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Rating

Very Nice graphics, gameplay..havent had much time to play multiplayer but it looks well worth a shot…Def one you woulda wanted pre-ordered!

Rating

This game is well worth the money. it’s packed with goals and objectives which lead to powerups. powerups??? is this mario?? no, for an example, one goal is getting parts to a certain type of outfit that will enable you to cheat at poker. another outfit will let you infiltrate a certain gang without being killed… that sort of thing.

The story is captivating from the first minute. it’s like you get to play through “Hang ‘Em High” and all the other spaghetti westerns, but it’s definitely it’s own story.

Multiplayer is fun and addictive. the free roam mode is a fun and innovative replacement for the stale lobby screens most multiplayer games use.

Rating

This game has the potential for 40-60 hours of play easily, with lots of achievements and tons of fun. Based on the popular open world style and functionality of GTA, fans of that genre will love the story, missions, side missions, and mini-games in Red Dead just as much or even better. This is by far the best old west video game ever created.

Rating

I freakin’ love this game. The graphics are amazing and the game play is outstanding. I’ve been playing if for over 18 hours and I’m not even close to being finished with it. So much to do and it doesn’t get old. You truly feel like you’re in the old West. If you’re a fan of Grand Theft Auto IV you’ll love this game. It’s different but also the same, in a great way. RockStar games is brilliant!

Rating

As a pretty novice and laid back gamer, RDR is phenomenal. The game overall is top rate. Instead of rehashing the great features, I’ll focus on the negatives:

1. Suffers from what I call “GTA-ism”…fun to kill, loot, rob and just cause overall anarchy; but the novelty wears off fast. It would be nice to have intelligent law enforcement for once…something to make you think and plan besides just shooting an official every 10 seconds while you hide behind a railing.

2. Automatic save function should have a “roll back” feature. I went rogue on my “honorable” game and foolishly shot a bird to complete one of my quests which automatically saved the game. (Yes, I should have manually saved the game first, lesson learned)

3. Enemies are somewhat stupid. They are easy to kill. Haven’t encountered a mission that was hard to complete.

4. Not a fan of the “on/off” mission status in respect to AI interaction (applies to all GTA games). For example, I returned a hogtied robber to a store owner and once the mission completes, she just kicks him for hours. It seems like I should be able to interact with her post-mission the same way I did during the mission or at the very least, be optioned to “honorably” beat the robber along with the store owner.

5. Random world events should be longer and harder to complete. Most are easy.

6. Not sure why there is only one train, seems like having additional trains would be better.

7. “Stranger” missions are just that, strange. Most are funny, but confusing.

8. Money is pretty easy to come by, seems like it should be more of a factor.

9. Dueling feature is easy, should be harder. Guaranteed kill.

Rating

Red Dead Redemption is great open world RPG. The characters, story line and graphics provide many hours of gaming satisfaction. One of the best. Highly recommended.

Rating

It’s Grand Theft Auto on Horses! It is the most versatile, creative game I have ever played. Don’t be surprised if the first time your horse dies you cry or curse out loud . I did one or the other. (My pride prohibits me from revealing which). RIP Mr. Ed. if you like role playing games and an open environment, you won’t be disappointed.

Rating

Really projects the feel of a gunman in the Wild West.

I’m a heavy-duty gamer, have all the best selling games for PS3 and XB360 and this is the one of the best, most interesting that I’ve ever played. IF you can enjoy the Western setting then this offers days or weeks of interesting play, amazing graphics and interesting tasks. It’s not perfect and I’d rate it 4.75 / 5 if amazon allowed finer ratings. It’s definately not for children, totally adult content. The negatives are minor, some repetitive play/scenes, I wish the targeting / contols were better (finer tuned) , and the multi-player is disappointing (simple, too short, limited scope)…. but the single-play mode is totally absorbing.. I played it non-stop for 3 days (and it tell’s me, I’ve completed about 30% of the game)… So many roles to play, sub-games, and large, free-roaming landscape to cover. The animation is smooth and very detailed, riding the horse is fun, and enjoyable even for the longer trips, the acting/voices are very well done (with some repetition, due to the free form design). I’ve enjoyed the main story line and tasks, been a member of a posse, encountered many interesting and a few creep/weird , characters, played poker, black-jack, horse shoes; ridden the train, stagecoach, driven cattle, hunted animals (been killed by several), seen some horrible scenes of violence (and gotten to take revenge/ justice for them), been a bronco-buster, capturing wild horses, and much more.

I camped out (in the game) and watched a beautiful thunderstorm in the middle of the night , for a long time, just enjoying the sight and sound. I replay segments so I can see more detail or do better to see the effect in change of course and outcome. I just completed a mission (capturing a live-bounty) that was the most difficult so far, took 10-12 retrys, but this was not tedious , but a fun time, developing a strategy to take out all the gang members (kill them) and only wound the target , then I had to lasso and hog-tie him , while he’s shooting at me. Was a great hour or so of play.

It’s one of the most interesting, absorbing, fun and varied games ever, and will be a classic, might be most comparable, on the same level as Uncharted 2. Enough depth to keep a gamer interested for weeks.. and RDR has a replay value of 4.5, some of the tasks have different outcomes (such as trying to save a hostage), depending on your performance (you may kill the bad guys, but if it’s not fast enough , they’ll kill the hostage etc.). The game is designed for the best game-play experience (rather than realistic), it provides automatic targeting, super-health ability to withstand wounds, you can whistle and your horse will come instantly to you, regardless of where you are and how far you’ve traveled. All these make the game play funner and removes the tedium of many games that are more realistic and force a higher degree of skill development, in this game, it’s certainly the right decision.

It will be a while before I find another game this far above the others in the both fun play and great graphics (though it’s only 720, not 1080 which would have been amazing to see).

Totally recommended without reservation.

PROS

+ Stunningly great visuals, landscapes

+ Great voice acting and and story (I love and hate the characters)

+Best open world in a video game to date

+ Stereo sound is great, you can tell the exact direction of gunfire, the soundtrack is very nice.

+Many side quests, games and work activities

+Great playability (balanced with difficulty), great depth of combat and great replay value

+ Awesome, deep combat

Cons

- Occasional repetition

- Overloaded controller assignments

- some will find it too easy

In summary, one of the most engaging and enjoyable open-world environments in PS3 gaming.

Rating

I love this game and it has nothing to do with GTA… dont hesitate to get this one!

Rating

Is one of the most exited game I ever play. Great history and grafics counts with a solid multiplayer. If you are fan of the sandbox like games don’t doubt in buy this title.

Rating

This game by far is the best western game I have ever played. And one of the best games I have overall played. This game is so polished that it was hard to tell it was a game even tho their was a few bugs but thats what to expect from a game this massive. Rockstar has put their time into this game and they did a great job. Their is so much to do that I dont think I will be done with this game this summer. Overall this game is a masterpiece and a must have for all shooter/western fans or people that just want a great game. I would rate this game a 9.8 a very amazing game.

Rating

This game is simply exquisit!! Product was perfect, no damages at all! Quickly delivered!! I recomend!

Rating

There are so many things to do in this game,you can easily play it for hours and not even do the main quests. 5 stars for this one

Rating

Phenomenal game, great story, graphics, and gameplay (though the cover controls can be sticky). Amazing replay value throughout collectibles and online play.

Rating

This game rocks. Its like GTA on a horse. Graphics are great, ……my only drawback though, was after many hours of playing, it did seem to get a bit repetitive. overall, this game IS one of the best ive played in a while !!!

Rating

I saw this game advertised in the Paris subway and checked it out when I returned to the States. The single player setup is a complex, cinematic storyline with all kinds of optional subplots. Pretty addictive for the most part, but not all that challenging. I’m guessing it will take about 30 hours to complete. The multi-player is probably where this game has its most potential. Unfortunately I’m not a multi-player dude so I can’t comment on it.

Whatever else can be said about the game, it is aesthetically beautiful. You won’t be disappointed.

Rating

seemingly endless fun. extremely thorough graphics. great fun in multiplayer. well worth the money.

Rating

This game is really fun to play. It gives you a whole new experience and is worth every penny.

Rating

I was one who drained the life out of Activision’s 2005 release “GUN”. It held at the time the best Western experience in my opinion and since then I have been dying for another release of the classic genre. Rockstar San Diego has added an additional classic to the dying genre. Those who have played GTA series will adapt to the gameplay and controls with ease, this includes an auto targeting system who can be modified to an expert difficulty and a cover system.

First thing is that Red Dead Redemption’s sandbox is beautiful with the world beaming with wildlife and interesting NPCs with different accents and looks depending which of the three regions they come from. What is also included is an added Fame and Honour system which is affected by your behaviour and actions. You can also interact with any of the 40 plus wildlife with killing then skinning the animals for their fur/meat and various other parts. You can also hunt down and kill or capture criminals of the law.

Finally, the story is set at the turn of the 20th century where the land is giving way to the advancing government and the incoming Industrial Age. You play as John Marston forced back into the saddle on a personal matter (say no more).

However, some bugs do exist and the gameplay and controls can be chubby at times. These tend to affect the textures which I think ruins the overall presentation of this fine game and the cover system at times doesn’t work which can be frustrating, especially when under fire. I have also come across the occasional cut-scenes that have characters missing (American Appetite?).

With bugs and issues aside the gameplay and the experience of this open-world Western epic is fantastic and by far one of the more enjoyable games available. I’m thrilled that Rockstar San Diego has answered the call with their release which is undoubtedly the best Western release yet which is unfortunately a dying genre. The sandbox beams with life around every corner and there is always plenty to do whether its murdering, foraging, hunting, the story or just free-roaming your bound to enjoy it!

Rating

amazing story line… nice action scenes… its just like GTA but in the far west…

If you liked GTA, you will love this one.

Rating

I am already 7 hours into the game since the midnight release. Here are my thoughts so far…get this game..form a posse..and rule the wild west..instead of looking at reviews you should just get up and buy it. Though there are many similarities between the grand theft auto series and red dead redemption, red dead redemption can stand up proudly by itself. The massive sandbox map and the variety of tasks at hand can make this game way too awesome at times. This isn’t a bad thing as you will always have something to do but it adds stress to the gamer with so many options. I dont want to ruin anything but I will say that this game is funny, full of action, full of choices, and anything I say won’t do this game any justice. Just buy it yourself and you’ll see what I mean. Theres just too much to do and I can’t fit it all into words.

Rating

This game is everything you could want if you ever wanted to experience a Western. A deep story, great setting and nice characters. The game is your typical “Sandbox” style game which means they drop you into an area and you basically can do whatever you want, with some consequences. As John Marston, you have to help or rob them. The basic game revolves around you riding around doing quests and other things. It is extremely similar to Grand Theft Auto in that you grab a horse and ahead out to do storyline missions to advance the plot. Their are random encounters along the way, gang hideouts you can do like “dungeons.” Their are also lots of missions where you have to round up cattle, break in horses and many other things. The game auto aims your gun for the most part so if you don’t like shooters have no fear, you can also turn this off if you want to for a more shooter style experience. Their is so much to this game its hard to write it all down, but trust me, you will enjoy it.

Multiplayer wise its pretty good as well. You are dropped in an open map and wander around killing bad guys and gathering plants for xp. Their are objectives and challenges and other players can “posse” up with you to have a group going. Their are also standalone death matches for solo play and team play, and again these auto aim so their good for people who dont like shooters. As you gain XP you unlock more outfits and horses as well as titles.

The downsides to this game are pretty rare but they do exists. Their are graphically glitches constantly. People will disappear and will become a floating gun or broomstick that is actually kinda funny. Sometimes after completing a quest the game will lock up on a loading screen and you cant do anything. If you accidentally wander into a quest area you may be forced to complete that quest even if its out of order or the game will not let you continue at all.

Overall I love this game. It is a great experience for anyone who wants to do anything from the old west or is just looking for a good open game. I finished the main game and all side quests and challenges in around 50 hours for those of you looking for a time line. But their is a bunch of stuff to do even after this.

Rating

For me, GTA was a fun series a few years ago, but I had dropped out of it since it seemed to be getting too repetitive & too similar. So, I was super-excited when I heard they were making Red Dead Redemption, but then disappointed when the release date kept getting pushed back. Thankfully it has been worth the wait!

The missions for the most part are good & action-packed. Generally they involve shooting a lot of bad guys, who are all displayed with red dots on your map. The red dots make it easy to find them/ count how many are left to shoot. A few of the Bonnie missions are dull, slow, boring and involve general farmhand stuff, but thankfully that’s pretty early on in the game.

Something as mundane as riding around in the desert from town to town is actually fun. The scenery is beautiful and epic. I can waste hours just riding around the countryside helping people out, hunting down escaped prisoners, or hunting animals. The hunting aspect is surprisingly fun & addictive, and hunting is a very entertaining way to rack up some money if you need it.

Normally side games are lame and not-interesting, but here in RDR – Poker, Blackjack, Liar’s Dice, Horseshoes, Arm Wrestling – are fun and pretty realistic. Liar’s Dice is a game I’d never heard of before, but it’s really fun, and I think would be a great drinking game with friends.

For my first play-through, I’ve been trying to be as honorable as possible, but occasionally an innocent bystander will get whacked (sorry about that). Another thing to note is that you can’t use cheats in this game if you want to save & progress on the storyline. I haven’t found the need, though, to cheat like in GTA with full ammo, full health, reduce wanted level, etc. If you are interested in the cheats, search online for more details.

For some people who complained that the targeting was difficult, if you double-tap the L2 button, the game does a great job of locking right on to the target – actually almost too good of a job. There is no overall easy/medium/hard Difficulty setting on this game. I’m generally so-so at video games, especially as I’m now in my 30′s and can’t devote hours-upon-hours to gaming like I did in college. Thankfully RDR is not a throw-down-the-controller-because-you’re-so-angry difficulty. In fact, if you’re a hardcore gamer, you might think it’s too easy (?).

I haven’t touched the online multi-player yet. The single player is so engrossing right now, and I’m generally not a fan of online shooters – and also because I suck at them. So if you are really into that genre, you’re probably better off sticking to Call Of Duty or Battlefield 2. I assume most people aren’t buying this game for multi-player though.

For a few of my negatives, the cut-scenes are slow-moving. The talking & overall flow of them just seems so s-l-o-w. I wish there was a double-time option for it. But you can skip them altogether, and then review the dialogue in the journal later if needed. Also, I wish you could just press select to get to the Map instead of having to go through Start -> Map. I’ve only had the game lock up on me once; once isn’t bad, but glitch-free would be ideal.

Also, I’m a big fan of customizing your character, or better yet, creating your own guy altogether. I wish we’d have had that option in this game. As it is now, you can really only change your outfits as you unlock them. A huge Rollie Fingers mustache would be an awesome choice.

For the full price of admission, I am definitely getting my money’s worth on Red Dead Redemption. It is literally hours-upon-hours of fun. I have been staying up way too late playing RDR, which unfortunately leads to a rough time going to work the next morning! Highly recommended.

Rating

It’s not every day that you see a game so original, so unique and so ‘fun’, you’re wandering why didn’t anyone else think of that until now. Red Dead Redemption deserves a 5 stars not only because it falls into a class of its own – ever played a Western RPG on a console? I didn’t think so – but because it’s stunningly good when it comes to its taking advantage of PS3′s capabilities, because of its most innovative story line, its unparalleled humor and the games ability to fully transport the player right in the middle of late 19th century Texas, living inside a Western story plot. But, since it all takes place on a huge open map and because you are in control of your character, just about anything can happen and you almost always have a say in it. So, expect to have A LOT of fun and occasionally to go into the ‘wow’ mode as you are playing it.

The funny thing is that I didn’t play the game myself a lot because I’m still hooked into Demon’s Souls but I’ve watched my son playing it and watching him playing was almost indistinguishable from watching a movie, that’s how good the PS3 rendition is. Only when I yelled ‘shoot him’, unlike in a movie, I could see it happen.

When you play this game it feels like you are really living someone’s real life. You don’t always have to stick to the story line. You are allowed to break free of the story line for a while and go back to it when you feel you are ready. Red Dead Redemption holds very many things to do on the side like maybe a few hands of Texas hold ‘em in a cantina, South of the border but, beware, there’s cheating going on and keep your watch on the game, ignore the senoritas . So, it will take you a very long time to be bored.

Multiplayer holds games that you can play with other people. You can do team death match and many more types of game modes. While in multiplayer you can start a gang and go around and do things around the map. Just about anything goes, from destroying fortresses full of gang members to fighting off waves of wild animals in hunting grounds. If you can somehow get bored of doing that you can saddle up your horse and try to assassinate anyone in multiplayer with you.

So, if you are into ‘Western’, shooters and wide open world RPGs, this game is it and it’s having it all: local color, accents, dialogue, shooting action and lots of unexpected thrills but I won’t be spoiling anyone’s fun by disclosing too much.

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Note on language:

The ‘M’ rating is fully earned because the game makes no compromises. Most cowboys didn’t complete finishing schools and the game makes them talk like they did in ‘real life’. When characters talk it’s not just their accent that’s authentic. It’s not only 4-letter words but also some quite frank talk that most parents would rather not have their kids hear and then ask questions about .

Rating

Red Dead Redemption lives up to the hype. The game is deep and full of enough varying challenges that it can suit any mood the gamer has. If you want to hunt down crimimals, go see the marshall. If you want to practice using the lasso, go round up some horses. Don’t feel like getting into anything real active and intense, go get in on a game of Texas Hold’em. Story line is great and the game is not overloaded with cut scenes, but has enough to make sure you feel like you are part of a story and playing a movie. Great graphics, great game play, get this game!

Rating

Just when I thought the race for best game of 2010 ended before It had even started (I’m sorry but until, RDR nothing lived up to Mass Effect 2 for me!) Rockstar Games sucker punches me with Red Dead Redemption. A game that I had written off as Grand Theft Horse prior to release.

This game wasn’t really on my radar at all. I recently came to the conclusion that I don’t really care for Grand Theft Auto games and what I saw of early screen shots and videos led me to believe that this was just GTA re-skinned. When I went to pick up my Alan Wake Pre-order I decided at the last minute to plop down the $$ for RDR. and boy, am I glad I did.

Red Dead Redemption is absolutely one of the greatest games I’ve ever played. The Graphics are among the best I’ve seen this year, the controls are excellent, the story is well paced, and features some of the best voice acting I’ve experienced. The open world is HUGE!! There is so much to do and see and you’ll actually want to do and see it all. I’m not really a gamer who feels the need to 100% a game but I am trying with this one.

A lot of reviews say that the game is glitchy. Yes, it is. Sometimes you’ll find John Marston stuck in the environment, or a character will die if you lasso them. but none of this is enough to detract from the game it’s self. Once you start the story you will not be able to stop. With out spoiling anything the ending is beyond satisfying!

What I’m trying to say is if you don’t have this game in your library you are missing out. It’s not only one of the best games of the year but one of the best i’ve EVER played!

Rating

I have to say that this is one of the best games I have ever played. The story line is excellent and really keeps you hooked and motivated. The setting is great, and you really feel like you are in the West. On top of that, the graphics are astounding. The game play is intuitive, and very natural. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a unique game that is extremely fun and appealing.

Rating

Outstanding game non stop action and adventure. Graphics are astounding , free to travel where ever you want whenever you want ,choose any mission or challenge or bounty hunt you want. all kinds of wild animals all over ,, in north parts great snow covered landscapes is great beautiful rivers and waterfalls. coyotes, bears , cougars , beavers , , rattlesnakes , rams , elks , deers , etc. mission difficulty is for the most part moderately easy , a scarce few are a little tougher and may need to be done a few times over. found that the bounty hunts were maybe the toughest . weapons were great and plentiful , never ever seem to run out of ammunition which was great. Love the option of Playing Poker ,, Blackjack , Liars dice and being able to have a Drink at any Bar in any town !!I finished most of challenges and strangers missions for most part except a couple. 1 for some reason i couldn’t figure out was the Treasure map which said to look in NEW AUSTIN for it but i never seem to locate NEW AUSTIN anywhere on the map. Anyone else have that problem? anyway great game , BUY IT !! ending was actually a bit touching believe it or not ,, Finale obviously leaves doors open for Sequels to come in future , which is great . I love western Games !!

