Listener Review By: Colby Martin (Goblowsoup)

Title: Red Dead Redemption (Single Player)
Format: Blu Ray
Release Date: May 18, 2010
Publisher: Rockstar Games
Developer: Rockstar Games
Price: $59.99

Gameplay:
Red Dead Redemption takes every single aspect of GTA and throws it into the Wild West….except the mayhem. Red Dead never really feels chaotic like GTA does. It’s much simpler, kind of like the times the game takes place in. It’s rather relaxing, and as a matter of fact, it pays to be nice. Sure, you could run around and shoot up the saloons, hog tie pretty women, and shoot up your pals after losing a match of poker, but you’ll see that acting proper is the way to go (at least it has for me anyways). On top of its relaxing nature, Red Dead plays like a modern third person shooter with regenerating health (one thing that is very different to the Rockstar world, but is nevertheless nice for someone who spends a majority of their game in the back country). In fact, Red Dead Redemption is so far opposite from GTA that it hurts me to compare the two. Red Dead plays much more along the lines of Assassin’s Creed.

As for the shooting, there are three levels of aiming. One is hardcore where you do it all, the casual with the most assist and normal level with the pop-up lock in similar to Battlefield Bad Company 2 or GTA IV. It’s a pretty easy aiming mode, you just hold down the left trigger, and you can switch shoulder perspectives with the left and right buttons on the d-pad.

Red Dead Redemption’s story is very engaging, yet it builds up slow. I spent the first 30% of the game wandering around, making people want to help me, hog-tying people, and playing poker. Basically, I wondered if there was going to be a worthwhile story or not. Then, I went to Mexico…that’s when the story picked up. Red Dead wrapped me in and made me feel like the real outlaw I was, instead of some outlaw trying to become a nice guy.

Speaking of being a nice guy or not, Red Dead has the option to help out strangers and innocent bystanders (some might even be criminals so watch out.) Adding to the already deep open world feel is the added fact that these strangers could randomly appear out of nowhere or send you half-way across the map for a clue. These events are worthwhile and can be a nice break in the traditional game events though.

Adding to the mischievousness of the game, you collect a continuous bounty. So, if you go fixin’ to shoot someone, just remember that each dead racks up against you and makes it harder to get away. Heck, you might find yourself surrendering to the law if you’re not careful. But, if you’re lucky, you’ll get away and come back and pay off that bounty. You can pay it off with money, or with pardon papers that let you go scott-free.

You can even hunt for other criminals with the bounty missions. These missions might help you find some new clothing, new guns, or even add some cash to your pockets. You can choose to capture your bounty alive, or shoot them for the loot. Pretty much it’s up to you, but just remember that some of them are much more valuable alive.

Graphics:
For a game consisting of a lot of browns, this game looks very pretty. Anyone who’s ever been to Mexico or New Mexico will realize just how realistic this game is. Sand cut rocks, cacti, and tumbleweeds that roll across the plains. I really wished there were some dust devils and sandstorms, as that would have really added to the environmental feel even more.

Players look much better than the characters in GTA. It kind of has a Borderlands or Prince of Persia feel to the character faces. They look great though, with fantastically realistic animations and shapes. Players never seem fake except for the few issues you’ll notice, like a horse going through the rocks. Horses also feel very real. They move like real horses, sound like horses, and even act like horses. Scare them with a gun and they run, work them too hard and they’ll buck ya.

Overall, everything in the graphics department seems phenomenal. It’s an extremely polished game, but it still suffers from GTA and open world games issues like texture pop-in, characters that pop up in the middle of the road from nowhere, and the occasional glitch or two where you get stuck in something; but it’s nothing game breaking.

Audio:
Sound in Red Dead Redemption is fantastic. From the clippity-clop of hoofs beating the dirt paths of the terrain to the sound of guns firing off in the distance, Red Dead does a great job in the audio department. Never did I feel separated from the environment or the era. The typical Rockstar music is gone, but a few audio tracks exist that make you feel a part of the game and as if you were watching a movie. From time-to-time it felt like a movie soundtrack, one which really put me into the western mood.

Conclusion:
Rockstar Games has done a fantastic job of placing us in the western civilization of late 19th Century America. The environment is engaging, the players feel realistic and timely, and the story is authentic and connecting. It’s a great game that takes some time to get into. It’s a little slow building up to it, and it’s got some very easy missions in the first half. It’s definitely no Grand Theft Auto and lacks the exploration of Assassin’s Creed. Overall, Red Dead Redemption is a purchase for those looking for a new type of open world game. If you like the chaos of GTA or the climbing and adventuring of AC, stick to those games….or go out and buy Uncharted 1 and 2 already…(geez you cheapskates.) Oh, and yeah “There’s a Freaking Mine Cart Level!” (ed. Old West GTA-Like Game of the YEAR!)

*Note: I haven’t played the multiplayer due to continual network errors. I’ll send a follow-up when I’m finally in.

That being noted, Red Dead Redemption’s single player grade is: