"Grand Theft Auto with cowboys", we all said when Rockstar outlined their ambitious plans for Red Dead Redemption, the follow up to the moderately successful Red Dead Revolver released back in 2004. How dismissive and cynical we all are. Granted, on paper there are similarities between this Western epic and the much adored GTA franchise, but to draw unequivocal parallels between the two and leave it at that is just laziness. This is not some contrived 'Wild West' skin pulled over the GTA mold. Instead, what we have here is possibly one of the most engaging and atmospheric tales ever told through the medium of video games.
It's become a rarity to find a game which not only lives up to the hype, but exceeds expectations in almost every way. The sheer scale of the open world on display here is just staggering, to the point of making even the most recent GTA titles feel constricted and claustrophobic. We've seen massive open worlds before, recently even, if you look at a game like Just Cause 2, but this is a different creature all together. This isn't just a big world for the sake of being big, bereft of character and soul. The wild frontier in Rockstar's vision is compelling; it has depth and feels solid, lived in even. Out here you get the feeling that, like with GTA IV in some respects, if you weren't around the game world would carry on regardless.
The enthralling adventure that is Red Dead Redemption is played out in the dusty boots of one John Marston - a retired outlaw and reluctant government hired gun who must to hunt down and despatch his former gang members if he ever wants to return to the normal life he desperately desires with his wife and child on his ranch. In the territory of New Austin, Marston tracks down the first of the men on his hit list, the deadly Bill Williamson, and sets out to take care of him. The long and the short of it is that John's direct approach to get the job done doesn't work out so well for him, and it's back to the drawing board. Up to this point you are pretty much led by the hand to move the story forward, but from here on out the open world really becomes just that: open.
As the story uncoils before your eyes like a rattlesnake in the dust, it's clear that we are dealing with something superb here. This is storytelling at its finest, with perfect pacing and structure. Characters are not just dropped into your life, they are subtly infused into the narrative in a way that always makes perfect sense to the plot. Using the mini-map mechanic we know so well from the GTA series, you soon have a number of initials spread across the gameworld each signifying a major character to interact with, each of which drives the story forward in some way. Initial plot missions serve to describe the many new gameplay elements involved throughout the game, showing you the ropes as you get to know the charming and colourful characters you will be seeing so much of through this sprawling adventure. And it really is sprawling, in the best possible way.
Primary quests are exciting and varied, made up of just about everything you've ever seen in a Western movie and more. You'll go from herding cattle to breaking in wild horses to rooting out gangs of bandits hiding in the canyons, and it's all done with such outstanding attention to detail, such respect for the genre. Marston's journey takes him across the border into Mexico, all the while just doing what he has to do to get back to his family, but John and myself were at cross purposes... See, I didn't want to get him home to his ranch, I wanted to keep playing forever. This is one of those games which is just filled with those special moments where you just need to tell someone what happened. As I'm writing this I find myself wondering how in tarnations I'm supposed to fit everything into one review. It's that kind of game.
As is the goal of any self respecting sandbox adventure, much of what makes the game happens outside of the main story, and that's even more true than usual with Red Dead Redemption. This is a game which rewards players who like to create their own narrative, to etch their own story across this breathtaking landscape. There is just so much to do, it's possible to completely ignore the main quest for hours and not even miss it for a second. I spent the better half of an hour playing poker at the saloon, and then spending my winnings getting fall-down drunk. Once I'd found my legs again, I proceeded to hunt a few raccoons to sell their skins for a fistful of dollars, and then back to the saloon to gamble and drink the night away all over again. Sure, the drinking doesn't really do anything in the game except make you stagger like an idiot and collapse on top of a prostitute, but I figured that's the cowboy way, so that's what I did.
While out on the open plains in between missions, strangers will approach Marston and ask for help. It ranges from a stolen horse to be recovered, to a relative who is about to be unjustly hanged, and it's up to you to decide if you feel like helping out or not. Being the good guy and saving the day nets you an increase in fame and honour, which in turn affects the way characters react to you in the game. This fame and honour system is something which differentiates the play experience somewhat from previous Rockstar sandbox titles, because this time there are persistent affects from the decisions you make. It's in my nature to always be the good guy in these situations, and I soon became obsessed with not doing anything which would reduce my honour rating. That didn't last long though, because at one point while galloping through a frontier town I managed to trample someone's dog underfoot, which sent the sheriff's boys after me much to my dismay. My point is that unlike GTA, where you can do just about whatever you like as long as you can get away from the cops afterwards, in this game it has a lasting impact on your character. Do enough evil deeds and people will start to fear you when you mosey on into the saloon. Play it as the good guy, and people are happy to see you ride into their town.
