Red Dead Redemption (X360 Review)

By Clinton “dreddsix6six” O’Shea

Overview

I was ready to hate this game. Call of Juarez, a game I considered an average Call of Duty in cowboy clothes had left me thinking all games based in the Wild West would be mild rather than spectacular. To add to that, I’m not the world’s biggest GTA fan, and surely Red Dead Redemption is simply GTA in cowboy clothes? Well, it is actually…

But let me be honest and simply say that, while it really is GTA in cowboy clothes, it is a quite brilliant and immersive experience that is going to push Mass Effect 2 for Game of the Year. It really is very, very good.

Features and Game play

OK, let’s not get ahead of ourselves here. Red Dead Redemption is set at a time in American history when the Wild West was starting to be a little less wild and the creep of the ‘civilised’ world was meaning that horses were being replaced by cars. That does not make the sprawling map that makes up the world a peaceful place. It is still full of freaks, murderers, bandits, con-men, thieves, horses, blood thirsty animals and an alcoholic Irishman (or three). You are thrust in to all this, by a government who might actually be the worst crooks of the bunch, and tasked with killing a gang of criminals, who just happen to be old friends.

So how do you actually manage to survive in this world? Well, you aren’t going to get any armour that’s for sure. There’s also no claymore mines or M16’s. This is the Wild West and while (just about) everyone has a gun, you have the ability to slow time down in ‘Dead Eye’ – not particularly original I suppose, but when it comes to killing three or more bandits, it makes you feel like all the cool cowboys you’ve ever wished you were. The thing is, that this is about the only unique game play feature in the game…at least when you compare it to GTA IV. Just like GTA IV the game is played from a third person perspective on a massive map that has the main mission quests and a variety of side quests available as progress is made – although, one does have to wonder why random strangers trust you enough to ask for your help. Of course, unlike GTA IV, you achieve all this with cowboy clothes on.

Like Niko Bellic, our man John Marston can slide in to cover and has access to a massive arsenal of weapons. Essentially, the weapons are a variety of pistols, rifles or shotguns. There are things that go boom too (dynamite), silent killers (throwing knives and a “that’s not a knife” knife) and the rather cool lasso – very useful for catching wild horses (and breaking them) and wild bad guys (and hogtying them). All these weapons and accessories can be used in the various hunting challenges, side quests and bounty missions. Unlike Niko though, John can skin (and essentially gut) dead animals – something that civilised society might look down on. Along with the animal parts, John can sell looted goods and picked flowers (!) at any of the shops – a useful and highly entertaining way of earning some money to buy, among other things, weapons, outfits, safe houses, maps and horses.

And a good horse you will need. If you enjoy the scenic ride rather than the equivalent of a taxi drive (stage coach), you will be riding a lot. On horseback, the map is massive, and there are times when you will wish that you could simply push a button and jump to your destination. While this began to feel like a chore, the scenery is amazing, and you will feel totally immersed in the setting…until a cougar mauls you or your horse. You could of course spend the ride killing rabbits, coyotes, deer, wolves or any of the other wildlife that dares to cross your path in an effort to prevent the feeling of ‘are we there yet?’.

The campaign essentially feels like it drives you towards the side of honour throughout, but you can choose to be a bit of a lawbreaker too if you like. Completing good acts can earn you honour and fame, but being dastardly negatively affects your standing and the way the people and lawmen treat you. Of course, start going all Ted Bundy in the world and you will become a wanted man and get a bounty on your head. These can be dealt with, but thankfully, pulling into a shop for a spray paint job is not an option. You need a pardon letter or you have to pay off your bounty.

You want more? Well, in an effort to ensure you don’t feel short changed by this title, Rockstar went and stuffed even more stuff in. You can take part in some poker – and you can play that deviously too. How about some blackjack rather? Horseshoes? Treasure hunt maybe? The list goes on, but the great thing is none of it feels inferior in terms of quality. Attention has been lovingly lavished on almost every part of this game.

While the single player campaign is utterly amazing, imagine having access to the same map (sans the single player missions) and 7 friends to posse up and ride with. Well, imagine no more. The single most glorious feature of this game is ‘Free Roam’. This multiplayer mode allows 16 players (private or public) to simply be as good or bad as they want. Choose to wipe out gang hideouts (or each other). Choose to randomly murder innocent folk and wait for the lawmen to come after you. Complete hunting, survival and bounty challenges (among others and again essentially a mirror to those in the campaign) and earn XP for it all, allowing you access to better weapons, characters and horses. There are numerous other modes, ranging from Deathmatch and Capture the Flag variations, but in Free Roam, you feel like a cowboy – and that’s what every boy grows up wanting to be…isn’t it?

Overall, the game looks great and captures the Wild West beautifully. I would’ve liked the ability to skip cut scenes (including the looting and skinning animals) if I wanted to. The sound, and generally the voice acting, is splendid. Basically, this game is a technical marvel and anyone who plays it will be treated to an epic adventure.

Bits I Loved

Engrossing (and lengthy) campaign.
Lots to do.
Free Roam mode.
Looks great.
Look ma…I’m a cowboy.

Bits I Hated

Travelling can get a little boring.
Where are the Indians?

Conclusion

Playing games is about making you believe you are the character, and in this case Rockstar has managed to pull this off beautifully – in my personal opinion, more so than in any GTA to date. Buy it now – it is brilliant value for money and a brilliant game.

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