from a 10 for me:

1) The mission-fail mechanism is slightly too forgiving. For the longer missions, you certainly want some degree of checkpointing, but to allow a direct retry from the checkpoint (rather than, say, having to return to a checkpoint) is a slight aid.

2) Sometimes, in the bounty part of the game (which was my favorite), the "friends" would stop coming long before you got back to the appointed jail site.

All in all, a great investment of Greatest Hits PS3 pricing, if you can find one...

Blog Post: Video Game Review: Red Dead Redemption; Being a Cowboy Never Felt So Good

opposedcrow88 — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 20:06:00 GMT

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If you were to say the words “Rockstar Games” around most gamers their thoughts would most likely jump to the Grand Theft Auto series since that is what Rockstar Games is best known for. However, in 2010, Rockstar Games decided to take their popular GTA formula and use it to revive a dormant niche in video games: the western. Hailing as a spiritual successor to their 2004 cult hit Red Dead Revolver, Rockstar Games released Red Dead Redemption and it quickly became a new, and redefining, hit in the Rockstar Games lineup.

Most gamers probably know what I mean when I speak of the “GTA formula” but for those who don’t, the Grand Theft Auto series has long been known for its open sandbox-esque worlds, varied mission and activity types, and plethora of odd, sometimes downright strange, characters. So how does such a makeup stack up when put into a western setting? Surprisingly well in fact. Unlike Red Dead Revolver which, while having similar themes and elements played out more as a linear shooter, Red Dead Redemption manages to tell an engaging story of revenge, betrayal, and coming to terms with a changing world while also being a darn fun third-person shooter as well. Even better, because of its sandbox environment, the game allows the player to follow the story at their own pace or choose to partake in one of the many other activities available.

The plot is a rather straightforward one (as a western’s plot ought to be): Former gunman/robber turned rancher John Marston is “persuaded” by a pair of government officials (i.e. they kidnap his wife and son) to hunt down and bring to justice his former gang-mates with the promise that his family will be released upon completion of the task. The game is set in 1911, during the decline of the cowboy/wild west era which is made apparent thanks to the game’s rich atmosphere. The opening scenes depict Marston riding on a train, overhearing other people talk of “flying machines” and “bringing culture to the red man.”

The early sequences and missions in the game introduce the player to the basics of movement, horseback-riding, shooting, and even breaking in new horses to ride. They also introduce a few of the large myriad of characters John is to meet during his journey, some friend, some foe. The game-world itself, while containing only a handful of settlements and towns, is rather expansive, encompassing two entire territories of southern Texas called New Austin and West Elizabeth as well as a Mexican territory called Nuevo Paraiso (all three are fictitious). The different landscapes John can explore range from wide open deserts and fields to thick forests and snow-capped cliffs, each populated with various wildlife and people.

A variety of horses that can be either purchased or broken allows for quick travel around the world as do various stage-coaches located in most major settlements. In addition to the game’s main plot, John can also participate in local games such as horseshoe-tossing, liar’s dice, poker, blackjack, as well as other activates like bounty hunting, dueling, and even little mini-stories called “Stranger Tasks.” Combat is both intuitive and easy-to-master thanks to the series signature “Dead-Eye” mechanic which lets the player briefly slow down time allowing for precision aiming against one or multiple foes. Red Dead Redemption includes a variety of firearms and other weaponry ranging from basic pistols and rifles to shotguns, explosives, and even some early sniper-rifles.

One last major feature to note is the game’s multiplayer which allows the player to explore the entirety of the game-world with other players from all over, either riding around in the “free roam” world or participating in a variety of game-types including deathmatch, capture-the-gold (a western approach to capture-the-flag), co-op and team-based missions, or even less-deadly activities like poker. Unlike the game’s single-player mode, multiplayer lets the player choose from a variety of different characters to play as, ranging from soldiers of the U.S. Army to members of various gangs and factions, and even as law enforcement with more characters, in addition to new mounts, weapons, and titles, being unlockable as the player ranks up.

