Published by:Rockstar Games
Developed by:Rockstar San Diego
Genre:Action Adventure
Release Date:May 18, 2010(US)
ESRB Rating:M for Mature
Available on: Xbox360, PS3
Review: Rockstar gave a twist in their usual run, fight, and hijackings. They brought gamers horses, carriages, hunting missions, bounty mission instead of cars, motorcycles, gun fire missions, and "hit" lists. The producer of the Grand Theft Auto series brings you 'Red Dead Redemption', the continuation of 'Red Dead Revolver' in PS2 a few years back.
The American West has made actors famous and writers rich. It has inspired children on the playground and grizzled country singers alike. Its stories of heroes and bandits, gold rushes and simple homesteaders have been fictionalized and romanticized to the point that they're known the world over. And yet, video game makers have either ignored the setting or attempted to squeeze it into existing game conventions with limited success. That has all changed now that Rockstar, the group made famous for its Grand Theft Auto series, turned its eye towards the Wild West. No game maker has approached the period with as much passion and power as Red Dead Redemption. This is the new bar that all Westerns must strive to reach.
This story puts you in the shoes of John Marston, who is a former outlaw. Those who were once his friends have now become enemies, leaving Marston alone and fighting for his future in a lawless land. It's a setup that is almost cliche, but this is only the beginning of your amazing adventure.
The storyline of Red Dead Redemption will take you all over a vast swath of countryside that straddles the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Along the way you'll meet, assist, and spill blood with a fantastic cast of supporting characters as Marston attempts to set things straight. The characters are wonderful with top notch dialogue and voice acting -- all good enough to make you feel a part of the world and really 'into' the game.
The only critics i have about this game is that Marston occasionally feels divorced from the action, his motivations muddled as he is all too willing to help anybody that asks for it despite his own pressing matters. A simple, "I'm being made to do this," from Marston is all you'll get out of the protagonist for much of the game while secondary characters drive the tale along, which was a bit of a disappointment for me.
Herding cattle and breaking mustangs? No, I don't think so. Hunting wild deers, tracking down outlaws for bounty, treasure hunting and sharpshooting challenges? Now that's what I'm talking about! What?! The things I mentioned is all in this game? You got to be kidding! Nope, I ain't kidding. The game has all the things you would want to do in the Wild West.You could spend hours just riding around trying to track down all of the components of a new outfit for Marston, or hunting wild game and picking herbs and desert flowers. The Rockstar Social Club, a free online community that connects to the game, offers additional challenges and leaderboards to encourage even more replay. If you're looking for one game to occupy you for months, this is it. As you begin to make a name for yourself, the world of Red Dead Redemption adapts to your fame. The question of ethics and morality is left up to the player. If you want to be a salty drunk that assaults women and robs stagecoaches, that's your prerogative. Others might prefer to help the needy and be more honorable. Though there is a legal system in Red Dead Redemption that will keep the most villainous in check, you're free to take the high or low road in most any situation. A little morality meter, alongside a separate fame bar tracks your actions and the citizens you come across will begin to react to your renown. It's a system that allows for a huge amount of freedom and then rewards you for exploring it.
All is left up to the player, and as it turns out there isn't just a lot to do -- there's a lot to see. The world feels alive with something happening everywhere you turn. Birds come screaming out of the bushes as your horse thunders by. Trains whistle while storms come blowing in to fill low-lying areas with fresh puddles. Around the next bend might be a carriage being robbed by bandits, its poor inhabitants crying out for help, or there might be a cougar or bear ready to tear down your horse and bring Marston to his knees. Walk through town and you might see a drunk assaulting a prostitute, a lynch mob dragging a poor soul through the main drag, or a person who caught wind of your fame and has come looking for a duel. The simulation -- though its aggressive nature occasionally creates a goofy backdrop to Marston's conversations -- is always presenting something new and exciting.
What is most impressive about this sandbox is how fun it is to simply hop on a horse and take off across the prairie. Red Dead Redemption is a gorgeous game with an incredible attention to detail. The art direction, particularly the careful consideration paid to the color palette and geology of the land, is superb. Exactly the right amount of red is used to make the dusty hills and plateaus come to life, the sunsets look breathtaking, and the purple mountains call out with the majesty they're known for. The area you can explore is immense and dotted with towns, ruins, and different environments that all feel hand crafted and unique. Just ride out towards the sunset and listen to the exceptional soundtrack and you'll feel teleported to a whole new world.
But, not all games are perfect. There are a few bugs in this game, like when I was in a cutscene, there seems to be multiple characters, creating a ghost effect.
Some people call this game 'Grand Theft Auto In The Wild West' while others call it ' Grand Theft Horse'. Those who played the Grand Theft series will totally find this game interesting as it has improved mission replay systems and cutscenes.
All I can say about this game is that it totally rocks and you should really try it out, especially those who have played the Grand Theft Auto series.
Ratings for Red Dead Redemption
Rating Description
out of 10
9.5 Presentation
A powerful story and remarkable characters. Tons of depth, but it doesn't quite have the perfect polish that most Rockstar games exhibit.
9.5 Graphics
A few visual hiccups are the only downside to this incredible looking game. Fantastic art direction.
10 Sound
Superb voice acting and a wonderful soundtrack.
9.5 Gameplay
Great variety, great combat, and a great multiplayer mode.
10 Lasting Appeal
Online or off, there are more than enough excellent reasons to keep coming back.
9.7
OVERALL (Incredible)
(out of 10)
No comments:
Post a Comment