Here we go everyone, the game we have all been waiting for, Red Dead Redemption. Just the name says it all. RDR is a third person action-adventure title created by Rockstar Games. Red Dead takes place in America during the early 1900's and shows a cruel and ruthless life for settlers in the west. Our main character John Marston is a former outlaw and bandit. He was seriously wounded in a bank robbery (with his former gang) and left to die by his partners in crime. Bill Williamson (the leader of the gang) is the one who chooses to leave Marston behind, and is also the main antagonist of the game. After he survived, Marston decided to retire from his life of crime. He bought a ranch, got married, had a son and was content with living an honest life. However, Bureau of Investigation agent Edgar Ross knows how dangerous Williamson and his gang are. The Bureau needs helps apprehending Williamson and Ross knows he needs Marstons assistance. Ross decides to kidnap Marston's wife and blackmail him into helping the Bureau catch Williamson and his gang. Ross knows what he did was wrong, but also realizes without Marston, Williamson might never be caught. So with his family and son's life threatened Marston sets out on his quest to kill Williamson. Marston meets and eventually allies with Marshall Leigh Johnson who is also out to stop the gang. Throughout Marston's journey he runs into numerous settlers, outlaws and lawmen. Life in the west is not for the faint of hear.
The gameplay is focused on a large, open world environment allowing players explore the American West. Players can gain positive or negative "Honor" depending on the decisions they make in the game (for example, killing an innocent civilian would give you negative honor). Also Red Dead allows us to gamble, hunt animals and participate in standoffs. Horses are the main form of transportation and the game has numerous breeds in it. Life in the west is amazingly accurate and detailed. Everything from the drunk at the local bar, to the outlaws on the plains. This game screams originality and creativeness. Along with the main story line, players can go on side missions to boost their "morality" to gain experience and new weapons. Public hearings, steak-out ambushes, and all out gun brawls are some events you can participate in during the game. Red Dead is a third-person shooter and lets the player take cover, select a specific target to attack, free-aim and even blind fire. Also the combat lets you shoot individual body parts for non-lethal attacks. Marston has a hand full of weapons including rifles, revolvers, knives, pistols, dynamite, lassos, gatling guns, shotguns and cannons. The "Dead-Eye" targeting system allows the player to slow down time to fire a precise shot at the enemy. Red Dead has 48 achievements with a total of 1,000 Gamerscore.
Here's what gives Red Dead it's lasting appeal, the multiplayer. Red Dead has normal and team deathmatch (Shoot Out) and various capture-the-flag games ("Hold Your Own" is CTF on large maps). Gold Rush is a free for all game where you collect bags of gold and Grab the Bag is a single version of CTF. Free Roam is the starting point of all game modes, because Red Dead doesn't have a traditional game lobby. Free Roam includes the entire single player gamemap. Players can form a "Posse" of up to 8 people and compete in actvities such as; outlaw challenges, bounty hunting, lawbringer, sharpshooter, hunting (animals), and survivalist. Players will also be able to choose from a number of characters to participate in multiplayer with. Including, Miners, Lawmen, Marshals, Federales, American Army, Walton's Gang, Dutch's Gang, Cattle Rustlers and Rebeldes. Also in one's "posse" players can play mini games such as arm wrestling, drinking and poker.
As you can see Red Dead Redemption looks like a game that will immerse us into the world of the American west. With the deep and intense single player, to the numerous game modes in multiplayer. This title looks to be the summer "blockbuster" for the video game industry. Rockstar Games have outdone themselves on this one. Red Dead Redemption comes out Tuesday, May 18th and is a definite buy for me. Look for our review later this week. In the meantime, check out these videos and the new AMAZING launch trailer.
-KM
-KM
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