Overall Red Dead Redemption is a worthy (if slightly more refined) follow-up for the western genre of gaming. With a tight and action-packed story, gritty atmosphere, slick combat, and a multitude of challenges to be conquered, it is definitely worth any gamer’s while to come play in Rockstar’s western sandbox for a while. If you’re a fan of the GTA series, open-world gameplay, perfectly executed multiplayer, or all of the above, I’d highly recommend you take Red Dead Redemption for a spin, you won’t be disappointed.

General Gameplay Tips:

Bonuses can be earned by shooting the hat off an opponent’s head or shooting the gun out of their hands.
Stranger tasks will sometimes show up on the map no matter where you are but other times will only appear if you come into close proximity of their starting location.
Gambling in games such as poker, blackjack, and liar’s dice is a great way to earn some quick cash, especially early on in the game.

Useful Links:

Main Game Site: http://www.rockstargames.com/reddeadredemption/agegate/ref/?redirect=

Game Wiki: http://reddead.wikia.com/wiki/Red_Dead_Wiki

Guides, Walkthroughs, etc: http://xbox360.ign.com/objects/143/14320288.html

Blog Post: No doubt about it, rockstar is fantastic

PlasmaGames — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 04:34:00 GMT

Red dead is great. Great graphics, great free roam online, great gameplay, and great variety. However. one bad thing is that the story seems to lead on too slow.

Blog Post: Great single-player game, Ok multiplayer.

Eeyore08 — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 18:57:00 GMT

Red Dead Redemption is one of my top ten favorite games! It have a massive world that one can get lost in. The graphics are stunning. Going on a cliff and looking across the land is breathtaking. There is so much stuff to do in this game as well. From hunting, to treasure finding, to helping or hurting the locals. You can become their best friend or their enemy. The storyline is well-written. Probably one of the best stories on the Playstation 3 in my opinion. The voice acting is phenomenal as well. Music is by far the best I have heard. I made a comment while playing this game my first time that I don't ever recall hearing lyrics with music in a video game. That song was perfect for the time as well. The only problem I had with the game was the multiplayer. It was not as polished as the single-player. The free-roam was cool but lacking in so many ways. To start a actual ranked match game seemed like it took forever to start-up and sometimes it would not even work right. It was very annoying. Also the sparce collection of characters to choose from was a real downer as well. However all in all the game was fantastic and everyone should pick-up a copy and play through it just for the story.

Blog Post: One of Few games worthwhile

Mafia Merc Mike — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 19:42:00 GMT

First, the Ugly reasons this didn't get a Ten from me two reasons:

1. No Character Creator for multiplayer. That would have sold it for me completely.This game would have rocked had it given some form of Free-Roam Character creation instead of picking from a bunch of different people. Only 2-3 people appealed to me.

2. The issue of rag-doll effect/falling damage effect when fighting faster creatures like the Cougars/Bears. Sometimes you might get back up instantly, sometimes it might take your character 1-2 minutes to get up and by the time you get up...lights out. And Falling on a horse sometimes it didn't matter at what height, your horse might die from falling a small distance or a large distance...and sometimes if you fall you can get right back up/so will your horse when you thought it was dead...

That was my only real issue with this game: Game Mechanics issues and Customization.

------------------

Reasons this game got a 9.50 from me:

Between the The Open world activities, The Controls, the Free-Roam mode, the Auto-Aim Assist that was decently done, the Dead-Eye moments in story mode, to the The Dialogue in this game had me saying "Thank you Ma'am" and "Mister" for weeks on end after playing this game it was just that enthralling. I was calling friends Mister ___ and Miss ____ even though I know their first names. This game is awesome.

The characters were lovable. John Marston had to be one of the best Anti-Hero/Main Characters I've encountered. Martson if he hasn't already should be labeled one of the most loved characters of all time in video game history. Rockstar put alot of heart and warmth in him. He had his issues, he had his drama, he could be just like everyone else, but goes against it even if he can get away with it. Story was done very well and had you hoping he would finally make it in the end after all his struggles and problems.

