For some reason deserts have pretty much one use in games, to serve as the setting for a post-apocalyptic world. It’s a strange difference from films, where they seem to be used largely for the more traditional Western setting. Fortunately we do have a few Western games to break things up, and king amongst them is probably Red Dead Redemption from Rockstar. I mean of course it’s by Rockstar, it’s an open world game. Sure, there are some developers that aren’t Rockstar who can build an open world game but every time I hear someone’s working on an open world game my mind still jumps to the Houser brothers.
Anyway, on to the adventures of John Marston in the American West. Sadly I missed the game, but it’s one that I certainly want to go back and have a look at when I’m not swamped trying to get through this year’s backlog. It looks like giving it a chance is probably a good idea, with the game scoring 10/10 back when we reviewed it. Beyond the raw numbers we had this to say about it:
Rockstar San Diego’s latest title is an unmissable game for any fan of the genre or great action adventures in general. We don’t often get masterpieces around here, but this is certainly one of those moments in time when gamers will look back more fondly on a dusty old six shooter than anything that involves jacking cars. The Wild West, then, is the new New York, and Rockstar have got their work cut out for them if they want Grand Theft Auto V to come anywhere near close to the majesty of Red Dead Redemption. A job we don’t envy.
So our view is pretty positive, but what about yours? Did you enjoy fighting your way through the Old West, or could you not stand skinning animals? If you feel like taking part in this week’s WeView just drop your thoughts on Mr. Marston’s tale into the comments below.
Once you’ve given us your opinion on the game make sure you remember to rate it on the Buy It, Bargain Bin It, Rent It, Avoid It scale. In Monday’s verdict we’ll count up all of your votes and work out the community’s verdict on the game. If you want your verdict to count make sure you have it in by Sunday afternoon, otherwise the post will have been written.
Omac_brother
Bargain Bin It. Its a damned fine game when it gets going, but there is a lot of riding between places and talking. Quite similar to the “drive here, shoot that, drive home” missions that plagued GTAIV. Still worth a play, just gets a bit…samey after a while.
shields_t
BUY IT!
BUY IT NOW!
Back when RDR released, the western gaming genre was something a niche, and one without any particular example of a quality title to show for it. Sure, there was the predecessor Red Dead Revolver but giving the wild west characters of Redemption’s plot a massive open world of plains, mountains, frontier towns, borders and railroad tracks was a genius move. Add to that a story involving characters you find yourself caring about and a touch of Rockstar sheen and you end up with a fantastic game, one which far surpasses their last major GTA release.
However, the inclusion of a hughely addictive and replayable co-op multiplayer mode and numerous amounts of DLC, both paid for and free are the features which have kept me playing this title over a year after its original release. It may not be my favourite game of this generation, but it is right up there in my top five, and has done a lot to make the cowboy cool again.
JohnnyBoy
Buy It!
Story, characters, scenery, atmosphere, musical score all brilliant.
One of my favourite games of all time. I even bought Undead Nightmare DLC and thoroughly enjoyed that too (although a bit repetitive).
mugsybalone
Buy It
Great looking game with a setting full of character, good fun, plenty of variety in the missions and an assortment of side quests and distractions. The story dragged a little in the middle third, but was engaging enough and of a standard similar to GTA IV, with the same theme of an outsider coming to a foreign environment, being out of place and trying to get a job done that causes the outsider conflict. Less mobile phones, though, which is a bonus.
Nocure-fd
I picked this game up at midnight on release day at a local supermarket for PS3. Normally when I do this, I just check it out for an hour or so then go to bed. I ended up playing this all night. Then all the next day :P
It looks awesome. The controlls are tight. The sound design is flawless, so much so that I actually went out of my way to buy the official sound track, something I’ve only done once before (for SotC). I thought it was very well written, they did a great job of showing John Marston as a man in a very difficult position. Not to mention how even in the intro they show that many of todays problems are infact nothing new…
Infact, I enjoyed it that much that during this years quiet period I picked it up again for the 360 just so I could enjoy it all again!
So my recomendation: BUY it. Actually…..Buy it twice! :P
Tuffcub
I’ll play Rockstar games when they finally realise people can move sideways and dont move like a frickin tank.
Origami Killer
Great story, beautiful visuals, awesome soundtrack and the multilayer is fun to say the least.
Hog tie someone, put them on the back of your horse, and then place them on a train track and watch. Then PING! a trophy pops up. BUY IT!
colmshan1990
It’s fun just wandering around, hunting animals, and just generally being in the Wild West.
Apparently the story and multiplayer are great too, but to be honest, I wouldn’t know.
I’m just having too much fun wandering around.
BUY IT.
JigsawPieces
Buy it.
For some reason I put off starting this for aaaaages … but I loved it to bits.
Still not tried the multiplayer though. Is it good without a posse of mates to play it with?
Nylon_Crash
This game is fantastic, great story with characters you fall in love with, dislike and just want to kill lol. It ticks all the boxes for me, off line and on.
It looks great too, I sometimes just put it on so I had gallop around the wild west on my trusty stead.
This is a defiant ‘buy it’ now game, love it