Review: Red Dead Redemption

“This is America, where a lying, cheating degenerate can prosper.”

The Wild West. It's a setting that conjures images of roving bands of outlaws on horses, wide-open prairies, saloons with player pianos, and duels to the death at high noon. And yet despite it's allure and despite the fact that it has been a staple of movies and television for decades, the West has never really been much of a presence in video games. Enter Rockstar, creators of the Grand Theft Auto series, with the ambitious plan to transfer GTA's wide open world into turn-of-the-century western America. How well did they succeed? Is this a trip out west worth taking? Read on to find out.

Red Dead Redemption
Developer: Rockstar San Diego and Rockstar North
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Release: 5/18/10, for the Xbox 360 and PS3 (version reviewed)

Set in western America in 1911, Red Dead Redemption puts players in the role of cowboy and former gang member John Marston. Marston left his violent gang years ago to settle down with his family, but his wife and son have been kidnapped by federal agents to blackmail him into hunting down his former fellow gang members and friends. A reluctant killer, Marston has no problem putting a bullet into a guy who deserves it, though he freely admits he doesn't enjoy it. He's a likable character, an outlaw forced into doing things he hates doing for the sake of his family. Other characters, however, run the gamut from interesting and capable to two-dimensional caricatures. Marston's likability, and the interesting secondary characters, make for a very enjoyable story with an ending that hits like a sledgehammer (no spoilers!).

The story elements are enhanced by some quality voice acting (with one pretty notable exception, which I will leave unspoiled), and top-notch presentation all around. The graphics are excellent, with each of the three main areas of the game featuring their own distinct look. New Austin, a fictionalized version of southwestern America before any states were established in the area, is part grassy plains and part cactus-filled desert. Nuevo Paraiso, a simulacrum of northern Mexico, has a similar desert terrain, except with a redder color palette and more mountainous geography. West Elizabeth makes up for being the smallest area by being the most visually diverse. It consists of wide, flat plains, a modern (for the time period) town, a dark pine forest, and a frozen lake at the base of a snowy mountain range. No matter where you travel in the game, there is something gorgeous to see. The sightseeing alone is often enough to justify the time spent traveling miles on horseback, as is the similarly fantastic soundtrack.

The gameplay succeeds as handily as the story and presentation. Open-world sandbox games often fall into the trap of having too little too do besides wander around and do story missions. Of course, you could just wander around taking in the sights and do the story missions at your leisure, but RDR dodges this problem by offering the player an wealth of things to do. There are a variety of Old West-style minigames to be played for cash, such as blackjack, Texas Hold 'Em, liar's dice, arm-wrestling, and more. Strangers may ask you for various favors in towns or out on the trail. They might want you to help foil a robbery, stop some escaped convicts, or help save their kidnapped wife. A rowdy gangster might challenge you to a duel. Jobs like bounty hunting and night watches can be completed in many towns for good money, which can be spent on new weapons, safehouses, and other provisions. Ambient challenges test the player's ability to pull off stylish gun tricks, seek out hidden treasure, and hunt wildlife. There is a lot to do, most of it optional, but it is does almost always help the player out and the sheer variety of things to do keeps the game fresh. Just traveling around is rewarding thanks to the game's visual splendor, but if the ride is too far you can easily fast travel using your easy-to-use camp, which also offers a place to save and change outfits. One of the most noteworthy optional quests are stranger missions. These sidequests can be rather dull to play, often being little more than fetch quests. However, they are some of the most interesting narrative moments in the game. They rarely end happily; in fact, they usually result in tragedy, despite or sometimes even because of the player's attempts to help.

If there is one thing to complain about, it's the less stellar variety in the more important missions. Story missions are often short and kind of dull, consisting too frequently of “go here and shoot dudes until I say stop” or “ride with me in this wagon and shoot any dudes that shoot us.” At least the shooting dudes part is fun. RDR's gunplay takes place in the third-person over-the-shoulder perspective, much like GTA, Gears of War, or Uncharted. Players can duck behind cover and blast enemies with a variety of pistols, revolvers, rifles, and shotguns. An auto-target system ensures that anyone can feel like a competent gunslinger, and can be turned off if you like your shootouts a little more challenging. Marston also has a helpful ability called “Dead-Eye,” which allows him to temporarily slow time and, at higher levels, mark specific spots to hit, which allows for neat tricks like shooting a robber's gun out of his hand or his hat off his head.

Another major part of the game is the fame/honor system. Players can gain honor by helping others and taking the high road when given the opportunity, and lose honor by stealing, killing, and being an evil jerk. Fame is increased by doing missions and completing challenges and can never decrease. Both of these aspects influence how people interact with Marston and higher levels of each offer benefits such as store discounts and the ability to commit certain crimes with impunity. The purchasable bandanna throws an edge of gray into this typically black-and-white set-up by allowing players to remain anonymous, preventing their fame and honor from changing no matter what you do. If you need to commit a crime for any reason and want to remain a good guy, you can do it. Conversely, if you want the easy money that comes from helping a stranger but don't want people to start liking you too much, you can do that as well.

Aside from the expansive single-player experience, there is also a multiplayer component to RDR. It offers the typical fare such like deathmatch and capture-the-flag modes and the like, as well as the less-structured Free Roam mode. Free Roam drops you into a stripped down version of the vast single player map with a group of players and lets you, well, roam free. Players can group up into 8-man (max) posses in order to pick fights with rival gang members, challenge other posses, or raid gang hideouts. Getting kills and completing challenges earns players experience points that unlock new weapons, skins, mounts, titles, etc. Unfortunately, there is nowhere near as much to do in Free Roam as there is in single-player. It would have been nice to at least be able to play poker or blackjack with friends. Regardless, RDR's multiplayer is a lot of fun, especially Free Roam, despite it's smaller amount of content.

One last note about the gameplay: It's glitchy. Now, normally I would be raging at the lack of quality control in a major blockbuster game like this, and some of them, like the invisibility glitch in multiplayer are annoying, but some of them are just so funny. Seriously, just YouTube “Red Dead Redemption glitches” some time if you want a laugh.

TL;DR: Gamers have been itching for a worthy Wild West experience for a long time, and Rockstar has finally delivered a game that capitalizes on the promise of the concept. Some of us might have been satisfied with a “good” Wild West game, but Rockstar gave us something truly special. Red Dead Redemption has so much to do and so much to see, and so much fun to be had, both alone and with others, that it would have been excellent in any setting; as it stands, the unique setting is just icing on the cake. RDR is so great, even it's glitches are awesome. How many games can say that?

Headshot:
-Huge variety of things to do
-Fantastic presentation
-Tight gunplay
-Excellent story with likable characters and a powerful ending

Drawing Blanks:
-Story missions are sometimes dull to play
-Marston can't swim (a minor issue, admittedly)
-Some unfair surprise attacks and cheap deaths
-Glitchy (could almost be a positive, but some detract from the experience)

Final Score: 9/10 (Excellent)
9's stand out above the crowd as all-around excellent experiences. Some minor flaws hold are holding the game back from timeless status, but nonetheless they are more than worth your time and money.