An Open-World Western Drama: Red Dead Redemption 2

If you are into a gripping narrative, thrilling main missions and side quests in a sprawling open world with exceptional graphics, then Red Dead Redemption 2 is the game for you. Recently the PC version of the game has been launched and it grew even more in popularity since most of the gamers are into PC master race. Leaving the console platform behind, the game offers exciting action and stunning photo-realistic graphics.

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to Red Dead Redemption, however, unfortunately, the prequel was and still is intended for consoles. When we heard that the second game will be available on PC, we got excited and waited with our fingers crossed for the game to be launched on this version too. Like the prequel, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a story that follows the end of the Old West.

RDR2 has a mind-blowing detail that creates a massive world where you see realism at the level of NPCs and characters that flinch when they hear a fire gun or when they react to how muddy you are or if you bustle through a doorway everyone is scared at the sound of it. This means that there is a creative force of a development team with an acute and obsessive dedication to realism.

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that RDR2 is so deep and wide and is also a cohesive, playable game. But when you enter in-game and you start your tutorial in a snow-covered mountain dealing with a snowstorm and seeing your horse freeze, you immediately can’t wait to find a warmer place. As you progress in-game you will realise that Red Dead Redemption 2 is the best western game and one of the best open-world games.

The Wild West

You will follow the trail of Arthur Morgan and his small band of outlaws where you will see an imperfect but loyal, loving and self-sustaining community. In the game, you will undertake numerous main story missions that can take up to 60 hours. The epilogue alone extends the game with another 10-15 hours. Each main mission is entertaining and always unique, from robbing a moving train to engaging in intense firefights.

However, the map also offers side quests that are as captivating as the main missions. Some of them appear in fixed locations, while others happen randomly. Actually, along the road, random side quests almost always occur. These quests are so varied like the main quests as they involve tasks like stopping kidnappers or helping a man that suffers from a snakebite. In other words, these quests are worth checking out, because they sometimes offer more thrills than the main missions.

Aside from the main quests and side quests you can also partake in many types of extracurricular activities. You can explore, interact with other NPCs, fish, hunt wild animals, drink and more. Being off-topic, you will notice something familiar in this game. Everyone knows and is aware of casino games, like the ones that can easily be found and played in an online casino. However, RDR2’s gambling leisure can be done in the bars, where your character can enjoy a game of blackjack. Rockstar Games has incredibly detailed the history of the Old West. Red Dead Redemption 2 allows you to experience the Wild West, while the popular GTA titles allow you to experience the modern world.

In RDR2, activities like playing a game of cards, fish and hunt, dealing with bounty missions, will help Arthur to obtain some assets that can enhance his natural abilities, such as his endurance and stamina. Getting a new pair of clothes will also help him engage in a more positive way with other NPCs. Also, ensuring that he has provisions for bullets, medicine and other things will help you deal with certain missions, more easily.

Besides doing missions and interacting with the city like any other citizen, RDR2 can also give a serene, tranquil experience. Because civilization is sparse, you can spend a long time alone in the wilderness. In addition, the shooting and cover mechanics of this game are identical to GTA IV and GTA V. You can take cover behind manmade and natural objects and shoot opponents from relative safety. Weapons automatically lock onto enemies, so it’s easy to aim. Besides using pistols and rifles, you can also dispatch your foes by hurling dynamite and Molotov cocktails.

While standing still works great most of the time, however, being on horseback make things a little tricky. With the moving and shifting terrain, getting a clear aim requires a little bit of more effort. On the other hand, RDR2’s animations are smooth and realistic. Unfortunately, this realism can sometimes affect the gameplay and the character might feel heavy, because of his slow, deliberate animations. For example, if Arthur opens a drawer, you need to wait for him to finish the animation and then after the cycle has been finished you can move the character. As a result, you can’t target enemies so quickly unless you use a time-slowing Dead Eye ability that is fueled by a replenishing meter.

Last Words

Some users who tried the game on PC had problems running it at its max settings. Even those who own the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti had some issues because the graphics card couldn’t get most of the game. However, with some working on the settings, people with the Nvidia GeForce 1060 will notice an fps drop in the big cities, but can still enjoy the game. In other words, the game can still be played and enjoyed. Thanks to Rockstar’s patching, the game seems much more fixed.

Despite its performance issues, Red Dead Redemption 2 is still amazing on the PC. This game has an incredible story with beautiful graphics, with a multitude of optional quests and with the addition of an ever-updated online mode, you can play the game for many hours. Because the game simulates so wonderful the Old West world, this makes Red Dead Redemption 2 one of the best action games that you will find on PC.