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Blog entry by Tory Arredondo

Red Dead Redemption 2 is the Deepest, Grandest World That Rockstar Games Has Made Yet

Red Dead Redemption 2 is the Deepest, Grandest World That Rockstar Games Has Made Yet

First and foremost, let’s take a look at Rockstar Games’ track record with single-player titles. Rockstar has not delivered a new title since 2013’s _ Grand Theft Auto V _ , which is ultimately a reflection of the success of _ Grand Theft Auto Online _ . In fact, Rockstar has only released two other games since the original _ Red Dead Redemption _ and _ Undead Nightmare _ expansion in 2010: _ L.A. Noire _ and _ Max Payne 3 _ . Hopefully, the _ Red Dead Redemption 2 _ team at Rockstar was fully-devoted to the title and the wait will be worth it, but a five-year hiatus from releasing any single-player title is enough to make us a bit w

_ Red Dead Redemption 2 _ improves upon the original with its focus on player choices. Whenever Arthur crosses paths with an NPC, players can choose how they want to interact with them: either warmly or antagonistically. Each decision will result in its own outcome, such as a potential shootout if the NPC is antagonized. The outcome will also ultimately have an effect on Arthur’s honor, which directly impacts item discounts and unlockable outfits. A higher rating results in better discounts at stores and unlockable outfits, whereas a low (or even negative) ranking will increase money and item drop rates from dead N

After the success of Grand Theft Auto V and GTA Online , players have been eagerly anticipating when they'd be receiving Rockstar Games' next blockbuster video game. In late 2016, players were treated to the unveiling of their next big game by way of social media teases leading up to the jam-packed teaser trailer. Many people felt that if Rockstar Games made a follow-up to Red Dead Redemption, that it would actually be called Red Dead, followed by a different word. To our surprise, Rockstar unveiled Red Dead Redemption 2 and let fans know it would be coming out in the Fall of 2

Until Rockstar reveals more, though, I will keep being nervous over just what Red Dead Redemption 2 is. A lot of rumors are floating around that it’s a prequel. If it is, they could knock it out of the park, I just don’t want them relying on The Magnificent Seven to do it. Give us an American classic, something steeped in our own mythos, while keeping it fresh. Running and gunning is fun in games, but you can get that anywhere ( GTAV /any shooter ever). Let’s see a western tale more in truth with reality than Hollywood. There are so many other stories out there that get overlooked. If it is a prequel, the fall of John Marston's gang could be done with style. How cool would it be to build up a bandit posse only to have it all ripped away (or in Marstons case, walking away)? Usually in games where the player must form a crew ( Mafia III /GTAV), it’s to set out on some serious mayhem and succeed. To have a game where the player forms their crew only to have it taken away would be the ultimate middle finger to that style of storytelling in gaming. Especially coming from Rockstar. Not only would it flip the script, but it would show Rockstar can even go against their own grain, while not borrowing from Hollywood.

If The Proposition ends up catching your eye, a neat tidbit about its director, John Hillcoat, is the fact that he created a machinima short film with Rockstar Games in the buildup to releasing Red Redemption in 2010, which was called Red Dead Redemption: The Man from Blackwater . The short film itself was created entirely inside the engine of Red Dead Redemption and was aired on FOX around the time of the game's release - the full movie is still available for viewing here (via Dagger 323 on YouTube).

Rockstar has such a great opportunity to deliver a tale that is bathed in more of a classic period piece than a ritzy Hollywood do over. If the game looks anything like what the teaser presented, they just might deliver that game. It seemed calm yet brooding. It seemed slower, while being thoughtful. The posse of men on horseback seen in the trailer is fitting for the time. It was stupid to travel alone click through the following document the wilderness of America, and cowboys relied on each other for not only companionship, but the journey ahead. My mind keeps wandering to The Magnificent Seven though and I can’t shake that this is what might be showcased. A band of cowboy bandits causing all sorts of mayhem in a sort of Magnificent Seven bizarro world. The previous two games were great because the stories encountered seemed real; the characters seemed like real people dealing with personal qualms that had nothing to do with me. It’s the reason I loved the Witcher 3, the world didn’t care about the player, but if I could stop and help, I’d go for it. Otherwise, time to hit the dusty trail.

Fans of the first Red Dead Redemption understand the importance of a good campfire. Not only was it treated as a save location, it was also the area in which you could fast travel and change outfits. Fans were treated to a beautiful shot of a campfire deep within the wilderness with a gorgeous backdrop of the night sky. It wouldn't surprise us if the campfires served the exact same purpose they did in the first Red Dead Redemption . The only other element that would be a welcome addition to the campfire menu would be if it were the area in which you could level up and/or upgrade your skills. This would assume that Rockstar is leaning more into the RPG mechanics of an open-world experie

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