The Story was heavily driven from past movies I loved...I was just waiting for some one to pop up and tell Marston "I'll be your huckleberry". I love how Rockstar uses awesome movies to make their games that much more enjoyable.

This was a positive experience, and awesome with the Zombie DLC. I wish I had more friends who played this game more often so I could do the online achievements/play it online more.

Blog Post: Best of the West

thatfoxguy — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 05:09:00 GMT

Where do I start? This game is so polished it can't be described. With a map spanning two gigantic locales with hundreds of little towns, I challenge you to find a game with more life breathed into it.

The story of John Marston took me aback. I was prepared for an Old West *** who took no crap from nobody. I was driving home with the game in my passenger seat prepared for some epic kills or a story with a corrupt anti-hero. I couldn't be more wrong. Where I thought John Marston would shoot his mortal enemies on sight, he reasoned with them to take the high road. After time and time again with Marston being rejected by his enemies, he sets out to redeem himself on a quest for vengence. Without revealing spoilers, the game easily had one of the best storylines in a game ever, and defininately the most emotional I have ever experienced.

The graphics aren't the prettiest, not on the same scale of God of War or Halo, but the game contains a great artistic style. Everything is rustic or dusty looking, and provokes a mood like no other. Some facial shots of Bonnie's hair or the faces can be a cringe-worthy, but overall, the fact that the game can even run at a decent framerate with such a huge map is exceptional.

The sound is the best in the business. The best voice acting in a game; better than Uncharted or Fallout. Not only that, but the firearm sounds and assorted nature noises are top-notch. Unrivaled at this point.

The gameplay is slick and smooth, with a GTA IV like cover system. Every weapon feels perfect and have great aiming mechanics. The character movement can use some work, but thankfully, horses and trains take up most of your transportation.

Flat out, buy this game. It's worth every penny, and ensure that you watch every cutscene, because it will be over before you know it.

Blog Post: Red Dead Review

Reptar7 — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 01:24:00 GMT

The various gaming websites have already widely sung the praises of this western RPG, and for good reason, Red Dead is an excellent game.

If you ever dreamed or fantasized of living in the Wild West, then this is the game for you. Throughout the campaign you get to be a gunslinger, fugitive, lawman, gambler, hunter, and rancher. The story is deep but not difficult to understand. The missions are all fairly short, the longest being possibly 20 to 30 minutes. It is very easy to play a mission, quit, come back later and start up again without missing a beat.

What is truly great about this game is that it is one big open world. You can go anywhere and do many different things. You are taken back in time to 1911 and you get to take part in the world. I am a big fan of these types of games where you go back in time to a certain historical time period and get to take part in that world. There are a lot of challenges, a money system, an honor and fame system, tons of stuff to collect like herbs, outfits, and treasure. There is just tons to do here. I played for around 40 hours and am only at 95% complete.

There were some drawbacks to this game that were not really addressed in the gaming sites reviews. One big thing that really annoyed me was people and animals in the world didn't always react appropriately. If I am racing down a street on horseback, that lady that was crossing the street shouldn't just keep walking calmly forward into my path. If I am waiting for a train and my horse is by me, when the train comes he should stay away from it, not go stand on the tracks in front of it.

There was also this glitch that I would go into rooms and find people standing on chairs acting as if everything was normal. That happened several times which was weird. There was also a glitch at Dutch's hideout where the man who went to blow the gate was invisible. In the last level, Jack Marston turned into two Jack Marstons as he was saying goodbye to his father. The glitch that annoyed me the most was dealing with water. Apparently no one in Red Dead can swim. Water equals death. If your horse gets by water, he will walk in and die. You can walk in the water, you can even cover your face and stay there forever without dying, but once the top of your hat is covered and you are completely underwater, you instantly die. There is no chance to get back to shore or anything. Just instant death. If Banjo and Kazooie can swim, Marston should be able to. This is too good of a game to have water be instant death.

I pointed out a lot of negatives, but this is still a great RPG. Overall, this is a game I would recommend to anyone who likes games. It isn’t perfect, and there is room for improvement, but a great game none-the-less. I hope Rockstar keeps raising the bar like this.