As information about Read Dead Redemption starting trickling out from various sources before its release, one thing that really got people excited (or nervous, depending on your faith in Rockstar's abilities to make things work) was the inclusion of horseback riding as the primary mode of transport. Some were worried that it would be clumsy to control, and there were the obvious logistical quandaries, like what if your horse buggers off when you are in the middle of nowhere? Luckily the developers have dealt with the possible issues almost flawlessly. Mounting, dismounting and controlling your steed is effortless, and within moments you will be feeling like a right John Wayne as you dig your spurs into the stallion's sides and gallop off into the sunset. The game seems to know if you happen to find yourself in the open world without a horse for too long, because every so often a couple of wild horses will head in your direction and it's up to you to lasso one of them and break it in, making it yours.
As with controlling your horse, just about everything controls as you imagine it would. There is a cover system for combat, as well as a sort of auto-aim feature which works rather well. Even though there are so many things to do in this game, the controls never become overly complicated, and there are easy to follow instructions for each gameplay element, such as the card games, gun duels, and various other mini games. Rockstar really have this sort of thing under control by now, and this is just a refinement of what they've done in the past. Combat is fun, but I wouldn't say it's the star of the show though, it's just a bit too loose and imprecise for my liking. Red Dead Redemption's own take on bullet-time, called Dead Eye here, works a treat, adding an extra layer of cool to all gunfights, especially the one on one duels in the deserted streets at noon. Controlling your lasso is also straightforward and intuitive once you've had a minute to get used to it.
If the combat doesn't set your pulse racing, the sublime environments will, because this is probably one the most awe-inspiring game worlds you have ever seen. I don't know when last I've gasped out loud while looking out over a landscape in a game. In my notepad I see I just managed to scribble "Landscapes: ridiculous", and that's the truth. You can't believe that they managed to create such a complete world. The draw distance goes on for miles, to the point that you can sit atop your horse at the top of a ridge staring into the valley below and see a herd of deer being chased by a couple of cowboys on horseback. It's all so alive, with all manner of wildlife scurrying around; birds just waiting to be plucked out of the sky by a well aimed shot from your rifle; the unmistakable hiss of a rattlesnakes rattle as you canter by in the sun.
To complete the immersion in this game world, ambient sound, voice work and background music are all up to Rockstar's lofty standards. The voices for the primary characters all fit perfectly, and none of them start to annoy even after repeated listens. Of course it helps that the scriptwriting is excellent too, with more than one dialogue option for many conversations, meaning that repeating a mission doesn't always mean listening to the same lines over and over again. They got the sounds of the wide open plains spot on too, with the rustling of tumbleweeds, distant gunfire, and howling coyotes to set the tone. Music is used in a more subtle way to what we expect from Rockstar, but it fits the mood.
While I like to think that the main focus here is the absolutely enthralling single-player experience, it's also clear that a lot of work has gone into making the multiplayer side of things not feel like it was tacked on as an afterthought. There are various modes to play through, all stemming from a brilliantly executed social hub system which works a charm to keep things organised. Players can join up and head out into the wilderness together to look for action, or can take part in a number of quick games to get the blood pumping. In my time spent slinging my six-shooter on Xbox LIVE I was constantly outclassed and outgunned by a number of veterans, but it was still an enjoyable and lag-free experience. The promise of downloadable content on its way featuring missions custom made for co-op gameplay should add a lot to the multiplayer aspect.
I would be failing in my duty as unbiased reviewer here if I didn't make mention of a few little niggles which reared their heads during my time with Red Dead Redemption, but we're talking about really minor issues here. At one point my horse got itself stuck in the very top of a tall cactus, but when I left it behind and then whistled for it later it magically freed itself. There were also a couple of instances where a character model was either entirely or partially missing, leaving just a hat floating in mid air and so on. While I'm being honest, it's also worth noting that the random side missions can be somewhat repetitive because they sometimes happen often in quick succession, but then again, they are fun more often than not. As I said, all really small problems which don't do much to hurt the overall impression of the game.
Quite how to rate a game like this is a problem for me. See, some people out there think that for a game to be awarded the maximum score means that it has to be the perfect game, perfect in absolutely every way. I disagree. In my mind, a game which touches my heart, stirs my soul, makes me laugh, gives me chills with its sheer beauty, and sucks me so deep into its virtual world that I never want to resurface, that game has done all it needs to do to warrant a perfect score. I'm sure that there will be games which improve on what Rockstar has done here, and I'm sure that some might even find the wild west theme to be outdated or somehow uninteresting, but as the rain falls hard over the small frontier town of Armidillo while I sit warm in the saloon, losing my last dollar to a fat man in a funny hat, I am happy to say that Red Dead Redemption is as close to perfect as I could ever hope for.
Pros:
- Enthralling story
- Breathtaking scenery
- Endless list of things to keep you entertained
- Varied and fun multiplayer modes
Cons:
- Minor glitches
Rating: 
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