Rating

This is an open world game set in the early 1900s as industry and “civilization” begin to push at the borders of the “wild west”. The “old” west certainly is the right setting for this open world game environment, which is quite large. Your character, John Marston, is a reformed outlaw who cannot escape his bloody past. Pretty standard western fare, but the freedom in the game makes it feel pretty authentic. You can follow the main story mission by going to locations on your map that correspond to the other characters in the game. These “acts” are varied and fun. They give you a good sense of the characters, their motivations and you begin to get a better sense of Mr. Marston as you play through them. I really liked the story and the way that the game segued from one location to another. You might ride along with a posse and banter with a deputy who you do not have a high opinion of or ride shotgun on a stagecoach and talk about local politics. There is no dialog for you to direct. John Marston says what he says, but listening in helps you feel what the character is going through. I especially liked the songs (with lyrics) as I rode into a new important part of the game, made me feel a little like Clint in a spaghetti western.

Of course, there is a lot of violence and you will probably kill hundreds of men, women and animals when all is said and done. You are free to roam about and you will come across indigenous life and local folks that need assistance either in the form of your help or your money/life. You can take bounties and hunt down criminals and take them dead or alive. Their requisite gangs will usually requiring killing. Gunfighting is a little bothersome at first, but once you get the hang of it you can disarm enemies, shoot their hat off or just pump lead into their head. You will ride horses, herd cattle and lasso animals and people alike and much of it is entirely up to you. There is also a time-slowing feature that you can use at any time (if you have your meter filled) to allow you to take out groups of bad guys (or lawmen) in authentic western gunman fashion.

My only complaint is that my old eyes could not always see my enemies from a distance, but the “auto-aim” feature helps. Also beware of wolves (in packs), cougars (in pairs) and bears (in herds?). The bears were the worst. I would find one and shoot it and as I approached 3 more would attack me. It happened too often not to become annoying. I also hated the Gatling gun, but that’s probably just my poor eyesight and reflexes.

The game is fun and not too difficult to play. You can get many hours (my first run through was about 47 hours) and you will enjoy the story and the ending. I thoroughly enjoyed this game and have started to play through it again. If you like open world adventure or just a good western yarn, you have come to the right place.

Rating

I’m a reader. A good game is like a good book except instead of turning pages, the participant controls parts of the story. Plus, part of the enjoyment comes from mastering the controls, solving the puzzles, making the right choices to advance the story. If the game is well written it’s that much better. When everything comes together, the story line, the writing, the game construction, the graphics, the controls and their mastery, the game is an enjoyable experience. Red Dead Redemption has all of those things and where the game construction isn’t perfect, the writing and the story make up for it. The writers and the actors actually kept me from skipping the cut scenes. It’s that good, unlike some games I had to struggle through and ended up not enjoying, such as Metal Gear Solid IV. RDR is a page turner. It keeps the gamer interested and involved, moving to the next mission or searching through the next area, or participating in one of the many activities included in the game. This is a good game and I can hardly wait for some innovative company to design a game that rivals the story telling in the great novels. The writing in this game is as good as any western novel, and better than many.

Rating

Ladies, if you are looking for a game for the man in your life (and you don’t mind watching Western movies), this is the game for which you are looking.

I am a wife and mother of an 8 month old baby. I should be annoyed that my husband has devoted so much of his free time to playing a video game right now… but I’m actually not. The game is interesting to watch, sort of like a Clint Eastwood western. (We don’t let the baby watch, FYI; Daddy plays during naptimes and after bed.) The violence, though realistic, is not gratuitously overdone, as it is in most shooter games. I like the good/bad options for character development throughout the game. This makes it really like an interactive movie; the player is guiding a character’s development, for good or evil. My husband, when asked, said that this game is “a 4.7 out of 5,” and he’s a lawyer, so he’s very exacting with his compliments. He also seems to like (a) the slow-motion shooting option for increased accuracy, and (b) the poker games.

As for the technical aspects, the game is superb. The skies and the trees are beautifully rendered, just in case any players ever bother to look up from the path, the train, the horse, the cougars, the wolves, the graveyards, the abandoned hideouts, the crazy people wandering barefoot in the desert looking for help… you get the picture. The world of gameplay is vast. As you can see from this post, I live in Midland, Texas, and parts of this game look like they could be photos taken from the surrounding areas.

My only complaint so far is that there seem to be a lot of crazy people who send you on wild goosechases, but I suppose they all relate back to the plot in the long run. My husband is one of those players who usually attacks a game and plays through without exploring the world much. That annoys me. This game forces him to explore, which I like, as an observer, because it gets boring when it’s just shoot, shoot, shoot all the time.

Rating

Tweet: Outshines GTAIV with it’s gorgeous and free-flowing environments, simply stunning!

Recommendation: BUY @ $60 (full price)

Pros:

. As usual with Rockstar, Story and characters are second to none, shocking ending

. A living breathing world that pulls you in, very immersive

. Top notch voice acting

. Lots to do, you could be 15-20 hours in and still have something you haven’t done yet

. Improved gameplay mechanics over GTA

. Mini-Games are very entertaining, played Poker for at least an hour or two

Cons:

. Even though avoided it the first 20-25 hours, fast travel is too many clicks away

. Needs a quicker quick save

. Some quirky controls such as dead eye or dueling, needs work

. Upgrade/reward system is lacking, not enough incentives

. CO-OP poorly implemented, boring

. Needs story related DLC

A few words:

With little to no expectations, I was completely blown away with what Red Dead Redemption had to offer especially that its predecessors were average at best. Rockstar took its latest GTA engine and added a slew of new features that provided much more variety and less repetition that typically plagues open world gaming.

What really helped was the western environment and natural setting compared to the gray dull congested urban context that Liberty City offers. No more running into lampposts, cars or pedestrians but just riding your horse into the sunset while enjoying the view rather than escaping obstacles, simply outstanding!

Mini games were very entertaining, I even bought the Pirates of the Carribean’s Dice boardgame after enjoying Liar’s Dice in game. The poker game is arguably better implemented than Xbox Live Arcade’s Texas Hold’em dedicated poker game. It’s hard not to appreciate every detail that the world offers, the horses, the wildlife, from plains to canyons to mountains, even gathering flowers was entertaining!

Game of the year as of July, I suspect it might make I till December at the top especially if Rockstar adds story related DLC. Absolute must-buy as far as I am concerned!

Note: My main focus was the single player and CO-OP, not a big fan of competitive multiplayer especially for open world games.

Rating

This game is incredible. So much better than GTA4. Multiplayer is like getting an entire other game for free. If you are in to Westerns, buy it. If you are in to video games, buy it. Especially great when purchased through amazon (reduced price and free shipping) 9.8 out of 10

Rating

Red Dead redemption is a great game. i have never seen like this game before

Rating

I have played this game for several hous and I am 24% of the way through. This is a western game at it’s very best. Rockstar thought of every detail when making this game. You realy have to appreciate a company that takes the time and detail in making a serious game with a good story line and not put out a half done product.

I am having so much fun playing this game and I tend to loose myself In the game, due to the story line and all the great things that you can do. The graphics are great along with voice acting. The way the main charecter is put together including how he walks, runs and all the wepons that he carries is spot on. Not only can you shoot bad guys in normal mode and with the dead eye, (which is a trip when you get used to it, like shooting guns out of peoples hands and shooting multile targets), you can use your lasso on people ( I won’t spoil any more cool things). This Is honestly one of the best games out there and I recomend this game vey much.

Rating

After the mild let down of GTA IV (still loads of fun and relatively impressive) after San Andreas, the aptly named Red Dead “Redemption” is just that for legendary developer Rockstar Games. As close to perfection as games have gotten. Definitely one of the best games in years. If you’re looking for THE Wild West game to play, this is it.

Open-world roaming/exploring, variety of activities and a pristine presentation in visuals and sound, RDR is a watershed game that deserves to be a bookmark in the history of games. While it doesn’t revolutionize games, it does set the benchmark for the Wild West genre, and it does open-world gaming at least as well as any game before it and even a touch better.

I can’t think of any game that doesn’t have its share of annoyances, and RDR is no exception (e.g. when you get in a car in GTA the screen displays what car it is, but we don’t get that courtesy with RDR’s horses?), but it gives us way too much to be thankful for (e.g. the amazing postcard-beautiful southwest/Wild West landscapes at any moment of the day or night) and gives other developers (not to mention themselves) a lot to think about for the future of games.

Rating

In 1911 what we think of as the Old West was rapidly dying. It hadn’t really ever existed in the form we think of for quite some time, with cowboys and Indians and gunslingers and the like. That era lasted only for a couple years and was largely gone by the late 1800′s. By 1911 we had movies, telephones, electricity, cars and, despite what the intro to this game would have you believe, airplanes. It was the tail end of the Gilded Age, and only three years from the start of World war One.

This is the West were “Red Dead Redemption” takes place. It centers around a man, John Marston, a long-since retired criminal who, against his will, is essentially forced into being a bounty hunter. He’s sent out west and spends the game running after criminals so that he can see his family again. It’s a simple, serviceable plot, and hardly original, but as with many things the genius is in the execution, and this game executes the story quite well, with several great side quests, a wonderful voice cast and a strong central theme.

The gameplay is really great! If you’ve played “Grand Theft Auto IV”, you know the controls. They’ve been refined a bit here and are very easy to use, even if it is a bit odd to be riding around on a horse instead of a car. I also like shooting system, which even though it’s third-person, works quite well, taking you into an optional slo-mo shooting mode that enables you to shoot to wound and not kill. It also makes small game hunting much easier.