Blog Post: GTA meets Clint Eastwood

Kyle2009 — Thu, 26 May 2011 23:34:00 GMT

So as a rule I avoid westerns, but since I signed up for gamefly I decided to try it. I am pleased to admit I actually enjoyed this game. The mini map is one of the more effective offered in open world games, when I mark my goal on the map I get an effective route lined out for me. Jobs and "Stranger" missions are fairly easy to find using the map and keep aimless wandering to a minimum. Now for some complaints. The game allows you to do side missions to unlock additional costumes, however, these costumes are almostidentical. All that time spent searching and the only thing you notice is your hat changed. Another issue I would run into would be during side missions a simple miss step and you would die losing all the plants/furs or whatever else you were collecting. At any rate the game offers a fun sand box style experience with a few hiccups. If you enjoy westerns this game is definitely for you, but is somewhat lacking in replay value.

Blog Post: Red Dead Delivers

KingLenro — Thu, 26 May 2011 16:24:00 GMT

Rockstar Games loves its sandbox games and I love Rockstar Games. This is one of the best PS3 games I've played in a very long time and I'm certain I'll still be playing for a long while to come. The single player has an involved story that keeps your attention and is entertaining. It actually felt like I was watching a western film in the cutscenes. The gameplay is fun and addictive, like most of Rockstar's games, and then there's the mutiplayer. It acts just like the single player game, but with other people who are smart enough to challenge you. And the Rockstar Social Club challenges are a hoot to do as well. I would suggest getting this game if you're a fan of westerns, the GTA series, or of good games in general.

Blog Post: An awesome game, but sadly overrated

irohma — Mon, 23 May 2011 18:32:00 GMT

Don't be fooled. Red Dead Redemption is one of the greatests game yet, but despite efforts of those saying it's not a reskined GTA, playing the game simply proves them wrong.
Red Dead Redemption uses the well known mechanics of the GTA franchise. It has a huge and extremely beautiful open world, same controls, weapons, vehicles to steal (in this case, horses, wagons, etc.) and an identical narrative.
The game uses a third-person perspective and deeply relies on shooting mechanics to work. Regardless of the genre it's selling itself, the game is a third-person shooter and does really well on that aspect. Most of time you will be roaming through the beautiful landscape with jaw-dropping scenery and amazing attention to details. At some times, however, you'll be killing thugs with guns and raiding bandits' hideouts.
While the general shooting mechanic works, the game shows many issues when you use cover and when controlling Marston during a firefight, especially if you compare the game with other third-person games like Mass Effect and Uncharted. Many times my Marston slided to a very far away wall to take cover instead of the near one, resulting sometimes in tunneling or game blocks. Marston moves like an Resident Evil character when he is running, making very difficult to perform delicate movements and adjustments. This clumsy control sometimes take the fun of a firefight when the results are pathetic deaths due to Martson getting stuck at some places or moving like a clown while taking shots.
Red Dead Redemption's plot is awesome, it's characters are amazing, and it has one of the best endings ever created for a game, but the narrative simply fails to deliver all the greatness it could have. Most likely GTA and Assassin's Creed II, you will be roaming from marked points in your map, entering the residence of your employee and hearing their monologue about your next random mission. The story is also very slow paced, and it takes many hours of random quests until Marston finally completes it's first objective.
Online mode is bizarre. The type of game Red Dead is didn't ask for a multiplayer experience, but Rockstar managed to create one. It's somehow an MMO like experience with about 10 online friends resulting from random killing and raiding hideouts to playing poker and other minigames. It's a good addition to the game, but it could also be removed without harming the whole piece.

