One thing I've always admired about Rockstar Games and its various development studios is their knack for creating some of video games' most memorable settings.I don't think I've ever played a Rockstar title without being wholly impressed by the developers' uncanny ability to make a fictional location come alive. Whether it was cruising the streets of a virtual South Beach in "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," roaming the grounds of Bullworth Academy in "Bully," or soaking in the atmosphere of Liberty City in "Grand Theft Auto IV," much of the enjoyment I have gained from Rockstar's works comes from feeling that my character was simply a small part of a larger, living world.
For the Old West epic, "Red Dead Redemption," Rockstar has taken the art of creating an engrossing game world to a level unmatched by any other sandbox game. The result is one of the finest video games I have ever had the pleasure of playing.
Indeed, the world of former outlaw John Marston is alive with creatures and characters of all shapes and sizes. Wildlife, from armadillos and rabbits to cougars and grizzly bears, roam the expansive open world. These animals are not only aware of your presence, but of each others, as well. I've watched as a pack of coyotes chased down a deer and a bird swooped down to pluck a rattlesnake off the dusty trail. I've also been the victim of a vicious cougar attack while roaming the mountains on horseback. Every animal can be hunted, killed and skinned, their hides fetching a fine price at local general stores. Hunting challenges provide a boost to your character's fame, and flowers can also be picked for profit and to complete challenges.
Once you've had your fill of the great outdoors, you can venture into any of the small towns that are scattered throughout the plains. You can play poker or blackjack, pitch horseshoes or kick back at the local saloon. Some townsfolk offer side missions that can be completed to increase your fame and honor. Others will challenge you to a duel on main street. The Old West was a dangerous place and Marston must be on his toes at all time to stay alive. And there was no clear-cut right or wrong on the frontier - even actions carried out with the best of intentions can have unforeseen consequences. I once came across a lawman who needed my help in capturing a pair of fugitives. Being the honorable man that I am, I lassoed the bad guys and brought them back to the sheriff unharmed. He promptly thanked me for my help, rewarded me with a few dollars and sent me on my way. As I mounted my horse to ride away, I could only watch as he dealt swift frontier justice to the criminals with two bullets to the head. Didn't see that one coming.
Speaking of gun play, the action in "Red Dead" is reminiscent of "GTA IV," with a cover system and an auto-targeting system. Gamers can also use the new Dead Eye feature to slow the action down and pull off headshots that would make Clint Eastwood proud.
You'll really put these skills to the test away from town, where you'll run across bandit hideouts that need to be cleared, find treasure maps that will test your ability to read natural landmarks, and receive random quests. Anyone who has played a recent "Grand Theft Auto" title should be instantly familiar with the general mission setup, though labeling "Red Dead Redemption" as a "GTA" clone is doing the game a great disservice.
The fact that everything I've already mentioned has absolutely nothing to do with the main story speaks to the absurd amount of content offered by "Red Dead Redemption." You can play for hours without ever advancing Marston's primary mission, which is to round up the remaining members of his former gang and ensure the safety of his family. Marston's quest will take him to the far reaches of the frontier and even south of the border. If you did nothing but stick to the story missions, "Red Dead" would still take you 10-plus hours to complete. Exploring every nook and cranny of the world and completing all the side quests and challenges will take you significantly longer.
One thing I've always admired about Rockstar Games and its various development studios is their knack for creating some of video games' most memorable settings.
I don't think I've ever played a Rockstar title without being wholly impressed by the developers' uncanny ability to make a fictional location come alive. Whether it was cruising the streets of a virtual South Beach in "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City," roaming the grounds of Bullworth Academy in "Bully," or soaking in the atmosphere of Liberty City in "Grand Theft Auto IV," much of the enjoyment I have gained from Rockstar's works comes from feeling that my character was simply a small part of a larger, living world.