There’s also much to do in the game, from gambling to collecting flowers. You can buy locations, though you can’t do much with them. You can collect different outfits. You can even go to see a movie (though the developers lost a real chance to do something impressive with that feature, like scrolling some pre-1911, public domain pictures, such as “A Corner in Wheat”). And of course as you’d expect, you can be a good guy or a bad guy, though being the latter is much less fun.

What to say about the graphics? My goodness, but they’re impressive. I live in Arizona and there’s quite a lot of beauty here that’s reproduced in the game. The detail is amazing, as is the variety, where the parts that are in Mexico look and feel very different from the parts in the USA.

Really I don’t have anything bad to say about the game. It does a great job of reproducing the look and feel of an era that was already on the way out by the time the game takes place. It’s fun, enjoyable and gives great value for the money!

Rating

Awesome game for sure. Really enjoyed it. Lots of fun, but online can be an issue.

Rating

Aside from having fun gameplay, this game also has a really great feel to it–the music is brilliant, riding horses beats out driving cars any day, the scenery is gorgeous and open. It’s fun, and there’s a lot of action, but there are also peaceful and relaxing moments that I’m not used to in games, but that I totally love. Sure, there are some well-known glitches (some funny videos on the Internet about them), but they don’t really dampen the overall awesome playing experience. I can’t recommend it enough, especially for city-dwellers who could really use an escape.

Rating

Cons: It’s got glitches, it has crashed, it’s not perfect. It’s not as exciting as previous GTA IV because the environment is less dense. This is only a Con if you were expecting Grand Theft Horse.

Pros:

The soundtrack is incredible and the game intelligently plays incredibly perfect songs for every scene.

The graphics are very good and the low density of the environment allows a bit more details close-up.

The gameplay is very satisfying and the controls are less frustrating than GTAIV.

The story is second to none.

Listen to me now – this is the core part of this review – this story is unparalleled in any other medium. It’s got the pacing of a western and all the style of the best westerns (spaghetti or otherwise) but it goes so far beyond parody and homage. It puts you into the old west at the end of an era and lets you live it.

PLAY THE STORYLINE TO THE END and you will be surprised at how damned good it is.

Rating

I purchased this game for my husband. He says this is an awesome game and loves it!

Rating

So, I just booted up the game, got through the introduction, and was finally free roaming. All of a sudden, this woman (Ok, more like a… you know. Whore) comes up to me and says, “Hey I need a ride!” Something like that, I don’t remember the exact words. So I slowed down. Why not, right? It was a bad idea. She throws me off the horse and runs off with my trusty steed. I stood there, too shocked to retaliate. This is Red Dead Redemption.

I’ve been playing this game for about 5 hours now and I think that I’ve played enough to give a review to convince people to buy this game if they have not done so already.

First let’s talk about the characters (generally, not specifically). All of the characters in this game seem to come alive as you go on quests along with them, talk to them, etc. The voice acting is great, and sometimes appropriately exaggerated for the more comedic characters. This is important because whenever you go on missions/quests in a group, there is dialogue. Almost continuous dialogue that is perfectly timed so that it ends when you reach your destination. There is constant communication between every character and it sucks you in and makes you care about all of them. There is one point in the game (I won’t ruin it for you) where you are just calmly riding back with a friend and it turns into an all out rush to save the day. And that was in just the first couple of hours into the game! The voice acting is also coupled with great body and facial expressions to bring characters alive.

(Story)

Well, right now the story’s all over the place because I haven’t been focusing on the main story line… Oops. There are just so many other things to do, other people to help, it’s impossible for me to focus on one thing. The game, is HUGE. No doubt about that. The games main story line is basically John Marston (you) going out to try and kill this other guy who shot you and left you for dead. It’s in the commercials/trailers. I’ll probably update this later on.

Next is gameplay. I’ll break this part up.

(Guns)

Aiming is assisted so that gunplay goes smoothly, sometimes a bit too easily. The reticle is just a small dot on the screen though, so without the aim assist it would be pretty hard to hit your target. The gun controls are pretty simple. You hold down L2 to aim and press R2 to fire. O to reload (with your weapon drawn). To switch between weapons it is like Assassin’s Creed 2. You hold down L1 and a circular menu pops up and you use the right analog to choose your weapon. Easy. It reads a lot harder than it actually is. You can also take cover behind rocks, hay, fences, etc by pressing R1. If you aim while in cover then John will peek out with his gun and you can take out enemies like that. Going from cover to cover and slowly gaining ground in a firefight is extremely satisfying and very intense.

(Dead Eye)

Dead Eye gets its own section because it’s sweet. At first it just slows down time, but later you can mark your targets by just passing over them with your reticle then pressing R2. Then you let off a succession of quick shots and take down pretty much all of them depending on where you placed your shots. And then there are duels. The duels are pretty entertaining but so far a bit too easy. You basically face off in the famous western standoff and whoever can mark the opponent faster (like in Dead Eye mode) wins. One time, I accidentally called my horse over to where I was before I accepted the challenge… So the horse got in my way during the duel and I accidentally killed him. Sad. I have yet to find a good replacement.

(Horses)

Great Animation. Good transportation. Breaking wild mustangs is fun. Dragging people behind you with a lasso = fun. Carrying your victim on the back of the horse while they say things like, “I’m worth more to you free than captured,” is great. That’s pretty much it.

(The Lasso)

Once I finally got the lasso I pretty much hogtied everyone in sight. You can also hogtie enemies and slap them onto the back of your horse to collect rewards. It’s great. Using the lasso while on the horse can be a little annoying at first but you get used to it. Riding along a dusty trail and coming across a herd of wild horses is terrific once you’ve got the lasso. I haven’t figured out what color horse is faster than the other but I’ve tried them all out and the one I killed, which is one you get through the story, is the best. And he was a white one.

(Controls)

They can be a bit “eh” but seriously, does not blemish the game at all. It’ll take a bit of getting used to but once you do you’ll be on your way to becoming either a famous hero or an infamous outlaw.

(Honor/Fame System)

Don’t expect to get famous fast. My honor meter is much higher than my fame one. Which just means that I’m a bit famous for being a good guy, instead of being a bit famous for being evil. I have yet to perform too many evil acts, besides killing my horse on accident which cost me -50 honor points. So, I can’t really say anything about this yet. I’ll probably update this later on.

If you read all of this you’re probably interested in this game. Buy it! You won’t regret it. It is the greatest western gaming experience I’ve ever had. There is a LOT to this game, so if I forgot something (which I probably did), whatever. It’s not like I’ve finished the game anyway. Just buy it and enjoy it!

Rating

Red Dead Redemption surprised the heck out of me. I am not a big fan of the old West. I’m not even a big fan of sandbox games, though there are a few worth their salt (inFamous especially). When I heard about Rockstar’s new open world game being set in the old West, I was skeptical. All the previous old West games seemed to get lackluster responses (Call of Juarez, Red Dead Revolver come to mind), so I didn’t think much of this offering. After numerous publications praised this title, I decided to give it a try. From the opening cinematic, I could tell this game was going to be something special.

Pretty much everything about this game is stellar. From the graphics to the game mechanics, Red Dead Redemption excells. It is a gorgeous game to behold. Huge vistas abound. Incredible detail everywhere. Dynamic lighting, particle effects, and object interaction are done so well. The images are crisp and clear (with occasional pop-in, but not a deal breaker). I just love standing around and marveling at this incredible world that is practically painted on the screen. Movement on foot or horseback seems natural and intuitive. Driving a stagecoach is a thrill. Aiming your weapon (with aim assist on or off) works well. Nothing seems overly wonky.

The characters are definitely what drive this game. Unlike some other open world, sandbox games (cough..GTA IV…cough), you actually care about these characters. I found myself constantly drawn into the conversations, eagerly awaiting the next tidbit of info. The array of characters is vast, more than any other game I’ve played. You’re simply never going to get bored. Plus, you’ve got a lead character who is fighting the eternal fight (good vs evil) within himself. That is always intriguing.

Other reviewers have argued that the 360 version has a slight graphical advantage over the PS3 version. I haven’t compared the two, but I’m very satisfied with the 360 version. Other reviewers have also complained about the glitchy multiplayer component, but I haven’t encountered any issues with that either. My total gameplaying experience has been flawless.

Every once in a while, a game comes along that transcends the genre. I think this might be one of those games (and I don’t say that lightly). Even if you’re not a big fan of the wild West, there is enough to do in this game that you might forget the setting.

Rating

If you enjoyed other games from Rockstar like GTA, then you will surely enjoy this one was well. There is plenty to do and see.

Rating

I’m on my second run-through of this game, and I still love it. Apart from a few bugs, the only problems I have with the game involve pacing and the honor system. The first two areas (New Austin and Mexico) take forever to complete, while the last goes by pretty quickly. A more balanced distribution of time would have been great. And the honor system isn’t much use, as no matter what the player ends up with positive honor(all main-story missions grant positive honor). Playing as a bad guy is therefore much too difficult and time-consuming.

But those are my only criticisms. The voice acting is great, and the plot is so good I’ve had several people simply sit and watch me play to find out what happens. The combat system is solid and this game is a marked improvement playability-wise over GTA IV.

I’d always hated westerns, but now I’m buying them up just as fast as I can!

Rating

Rockstar’s finest open world game to date, Red Dead Redemption takes place at the turn of the 20th century (1911) to be exact. If you’re expecting to blast Native Americans from the tops of their unsaddled horses maybe you should look elsewhere. These are the last days of the unlawful old west. Electricity lines stretch into the horizon, high above railroad tracks. The fictional world is on the brink of industrialization.

For starters, more so than any other open world game I’ve ever played, you don’t play this game, you experience it. You live in the world. You are John Marston.

The story of RDR isn’t top notch but it’s interesting enough to keep you going along, and includes touches of timeline contextual social commentary regarding politics, religion, suffrage, social status, the effects of technology on man and more. And it’s worth playing to the end as the story culminates in one of the most unexpected and original ways to end a game I think I’ve ever seen. You just have to experience it for yourself to truly understand what I mean.