Pros:
- Superb scenery
- Great plot with one of the best endings yet
- Many side-quests and minigames
- Captivating characters

Cons:
- Slow paced, non-exciting narrative
- Many bugs
- Clumsy controls

Blog Post: Game Over... continue? Red Dead Redemption

Game Over... continue? — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 00:21:00 GMT

As gamers we’ve played everywhere from wild fantasy worlds full of wizards and warlocks to realistic recreations of famous battles in both the recent and distant past to fun and wacky worlds where the laws of nature don’t apply and the biggest concerns revolve around rescuing princesses from psychotic turtles. But a fairly obvious locale has been conspicuously absent: the Old West. Sure, a few decent titles have been born from the genre, but none were particularly memorable… until Rockstar came along and gave us Red Dead Redemption. And let me tell you, the famed developers of the Grand Theft Auto series have done it yet again. Red Dead Redemption is nothing short of a masterpiece; a brilliant tale expertly told with all the trappings of the turn of the century American frontier for the player to explore and experience.

John Marston is a former outlaw who renounced his lawless ways. He had settled down with his family intent on living a quiet and peaceful life. But the ghosts of his past come back to haunt him, he has been pulled back into the world he left behind. An 'Agency' within the federal government has come calling demanding Marston's help in tracking down and taking out his former brothers in arms. Only then will he be allowed to reunite with his family. It's a suicide mission and Marston knows it, but he also knows he has no choice.

So Marston follows the trail of one Bill Williamson, a member of his former gang... but when he tracks him down he promptly gets shot and left for dead. Fortunately for him (and us) along comes Bonnie McFarlane who nurses him back to health. To repay her kindness John offers to help around the ranch. These initial missions teach you the basics. Practicing your marksmanship involves shooting those waskawee wabbids that are eating all the vegetables. You learn how to ride a horse by herding cattle and racing Bonnie

If you know Rockstar's games, you know their unique mission structure. To progress through the story you must complete missions in order to open new strands and new areas. Soon Marston leaves the ranch in pursuit of Williamson but encounters a distinct lack of assistance from the locals. No one will give something for nothing... to get the information he needs, John gets caught up in all sorts of crazy situations. Read Dead is full of memorable characters who require Marston's help first in order to help him in return.

But throughout all the shenanigans, Marston never loses sight of his goal... to get back to his family. He is simply doing what he must. As the story plays out you learn more of Marston and his past... about why he is the man he is. Let me tell you, it's a truly compelling tale and a testament to how far our favorite medium has come that we can enjoy a story such as this... it's fantastic.

In true Rockstar fashion you are given a massive world to explore. Notorious for making the 'sandbox' game part of the modern lexicon, they've really outdone themselves. Your playground stretches from the scrubby prairie of fictitious New Austin (read Texas) across the border into Mexico and then back up into the plains and mountains of the Southern Rockies. That desolation is impressively captured, you really feel like your stuck out in the "Old West." From the stunning vistas to the small, iconic, "one-horse" towns, the environments are phenomenally well realized.

But don't worry, you'll meet many a colorful stranger as you travel the barren landscape. But there are strangers, and then there are 'Strangers.' The former are random "Help, he stoled me horse!" or some poor sod getting mauled by the local wildlife. You can help if you so choose. The proper 'Stranger' missions are side quests that, while optional, are much more involved with the world at large. These have cutscenes and dialogue. Be it running opium to the tired train workers in Northern Mexico, or getting a nice bouquet of flowers for an old man to give his wife on their anniversary (that one was interesting...) these are clever and worth taking the time to complete.

The sheer size of Marston's world means that accordingly much of the game is spend on horseback. Riding on horse is well done in Red Dead, but just like on a real horse it takes some getting used to... riding a horse, it turns out, is not like driving a car... cornering can be difficult!

The gun play is fun, and there is a 'snap-on' aiming assist that makes things a little more manageable (or you can turn it off if you want the extra challenge). But I love the 'Dead Eye' mechanic. It's great. Activating it sends everything into sepia tinted slow motion. You can then 'paint' multiple targets or line up headshots. Pulling the trigger returns to real time, or in Marston's case, seemingly superhuman speed and accuracy. It does take a bit of practice to really get down, but once you do it's like watching gunslingers in the old westerns... BAM BAM BAM BAM, and a quick spin of the pistol into the holster as their hats are still floating to the ground!

