Red Dead Redemption 2 is not just a game that you buy, play, and move away from. This is my personal story of how I had to patiently wait months before I could devote enough time to fully enjoy this masterpiece.
Had I known what I was putting aside, I would have not waited for so long before I picked it up again. I would have made time for it, no matter what. It deserves it! Yet, I am glad I saved (unintentionally) this game for exactly this time and situation that I and the whole world are in right now. Why? Please, keep reading to find out!
Note: I kept this story as clean from spoilers as I possibly could. There might be a few tiny details, but I believe you should read this freely without being afraid of any unwanted reveals.
The first Red Dead Redemption was released back in the Spring of 2010. I wanted to try it out, but I never owned a console (I still don’t have one, D’OH!). That was the reason I skipped it. Friends and fans have told me countless times that I am missingout on a masterpiece.
Another reason was Star Wars: The Old Republic, of course. The year 2010 was marked with quite a few announcements and teases about the then still upcoming title from BioWare and most of my gaming ambitions and attention was still focused on SWTOR.
LOTRO was also a big part of my gameplay activities in 2010 as I was shaping up to be one of the better Champions in the Ettenmoors (the PvP-only area) on my server.
So, days, weeks and even years passed and I forgot more or less about this game. The second game launched in 2018 and was a console-exclusive for a long time as well, but I had my other available games and upcoming releases to keep me entertained back then, so I didn’t feel too bad about it.
Then, fast-forward to some time in Autumn of 2019 when I heard that Red Dead Redemption 2 would be released for PC. I thought this is my chance!
So, I pre-ordered it. Not for the bonuses, of course. When I know I will play a game, it puts my mind at ease knowing I have secured it for myself. Not that digital copies ever run out or expire, pff.
The quickest and most simple description of Red Dead Redemption 2 I can give before I move on to the more important parts of my story is that this is a Western-themed action-adventure game set in an open-world environment featuring a fictionalized version of the Western, Midwestern and Southern United States in 1899, during the latter half of the Wild West era and the turn of the twentieth century.
The game features both single-player and online multiplayer components, the latter released under Red Dead Online.
For most of the game, the player controls outlaw Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang. Outside of missions, the player may freely roam its interactive world. For more, you’d better visit Wikipedia or even better, play the game yourself.
RDR2 released for PC in early November of 2019. I really wanted to spend some time with it, but my engagements at work with a few projects on a short deadline as well as my gaming life in SWTOR and Anthem kept me away from it for the most part.
SWTOR had just launched its expansion Onslaught and Anthem was getting out of its Helloween themed event and about to go into Icetide (the Winter event).
When RDR2 launched on PC, I did spend some time with it. My playtime ended around the 20-25 hour mark. Not because I was not enjoying it. I simply noticed how deep, slow and engaging its gameplay and narrative are. I had to put it away and return to it when I find more time to properly enjoy it.
A few months later we all ended up “working from home” or just “staying at home”, because you know what happened in February and March to our real world situation.
I was sitting at home, in front of the PC one Saturday morning, wondering if I should play a bit of Anthem or level up my newest Marauder character (ninth for me) in SWTOR.
Then, as I opened my GOG Galaxy 2.0 client to the “Installed Games, my eyes suddenly froze on top of the bright red poster with the tough cowboy aiming his gun at me.
The first thought that passed through my mind was “Damn, it kind of looks like Arthur is telling me to play his game or else”.
Working from home meant I am saving a ton of time from commuting to and from work. Pretty much all of my other activities out of my home are on hold or canceled too. I have plenty of time to spend on things that I had been putting off for various reasons lately.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is not just a game. It’s not simply the next title you would go through in a few days. Once finished, it does not let you go. You don’t want to switch to the next title in your list or return to a previous game and continue playing it.
What can I tell you about the narrative in RDR2. It’s at the same time incredibly slow-paced (a little bit annoying at times), but also very engaging, entertaining and romantic. Romantic not in the traditional sense, but the kind that reminds you how once the world was way simpler, more raw and even idealistic in a way.
Based on the Rockstar’s launcher stats I have spent about 86 hours in RDR2 so far. That’s just me doing the main story, a bit of exploration, some side quests and a little hunting.
I absolutely loved the main character Arthur and all of the interactions between him and Dutch’s gang in the camp or anywhere else throughout the story.
All the conversations Rockstar nailed to the last word and the voice actors performed so well, that it made me feel as if I myself am speaking the words that come out of Arthur’s mouth some times.
I cannot spoil the ending for you for obvious reasons, but would you believe me if I tell you that I sat through all the credits in the end and did not press to skip? I watched them all. For about 30-40 minutes (not sure, really, didn’t time it exactly).
Even the credits at the end rolled in the same way as the whole narrative of Red Dead Redemption 2. Slow. So slow. Yet at the same time somehow magically keeping me glued to my chair. The short cinematic scenes spread across the credits were also a great idea.
I am so far from completing the game’s million challenges, I have not even crafted everything I can yet. I need to hunt more! I wont even mention the countless side missions, random encounters and events that you stumble upon.
One piece of advice from me – if you do enjoy this game, do everything you can in it before moving on with the story. Some events are unique to the time period you are currently in and will not be available later.
I’ve never been a huge fan of Western movies, with a few classic exceptions, of course. I love nature. RDR2 offered me exactly what I needed in the perfect time I needed it.
The wilderness, the vast green fields and unspoiled forests – the feel to be out in the nature. All of this in a moment when I have to stay at home as much as possible.
The graphics are simply amazing. The animations are exact and realistic. Everything is very immersive. Rockstar did not spare any efforts on creating this beautiful fictional world.
Finishing RDR2’s story made me feel similar as to what I felt when I finished The Witcher 3‘s story for the first time.
I did not want it to end!
I strongly urge you to give Red Dead Redemption 2 a go. If for one reason or another you have been putting this game on the sidelines, stop doing it.
I put the game aside, not because I was bored with it, but because it literally eats up all of your free time. I remember waking up some times in the morning and my first though going directly to Arthur’s current or next mission.
I am going to start Arthurs’ adventures for a second time as soon as I am done with this article. This time I plan to do as many side activities, achievements and collections as I possibly could.
If this story made you check the game out, I’d love to hear what you think of it. If you have already played and replayed it fifteen times, tell me about your favorite moments!
If you have not yet picked it up, you can buy Red Dead Redemption 2 at a discounted price from literally everywhere.
One of the most fun and fundamental mechanics in the game is about the Dead Eye ability. I have a detailed guide on how Dead Eye works in RDR2, describing what it does, how to level it up and upgrade its tiers and, of course, some more advanced tips and tricks to get the maximum out of it.