The graphics and sound are very well done. Voice acting is ranges from average to well done which is on par for a RockStar game. Ambient sound effects are really effective in setting the tone and immersing the player into the game, be you nervously dismounting your horse to skin an elk because you hear the growl of a grizzly bear nearby, or hearing the footsteps of your boots on the wooden floor of a rowdy saloon, an upbeat piano song playing in the background. Steam powered trains chug their way through the land, cougars scream as they maul you and the eerie cry of foxes at night will leave you feeling unsettled as you travel through dark moonlit forests where wolves and vastly more dangerous mammals could be lurking. Pistols and rifles sound loud and hefty (there’s a good-sized roster of firearms in the game if you’re wondering), and causing an explosion inside a cave results in a loud muffled explosion that will have you reaching for the volume controls.

Graphics wise, player models and textures are just merely passable, but the environment you live in for 20-30 hours is where the beauty of this game lies (I spent just over 40 hours but did 100% of the single player content). The world is really the star of this game. Riding through Armadillo at night, with rain pouring down and spalshing in muddy puddles, the occasional bolt of lightning brightening the cloudy sky in the horizon was a surreal experience. There were times I’d just be riding around and I would marvel at the beautiful landscape before me: The orange and yellow sunset peeking through the evergreens of Tall Trees, contrasting the bright white snow underfoot, for example. Sunsets and sunrises were particularly stunning, as were the moonlit desert environments, the bright stars twinkling in the sky high above, not yet obscured by the pollution of modern industrialization. Truly an immersive world. If you’re sporting a nice, big high definition display you will be rewarded with some jaw-dropping views that will make you wish you could capture screenshots and save them for later.

Yes, there are a ton of mini games and side quests to keep you busy, but they are completely optional. As you ride around you’ll be approached by strangers begging you assist them with things ranging from helping them get back their horse that was just stolen, to assisting a friend who is about to be unlawfully hung by a group of thugs. It’s up to you. Ignoring them won’t effect your reputation in a negative way, but helping them will give you a little extra spending cash and sometimes a bump to your reputation. You’ll be challenged by gunslinging duelists who wish to make a name for themselves. Accept their challenge, or ride away. Again, optional. The stuff is there for your entertainment, and to flesh out the world, but it’s up to you what you do with it. Then there are mini-games like playing games of horseshoe, blackjack, poker, five-finger fillet, etc. Unless you’re going for 100% completion, all these things are optional. That’s the beauty of such a well crafted open world game: The option to choose.

And as with all open world games Red Dead Redemption has it’s fair share of bugs and glitches. Nothing game breaking ever happened to me (game breaking meaning a quest bugged and wouldn’t let me finish it, or any freezes or crashes – nothing like that ever occurred during my playthrough) but I encountered a few bugs that were at least amusing to behold. No video game is perfect and RDR is not an exception to that rule. Expect chugging framerates in heavily populated areas (Blackwood city being the worst offender), at last on the PS3. If you’re a fan of Westerns and you have, like me, become jaded with the GTA series after, what in my mind, was a disappointing GTA IV, you owe it to yourself to check this game out. This title has restored my faith in RockStar open world games. Multiplayer is decent so far..I’ve only invested a couple hours but I’ll probably move on to another game rather than try to reach the level cap of 50. Looking forward to more single player DLC, which was announced recently.

Gems like this are few and far between. Red Dead Redemption is my Game of the Year for 2010….so far. Give it a shot, bucko!

JULY 30 Edit – PS3 VS 360 version: I just learned that, graphically and frame rate wise, the 360 version is superior to the PS3 version. While the 360 version is rendered in true 720p, the PS3 version only runs at 1152×640 – a whopping 20% decrease in resolution. So if you have both consoles I would recommend getting the 360 version. It’s a beautiful game regardless, but the 360 version has a more stable frame rate and higher resolution. But don’t take my word for it. Google “digitalfoundry red dead redemption face off” and read about it yourself. I played the PS3 version and I loved this game so much I’m going to pick up a used copy for the 360 and play it again!

Rating

This may very well be the best PS3 game there is (yes, it is that good).

Massive world, awe-inspiring jaw-dropping graphics, animals move flawlessly (from snakes to rabbits to skunks and birds and deer, and of course, horses).

Flora, fauna, nature (rain, water, lightning)… what can I tell you? there is nothing like this on videogames. This just raised the bar -a lot!

Great side quests. Imagine GTA in the wild wild west, only GTA (being as good as it is) doesn’t level up to the heels of RDR graphics and mechanics wise.

Game mechanics are right on the money. Even the dialogue is very good.

You almost have do dust yourself after playing.

If you don’t own a PS3, then go buy one, and play this game.

Rating

Rockstar has done it again. This is by far the best game I have played this year maybe of this generation.First let me talk bout the single player

Single player mode is what I always look forward to with Rockstar’s sandbox games. The storyline is magnificent. When walking into the first town you see a drunk guy fall out of the saloon, and you know you’re in for a great ride. The characters you meet and the character you play as in the game generate feelings of first person interaction, making it feel real. The detailed, in-depth characters make one believe that they themselves are back in the old west. The missions are like any other sandbox game, hey lets go kill these guys, hey give me a ride, but this game is so much more than just the story. I would do one mission and go hunting for 2 hours or just ride my horse around and look at the beautiful creation Rockstar made. There is so much to do in this game which includes stranger missions, gang hideouts, poker, blackjack, or just helping people on the road. This game is packed full of everything to keep you busy. The game is pretty easy, with the dead-eye feature (which is like a modified Max Payne slo-mo) there really isn’t much of a challenge anywhere, and if you’ve played GTA before then your definitely not going to have any trouble at all. Overall the single player is EPIC, I haven’t played a game that had me so sucked in, in a very long time and I’m still only at 97%!!!

Single Player-5/5

Multiplayer is a ton of fun. Free Roam is the main lobby but it isn’t your normal lobby. 16 can be in a single free roam and also you can posse up with your friends which goes up to 8.Free Roam is exactly what it sounds like, do whatever you want. There are gang hideouts which gives you XP to level up, or you can go around and kill everybody in the lobby, team up with your posse and go kill everybody, go hunting with your posse, it is just amazing and a blast. There are also the regular capture the flag type games, free-for-all, and team deathmatch games which you can jump to right from your lobby.Overall this is also a great add-on to the game and totally destroys GTA IV multiplayer.They just turned everything good about it into great.

Multiplayer-5/5

To the graphics, this is one of the most beautiful, most vast games ever. This is one of those games where you can go up a hill and just look at the sunset and be amazed. It’s just crazy to think how far Rockstar has came with their graphics. Everything from your horses back leg muscles to the saddle on the horse looks brilliant and very detailed.You can tell they spent a lot of time making everything perfect. The engine Rockstar used (and created themselves) is called the RAGE engine which is the same engine used for GTA IV but it has been perfected. I’ve never seen the game render, sometimes things disappear in cut-scenes but they reappear in a second. Overall this game is beautiful and if that is one of your sells then you better pick this game up RIGHT NOW!!!!

Graphics-5/5

Rating

How do you describe a game that seems to keep getting better as you play? Example: I had just gained a new horse (it’s a given horse, but still) , a pretty cream colored one and I was just trotting along wonder what I should try out next. Visit Bonnie? Maybe she’ll show me some new rancher chores. Maybe help the Marshall round up some criminals and help move my own story along. Maybe I should visit the random question mark on my map? Find out what’s that all about. All the sudden a woman is crying for help. I get off my horse to check it out. A pack of wolves is chasing her. I go to help kill the wolves when all the sudden she’s gone. The wolves attack me instead. I kill them with my knife (yea I’m cool) and turn to my horse who is now missing. I call it, and it doesn’t come. I just got scammed into losing my horse. I catch up with the high jackers have a quick shoot out with them and end up having my brand knew stallion killed.

Yea, this game is to say, at least unpredictable.

I haven’t finished the story, but yet why do I feel the need to gush over this game? Because the story isn’t what makes the game so great (So far the story is awesome though). It’s the massive map and massive capability it allows. You can go hunting. Treasure hunting. You can spend hours shooting birds. You can spend hours shooting passerbys (yea I’ve done it). You can spend hours playing poker, horseshoes, the knife and finger game (sorry name slipped my mind). Be a hero. Be an outlaw. You can help protect the ranch or patrol the streets in a town. Who needs a story line when you can spend most of your time just running around doing your own thing? Now imagine doing all of this with your friends. Against your friends. Yea, this is what I would can an all round game. The best part, it’s based in 1911. Who doesn’t love a rowdy and dusty western?

Rating

The single player is absolutely amazing. The missions never get boring and there is always things to do if you feel like running randomly around.

The multiplayer has more replay value than any other multiplayer I’ve seen before. I did not see this coming, but it might be better than the single player.

Rating

This game is more versatile and exciting than any game out there.You can play the regular missions or ride around the country to hunt animals,help random strangers etc.They also have poker and other games like arm wrestling to gamble and add on to your in-game money which is all in good fun.The multi-player is fun too,especially if you have a lot of x box live friends.I’ve had this game for two weeks and it’s the best game I’ve played since Halo 3 first came out and way better than COD MW2,Mass Effect2,Bioshock2 or any new game available right now.

Rating

Wow! What a game, I saw some reviews and went right out and bought it at full price and not a bit sorry. This is like Drake’s Fortune meets Clint Eastwood.

Scenery: Spot on, I lived in Arizona and it’s just like the Sonoran desert… all that is missing is the smell of dust and 120 degree heat.

Sound: Excellent, hypnotic music that follows you into yor dreams… which can be quite weird if you play this long enough.

Challenges: Again excellent, always wonder whats next, a huge world and I’m only on the first third of this world so far.

Interractions: Excellent, deep though sometimes sounding a bit contrived toward the politically correct left, a few not so subtle jabs at George Bush, the CIA etc.

Cons: Controller layout sucky… would have preferred layout similar to Drakes Fortune or CoD… muff a lot of shots fumbling with buttons… no edit that I am aware of. Sometimes not sure what to do in a challenge and end up shooting the wrong guy… but then that adds to the realism. Wish it had a PG13 option to turn down the language so I can play it in front of the wife without objections.