Graphically, Read Dead is very impressive. The environments in particular are stunning. As I rode through the prairie towards the setting sun I was surprised how isolated I felt; how alone. It’s impressive when a game can elicit such a primal response simply through its graphical prowess. The characters themselves also look good, if a little blocky up close (a complaint I’ve had with other Rockstar games). That said, the facial animations are very good, allowing the excellent voice work to really convey a wide range of emotions.

There is a lot of dialogue in Read Dead, and the voice acting is absolutely fantastic. The sound effects are great as well, although the sparse soundtrack did get a bit recycled after a while. But then, there doesn’t really need to be much of a soundtrack… the use of silence enhances that pervading sense of isolation.

Read Dead is a big game… it takes a while to get around. Fortunately Rockstar built in a ‘fast travel’ mechanic. Once you are out of a town you can then setup a campfire. Here you can save your game, change outfits or travel to any previously discovered location or a waypoint you designate on your map. It’s an invaluable tool... otherwise you’ll end up pretty saddle sore.

My biggest issue with Red Dead, and it's not really an issue, is that there is too much to do. Apart from from the main story missions, numerous 'Stranger' tasks and random NPC encounters, there is a ton of optional side content.

There are 'Challenges' and 'Costume' sidequests that you can complete as you play through the game. The Survivalist Challenge might have you collect a certain type of flower, or the Sharpshooter wants you to hit five birds in flight from a moving train. To earn part of a costume you might need to clear out a gang stronghold or even buy a swatch of cloth from the local tailor. Completing these earn you in-game bonuses like an increased Dead-Eye meter or an outfit that dresses Marston up like a bandit so other bandits won't bother him.

They are interesting little diversions, although if you are a bit OCD like I am, you'll start spending most of your time on these rather than the story. This ends up elongating the game significantly! Oh, and these challenges are... challenging. Trying to kill two cougars with your melee knife is a pain in the ass (literally, those buggers are fast and like to sneak up from behind) and trying to disarm six guys without reloading...

There are also bounties. You can collect a bounty poster, and ride off to deal with the scum. Take out all his lackeys then the mark himself. If you shoot him, no worries, just take proof off the corpse and return it to the local sheriff. Of course, you can lasso and hogtie him, put him on your horse and get him back alive for a bigger reward. But be wary, as you are riding back more of his outlaw friends may show up to try and get him back.

But it’s not all about shooting bad guys and dangerous (and delicious) animals. There are plenty of other minigames to occupy your attention. You can do everything from playing cards like blackjack and poker, to five fingered fillet or horseshoes. Hell, you can even arm-wrestle!

And what would the 'Wild West' be without dueling? The little dueling mini-game is well good, but it does take practice... you may think that getting your gun out as fast as possible is the thing to do, but if you go too early your accuracy will suffer. Even if you have your gun out first, if you are busy trying to aim your opponent might beat you to the trigger! Took me quite a few deaths at lunch to figure that out... but that said, gunning down some fool for talkin' sh*t in the middle of the street is one of the more satisfying experiences I've had with a game:^)

In my opinion Red Dead falls just short of gaming perfection. There's a definite learning curve to the controls. It's annoying when you don't realize that you still have your knife or lasso equipped when the bullets start flying. Controlling horses take some practice. Wild animals are annoying, especially those intent on eating you. Cougars suck... don't even get me started on grizzly bears!

Then there is the mission structure: it's standard Rockstar... and while some people hate it I think it's okay. Even if you stick to the plot points alone there is a still a lot to do. Some of those missions are less interesting than others; some go on too long. Also, the pacing is a bit off. It takes a while to get going, and it definitely drags a bit in the middle. The world is so big, with so much to do and so many places to discover, that it's easy to get lost in the wilderness if you'll forgive the bad pun. But all in all, these don't hamper the experience... the breadth of Rockstar's vision trumps these minor concerns.

