Red Dead Redemption 2

Rockstar Games, the name of this developer, has a strong association with two words that often go together in the same sentence: open-world games and high quality. Almost all gamers seem to be familiar with this image, especially after reflecting on the products they have produced in the past. Therefore, it is not surprising that many gamers are waiting for Red Dead Redemption 2 to finally be available for Playstation 4 and Xbox One. Anticipation is increasingly high after some information before release provides a detailed picture of what Rockstar Games wants to pursue, including the controversy over busy working hours which increasingly emphasizes its own ambition and quality.

What's interesting is the fact that Red Dead Redemption 2 offers something different from most open-world games, even GTA.

So, what does Red Dead Redemption 2 actually offer? Why do we call it a high quality simulation? This review will discuss it in more depth for you.

Plots

Red Dead Redemption 2 is actually a prequel series to Red Dead Redemption 1. The story takes place dozens of years before you play John Marston who is starting to age in the first series.

You play as an outlaw named Arthur Morgan who lives together in a gang led by Dutch. Living off a variety of criminal acts that seemed to be the specialty of different members of Dutch's gang, this gang had to flee after their giant stunt at Blackwater, which was supposed to be the end of everything, ended up being a disaster. Pursued by the authorities and bounty hunters, the Dutch's Gang must flee to the west to survive. They had to start everything from scratch.

As a right-hand man who has followed Dutch since he was a teenager, Arthur Morgan believes in Dutch's vision and mission. Dutch currently just wants to collect as much money as possible and get the gang he leads, every one of them, out of America and move to a tropical island to live in peace and quiet. Considering that criminal activity was the only solution they could think of, Dutch began to formulate a plan to collect the money. Everything was done together with Arthur's help and advice from an older member – Hosea. Meanwhile, on the other hand, other gang members also play an active role.

So as can be predicted, Dutch's vision was not that easy to realize. Apart from having to gather back members who were scattered after what happened at Blackwater, they have not been free from their fugitive status just like that. One of the authorities containing elite agents - The Pinkertons continues to hunt them. Caught between two different urges, Dutch must continue to try to collect the money he needs while ensuring his gang is not detected and caught by The Pinkerton. Situations that sometimes require the gang to move.

Perfect Detail

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a game that looks stunning in terms of presentation, visuals and audio. As you know, there are a lot of claims about details like what they are injecting here and believe it or not, most of them have been proven to be true, including for the problem of horses' testicles shrinking when the weather gets very cold for example. There is a lot to admire and appreciate about what Rockstar managed to achieve with Red Dead Redemption 2.

From a visualization perspective, it looks very charming. However, the best part seems to lie in the use of lighting effects which feel very special. You can see that Rockstar really pays great attention to this matter. From the soft light penetrating through the thick leaves on the trees, the dramatic colors and atmosphere when the sun sets, or the most special – when you visit one of the cities, St. Denis at night. Being a modern city that has started to receive electricity, the lights in the middle of the night fog of St. Denis shows lighting details that are truly mesmerizing. The part of the light that hits your body brings extra attention to the texture of the clothing, with shadows also appearing just right. He looks pleasing to the eye here.

In terms of visual presentation, there is no need to doubt Red Dead Redemption 2. To achieve the required level of simulation, they injected so much animation that it brings it to a higher level of realism than the open-world games we know. From just animations of riding a horse at various running speeds, skinning various types of animals which of course have different sizes, to just small environmental interactions such as the wind shaking the leaves of trees or the mud that sticks to Arthur's body when he fights on the ground. wet. These little things add up to create a game that is visually stunning. Moreover, there are so many fantastic views that you can enjoy from the mountains, trees and waterfalls that you find.

The world offered by Red Dead Redemption 2 is indeed a strength in itself. When they brag about the ecosystem they are preparing for it, it ends up being more than just empty talk. Ranging in various sizes, from as small as a skunk to as large as a black bear, the threat does not just arise from attacks by other factions who are not happy with the Dutch Gang. Not only mammals, you will also find other species from birds, amphibians, reptiles, to even giant snakes. You can kill each of them, skin them, or just cook them into food. The same variant also occurs in plants. What's cool again? These animals are not static.

A Cowboy's Life

Before we explore the depth of the content that made us choose the sub-title above, it is certainly more rational to talk about what kind of gameplay aspects Red Dead Redemption 2 offers. In essence, it still carries the open-world game concept that you are familiar with. This super wide world will present several icons to show you what you can complete or do to simply deepen the story or encourage the progress of the game itself. The yellow icon means the main mission while the white icon means the side mission. All other icons will relate if not to activities, ending up being specific shops or services that you can access.

Those of you who have played the first Red Dead Redemption will not feel unfamiliar with the essence of Red Dead Redemption 2's gameplay. Arthur Morgan shared similar skills and abilities to John Marston. With most disputes being resolved with firearms combat, you will be provided with a variety of weapon options from classic revolvers, repeaters, sniper rifles, to shotguns that will easily mutilate your enemies. You'll also be equipped with the Dead Eye ability which lets you slow down time, set a target, and then allow the weapon of choice to fire off their bullets. As predicted, Dead Eye will be the solution to many of the complicated situations you face, especially when you have to fight on horseback or a fast-moving carriage.

Growing Character

RDR 2 is indeed a story from the perspective of Arthur Morgan. However, the way Rockstar Games mixes it up is by giving all the characters in the Dutch Gang the opportunity to have their own portion of the story, to be the stars of different stories. Whether you enjoy it in the main mission, side missions, or just additional activities in the camp. Finding an open-world game that allows side characters like this to grow and develop more complex personalities as the game progresses is a fantastic experience. There is a feeling of pride, joy, fear, as well as a strong emotional attachment when this starts to happen. Moreover, on several occasions you are also given the opportunity to react and deal with the existing consequences.

Suitable for gamers: those who love the Red Dead Redemption 1 series, want an open-world game with a strong story

Not suitable for gamers: not happy with games that have a slow pace, expecting a Brokeback Mountain style cowboy story