Exile's Reviews! -Red Dead Redemption-

-OPENING-

Rockstar Games has always seemed to have their hands full with the Grand Theft Auto series but after their latest installations, as well, as two Downloadable expansions which took the players into whole new stories with characters that were in the original release something came about. They announced the making of Red Dead Redemption which many called Grand Theft Horse for a while thinking that it wasn’t going to do well. After more information and time the game finally hit shelves of stores everywhere. Will this game live up to the expectations previous releases and installments have set for it? Or will it perish like the ways of the Wild West?

-STORY-

The year is 1911 the Wild West has just started to become tame where the Law has stepped up how they enforce the law and when the Government truly started to move in to put an end to the Wild parts of the West. You play as ex-outlaw John Marston a man who is constantly haunted by his past and forced by government officials to do their dirty work. The task he is charged with is bringing the men he used to ride with to Justice whether by delivering them alive or ending their lives. You start off by approaching one of John’s old friends a man by the name of Bill Williamson who decides to shoot you and leave you for dead. Of course being picked up and nursed back to health the journey of John Marston only begins and thus you figure out his true struggle. John is told by the Government that if he does not fulfill the task given to him he will never see his Family ever again. The story takes you far into the land of New Austin and into the treacherous and Revolution turmoil land of Mexico.

The story is truly excellent that sticks true to the scene of the West perfectly from beginning to end. The story makes you sympathize for John Marston and more importantly makes you feel as if you’re in the Wild West itself. The Story spans about thirty odd some hours during the first play-through because you’ll try to experience everything, however, on second play-through it might take around twenty-four to twenty-six hours to beat. It’s a long story that’s interesting from begin to end and will keep you captivated despite it being much longer than the average game now.

-GAMEPLAY-

Just like all other games this is a vital part for Red Dead Redemption and fortunately it work out well. From the assortment of weapons to the horses you ride even to the small things like breaking a horse. Anyone who is a veteran of Grand Theft Auto IV will immediately know the control scheme to Red Dead Redemption. Left Trigger is to aim or auto-aim if you have it activated, right trigger to fire, ect. Now the additions that have been added between the two games one of the biggest is horses instead of automobiles. You use your directional pad to call whatever horse it is you own and it’ll find it’s way to you. The number of horses gives you an incentive to want to either purchase or personally break your own horse. Horse breaking is another new game play addition it’s not something you’ll aim to do your whole game but it is nice when it comes to save a few hundred dollars. The Weapon Variation is also very impressive bringing a vast assortment of weaponry. Your arsenal will span with multiple Revolvers, Repeaters, Rifles, Pistols, Shotguns, Throwing weapons, and more. Each weapon looks, fires, and sounds the part of the actual weaponry used back during the Wild West. Each one having their own unique feel, powers, ect to them making it even more convincing than it already is.

There’s a bit to do in the Single Player alone many activities always remain active while some new ones appear as you progress further and further through the story. Bounties, Strangers, Gambling, Jobs, Bank Robberies, and side events that happen from time to time.

Just like Grand Theft Auto IV Red Dead Redemption features its own online play. Some of the game modes remain like Rockstar’s previous release such as Free Roam and Team Deathmatch. Fortunately there is more to than just that there are new game modes like Grab the Bag a Capture the Flag type game modes where two teams or Gangs as they’re called in this game must capture a bag full of money that their enemy possesses. Each team has one bag first to three or five wins another thing that makes the online stick out more is how each Competitive match is started. Both teams start off lined up facing one another and when the match begins they all perform a standoff this is a very enjoyable aspect of the online and a truly unique one. With each victory accomplished in Free Roam and competitive games give out experience with each level you gain you unlock new Titles, Mounts, Characters, and weaponry that help you stick out amongst your fellow Players.

-PRESENTATION-

Red Dead Redemption is truly a sight for sore eyes with a rather expansive map with detail around every corner you’ll ever clear or imagine clearing. The sound of wild-life is as close to the real thing as it can truly be without putting the actual animals inside of your speakers. The sound of the weapons firing as well as their reloading with each and every tiny and almost silent noise they make is true to the very end. The soundtrack sticks true to the whole Wild West feels some songs specially created for the game as well by musical talent. Artist like William Elliot Whitmore, Ashtar Commands, and Jose Gonzalez lend their talents with music that truly suits the mood for certain events that unfold throughout the entire game. The look and feel of the game itself suits the time and era that this game takes place in matching the feeling of a man doing a task he truly wished he never had to perform, or, the feeling of the West beginning to reach it’s crippling end. The cast of characters are as believable as they can possibly be. The voice acting remains top notch throughout the entire story selling the roles, emotions, and events perfectly. In the end this game truly cannot feel more Western than it already does and if somehow it managed to do so than it would be a miracle.

-CLOSING-

Rockstar has truly exceeded my expectations with Red Dead Redemption it’s truly an almost flawless game. The flaws are very minor as well as far and in-between that if I were to mention them it would be mere nit-pickings. In the end Red Dead Redemption tells a campfire story that many wish they could have created before this game’s release. Red Dead Redemption is truly a game worthy of being called a Western I am not a huge fan of Western movies, games, or stories but Red Dead Redemption has captured my eyes and will always be remembered by me. If you ever feel like taking a journey to days of old where lawlessness ran rampant and the only thing keeping you alive was a quick draw and a quick trigger finger than mount up and ride into the sunset.

-Exile-