Oh, I'd better mention the online components. I don’t play games online much, but Read Dead sounds like it would be pretty cool. I imagine getting together with some friends to raid gang hideouts would be a good laugh, not to mention challenging someone to a duel at high noon…

There have been a lot of great "stories" to come out of the gaming medium in the last 10 years. Rockstar had set the bar pretty high with some of their previous work, but the tale of John Marston sets a new standard. To my mind it is as gritty and relatable as anything we have seen in this medium. In my opinion Red Dead Redemption should go down in the annals of the Old West along with the other great titles in the genre... from classics like The Magnificent Seven, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, or even Unforgiven. And John Marston should be remembered as a flawed but ultimately redeemed character alongside John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. You might think that's a bit of hyperbole, but the fact is that this is a game. By its very nature it allows a level of immersion that you simply cannot achieve with a movie. And that’s just it. Red Dead Redemption begs not just to be played, but to be experienced.

Cheers,

Score = 9.75 / 10

P.S. Want to read more of my reviews? Go to Game Over... continue?!

Blog Post: Best Open-World and Western to Date

Goodfellas — Sun, 13 Feb 2011 20:57:00 GMT

Red Dead Redemption is a game that takes free-roam to an entire different level. Red Dead is one the most engaging games as well. There are so many different things you can do in the towns that is overwhelming. The gameplay is fantastic and the voice acting is perfect.

Graphics: Red Dead has some of the best graphics on the 360. The environments are detailed and the characters are perfect. The horses also look great and behave like they should. It really shows the way it used to be, with crimes constantly happening and people always in danger.

Sound: The voice acting in Red Dead is as good as it gets. You can tell that John Marston is someone who has been through things and can't wait to leave it behind. You can also feel the secondary characters you meet and where they come from. The music and sound effects are almost too real. The gun shots sound perfect and the horses do just as well.

Storyline: The storyline in Red Dead isn't the strong point, but the twists and turns that happen during the story make it a memorable one.

Controls: Red Dead's controls are simple, especially if you are familiar with Grand Theft Auto's controls. The only thing that will take time to get good at is the horse controls. It is difficult to get right away, but it is quick and easy to learn.

Interaction: As you explore the massive world of Red Dead you come across towns, and in those towns are games to play. The games include poker, blackjack, liar's dice, horseshoes, five-finger fillet, and arm wrestling. These games are almost a bad addition to the game because they take up so much time as you want to keep playing. There are also other ways to become famous and get money. There are wanted posters, night watch jobs, horse breaking jobs, and other jobs you can do for people in the world. All of those jobs give you money and you become more well-known for doing them.

Strangers: You encounter strangers in the world of Red Dead and they each have a mission(s) for you to do. These are another great way to become famous and earn some extra cash.

Challenges: There are also challenges to do in the world. These challenges include Survivalist, Hunting, and Sharpshooter. Some of them are annoying to complete, but they (yet again) raise your fame.

Online: Red Dead completely changes the face of online play. The Free-Roam is great because you can join into posses and explore the world with your posse. I also like the standard deathmatch game types. This is just the regular 6 v. 6, but it still is great.

Gameplay: The gameplay in Red Dead is perfect. The cover system works and is necessary to live. Also, there is more than one way to shoot. It starts you off with an auto-aim feature, but this can be turned off. When off, it is just regular to look and aim. There also is Dead Eye. The Dead Eye slows down time and allows you to "paint" targets, then release the button and you will shoot wherever you set it to.

Encounters: When you are riding around through the world there will be random times when you encounter situations where you can save someone. They either need saving from an animal or from a gang. They are scattered around the world, but you find them very often.

Red Dead Redemption is a massive game that needs to be played. It is one the most interacted games out there. Everything is perfected in this game and it is a must buy. Overall I give this game an almost perfect 9.75/10.

Blog Post: Why all the hype?

Astroass34 — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 13:18:00 GMT

I am still scratching my head as to how this game got a better score than Fallout 3 and Oblivion...

Blog Post: Red Dead Redemption Review

DeathsApprentice — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:25:00 GMT

I picked thi game up at Gamestop after reading a few good reviews about it, and man, they were not lying. The game really gets you attached to your character after the first few minutes of gameplay and story missions.

