Red Dead Redemption II: A masterpiece of a game

Throughout my life, I have only played a select handful of video games from start to finish. Some were better than others, and so some left more of an impact than others, with Red Redemption II being perhaps the most complete game I’ve ever played. While this game may have been released about four years ago, there is still much to appreciate about it.  

Both Red Redemption II and the original version are masterpieces, though what allowed the second game of the series to be exceptionally memorable was the storyline; not to break down the entire plot, but the base of the game was gaining a greater understanding of the roots of the protagonist from the original game, John Marston, though you additionally learn the origins of a new character, Arthur Morgan. 

Arthur Morgan was a unique experience, because I, like many other players, went into the game expecting to play as Marston. As someone who doesn’t prefer change, I definitely was unsure of what to make of the new character. As the story developed and an accumulation of missions were completed, a greater appreciation of Morgan was gained. What allowed him to be so memorable was that he was not just another stereotypical cowboy, looking to find himself in a scuffle whenever triggered; rather, he was typically level-headed and only fought when pushed to do so.  

While the cutaway scenes where the characters spoke were amazing, what additionally made the plot of the game unique was how the player decided to approach it. If one decided to aimlessly attack civilians and frequently commit crimes, then their honor was diminished, which altered how the plot of the game would play out. This proved to make all the difference when Morgan’s inevitable death occurs as his ending is altered based on previous choices of the player.  

Beside the main plot, the side missions of the game were also exceptionally interesting. They ranged from helping men recover their stolen horses, to fighting backwoods mutants, to my personal favorite, which occurred at the Aberdeen farm; it takes place at the home of two incestuous siblings who attempt to lure the player inside. Upon taking a (poisoned) drink, the player wakes up unconscious with all their money stolen. From there revenge is possible, and how it is approached is what allows for a unique experience. 

Besides the story, the mechanics of the game are stunning, as it seems there isn’t an aspect that passed over the heads of the developers of the game. When riding a horse, if a player veers too close to a tree, rather than miraculously be swayed in another direction, they instead will go flying off the horse, to then face plant into the trunk. Or if a player decides to take no caution near the edge of a cliff, they will plummet to the ground below. 

As previously stated, I never have been much of a gamer, but an exception had to be made when it came to Red Dead Redemption II. Had I the choice to forget it all and play it with a fresh mind, I’d play again.

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