Red Dead Redemption 2was one of the most anticipated releases of 2018, and unlike similarly ambitious games likeCyberpunk 2077,it was everything fans wanted and expected. More than meeting fans' expectations,Red Dead Redemption 2laid the foundations for the next era of video gaming and set a new high standard for AAA video games.
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DespiteRed Dead Redemption 2being released a few years ago, it isstill a very popular gamethat is still played by a large part of the gaming community. There are a few aspects of the game that keeps players hooked even years after its release, and that made the game such a huge success.
6One Of The Biggest Maps In Gaming History
Rockstar is known for designing expansive maps for games such asGrand Theft Auto, but theRed Dead Redemption 2world map does not even compare to other game maps, both in terms of its size and detail. Many players might agree thatSkyrimlaid the foundations for what a great world map looks like.
In comparison withSkyrim’s mapthen, theRed Dead Redemption 2world map is almost twice its size and players cannot so easily fast travel between locations. InRed Dead Redemption 2,players are forced to travel the 29 square miles of land on horseback or stagecoach, making the map seem even more vast.
5Historical Accuracy & Authenticity
Much research has been put intoRed Dead Redemption 2to make the game as historically accurate as possible. Details like the Suffragette protest that Arthur finds himself in, the Pinkertons (an organization that disrupted unionization) causing havoc, and depictions of Annesburg and Guarma, for example, are all tied to real historical events.
On top of including historical facts in the game design,Red Dead Redemption 2is also authentic in terms ofportraying the overall time period. Gang shootouts, weapons, death, diseases like tuberculosis, poaching, and violence were the norm in the semi-lawless society of nineteenth-century America, all of which are explored in the game.
4A Living Open World
While many open-world games engage the player on various levels,Red Dead Redemption 2does so on an entirely different one.Red Dead Redemption 2’s game world is alive in the sense that everything in it behaves as it would in real life. When roaming, the player might come across coyotes chasing squirrels or an eagle swooping down to catch a snake.
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When encountering predators, like bears, they are incredibly difficult to kill, as is in real life, and taming a wild horse is a skill that requires patience and persistence from the player.When Arthur goes fishing, the fish take a long time to bite and might get away if not reeled in properly. Arthur’s horse becomes clean when running through water, and Arthur gets very fatigued while swimming for a long time. The list goes on and on.
3Next Level Detail & Realism
To add to the living open world,Red Dead Redemption 2is realistic in almost every other aspect of the game. Small details like Arthur’s beard growing over time, thesteady onset of his tuberculosis, and him losing weight if not eating properly, are details not attempted in the game’s predecessors.
Consequences are another major part ofRed Dead Redemption 2.As one might find in real life, if Arthur murders a civilian or refuses to help someone in need, and vice versa, a meter indicates how good or bad of a person he is. Similarly, Arthur will be pursued by the authorities if he shoots innocent civilians in a town, and so forth.
2Believable & Engaging NPCs
Another fine detail Rockstar added toRed Dead Redemption 2is the NPCs that alsobehave as real people would. If Arthur happens to walk around town covered in mud or blood, NPCs will keep their distance or make passing comments that Arthur stinks.
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NPCs also remember the player’s previous actions in towns. If Arthur or the gang has caused trouble or helped people in town, NPCs remember and respond to Arthur accordingly. Another detail is that shopkeepers, bartenders, and other people recognize Arthur if he has been there before, and will chat to Arthur about current events (that often revolve around him or the gang).
1Cinematic Camera
In order to make long traveling sessions more engaging, Rockstar has added a cinematic camera mode toRed Dead Redemption 2. The cinematic camera allows the player to view Arthur traveling through the beautiful nineteenth-century American landscape in widescreen while also being able to change and manipulate the view angle.
This feature makes the player feel like they are watching a film, while still being in control of what Arthur is doing on-screen. This mode has led to some amazing screenshots of the game being taken by fans and gamers - some so realistic that they have been mistaken forreal images of the American landscape.
Red Dead Redemption 2is out now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