I really felt like he was a good guy, and I actually wanted to be good for once in a video game. I was expecting something like GTA 4 were you just shot up everyone without many problems. You can be bad, or good, but I chose to be nice and while its harder, I think you get more rewarded from it.

Anyway, there are tons of things to do (In single-player, havent tryed out multiplayer yet) such as hunting, playing horseshoes, poker, liars dice, and other stuff, 100s of missions (story and side missions, called stranger missions) to do, and just going out and getting drunk at the saloon.

There are lots of different horses and carriges to get (or steal) , but the horses are kind of annoying sometimes. Like when you call your horse it comes to you but then just keeps going, and following you around when your trying to be sneaky, and getting in the way when your shooting and other small stuff.

But otherwise, its really fun, and its fairly easy to get around the game world, which is also huge. Its divided into two parts, america and mexico. You unlock mexico after a certain mission.

The story is the best in any game I played last year, I wont spoil it, but it involves redemption (duh). Best western game ever made.

I name Red Dead Redemption my game of the year 2010.

Graphics: Fantastic, character models are great, realistic physics and the like.

Gameplay: Easy to play, with lock-on aiming modes.

Replay Value: High, see paragraph #3.

Overall: 9.75. If you see it, GET IT.

Forum Post: Re: Great Game, only 1 complaint

DeathsApprentice — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 19:36:00 GMT

I thought his voice fitted the character perfectly. Good voice acting by all the characters I thought.

Blog Post: An interesting personal introduction to Rockstar

agentmaine — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 04:27:00 GMT

Being heavily linked into the gaming community, it is impossible to not know about Rockstar. I have, since the age of 8, been a proponent of using games in interesting ways other than shooting nazi/zombie/nazi zombies and terrorists and Rockstar has been one of the studios leading that fight. Avoiding the rumors about GTA was impossible and I, like everyone else, had an opinion of the game before I ever laid my hands on it, but my final opinion of it surprised even myself. I despised GTA 4, not for any of the reasons you might expect, but because I hated moving around in it. I found the controls to be so annoying that I simply could not enjoy the game and wound up returning it a week after purchasing it.

Skip ahead 3 years and here I am. I recently purchased Red Dead Redemption after hearing that it may be the best game of the year.

Red Dead Redemption is a powerful journey though the life of a true american cowboy. The Wild Wild West has been faithfully (or so I assume) recreated for your good-intentioned enjoyment. The game's opening cutscene showcases the sheer variety of personalities populating the world, from questioning young zealots, to cynical old hags, to hardened criminals and to surprisingly unfeeling government agents. Each individual, regardless of their significance in the plot or even if they have a name, is well thought out and makes sense as a human being. Their are no comically malevolent villains who Muhaha their way through their third helping of baby seal brain, there are no laughably noble heroes who insist on saving every kitten in the world, there aren't even any insane sidekicks who, rather than seek employment, follow the player around making snide remarks or only slightly funny jokes. Every character has an interesting personality, and while I would usually immagine a game this ambitious to feel overcrowded with imposing people, they each manage to stay collected enough to not harm other aspects of the game.

Not only are the characters interesting, but the interactions between them actually startled me. The first time you ride a horse into town chatting off-handedly about humanities or political theory, you are seriously engaged and every such conversation was interesting and intelligent, showcasing the individuals' personalities as well as their more deep-seeded views of humanity. My only issue with this sort of interaction is that they were always sandwiched on either side by hillbilly-esk discussion of shootin' up the stables or dem dirty rottin lawmen and the sudden changes of direction are jarring and make people seem less consistent or believable.

The plot of Red Dead, although I am tempted to not use that word, is split up into four sections of the game: The West, Mexico, Blackwater, and homestead; or if you haven't played the game; Bandit, Spanish bandit, FBI, then Ranch missions. The game really picks up when you land in Mexico and hits the climax towards the end of the FBI missions and the action slows until the very conclusion which is exciting and involving, if not a little predictable.

Overall, the gameplay mechanics are passable, but you won't buy Red Dead for the shooting, you will buy it for the well thought out characters, environments and missions which could easily hold their own against RPG giants like Mass Effect or Fable.