Oddities: Watch the entire $2 movie at the church… what a hoot! Some encounters are just weird like with the cannibal. Also weird having a gunslinger shooting up a gang then going out and picking posies. The other oddity is that now everytime I see a dead animal alongside the road I want to stop and skin it!

Rating

This game is addictive and simply put amazing. The graphics are great done in the “Rockstar” style.

The map and navigation is the same and are built on the same engine as the GTA games.

The shooting is precise and easy. Sound effect are stunning. Camera angles are also pretty good.

The only thing I could complain about is horse back riding. It doesn’t let you ride faster than certain speed which makes the game drag at times but the opportunities and the exploration can be endless!

Rating

I bought a PS3 a few months ago and this is the first ‘new’ title I bought. I’m loathe to spend money on new games just because I can’t justify parting ways with 50-60 bucks for a new game. This one, I unequivocally say ‘BUY IT’.

No spoilers, but I will say that Rockstar wrote a helluva story for this title. Most of the time I’ll just plow past the cutscenes and get to the action, but this had me transfixed and just counting the minutes until I could play it again and advance the storyline. And the minigames seem endless….there’s always a poker table to be cleared of chips, prisoners to capture, or animals to be hunted. And the ending. Well, let’s just say that when you think it ends, it keeps going and throws an unexpected twist in there that sets up for the next Red Dead title, in my opinion.

The multiplayer function I have barely touched, but from what I’ve seen that looks great, too.

If you’re like me and buy your games ‘on the cheap’, don’t wait for this game to go ‘on the cheap’. Get it now.

Rating

“Red Dead Redemption” is a fantastic video game, and any bashers out there know it. Either they hate that they like it, or they like that they hate it. I preordered it and I’m telling you, it’s worth every penny brand new. If you enjoy third person “sandbox” type games, then do not hesitate to go out and get this; you won’t regret it. The game has the best open world graphics to date. The controls, on foot and off, are perfect, coupled with the most realistic character and animal (namely the horses) movements and animations to date in a third person action/adventure game. It’s a sublime game engine in a classic setting and time period, and as much a joy to play as it is to look at. Buy it now!

Rating

I’m not even a gamer like that. I’m one of those ppl who bought my PS3 for the blu-ray to give you an idea, & I bought a few games initially (FIFA 10, Modern Warfare 2) which held my attention, but nothing like this.

With the tutorials, it shouldn’t be hard for someone who hasn’t gamed in years to get a pretty decent grasp on how to play.

There have been some frustrations w/some of the challenges (lasso the horse, anyone??) but nothing that took me out the game.

Rating

I had a lot of fun playing this game. I was a huge fan of the GTA series but was getting burnt out on the whole series. Rockstar redeemed themselves with this game. Play it for sure!

Rating

What I mean by this is for one I’m not a never have been a fan of the GTA series, two never liked open-world games prefer a most fast paced liner a game that keeps the action going and three I have never really cared about anything western and yet I was drawn towards this game time and time again when deciding what new game I wanted to suck up all my spare time. Great graphics, impressive story line memorable characters. There is tons of fun to be in this game, in fact it’s so good I’m contemplating giving the GTA 4 game a try

Rating

The previous Red Dead Revolver was a bit of a flop. I’ll admit that my interest in this game was pretty low due to being less-than-impressed by that earlier game.

If you have a similar opinion, disregard it. This game is amazing and well worth full retail price (which Amazon isn’t even charging). It’s more of a spiritual successor to Revolver and is superior in absolutely every single way.

When Red Dead Redemption is at it’s best, it’s visuals can be as evocative and moving as any Western film I have seen. The writing is very good for a video game, but the genre still has some work to do before it reaches the dramatic heights of film. Still, the story is solid and will keep you hooked from start to finish. Just expect more of a Spaghetti Western than a post-modern Unforgiven Oscar winner.

Gameplay is varied and interesting. There’s so much to do and see that the game is better than the sum of its parts. Shooting mechanics are improved over GTAIV, but still more simplistic than most modern FPS.

This is a world well-worth being absorbed into. Don’t even hesitate. Push the “add to cart” button now.

Rating

Besides from a few bugs, this is one of the best games I have played. Open world, plenty of stuff to do and a great storyline

Rating

Thank you for this awesome game Rockstar! I love Red Dead Redemption much much more than grand theft auto!

I am looking forward to future downloadable content. I really hope that we see the following in multiplayer as DLC

The Train Robbery! (Multiplayer)

Have a defending group as federal marshals defending the train and an attacking group of outlaws robbing the train.

1. It would be fun to have the game end with blowing up the safe on the train to get the money. (Along these lines, can you blow up safes to rob banks?)

2. Have an area where you can jump a horse from an overhanging rock formation onto the train or jump onto it during the multiplayer event.

3. Have another game option where you try to blow up a bridge before the train gets there. That’s always fun.

Other things I would like to see…

Circle the Wagons! (Multiplayer)

Take turns defending a circled wagon train from Indians or play as the indians attacking the wagon train. If the Indians could use rifles and/or bows and arrows that would be awesome! Imagine shooting between the wagons or crouching down to shoot below the wheels of the wagons. Hmm, to bad we can’t lay prone to shoot rifles.

A few more comments on DLC that would be fun to see. (Is there a link to an official DLC request forum for rockstar yet?) If so could someone please post it.

I would love to see

1. Bull riding game in Mexico

2. Bull fighting game in Mexico (Bull fighting outfit and cape to wield)

3. Hunting dog to bring birds and small game back to your feet (a companion hunting dog would be fun for those of us who love the hunting components of the game.)

4. A pond behind a beaver damn with working beavers chewing on trees would make for a fun environment in an expansion.

I hope some of the DLC has game play based on famous western movies. I would love to play a virtual MacKenna’s Gold episode. Nothing like the mystery treasure in that movie and the final set piece was awesome. I’d pay about anything for a similar experience as a DLC episode. At least have your developers watch it for inspiration if they haven’t already

Rating

Didn’t know what to think of a cowboy game. I’d learned classics like Wolfenstein and Doom, did a bit of World of Warcraft, so I thought a cowboy game would be slightly boring. But this is amazingly good- the graphics are just superb! The plot and voice-overs are equally easy to appreciate and enjoy. And the depth of detail is outstanding. In Wolfenstein, the walls were all the same stonework. But in RDR, nothing seems to be the same. Buildings, desert, sky, even hitching posts all look unique. There is a problem sometimes with riding a horse- if you bump into a solid object like a big boulder, you may end up dismounting, walking away, the whistling to get the horse to come to you. Otherwise, it’s a lot of fun playing this game. I like the option of being either a rascal or an ethical person. And it’s not always plain which is the better option. … Great game!!

Rating

I have played over 50 games and own 39. I only buy used game unless its Madden or 2K baseball. However on a hunch I decided to splurge and spend the 60 bux and see what happens. This game is SO worth the money. Lets put it this way. Im 71.8% done with the game and ive played for over 35 hours. I still have SO much to do.It never gets boring. There are plenty of cut-scenes to keep the cut-scene fanatic happy. There is alot of gunplay. The story is riveting and you can really fall in love with the characters in this game. Online is amazing as well. You would think its only about killing the other guy but its not. You have challenges to make and it seems endless. So im telling you to buy this masterpiece as it is WELL worth the money. The best 60 bux I ever spent thats for sure.

Rating

Definitely a great game. Rockstar out did the GTA series with this game. lots of language and one or two nude scenes are the only draw backs

multiplayer is great

Rating

Red Dead Redemption is another Rock Star hit. The game itself is a needed relief from the modern day ground warfare centered in teh middle east. Roaming the “west” on a horse alone or with a posse is just as relaxing as fishing a lake in Bass Pro. Good job Rock Star!

Rating

Red Dead Redemption is the game that finally does the western it’s well deserved justice. The missions are varied, the characters awesomely crafted, the story is great and everything comes together as the best Sandbox ever. Since I opened my copy of Red Dead Redemption – I learned that this is a single player game that keeps on giving, is as good as if not better than Grand Theft Auto IV and is as beautiful as a Hollywood epic. An unmissable game for any fan of the genre or great action adventures in general. This is certainly one of those moments in time when PS3 like myself owners will look back more fondly on a dusty old six shooter than anything that involves jacking cars. Excellent gunfights, strong characters and plenty of room for expansion makes Red Dead Redemption one of the best games of 2010 in my opinion.

Rating

Red Dead Redemption hits the mark perfectly when it comes to a western sandbox game. One of the greatest xbox games to date!

Rating

Awesome game. If you a fan of GTA series this is right for you.

Rating

Red Dead Redemption is a great game with an amazing story to keep you hooked until the end. The scenery is beautiful, giving you a great deal of diversity from the desert to the mountain tops and to the sea. There is no shortage in things to do outside of the main storyline, from breaking in horses to bounty hunting, this game proves the wild west can make an excellent gameing experience. Though its a great sand box game, like most in the same genre, it has some bugs. Wheather its invisible horses for random catapulting animals, these glitches don’t hinder your gameplay, but in my case make it humorus and more of a joy to play. 10/10

Rating

Rockstar has done it again with Red Dead Redemption, a game that itself rivals Grand Theft Auto IV. I would take RDR over GTA any day. A ton of work went into this, voice acting that could win an Oscar, the smallest details in a huge, and I mean HUGE world. Hope you like riding horses, cause there’s a lot of that, along with some improvements to the Rockstar gaming system, like better checkpoints and improved aiming. What are you waiting for? Buy it now!

Rating

This game is addicting. Characters are likable. Story is pretty good. Voice acting not so much. Tons of replay value. A lot of side quests and mini games to keep you busy. I was never into sandbox games, but this one has made me a fan.

