Red Dead Redemption 2 review

Exceptional

by bgsmith3

Rockstar really outdid themselves with this one. When I picked up this game, I was expecting business as usual. But was I wrong! Red Dead Redemption 2 is a technical, visual, and narrative accomplishment. As I have written in past reviews, the testament of a good sequel, is that it somehow furthers the things that were established in the first game. Gameplay, story and characters, and visuals are all major elements that a good sequel manages to push and make better. The game is a prequel to 2010's Red Dead Redemption. Set in 1899, the age of outlaws is coming to an end. The Van der Line gang struggles to survive as they against nature, government forces and outlaws. The character you play as is Arthur Morgan. Initial footage of this character bothered me because I found his voice to be far too exaggerated. But for whatever reason my mind was changed. Arthur is similar to John Marston in Red Dead Redemption. Both of these characters can be cruel and violent men, but the narrative pushes the player player give the character some redeeming qualities or some sort of arc that goes from bad/apathetic to good. Other familiar faces from Red Dead Redemption are prominently featured in this game. The gameplay has dramatically improved. The gunplay and action isn't as rudimentary and choppy as it was in Red Dead Redemption. The survival aspects of the game have taken front and center and prove to be quite vital in your survival and the survival of the gang. The alarming and hilarious amount of detail this game has both visually and technically is quite impressive. The open world is much bigger than Red Dead Redemption with various diverse regions to travel through and a plethora of random encounters that border on the frightening to the hilarious. This is probably one of the best games ever made. I maintain that God of War (2018) deserved its award for Game of the Year. But that does not diminish this game by any means. It is truly a remarkable game that has hopefully changed things forever. If there is one game that everyone should play, it is this game.

 Rating- 5/5 A Masterpiece