15 people found this review helpful
2 people found this review funny
Recommended
12.6 hrs last two weeks / 1,544.7 hrs on record (89.9 hrs at review time)
Posted: 2 Feb, 2020 @ 1:26am
Updated: 1 Jul, 2024 @ 5:12am

Love this game!

Going to list some good and bad points:

Good Points:
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- Graphically game is stunning, that is if you have the hardware to boot,
I'm running the game on an

- i7 -700k 4.20 cpu
- EVGA Geforce RTX 2060 12gb
- 32gb ram 3600mhz
- 1 TB SSD
- 4 500gb SSD's
- PSU 1000w

Game is smooth for me no hiccups, or stutters.
If you have low specs, low ram, no SSD, low end system then i suggest not buying the game, you not only may not be able to play it, but then the quality, and performance would be crap, and you would be frustrated because its not going to run like it should, so either upgrade ... seriously or dont by it, trust me, i've seen reviews where people complain the game runs like crap, yet they have crap hardware and they blame the game for their own lack, dont do it!

- Graphics again -
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I use a Reshade ----> https://www.nexusmods.com/reddeadredemption2/mods/96
It seriously changed how my game looks without any performance impact.
Most of my settings are in ultra except for a few.

- Gameplay -
===========
You can play in 1st & 3rd person!
i love open world, there is alot of freedom, and then there is not depending, some things i wish it was just like skyrim, open, unrestricted, drop, pickup what you like, even instead of a story, i would have preferred to have a character creation like it is online.
Besides the hunting, fishing, looting, camping, and exploring, the world has amazing detail, it seems fairly authentic to how it looked back in the day, like i would know but from documentaries, pics, ect. i'd say it seems legit.

The weapons are pretty cool overall, sound, look, and function, i dislike the automatic reload, the automatic fill my gun up with bullets when i shot 4 and have 2 remaining and i holster the gun and then pull it out and find a little gremlin has filled the gun for me, wtf
You can change that with a mod ;)
https://www.nexusmods.com/reddeadredemption2/mods/777?tab=description
Deadeye, i dont use it, i play hudless, since im an Arma fan and used to simulations, thats how i prefer it, i dont care for the deadeye, i think its just cheating, and its a fools tool, for me it breaks the immersion so im happy that you can have the option to not use it, i prefer looking at the map and using my brain. I prefer the challenge and the threat it makes you think about your tactics, and how to overcome or go about doing something.

- NPC's / AI -
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The fact that NPC's respond to you based on what you do, what you say ect,. is to me the 1st i have experienced in any game, i find it incredibly immersive, i do wish there was a bit more to it, like go into further dialogue with them, but if you keep hitting greet, or even antagonize and they will say different things.
NPC's remember you, even after you haven't been around for a while, thats all of them, if they've seen you before, if you have good honor they respond accordingly, this to me is very refreshing in a game, it makes it more as i said alive, immersive, but more interactive, also effects you emotionally to a degree.

- Animals, Hunting,Fishing, other things related -
=====================================
I mostly do hunting, and fishing, skinning animals is pretty realistic, when i skinned my first animal it was a bit gruesome to see but i got used to it, i actually felt sorry, empathetic, sad for the animals when i shot them as they do respond, i mean they cry out in pain if they are wounded, its scary real where you feel guilty, like you feel bad to have done that.

Of course you know its a game too, so still for a game to stimulate those feelings really adds to the immersion. The predators .... Scary! Wolves, bears, watch out for them, be ready!!! i dont want to say they are rare but when you do come upon them your horse will get antsy and start going crazy, best get off him and find high ground with a view and some distance. Been killed a number of times by wolves, cougars, and bears, but most encounters were warded off or i ran.

Animals are "alive" they respond like they would in real life (to a point, im no expert but its believable), predators are scary, either run like the wind or kill them! Other animals, may either ram you, bite you, or run from you, so watch your step!

- Horses -
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Horses are awesome, customize them, gear/equipment like saddle ect,. even their tail, ect,. treat your horse with respect, feed them, pat them, wash/brush them, and you will bond with them, ya its that real, theres 4 levels of bonding, after level 2 they respond to commands, you can tell them to stay, and whistle for them provided their within hearing range of you. I have 3 horses, i use all 3 at the same time, you can name them too, and tell them to follow you, and stay when i need them too.
You can individually call them, tell them to stay, ect,. but i use all 3 for hunting, for carrying pelts, and hides which will gain you more money once you sell them. Just remember your horse is everything in this game, ya you can run everywhere on foot but then why would you, the horse is pretty realistic and feels very immersive, its like riding a real horse, and yes i did when i was a kid.

- Story / Game -
=============
Story is pretty interesting, the game is fairly linear up til you get to chapter 2, as its made to be an immersive story tutorial you just dont know it, its pretty cool how they do it.
There are missions, the main quest missions with the gang your with are what progresses chapters, the story is immersive and really brings you into the game and characters emotionally, theres alot there!


- Bad Points -
===========
- Game can be linear with some missions, overall its free roam.
- I wish the game had more customization for your character instead of a set character, otherwise you can change the look of your character (Arthur Morgan)
I would rather have to create a character and spend 1-2hrs on features, looks, ect,. then just go with it, however your character's hair, beard does grow, and can be long, and you can get haircuts and shave to how you want to look, change your clothes, and there are many other customization's for weapons, gear and for the horse so thats good at least.

- Not everything is interactive.

- I hate in some instances when you setup camp in a certain spot (unlike skyrim camp mod)
where you camp, you dont end up there, its close though.
There is a mod where you can camp anywhere so if you dont plan to play online and like camping get that mod!

- Honor system needs some tweaking - dont loot knocked out people = bad honor, and dont kill horses are the two most things imo that lowers honor quickly, unless your a straight up outlaw then thats up to you.

- Time can be a bit "fast" and the weather goes with it, i mean its not super fast, but the day change still takes quite a bit, You can change it with a trainer, a good one is one that comes with scripthook rdr2 weather its pretty cool too.

- Deadeye as said before to me is stupid, it breaks the immersion, i wish it weren't in
the game but i dont use it so thats good enough.
=========

Idk what else to say here, its a good game if you have the hardware and if your into westerns, if you like western movies, or even old history then this game will be for you.
=========

Lastly
Watch this video, its 37min long, but it goes into detail, its funny as hell, but its the truth, if you have any experience with Rockstar's game this guy tells the truth on how RDR2 plays he nails it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvJPKOLDSos

Here are some resources for the game:

Mod Websites
===========
Nexus - RDR2
www.nexusmods.com/reddeadredemption2

RDR2Mods.com
www.rdr2mods.com/

Game Guide
guides.gamepressure.com/red-dead-redemption-2/

Maps
Full map
www.powerpyx.com/wp-content/uploads/red-dead-redemption-2-full-world-map.jpg

Interactive RDR2 Map
rdr2map.com/
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