On October 29, the original Red Dead Redemption was released on personal computers. 14 years have passed since the release date of the project on PS3 and Xbox 360, and the game has been released not only on PlayStation 4, but also on Nintendo Switch. However, if you prefer to play on PC and still haven't read the story of John Marston, we highly recommend doing so. Key arguments in — our article.
Game westerns are released much less frequently than films about the Wild West. High-quality projects that show real America of the second half of the 19th century can be counted on the fingers of one hand. Among them are the Call of Juarez and Desperados series, as well as GUN, a good action game with an open world.
But even against their background, the first Red Dead Redemption stands out due to its high-quality gameplay. It combines an open world, realistic horse control and first-class shootout mechanics. Even secondary entertainment in the spirit of hunting animals or catching criminals alive with a lasso fits perfectly into the realities of the late Wild West and works to immerse you in the era.
What is your favorite Western video game series?
Take the pollIn 2010, when Red Dead Redemption was released on Xbox 360 and PS3, it was perceived as a game version of the western The Wild Bunch. At the same time, its script has independent value, because there are other characters with their own views on life. Even the depressing ending is perceived as a logical conclusion.
If you are familiar with Red Dead Redemption 2, then the plot of the original project will sparkle with new colors. It reveals the further fate of John Marston, Dutch van der Linde and Bill Williamson. After 12 years, the heroes will meet again, but under different circumstances. And don't expect a peaceful get-together of old friends. If you liked the sequel, be sure to check out the first part. That way you can find out how it all ended.
In addition to the main plot, the game has many short stories with secondary characters. They turned out to be surprisingly heartfelt and touching. Moreover, stories about the difficult life of cowboys are found not only during optional quests, but also during conversations around the campfire. They make you believe in what is happening more than the most elaborate cutscene.
In the films, we were shown several times how the Wild West was dying. In addition to the aforementioned Sam Peckinpah film, we can recall the film «The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance» by John Ford. But in games before Red Dead Redemption, this topic was almost never raised. The Rockstar project combines cowboys, train robberies and bison hunts with the first cars, telegraph and other signs of civilization. At the same time, it feels like the cutthroats, who are used to raiding on horseback and hiding in the vast expanses, are becoming an alien element. Society is trying with all its might to get rid of them.
But while we've seen Wild West games before, AAA developers haven't yet turned to the Mexican Revolution of 1910-1920. And this is a very interesting period, in which the current president Porfirio Diaz was overthrown as a result of a military mutiny, after which a period of struggle for power began. In Red Dead Redemption, we see the early period of the Mexican Civil War, when the question was being decided whether the revolution would happen or be suppressed in the bud.
Open worlds are common in modern games. Even random events that surprised in 2010 no longer seem unusual. However, in Red Dead Redemption they are combined with wildlife, which lives by its own laws. For example, a man you rescued from captivity may become a victim of a pack of wolves. It is not uncommon for an angry bear to attack you while you are performing a secondary task. Defeating it is a real challenge, especially if you are not prepared to fight a predator.
I would also like to note that your mistakes can lead to unpredictable consequences. For example, if during a shootout with bandits you accidentally hit a civilian, the game will not end there. You will also have to fight off the lawmen, who now consider you a criminal. All that remains is to run into the prairies and hope that they will not be able to catch up with you.
Domestic Cruelty Is Noteverything you expect from a game about the Wild West. However, Red Dead Redemption has it, and we consider it one of the project's advantages. When a bullet hits a person, bloody wounds are visible on his body, and the skinning of animals is shown as accurately as possible. In addition, some characters are striking in their heartlessness. For example, the sheriff, who asked to deliver the criminals alive, may not send the bandits to prison, but shoot them personally to avenge the death of his partner.
According to the plot, John Marston decided to quit the life of a thug. However, no one prevents you from becoming a bandit again — attacking passing stagecoaches, robbing civilians and much more. Of course, in this case, you will have to deal with lawmen who will begin to pursue you.
Crimes affect the level of honor. With a low value of this parameter, you will not be given discounts in stores, and the reward for completing tasks will be smaller. At the same time, witnesses will be afraid of you and less likely to report offenses to the police, the fee for bribing witnesses will be lower, and the Bandit's Wharf will please with low prices. In addition, access to a unique Dark Horse with an increased health reserve and increased speed of movement over rough terrain will open.
As a rule, in westerns the narration is conducted from the point of view of a noble hero, and bandits act as an obstacle in his path. Red Dead Redemption allows you to see what is happening from the point of view of an unprincipled criminal.
Today, Rockstar games are released rarely. If you have already studied GTA 5 with its online mode inside and out, you can switch to the first Red Dead Redemption. Yes, this is a completely different game, but it has the developers' signature approach to small details, an interesting open world with random encounters and familiar shootout mechanics. A full walkthrough will take several dozen hours. It will allow you to brighten up the wait for the sixth Grand Theft Auto, which will be released in a year.
The advantages of Red Dead Redemption, which we listed above, also apply to the console versions of the game. However, today it is worth playing it on PC. Of course, this is not a remake or even a remaster. But on computers, 4K resolution and an increased frame rate of up to 144 FPS are available. It is stated that the project supports monitors with an aspect ratio of 21:9 and 32:9, as well as the HDR10 standard. If you wish, you can control the main character using a keyboard and mouse, if you find them more convenient than a gamepad.
Almost every game on PC has a lot of mods. We are sure that Red Dead Redemption will be no exception. We are waiting for improved graphics using ReShade technology, a new interface and the addition of some features from the second part. In the future, we will probably be offered more large-scale modifications. We will tell you about them in one of our future articles.
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Will you play the first Red Dead Redemption? Or have you already completed it many years ago? Share your opinions in the comments!
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