The Critics Winner For The Game Of The Year 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2

The Critics Winner For The Game Of The Year 2018: Red Dead Redemption 2

It has been almost six years since the last Grand Theft Auto game was released back in September of 2013 and Rockstar Games have been teasing the second edition of Red Dead Redemption since then. Rockstar Games are notorious for making their fans wait excruciatingly long for their games ever since Rockstar Games became the most prominent developers with titles like GTA 5, GTA 4 and the original Red Dead Redemption. The game sold over 17 million copies within the first two weeks and over 24 million copies sold as of May 2019. To say that Red Dead Redemption 2 was a commercial success is an understatement. The game is available on PS-4 and Xbox One.

The game takes place in the United States around the Nineteenth century with Outlaws, Gunslingers, sheriffs, and Gangs rampaging all over the Wild West. The Action RPG is a third person shooting classic just like its predecessor. The one aspect that Rockstar Games never fails to deliver is the open world aspect of games, and Red Dead Redemption 2 depicts gameplay of untouched natural scenery contrasted with the filthy farmhouses and towns. The graphics are next level considering the massive open world created by Red Dead Redemption 2. The combat system like any good Rockstar RPG revolves around guns and shooting. Classic six-shooters, pistols, rifles, Gatling guns, bows, shotguns, and a few melee weapons are available to the player and the returning special ability called ‘Dead Eye’ which slows down time and marks fatal body organs of enemies. The shooting mechanics can switch from First-person shooting to Third-person shooting making the combat system immersive and flexible.

The game takes place before the events of Red Dead Redemption  1 and has Arthur Morgan as the playable protagonist. The plot revolves around Van der Linde gang led by a charismatic side character called Dutch Van der Linde. With every mission or event, the gang falls apart with botched heists and betrayal as Arthur attempts to preserve his gang and save the lives of his friends, but he is infected by Tuberculosis. The plot has unpredictable twists and the story is filled with treasons, ambushes, and betrayals. The Game Awards 2018 gave Red Dead Redemption the award for Best Narrative. Red Dead Redemption also won the Critics Choice awards at the Golden Joystick Awards as well as several awards for its musical scores.

Red Dead Redemption 2 also offers a multiplayer element with the name Red Dead Online that allows you to customize characters and explore the artificial Wild Wild West with other players forming a posse. There can be almost 16 players on one server doing missions on Red Dead Online.

REVIEW

Red Dead Redemption 2 narrowly lost out to the PS-4 exclusive God of War 4 for the Game of the Year award. However, Red Dead is the critics’ winner for Game of the Year. It is evident that Rockstar games have spent the last 4-5 years perfecting the game as it won accolades for its story and musical scores. The combat system is typical of Rockstar Games and the Open World might be the best we have seen in the last five years. Unfortunately, the fans are distressed with Rockstar Games for not giving clear dates for the release of GTA 6. People have mixed opinions about GTA 6 with some fans convinced that if Rockstar Games takes any longer with the next edition, fans will lose interest in the franchise. Red Dead gives hope to the fans as the second edition was released a staggering eight years after the first and was miles ahead of the original. It is very unfortunate for a game of this caliber to be immediately compared to titles like GTA- 5 and GTA-4, but such is the fate of every Rockstar Game.

Graphics:-9.5/10

Playability:-9.5/10

Lore/Story:-10/10

Characters/ Voicing:-9.5/10

World Design:-10/10

Total:-48.5/50