Once Upon a Time in Red Dead Redemption
In the vast expanse that is New Austin there’s a lot to do. Most of involves killing but hey, this is the wild west as seen through the lens of Sergio Leone. The Italian “Spaghetti” Westerns, starring Clint Eastwood, loom large over Rockstar’s latest playground and I couldn’t be happier about the result. They nailed it. From the man-of-few-words hero/villain that has a name (Marston) to the endless parade of classic and homage ridden sidequests. I haven’t delved far into the main quest but the desert and I have more than a passing acquaintance. It’s a dangerous place, not as lonely as it should be, but there’s something interesting around every corner. Thankfully, the pace, except for the main missions, is yours to make.
On your way to rescuing a Snake Oil salesman who’s been ambushed you might come across a young man desperately enlisting help to stop the lynching of his friend. A widow has lost her boy, and you’re out on the prairie hunting down a bounty hunter (the chases that result from these can be heart pounding), when you come across a homesteader who is trying to rescue his daughter from bandits. I was legitimately saddened when I misjudged the situation and she was gunned down right before I put a bullet between the eyes of the bad guy.
These are hardly spoilers because there’s an awful lot more to do and those are just side quests. Red Dead lends itself to stories, provided you can overlook some of the – probably necessary – gamey-ness (actually, you can also hunt game hereabouts), some of them can be quite affecting. I was chasing down a bad guy when he veered off into some scrub. It was a great tactic, and I couldn’t tell if it was on purpose, but this stirred up a wolf pack who chased me down and killed my horse. The bad guy got away but I was able to salvage some cash by skinning the wolves (and my horse) and then I carefully walked on back toward town. Soon enough I saw another man running for his life from more wolves, after a harrowing struggle in which I failed to save him (I fail at these side quests a lot – don’t ask me about the guy what got hanged, I couldn’t “Good Bad and Ugly” the rope in time and he swung against the darkening sky.
Oh yeah, the graphics are gorgeous and the transition from night to day and vice versa is cinematic and often worth stopping to marvel at. The only problem is how the bad guys blend in with the scenery. This is mitigated by the sight of smoke from their guns and a radar system that shows where they are in relation to you.
There’s a cover system but Rockstar has never been great at this sort of thing, but the part that annoys me most is the fact that these villains are almost all crack shots. You heal automatically as has become the custom in games lately – and there’s medicine for emergencies – but if you’re caught in the open they can cut you down right quick. You’re always outnumbered too.
The game’s honor system is interesting. You can befriend more bad guys if you strike down the law, or innocents. If you wear a white hat (not literally but other outfits can be found or bought), that’s tracked too. So far I’ve only made one mistake and that was shooting down Johnny Law just because I saw a guy getting chased. Pity that guy I done saved was the bad guy….
I haven’t gotten far enough to really comment much more except to say that this game feels more polished than even GTA4 and, oddly, it feels like there’s more to do in the old west than in downtown Liberty City.
As far as being offensive goes, it’s a lot less violent and bloody than any of the classic 60’s and 70’s Westerns – especially the Wild Bunch – but you will hear bad words now and again. There’s drinking, but it isn’t mandatory and some missions involve legal for their time drugs like laudenum, cocaine and opium. The ESRB claims there’s sex and nudity but that must occur further in the main story. I checked the saloon and found a few whores (“Want me to clear your barrel for ya Mister?”) but unlike GTA, there doesn’t seem to be any prostitution or lap dancing.
I’ve been waiting since Outlaws for a good Western and while I normally prefer linear to open-world, I’m happy to roam New Austin territory looking for thrills. If only I could shoot better and they could shoot worse, maybe then I’d feel more like a hero/anti-hero and less like a candidate for Boot Hill.
Oh, check out Youtube or the website for the Multiplayer trailer. I haven’t tried it yet but it looks awesome.
Anyway, if you ain’t a fan of the Wild West you should consider Red Dead anyway – it just might make you a fan. It’s that good.
May 20th, 2010 at 8:21 pm
Wow, sounds impressive. It’ll be especially awesome if some of my friends pick it up too, even Mercs 2 was entertaining with a buddy. Either way, though, I’m looking forward to it.
May 20th, 2010 at 9:01 pm
I’ve probably spent eighteen hours of the last three days just playing Red Dead. Me and my buddies tell stories about our adventures in the Old West at school every day. Red Dead will definitely be occupying my time for quite awhile. At least until I can pick up Alan Wake.
May 21st, 2010 at 6:08 am
So, what’s your age rating? I just like to know. (-:
May 21st, 2010 at 6:27 am
I’d recommend 16 or so, depending how easily parents are offended. There’s an age filter but as mentioned this is on par with movies like A Fistfull of Dollars. I haven’t seen most of the naughty stuff.
For my kids? I’d probably go 14 or 15, especially if they aren’t interested in Westerns. The fall of popularity for Westerns is something I’m sad about. I hope this rekindles interest.
I am finding it funny that I keep screwing up when it comes to helping people. Don’t enlist me to save your daughter/wife/friend because I won’t make it in time. They need a rating between outlaw and hero called “inept but well meaning.”
May 22nd, 2010 at 7:14 am
Hey GamerDad,
What do you mean by Age Filter? Like a language filter? If so I would feel much better about getting the game. The game sounds great, and I can’t wait to get my hands on it….
May 22nd, 2010 at 8:15 am
Sure, Language Blood and the Nudity (I guess there’s what sounds like a PG-13 nudity scene in there – I did run into a mission where a bandit group-sadly realistically- did a lot of raping before you got there and I’m sure that would remain.
Im not sure but you can check the website for that kind of info.
May 22nd, 2010 at 8:24 am
I’ve both heard about and seen part of the nudity scene, and in all honesty it really is more of an R rated type of thing. You see a man over a woman on her table with her legs spread apart and he is obviously having sex with her. She is moaning suggestively, and I guess you see her breasts, but, per a promise to my parents, I turned off the TV when it came on. Also, after John walks in, the man comments on her vagina (however, he uses a much more vulgar word).
May 22nd, 2010 at 10:38 am
hi i just turned 15 and when i told my parents about the game they were a little concerned about the age filter , is there like an option in the game? or on the ps3? my dad said that he might rent it to see if its ok first, what do u think
May 22nd, 2010 at 4:48 pm
if there is an age filter i would be happy for MONTHS at a time so please let me know
May 22nd, 2010 at 7:08 pm
I haven’t checked yet, but I doubt your dad will have any problem with it. The sex scene is really the only bad part, apart form some language and the violence. However, seeing as your name is “MW2,” which I’m assuming stands for “Modern Warfare 2” (unless your name is Milton Williams the Second), your dad should not have much of a problem with the violence. I don’t know about an age filter though. Sorry.
May 23rd, 2010 at 9:40 am
Hi, I’m a 14.5 year old boy who loves westerns such as Josey Whales, The Man With No Name trilogy, and Unforgiven. My parents aren’t offended by games such as MW2, Metal Gear Solid 4, Just Cause 2 and other M-rated games or movies like the Godfather, Dirty Harry, or in this case most notably 3:10 to Yuma. They are currently deciding whether or not to let me get this game, could you compare it in sex/violence to the movies and games above listed (language and drugs aren’t an issue). And it would be nice to know if you would suggest the game for parents who allow those movies and games, thanks.
May 24th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
@cross_bread yes, that is what he is concerned about that and i asked him to pay for it lol, he wants to rent it first,my name does mean modernwarefare 2 but my dad was ok with the blood just not so great about the language
May 24th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
What exactly does the Age Filter do?
Is it like in COD5? Where blood, dismemberment and language is taken out, and cut scenes are altered to be more appropriate?
That kind of info does not seem to be on the website, personally I think all developers should have filters and should advertise them! There’s no shame in having a filter, it widens your audience for goodness sakes!!
Get with it developers, wider audience = more $$$$ !
June 10th, 2010 at 5:59 am
I have no idea why game companies dont make T versions of M games. First of all, i can imagine it would be pretty simple seeing as how all they have to do is take out all the f-bombs and the unrealistic p000000ls of blood in games and a few other things but in essence it should still be the same game. Or maybe just a content filter, and advertise it so parents know!!!
July 19th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
what is an age filter???
February 23rd, 2011 at 5:29 am
when the age filter is on is it like a 15 game?
May 25th, 2011 at 6:50 pm
I’ve been recently allowed to play games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops and Dead Rising 2. I’m thirteen years old, a year younger than what’s listed in the comments. When it come to video games, I’m more mature (mostly because I want them to approve more games), so would you say this game is appropriate for me?