Red Dead Redemption Series Review (Xbox, PlayStation & PC)

Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption befits its own boots as an astronomically important series that has, and forever will remain one of the most pivotal IPs in gaming history, especially in the realm of open-world action-adventure games, much like Grand Theft Auto or, for argument’s sake, most of Rockstar’s catalog. The series, similar to its powerhouse ilk, rose from humble beginnings—a frontier-centric backdrop, and a tale that just wanted to illuminate an epic journey of vengeance and triumph, desperation and, of course, redemption. Dial the clock handle forward a couple of decades, and what you have in the palm of your hand is a masterclass in storytelling and longevity.

Red Dead Redemption might not be the biggest series in the world, but it is one that illustrates the notion of quality over quantity with its stacked campaigns and small embellishments. Take the second installment, for example. Funnily enough, even after five years of captivating generations, seasoned fans still managed to find themselves lost in uncharted waters and in an open-ended state of bewilderment. Heck, even after a handful of play throughs of all major titles—Revolver, Undead Nightmare, and both Redemption arcs, that is—I myself still often find little details etched into the framework. And honestly, that’s something that the developer nails to a tee: the world-building and the evergreen materials. Sure enough, you could pour seventy hours into Red Dead Redemption 2, but that wouldn’t be enough for you to unravel all that there is to experience. Honestly, even a thousand hours would not cut it.

A World of Evergreen

Suffice it to say, Rockstar Games has a knack for weaving worlds and cramming in as much content into its creations as possible. Nine times out of ten, a surplus of material just wouldn’t work; assets get lost in a sea of interwoven jigsaw pieces, and it can often feel overwhelming just to connect so much as a single dot. Yet, with games like Red Dead Redemption, everything feels apt and calculated, almost as if each component has a cog on the wheel, a part in the grand scheme of things. Oftentimes, NPCs will have their own routine, and each citizen, regardless of their place or status in the world, will have distinct personalities and reactions to the events they encounter. In other words, there are no cardboard cutouts; every single person, and every tiny detail has a purpose, and that, frankly, is where Rockstar sets the standard.

In addition to having some of the most drawn-out, albeit perfectly memorable campaigns on the market, the series also contains enough side quests, random encounters, and not to mention a well-crafted Honor system to keep fledgling cowpoke immersed for years. And although I’d love to call this is an exaggeration, it isn’t. See, that’s the all-star quality that binds to Red Dead Redemption: the depth of the universe and the amount of detail it captures. It doesn’t stop at the endgame, either; if anything, it goes above and beyond to highlight opportunities and hidden secrets that can keep you clocking additional game time for longer than your average JRPG.

A Masterclass in Motion

When all’s said and done, there’s a masterclass in storytelling to celebrate here. And I don’t just mean in the post-game crescendos or the melancholic finales, but deep within the crossroads and the interludes that span dozens of hours. We’ve rich quotes to swallow; morally bankrupt villains to resonate with; choices to consider; and above all, an entire universe that bends to each and every action that you make along the way. For example, if your Honor falls below the belt and you kill one too many innocents, people will begin to notice your actions. And that’s barely scraping the tip of the iceberg, too. The point is, where most triple-A games fail to make you feel seen in a big world, Red Dead Redemption finds the means to keep you in the center of the frame, in the beating heart of civilization.

To compliment a three-piece saga of extraordinary detail, Rockstar Games has also set a solid benchmark for voiceover performances and chemistry. Characters feel like friends—family, even. And, to illustrate the commitment to establishing an almost lived-in world, each chapter ensures that each NPC fosters a distinct identity, and that every nook and cranny contributes to the overall development of the region. Add the small details—the dynamic weather conditions; the perfectly-timed musical interludes; and the simple fact that each borough shares more secrets than you could dare shake a stick at—and you’ve got yourself one of the most well-orchestrated series on the planet.

Of course, there’s no denying the fact that Red Dead has a habit of producing snail-like prologues that often come across as dull and oftentimes strenuous exercises. But it’s usually what comes after, usually once the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle have been aligned and the context has been drawn. Once you’re in, you don’t want to leave until the last strand has been cast and the experience reaches its final resting point. That, to me, is exactly what sets a good game apart from a phenomenal game. Thankfully, Red Dead falls into the latter, as at no point does it ever let up on the brakes or leave you with a sense that you’re missing something important.

Verdict

Red Dead serves as a testament to Rockstar Games’ lifelong commitment to weaving spectacular worlds with phenomenal stories and memorable characters, evergreen gameplay and the longevity to mount and conquer countless platforms. With several award-winning iterations and enough influence to commit to a generational shift in the way we approach RPGs, Rockstar truly has the capacity and momentum to deliver on its promise to deliver one of the most sought-after franchises of all time. Again, it isn’t with the weight of an anthology, but with more strengths than weaknesses, and with enough depth to survive even the worst of generational onslaughts, it has the potential to become an impenetrable force that can, and probably will outlast most modern triple-A titles.