For the Old West epic, "Red Dead Redemption," Rockstar has taken the art of creating an engrossing game world to a level unmatched by any other sandbox game. The result is one of the finest video games I have ever had the pleasure of playing.
Indeed, the world of former outlaw John Marston is alive with creatures and characters of all shapes and sizes. Wildlife, from armadillos and rabbits to cougars and grizzly bears, roam the expansive open world. These animals are not only aware of your presence, but of each others, as well. I've watched as a pack of coyotes chased down a deer and a bird swooped down to pluck a rattlesnake off the dusty trail. I've also been the victim of a vicious cougar attack while roaming the mountains on horseback. Every animal can be hunted, killed and skinned, their hides fetching a fine price at local general stores. Hunting challenges provide a boost to your character's fame, and flowers can also be picked for profit and to complete challenges.
Once you've had your fill of the great outdoors, you can venture into any of the small towns that are scattered throughout the plains. You can play poker or blackjack, pitch horseshoes or kick back at the local saloon. Some townsfolk offer side missions that can be completed to increase your fame and honor. Others will challenge you to a duel on main street. The Old West was a dangerous place and Marston must be on his toes at all time to stay alive. And there was no clear-cut right or wrong on the frontier - even actions carried out with the best of intentions can have unforeseen consequences. I once came across a lawman who needed my help in capturing a pair of fugitives. Being the honorable man that I am, I lassoed the bad guys and brought them back to the sheriff unharmed. He promptly thanked me for my help, rewarded me with a few dollars and sent me on my way. As I mounted my horse to ride away, I could only watch as he dealt swift frontier justice to the criminals with two bullets to the head. Didn't see that one coming.
Speaking of gun play, the action in "Red Dead" is reminiscent of "GTA IV," with a cover system and an auto-targeting system. Gamers can also use the new Dead Eye feature to slow the action down and pull off headshots that would make Clint Eastwood proud.
You'll really put these skills to the test away from town, where you'll run across bandit hideouts that need to be cleared, find treasure maps that will test your ability to read natural landmarks, and receive random quests. Anyone who has played a recent "Grand Theft Auto" title should be instantly familiar with the general mission setup, though labeling "Red Dead Redemption" as a "GTA" clone is doing the game a great disservice.
The fact that everything I've already mentioned has absolutely nothing to do with the main story speaks to the absurd amount of content offered by "Red Dead Redemption." You can play for hours without ever advancing Marston's primary mission, which is to round up the remaining members of his former gang and ensure the safety of his family. Marston's quest will take him to the far reaches of the frontier and even south of the border. If you did nothing but stick to the story missions, "Red Dead" would still take you 10-plus hours to complete. Exploring every nook and cranny of the world and completing all the side quests and challenges will take you significantly longer.
"Red Dead Redemption" contains enough single-player content to keep a player busy for weeks, but Rockstar wasn't content to just offer a single-player experience. A full suite of multiplayer game modes is offered, including old favorites like team deathmatch and capture the flag, for up to 16 players online. But the real star is Free Roam mode, which essentially opens up the single-player game world to you and your friends. Just about everything you can do in the single-player game, from clearing bandit hideouts to hunting animals, is available to do in Free Roam. There are also Free Roam-specific missions and challenges. Of course, you're also free to just blast each other over and over again, or find another posse of human players to harass. You're really only limited by your own imagination.
That's what makes "Red Dead Redemption" a must-own and a legitimate Game-of-the-Year contender in my book - the fact that there's so much fun stuff here to do. Between the working through the main quest, hunting the various wildlife and just riding the range, I've probably put in close to 30 hours - and I've barely scratched the surface of Free Roam and online multiplayer. Simply put, "Red Dead Redemption" is the new benchmark for open-world games. Don't miss it!
"Red Dead Redemption"
Developer: Rockstar San Diego
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Available for: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 ($59.99)
Rating: M for mature
Score: 10/10
Source;
http://wvgazette.com/Entertainment/PluggedIn/201005270329
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