Recently I started a new playthrough of Red Dead Redemption 2 and I can't believe how great the game looks. When I first completed the game when it was released, I was playing on an old tv which was only around 720p. Old reliable had been with me for years, there were a few dead pixels and some shadows on the screen but, for the most part, it was fine. I was also playing it on the Xbox one console, at the time I remember thinking how amazing the graphics were in the game. But, last year I got an Xbox one X which is 4k and to go along with the console, I bought myself a swanky new 4k LG tv I got it on sale during the January sales last year and there's a funny story about it.
So, I spent about 300 euro on the 42' model of the tv, which even at that size I thought was a bit too big for my room. I got it home and one of the first things I noticed was that the polystyrene was all broken and sellotaped back together. Not only that, someone else's Netflix was logged in. Kind of sucked, but, I decided to use it anyway, after a few days I was convinced to bring it back and exchange it as anything could happen to it. (good thing I did) bringing it back and letting the shop know what had happened they said sadly we don't have this one in stock, but, we do have the 50' version of the same tv. We said we didn't have the money for that and they said, no it's a free replacement. Thank you Harvey Normands. It was kind of them. When I first set it up I kind of thought it was a bit too big for my room, but, I'll survive. lol.
Playing the story on the new setup was something I was avoiding for a long time I had too many games that I was playing and just not enough time to get to it, also, I don't think I was mentally ready to go back to Arthur, the poor guy. (if you haven't played the game, probably a good idea not to read this since there'll most likely be spoilers.)
I'm only in the early stages of the game, currently, I just reached valentine, I decided after finishing it the first time around that I would come back someday for another playthrough but, this time I'll do all the things I missed out on. I got to a point where I was really enjoying the story, but, sure enough, spoilers were popping up online. Which is so annoying when you have something you just want to go along with blind.
So, I did what any normal person would do. I flew through the games main missions and avoided all social media for the next couple of days. In doing that though, I missed out on a lot, hunting legendary animals, side missions, random encounters and just being lost in the world of RDR 2 in general. Which by the way is so easy to do, the sound design, soundtrack and just general aesthetics of the game do transport you to the wild west, I loved every minute of it. The attention to the smallest details really does give you a feeling of being truly immersed in the game.
Small things like when you're riding along with someone, they'll talk normally, but, if you got a bit away they'll start shouting their lines a bit louder and if you're really far they'll nearly start screaming them, until stopping to tell you to catch up as their throat is getting sore. Meaning that all the dialogue used while riding along was recorded 3 times each, which to me is pretty remarkable. It's just one example of how much the creators put into this game.
I would love nothing more than them to announce some kind of DLC, I wouldn't even mind how much it would cost. But, I know that is very unlikely. I remember back when I first finished the game I thought two places they could go with DLC was either Sadie Adler, or Charles, I can't remember why, or what it was they said near the end of the game. I can kind of remember though that they each told John that they were going off to do some stuff. Sadie for example is kitted out and would be an interesting bounty hunter storyline, I can't remember what Charles said he was going to do. If you remember don't tell me because for this playthrough I'd like to remain blind to all those little details I've forgotten.
Red Dead Online
Some friends decided to install RDR again and came on to play some online last night with me, I got really bored of it back the last time I played it because I remember there being nothing to do. I kept hearing about the latest updates and was tempted many times to re-install it, but didn't. Now though, it seems like they've added a good bit of stuff. Some of the lads went into the clothes shop kitted out in all-new outfits which, I have to say do look pretty cool, I skimmed through the weapons and saw they had added some new ones.
We got bored at one point and started lassoing each other, which to me was the last thing I remember doing before uninstalling the game because that's how bored we use to get. It's funny, for a hot minute, so I had to catch myself and stop the lads. Instead, we went and started doing some missions for random NPCs that are dotted around the map. At one point we were escorting a caravan, now, it's not the most exciting job. But, then a fog rolled in, I'm not joking the game turned into a horror game, we all had to go into the first person to truly appreciate the lighting. It was so dark, apart from the moon beaming light down on us through the trees and we were all blown away by it.
After that we took on a few bounties and even a legendary one, it was a challenge even for the 3 of us and was a bit of fun and at the very least something else to do. The game does need more, but, it's good to see that it's getting it. All be it slowly.
Maybe all of these things aren't enough to make a game good, but, I do think RDR has improved with some new well deserved additions to the online. The general consensus amongst gamers is that Rockstar is evil now and that they only care about GTA 5 because that's where their bread is buttered, with the micro-transactions. I think it's true, but for anyone that thinks RDR2 is a dead game, I think it's time to give it another go and bring a few friends along for the ride.