Rating

single player story is unbelievable. the voice acting is top notch. john marston is now a legend in my eyes – definitely one of the most compelling, complex, yet simple characters developed in all of gaming history. if you’re a father, husband, or ex-gang member you WILL definitely identify with him.

there are definitely some tiny bugs/glitches in the game i’m sure they’ll be fixing but other than that this game is amazing. the multiplayer is pretty fun and challenging too as well. great job, rockstar. was never a huge fan of the GTA franchise but you’ve got me now with this one. can’t wait for red dead revolver.

BUY IT NOW! you won’t be disappointed.

Rating

Wonderful game, can’t recommend it enough. Beautiful graphics, immersive environment/story. Go out and get it right now if you possibly can!

Rating

I’m a very casual gamer, and don’t often write reviews, but this game warrants one. I have bought many of the “hit” games over the past few years, but this is one of the few that I actually haven’t regretted dropping the money on. Really a fun game for anyone who enjoys video games in the least. Not overly difficult, but still a great deal to do. And the “stuff to do” is fun, doesn’t feel like fluff. I strongly suggest buying it if you’re at all interested.

Rating

I really dig this game, the ability to roam the Wild West, saving women from being hung, leaving a thieving wench on the train tracks to get run over, not to mention the story of John Marsten. If you like the GTA or Godfather games, then this one is for you.

Rating

Ive had the game for about 5 days. And let me tell you its been a fun week! There is just so much to do. You might be on your horse to go to a set waypoint but you’ll always get sidetracked. I mean in a good way. Animals to kill and skin. Strangers to help if you want to. The game is mindblowing! Ive played GTA Vice City, San Andreas,Manhunt 1,Gta4/Lost and the Damned. But there is something a lot more fun with Red Dead. Ive put in about 10 hours and I have’t even scratched the surface. And the missions are fun and not too hard..yet. Gameplay is solid. Some folks have complained about the horse riding but I dont know what they’re talking about. And John is a cool character to play. He doesnt say too much but who cares. The game reminds me of San Andreas because the amount of activties and side missins are eveywhere.I guess Uncharted 2 was maybe a bit better but not by much! There are some crazy things that happen at random. Once you hitch up a horse you can keep him. One funny thing happened to me. There I was just walking on foot exploring,came upon a beautiful canyon overlooking this huge desert vista,then I thought well I need my horse. I whistled,thats how you get your horse,he came came running towards all magestic

and cool looking. But he was running so fast that he flew past me and leaped off the edge of the cliff!And I think I screamed outloud “NNOOOOOOOO”>>,,I couldnt beleive it!. He just fell to his death..LOL..oh well life in the wild west is tough. Just go buy it now!

Rating

This game was a great pick! Some of my friends bought this and I was just instantly enveloped into it. The story is great, and there is just so much free roam stuff to do! Along with the multiplayer, you can now download free co op missions and play them with your friends. You can also do free roam stuff online, along with just shooting people randomly while running around or actually going on missions. I would highly suggest this game. The only problem I noticed is that it doesn’t have to many “challenging” patches, but where it does get hard, then it is VERY interesting. A great buy

Rating

Coming from Rocksat and using a similar formula, I expected this game to be very much like Grand Theft Auto. It is not. It does share some of the same features, kinda like the map, letters representing your contacts, fetch missions, but the comparisons really stop there. The lead character in this game is very likable and really compells you to move forward to see how the story unfolds. Riding the horses is alot of fun and the controls for everything else is spot on. I highly recomend this game!

Rating

I am a thirtysomething mom of two. I appreciated the “Grand Theft Auto” game experiences and also liked “Bully,” but never finished any of these games (couldn’t quite relate to the characters or the world), so I bought Red Dead with a bit of skepticism. I love to gallop around on horses, and so I gave this game a chance.

OMG. It is hard to compare games because they can be so different, but I am pretty sure this is my favorite game of all time. It is, at least, the most complete, engrossing and emotional game experience I have ever had. It has the cinematic and story elements that made “Uncharted” and “Heavy Rain” great, and it has the sandbox freedom that made me love “Oblivion” and “Fallout.” The shooting is every bit as satisfying as “Resident Evil” and the horse riding? Amazing. Some of the side characters are weird and gross, but that’s not really a surprise after playing GTA.

Rockstar has created a stunningly beautiful world that I feel lucky to explore. John Marston is a character I can relate to–not sure if I have a crush on him, or I just love playing him, but he is as memorable to me as any book or movie character I have encountered in the last decade.

I beat the game today and have been mooning around the house with a serious case of withdrawal. I am in awe. I never saw this game coming. I think Red Dead is totally the game of the year. I dare anyone to do better.

Rating

This game has the greatest video game ending of all time! Besides being a fun and awesome game, play this game until the very end to see it’s awesome ending. Just play it to see the ending! Buy it, rent it, borrow it, steal it, do whatever you have to do to play this game, and play it to the very end. The ending is well worth it and will not disappoint! Remember to play the game until you start to see the end credits. Again, GREATEST VIDEO GAME ENDING OF ALL TIME!!!!

Rating

Red Dead Redemption is definitely one of the best titles for the PS3 that I have ever played! The story is captivating and the story’s main character is very likeable. The game’s open world system is quite interesting and at times, hilarious (like seeing a guy run out of his way to take a wizz on a bush). You can take the path of a Wild West hero or outlaw and do whatever you want with what you have. The randomness of events in the open world is extremely well done. Having a random character ask you for a duel or assistance in stopping a thief or pervert is pretty cool.

At first, the game’s story is slowpaced. There’s times when one can even feel a bit impatient for real action. Nonetheless, the story gains momentum with every new mission, and eventually, awesome action is what you get. Along with the great action, a good story and great dialogue unlike many other games. The available weapons are very nice and detailed as is the Dead Eye targeting system that you use for killing enemies and hunting. Hunting animals is another very nice detail of the game, as you can hunt animals and then skin them to sell their meat and fur for some extra moolah. There’s something about skinning animals and seeing their carcass afterwards that’s very cool in a weird way.

The online gameplay is exceedingly fun as well. In a free roam session, creating a posse or working alone to fight gangs and level up is pretty nice. Whether you work on completing the online challenges the game offers or play a free-for-all match, Red Dead is sure to deliver some fun. Online play offers a good variety of game modes to suit anyone’s likes. The controls of the game might sometimes bug, but overall they are comfortable and easy to get used to.

All in all, Red Dead Redemption is a game I recommend to EVERYONE who owns a PS3. Everyone I know who owns this game, including myself, has not regretted purchasing it. It is a must have for anyone’s collection, truly one of the best of all time! If you enjoyed Grand Theft Auto 4, you will definitely enjoy this game. Don’t wait any longer; get the game and become a legend of the West. “Yo soy John Marston!”

Rating

If you are a person that loves western or open world game(aka sandbox). This game has it all. It is the first game ever to caputure the real beauty of the desert. I spent hour just looking at the world itself. There is nothing like being a cowboy and this game sucked me and my wife right in to the point that she is playing it without me.

Rating

There’s no better rush than riding on your steed and shooting a man down while he runs to save his miserable life.

Some people say the controls took time to get used to but I caught on fairly quick. The graphics are good. Nothing groundbreaking but still good.

Hunting the animals is one of the funnest thing to do in the game.

I’ve only gotten like 2 hours into the game but let me tell you it’s great and I imagine it’ll only get better.

Rating

I love it! Get the game and cowboy up. It is addicting and like most Rockstar games you get your money’s worth as far as game play goes. It’s a fun game with a interesting story line.

Rating

Please ignore the reviewer that stated (repeatedly) that “this game is just like GTA IV… If you hated that you will definitely hate this.” That could not be further from the truth!!

Red Dead Redemption is Rockstar’s newest sandbox game, and it is a very good change up on the already popular GTA series. Let me start off by saying I have always been a huge fan of GTA games… until GTA IV. Tried and tried to play it, just could not get into it. Everything about it was wrong for me, and I know a lot of others felt the same. Sure RDR is very similar to GTA IV, yet everything about it is so much better.

Graphics are amazing, game play is easy to pick up and hard to put down, shooting system is improved, horse riding is intuitive, and hunting is a blast, just to name a few. This is GTA on steroids. Don’t get me wrong, the huge cities and fancy sports cars were a ton of fun, but this is so much better. Set in the early 20th century, Red Dead Redemption takes place in the ever changing Wild West. Dusty old towns, bustling saloons, and family ranches are presented with such accuracy and clarity, you’d think you are back in the old west yourself!

Red Dead Redemption’s scale is beyond HUGE!! The Wild West has never looked so good. There’s a fullness to the sunsets that’s so breathtaking you almost forget about the task at hand. The characters play a role nearly as big as the landscape, if not more. The dialog is smooth and witty, and the hometown feel of McFarlanes ranch only adds to the beauty.

There are so many side missions and quests, it’s tough to get bored. From helping a stranded women on the side of the road, to tracking and shooting trophy bucks, there is truly something for everyone. Don’t feel like shooting or riding around on your horse? Play some cards! Drink a shot!

Your thinking what I’m thinking aren’t you? GTA on horses. Yes, but as you play on through the game you will quickly realize it is so much more than that. It’s a nice change up in the video game world, and quite a surprise in the western genre.

Now I know this was a very short, somewhat random review, but I hope it provided enough insight to help you decide on the purchase.

***********UPDATE**********

I have gotten a few comments about my review. Some feeling that I have not experienced all the game has to offer, and should wait until I’m further along and write a detailed review. My review was an attempt to give a quick firsthand look, and to knock dead a few misconceptions. I believe all first time buyers need an initial review to help them decide to buy it or not. The game experience should be left up to each individual.

Rating

I was quite excited when I got this game at the midnight release and I’ve been playing it a great deal since. I realize this game just came out but I feel that I have enough experience to review the game. Obviously if people waited to review this game after they beat it, we would be waiting a long time.

To sum it up, this game is incredibly fun. From duels, to hunting wanted criminals, to taking a nightshift watch in a local town, the choice of taking criminals dead or alive, the ability to shoot them in the knee… watching them crawl and grasp for their life then sauntering up to them and blowing their brains out with a special finishing move that is unique to each gun, to even unlocking outfits that each produce a special ability. And of course the Dead Eye, taking out multiple targets in slow mo is riveting, especially while on a horse. You can even play poker, gamble, and basically just whatever the heck you want. The morality system is also excellent, the choices and decisions you make will have an everlasting impact. The possibilities are endless.

