Summary
One of the highest-rated video games of all time, and widely regarded as Rockstar’s magnum opus,Red Dead Redemption 2didn’t just improve upon its predecessor; it completely reinvented the series. AWild West action-adventure gamewith a healthy dose of realism,Red Dead Redemption 2features an epic narrative that spans multiple years, two playable characters, and a swathe of now-iconic locations. WithRed Dead Redemption 2reportedly selling over 60 million copies since its release in 2018, a sequel seems like an inevitability, though it might be a while before Rockstar gets around to it.
WithGrand Theft Auto 6still the primary focus of the studio, it seems likely that a potentialRed Dead Redemption 3would still be years away at this point, but that’s not a bad thing. With such a huge legacy now behind it,Red Dead Redemption 3is going to need all the time in development it can get.Red Dead2offers some stellar groundwork to build off, although it might be better forRed Dead Redemption 3to find its own way, because some features could pose problems forRDR3.
One of the biggest highlights ofRed Dead Redemption 2, and still one of its most discussed elements, is its core cast of compelling characters. So, naturally, one ofRed Dead Redemption 2’s best featuresis the one that really lets that cast shine. After its lengthy prologue,Red Dead Redemption 2introduces players to its camp mechanic, which sees the Van der Linde Gang set up a small settlement that paves the way for countless unique interactions between the player and the game’s main cast.
Each character has their own distinct spot in the camp, from Pearson’s butcher station to Dutch’s central tent, and players quickly get accustomed to the general layout of the settlement, allowing players to quickly find specific characters they want to converse with. But what really setsRed Dead 2’s campsapart from other games' settlements is the agency that the rest of the gang has. More often than not, when players return to camp, they’ll find the gang going about their own business, engaging in conversations with one another, playing card games, cooking meals, and so on. This gives the sense that these are all living, breathing characters whose lives are continuing in the background while the player is off adventuring.
This feeling is reinforced during specific moments in the story that see the camp engaging in some kind of celebration. These moments have characters singing along in unison - which the player can join in with - or reminiscing about the good old days, or just enjoying each other’s company by the roaring fire. These moments of peace and unity are vital toRed Dead Redemption 2’s narrative, going a long way in building a strong bond between the player and the game’s core cast of characters. It’s only natural thatRed Dead Redemption 3would want to carry over this excellent narrative device, but that might put the potential sequel in an awkward spot.
Including a camp mechanic inRed Dead Redemption 3could end up limiting the type of protagonist and narrative that the potential sequel could have. For instance, it wouldn’t make much sense forRed Dead Redemption 3’s protagonistto be another lone wolf like John Marston if they were constantly returning to a camp filled with loved ones. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it could run the risk of making the sequel feel a little too similar toRed Dead 2, though there are ways to avoid this. For instance,Red Dead Redemption 3could change the type of group/camp that players return to, such as a family forced to relocate as opposed to a gang of outlaws.
Red Dead Redemption 2
WHERE TO PLAY
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
