RED DEAD REDEPMTION 2
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RELEASE DATE October 26, 2018
PLATFORMS PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia
MP INFO (INC. CO-OP) Does have online multiplayer, no co-op
ORIGINAL MSRP $59.99
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9.5: Masterpiece of interactive entertainment + Hollywood level drama, with equally quality voice acting + masterclass - clunky controls - long load times on consoles
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However, there is a second class of limitations that are more closely tied to the game’s design, mainly game’s controls, that were in the developer’s power to have improved. Given the game’s complexity, I must respect the game’s overall cinematic approach. Why then do you make me hold two buttons in the aptly named “cinematic camera” to follow the path while enjoying the dialogue? If I switch to cinematic mode, isn’t it obvious that I am wanting to soak in the scenery and focus on what is happening in the story?
Overall, the implementations are common sense and actions are married well with their animations in the game. For example. the horse rearing controls or fishing controls are very well translated to the controller and animated perfectly. Having said that, I’m still not sure how a game with such amazing detail attention had such a clumsy control. I wasn’t fully sold on the weapon wheel even after 100 hours, but beyond the scheme, it’s the way the character moves. The protagonist doesn’t corner quickly and there is an overall clunky feeling it gives. This isn’t just a frame rate issue, as there is just a lack of precision in both movement and when interacting with the weapon wheel. There are also issues with animation priority taking over and you’ll find yourself doing an action that you didn’t mean to do. For a game with some pretty intense action sequences, the lack of sharp controls is palpable and can lead some moments are downright frustrating.
I found the journal and instruction screens to excellent solutions to displaying a lot of needed information quickly and in a way that is easy to absorb. However, I did not find the game’s little, or perhaps the developer would say minimalistic, presentation of tutorials to be an improvement over the style seen in Grand Theft Auto series from Rockstar also. It is still a masterpiece of user interface, but there were some instances where the game really did not communicate optimally. I wouldn’t have minded if it did what GTA does and go into an abstract camera mode with black boxes on side that have text to explain how to do things before you can actually try for yourself. Especially as this game has a metagame over it where missions can be replayed to earn gold medals, which often have very challenging requirements.
The game wants must be experienced, dare I even say deserves to be replayed, but will take quite a while to run through properly, to say nothing of it’s massive online component that could be played indefinitely. Interestingly, time has proven that this game hasn’t quite gotten the level of attention that GTA V has, but it is a competent implementation as is.
The game is phenomenal and is a marvel of interactive entertainment. You really feel like you’ve connected with another time period and felt the highs, and lows, of being a cowboy at the at height of that era. With it’s massive map and incredible depth, this game is absolutely worth whatever you paid for it.
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1) Smoke lots of cigarettes, as they fill your stamina while building your card collections.
2)You can always free roam after you beat the game
3) You will earn loads of money through the story, but don’t miss out on side quests.
4) Just because you are on the horse, doesn’t mean you will not get attacked by bandits or animals.
5) Let go and enjoy the game!