Rockstar games produce a worthy successor to the GTA series.
Set in the wild west, this gun slinging action-sandbox game was one of the most talked about releases of last year. It follows the journey of John Marston, as he tracks down members of his old gang in the hopes of turning them over to the FBI. He is being forced to do this by the authorities who have his wife and son held hostage. John must come face to face with his peers and risk being killed from a multitude of enemies as he takes on the villainy and lawlessness of Texas and Mexico.
It is an undeniably great game, filled with exceptional characters, a great storyline, and missions that will entertain any level of gamer. One can follow the main plot, taking on the gang members, and the other characters who reveal themselves along the way, as well as undertaking minor tasks that John will find during his stay. Included within this are many side games such as poker, blackjack, liar's dice, and many more which provide some light entertainment for those not wanting a hardcore session.
The graphics are worthy of a Rockstar game, and the scenery is sublime. Sometimes gamers may find themselves tranquilly travelling across the landscape without any sense of direction, just to enjoy the beautiful surroundings. Animals are aplenty, and available to hunt: from small rabbits and birds, to grizzly bears and snakes. These can also be skinned and the products can be sold for profit.
Two criticisms must be raised. Firstly, there is a lot of riding around on a horse, it is inescapable. You may find yourself paying for stagecoach rides because you cannot stomach another ten minute ride across the country. While the scenery is immense, if you are in the flow of doing missions, the amount of travelling involved can be laborious. The second issue I found with the game, was the music. It is repetitive and often irritating during moments where you are not within the storyline and just perusing the towns and bars. Although, it is important to mention that the song at the very end of the game is stunning.
Mainly, however, Red Dead Redemption is one of the best games or recent years. It has so much detail and entertainment that one can't help but love it. The online capabilities could be better, but they are still fun. If you love GTA or Saints Row, or any other sandbox game, Red Dead will offer you an immense experience in the wild west.
