How good is Red Dead Redemption?

[Eldritch Warlord]

Let's get to the heart of the matter: should you buy RDR (for $7.50)?

The answer: if you like Westerns then yes, otherwise no. And when I say "if you like Westerns" I don't mean the Western genre in general, I mean "if there are at least two Western films that you have seen and liked".

If nothing else it's a joy to see a Western so well realized in video game form, the gameplay is Rockstar's typical "clunky but serviceable" fare but the presentation is very engrossing.

 

[Happiness Assassin]

It really comes down to what you want out of a story: do you want excellent story over gameplay? If yes, then the game is a must buy. If gameplay is supremely important, then I tentatively recommend you pass on this. The main focus is on building atmosphere, characters, and themes that truly distinguish it as a title. In this game nothing quite compares to just going for a horse ride in terms of sheer western atmosphere and beauty (when you first enter Mexico and the soundtrack kicks in is currently in my top 5 gaming moments). There is a fast travel system of sorts, but using it often deprives you of some of the most beautiful sights in the game and some interesting discussions on subjects including but not limited to, the role of civilization, industrialization, religion, punishment, and lust for power. And the ending of the game, is without a doubt my favorite ending in gaming. But I can't lie, game starts off at a snails pace and slows way down right before the amazing ending. If you can get past some truly dull tutorial missions in the opening hours of the game, you will find yourself hooked.

But whereas the game is truly amazing in the writing department, the gameplay is often sticky, repetitive, and often broken. The gameplay is ripped right out of GTA and when I mean ripped, I mean torn out violently. The gun play is just shit and relies entirely on a lock on mechanic. Missions outside of cutscenes aren't very varied or memorable. The sidequests are a mixed bag of interesting, if somewhat repetitive hunting missions, excellent stranger missions, and picking flowers. Yes, picking flowers. And it is as dull as it sounds. But there is something about the gambling mini-games that leaves me satisfied, save a few shit options (fuck horseshoes btw).

Overall, I would buy it, but then I already have it. My recommendation is to look deeper into it and find a cheaper version, as I have seen RDR for around that same price in quite a few stores. Also look into getting the edition that comes with the zombie expansion. Why does a western game have zombies in an expansion pack? Because nothing says I am a badass cowboy like pulling out a revolver and mowing down the zombie hordes while riding death incarnate. Or alternatively a unicorn.

 

[darthzew]

It's excellent. The story is well-done, the shooting is vastly superior to Max Payne 3 (which I hated too), and there isn't a western game on the market that even comes close. Check it out.

 

[remnant_phoenix]

I hate GTA, but I loved RDR. It's one of my favorite video game stories ever.

What made the game great for me is that it really captured the feel of being the protagonist in an "Old West" story. I didn't even do a ton of sandbox-style sidequest stuff, but the story was excellent and traveling across the big open world gave the feeling that I really was on John Marston's journey toward redemption.

I can't really put the feeling into words. All I can say is that the story is great and the beautiful game world functioning as an interactive setting for the story drew me into the story even deeper. And the ending... Man, that ending.

 

[deathmothon]

The beginning 1/3 gives you all kinds of stuff to learn and do. Decent story and characters. 8/10
The middle part in Mexico is superfluous (it felt like the bored feeling I get from all of GTA4). 4/10
The ending 1/3 is great. Really felt unique in the way it is presented and the ending is phenomenal. 10/10

 

[138]

I registered just to say this: Do not go home. Your wife is a shrew. Just stay out there and ride the plains, John Marston.

 

[GonzoGamer]

I think I hate Dan Houser's writing (and he wrote RDR as well). I hate GTA because the missions are so bad, it's just go to a spot and kill a bunch of people with far below par shooting. The point of sandbox gameplay is supposed allow freedom on how to complete missions (like say Dishonored and Mercenaries, and what Watch_Dogs will be). I've heard from people that RDR is I guess "special" and I've been told to try it even though I hate GTA.

It does stick with the sort of pretentious story formula R* has been dishing out this gen; though I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by the ending to GTAV. It is a lot like GTA but it seemed to me that they were trying to be more like Bethesda with a lot more of the ambient stuff to do.
It's hard to recommend if you don't like GTA but if you enjoy Bethesda games, I would say take the gamble. I have to say I liked it a lot more than I thought I would.

 

[endnuen]

It's very very good.
And for that cheap it's a steal.

 

[CannibalCorpses]

Like most Rockstar games it's great but slightly drawn out and has plenty of little sneaky things going on in the background that you miss if you rush it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and even played the multiplayer and enjoyed it (which is rare). The zombie DLC was a laugh aswell with the crazy necrophilliac getting even more amusing...

As far as the multiplayer goes it's about perfect for my style of play. You can help each other out or you can punish any dipshit that causes you bother...over and over again until they quit proving the point 'don't fuck with strangers'.

The only real criticism i can level at it is that the aiming controls are too easy or a bit harsh depending on which you choose.

 

[J Tyran]

Bah, you got my hopes up then. Thought there might be a chance it would be on the UK PSN store on offer as well, no such luck. I borrowed the 360 version from Netflix a few years back, would have been great to get it cheap and own it. Going by your post I doubt you would enjoy Red Dead: Redemption, I do actually share some of your opinions like with Max Payne 3 for example.

I wanted to like that game but I cannot get into it and have not finished it or even got all that far into the story, there is nothing I can put my finger on but it just doesn't grab me or keep me interested enough to finish it. Which is unusual for me as I can count all the games that have had the same effect on me over the last decade on two hands, I even think the PC version was an incredibly pretty game at the time of release (still is).

I really enjoyed Red Dead: Redemption though, it was way more enjoyable that GTA IV and as good as GTA V although its hard to compare to GTA at all. one of my favourite console games from the last generation in fact, the gunplay is ok for a console and the horse riding is fairly engaging and challenging enough without being frustrating. To get the best speed out of your horse is something that takes a bit of work, if you make it gallop to fast for to long the horse will get tired and throw you off so you have to find the best balance of speed and endurance. The crafting and hunting is a nice addition as well, if you really enjoyed that sort of things in games like Far Cry 3 it might sweeten the deal for you. In fact all the side activities are great, there is crafting, hunting, bounty hunting, various games like Poker and arm wrestling, various side crimes like robberies and train robberies, gang hideouts to bust up and loot, taming wild horses, cattle herding and horse training to earn money. There are quite a few others, there is also a decent amount exploring and random encounters and activities like the ones in GTA V.

I have seen RDR referred to as "Grand Theft Pony" but although it shares some common elements with the series the differences add up to make it a very different game, not just the setting but the way it feels. Switching from a car to a horse isn't like a superficial switch to a slower car with a different skin, it changes the way you the character fits into the environment. So to answer the question in the tread title, RDR is very, very good and easily one of my favourite console titles of the last generation.