I do agree that the controls take some getting used to, but definitely dont take away from the game. So far the plot line is keeping me hooked and the beautiful graphics are just pure eye candy to look at. I will be honest and say that I have not tried the multiplayer yet.

Obviously I cant give you an in depth review of the game because that would fill 10 pages easy. I have summed up the main points and my opinion of the game so far. I hope this has helped.

Rating

The result is an extremely high quality game that must be played. If you don’t play this game you will be missing out I’m telling you. I don’t need to tell you how fun it is just buy the game.

Rating

I was a little skeptical at how fun this game would be. I for one did like GTA 4, but thought it got old kind of fast. However RDR really is so well done in it’s visuals and gameplay, that it continues to spark my interest. I also love the message that resonates with the characters that really fits with our current times. It’s all about big goverment infringing on the rights of the people. Wheather it’s references to the natives being demonized or land owners who want to keep their property rights. Overall great job by rockstar for the gameplay and story.

Rating

GT4 Lost me. Red Dead Redemption brought me back to Rockstar. The story line is fantastic, the game play great.

Definitely a must buy for anybody who liked GT series or even Assassin’s Creed 1&2.

Rating

Synopsis:

From the team that brought you Grand Theft Auto, you are now thrown head long into a wild west adventure. You control John Marston. This game is set in the desert in 1911 (same year as my favorite .45 was made). You are somewhere near the Mexico border. John was a criminal that ticked off many people in his past and now has to atone for what he did. People come out of the woodwork either as his friends or enemies.

My play experience:

On the PS3 the graphics are really sharp and crisp. The textures, the ambiance all bring the wild west to your home living room.

In recent years there have been games that have tried to capture the essence of the western genre. For example Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood which on the surface was a pretty good game, it however was not a very good story. In COJ the main characters are brothers that are ex-confederate soldiers. The story never really grabs hold and to be honest I never finished COJ. The story in Red Dead Redemption is done so well that it never feels pushed or contrived. Instead its done like an old western movie. Its gritty and a world that beckons you back time and time again.

For now let me discuss the cool features:

Horses: +

I think they put a horse into a motion capture room and had him run around. In Assassins Creed II the horse was a good way to get from town to town and the motion was pretty real. In Red Dead Redemption its super smooth an you feel like your out exploring the desert on a horse with no name… Kick your horse too much to get him to chase down that coach, you could be looking at a wild ride as he tries to buck you off. The longer you keep 1 horse the more stamina and other abilities it gets.

EDIT: I see they actually DID use a live horse to make the motion capture. It shows.

You can also ride stage coaches and trains. Or rob them, its up to you. See gameplay below.

Gunfighting: +

You are a real gunslinger in this game. To get prepped to get it I watched Young Guns [Blu-ray] and a couple of other westerns. This game matches the combat of say GTA and COD. Where you shoot someone matters, and it can affect your character in different ways too. Some of my opponents are gonna have a limp for a while at least.

Atmosphere: +

There are critters running all over as you ride through the desert landscape. It feels dusty, makes me want to wear a bandanna as I play. When you get low on cash you can kill and skin critters for a few coin. There are actually many ways that you can earn money in this game besides being a hard criminal.

World: +

So far its just massive. I can only compare it to the run from Commonlands to Qeynos in EQ. It seems to be fully explorable and I have found very few places I couldn’t go. It really is huge. I have seen that someone said it was the biggest world ever done in a Rockstar game. Which is impressive considering that those games can go on forever. The land is great in that it hardly ever repeats as you ride. Matter of fact I haven’t seen any textures or vistas that look the same. Maybe there are but they are so far apart that you wont notice it. An example of this is the train ride into the mountains in Uncharted 2.

Towns: +

Unlike GTA you wont have a huge city to run around. Out west these were small settlements and usually had only a couple of hundred people in them. Think about all the old wild west movies you have seen where there is maybe 10 shops and a few houses in the town directly. The way they did the towns is very endearing, because it makes it an immersion type of game experience.

Poker: +

I love the side games. I have lost my fair share of my real money playing poker and now I can do this in game too.

Gameplay options: +

You can be the good guy or be a down right criminal. The game system supports either mode and varying degrees in between. This allows RDR to be more than just a shooter, but more like an RPG. Be careful who you pull your gun on. If you do it in town you can start something that will ultimately lower your honor.

Controls: +/-

The controls are a bit different here and do take some time to figure out. But any game can be that way. If you go from say a driving game to a shooter you might hit the wrong buttons once and a while. After playing this for nearly 2 days solid now and not switching to other games in between, I have totally become comfortable with the controlling scheme.

Multiplayer: NA

I do not enjoy multiplayer shooters. I am really no good at it so I tend to not play it much or at all. That being said I jumped in a couple of games and it was ok. If your a hard core multiplayer person please check other reviews for this. I would not do it justice because I tend to be jaded with regard to multiplayer games.

Replayability:

I am almost done and I can see where I would have like to do something different in the way I played this. That being said, I think that I could go back through and try it again maybe being a bit evil this time. For that I think that this is a game you could play over and over, adjust the story line, and enjoy it each time you did.

Summary:

This game is really appealing if:

A. You enjoy GTA type of game play, open world and a morality system that challenges you.

B. Fan of westerns and cowboy movies. If you hate them and think they are silly then you probably wouldnt enjoy this.

If you are A+B then this game is a hands down favorite pick to have in your PS3 arsenal.

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Some Tips: (no spoilers)

I have almost 30 hours into this game and I am not done. I do goof around alot and like to go hunting and see what other mischief I can get into. Playing poker for 3 hours doesnt hurt either. That being said I want to drop some tips in to help those of you still waiting or are looking.

Horses:

1. Dont get to attached to your horse. Think of them like a car, reason being there are tons of ways they can die. From random mountain lions, to getting shot by the enemy to you shooting them in the back of the head on accident when wolves are attacking (sorry skippy )

2. When going in to attack a gang leave your horse way back and run up. When you have hog tied your bad guy you can whistle ^ arrow and he will run back over to you.

3. If you buy a horse the deed is in your bag, click it to call your horse back from the dead. (thanks S.L.V)

Gambling:

Like in real life its alot about luck so go in with the thought you’ll do 1 buy in and when that money is gone leave, go kill some stuff and come back later. Your hands may improve

Time:

1. Pausing the game with the start button will show what time it is. Saving the game gives you 6 hours of rest. If you like shopping be sure you go to bed no later than 3am. Then when you get back up the stores will all be open, and you can go out and have a blast.

Camp:

Camp whenever you have a long ride ahead of you. As long as you have bought a map you can go to that place from your campground. Once in your campground you can select where to go without having to burn up the 6 hours of sleep. Then after it loads you will be at your destination. Good stuff.

Thats it for now. If I figure out any more lil tidbits Ill share them here with you. Have fun, it really is a great game.

Thanks for reading my review.

Rating

Granted I am not that into sci-fi so I mostly stay away from those types, and I like old world ones, and only modern times or back, so this was from one of my favorite periods and lived up to my expectations.

PROS: The Landscape is breathtaking and almost completely open to you (within borders of the mountains around the territories/states) and leaves time for endless exploring both as part of the game and just to explore, Within a large bowl of sorts with mountains, mesas (and all type of western even other types of landscapes) or hemmed by the sea. The weapons are great and simple and period appopriate and varied. The Honor/Fame system is great and gives you choices. You can play in many orders, take time off and actually go do fun stuff like fight, shoot-up people, hunting (my fav), play poker, liar’s dice, blackjack or horseshoes, or just ride around and either help or not help people. The buying/selling portion is fantastic, the accumulation and carrying of all weapons is great. The missions are fun for the most part, the clearing of hideouts and finding treasure is good. The menu’s are bright and clear and easy to follow and keep track of all your various stats from how many wolves you skinned to how many people you shot from a train. etc. Dead Eye is cool, various levels. The challenges for Master Challenges are unique and are challenging, moreso than killing a bunch of gangmembers. The various towns and places are all very unique. Very rarely do you find somewhere you can not get to or get into. The fast travel, camping, stagecoach, and the map are great. The map is spectacular for getting around by laying a waypoint and shows a line to follow the road. The people rarely say the same thing and background conversations are funny at times. There are horsebreaking, nightwatch, cowherding jobs, and saloons and everything one excects in the west. Dueling is challenging but takes a bit to get down. You actually have strategic choices (when to do them, where to hide behind, stand, ride up or not, what gun to use (and most have their pros and cons), kill or capture) in alot of missions.

The riding your horse just around and exploring and occasionally shooting a bunch of animals and skinning them is some of the greatest gameplay ever I think. It is simple and homespun and yet a great marvel of video game technology. The animals and people and seasons and weather are so real.. If you notice the shadows if go with the sun and time of day. And at night riding your horse out under a full moon and sky full of stars feels like it takes you there…

It is fun with the mission in place to do and the graduation of the story (which is suberb) [going for 100% is addicting, fun and fairly challenging] but after though it is fun just to play, the point is gone. Sure you could go back and play through all on expert mode or play a different way.

CONS: [It looks long but these are mostly inconsequential, nitpicky things] I think you get some of the weapons/uniforms a bit late (binoculars you don’t even get to way late) in the game to be useful. Also the results from the Master Challenges; you can’t complete them until you get in new areas and by then the story is along so you’ve learned to make do. The new weapons along the way do greatly help though. The helping of non-unique strangers is exciting at first but later, though they vary in place and type you will learn to recognize them (as a person would in that environment) so you can steer clear or help or hurt (because by now you will probably be full on fame and honor if you have tried). Yeah are some animation glitches but most of the time they don’t harm, and sometimes they are very funny. Jack, John’s son, talks like a weirdo. It’d be more challenging if you lost your horse you couldn’t always just call a new one, and instead had to find, break or steal. But I guess you could limit yourself. You can’t drive the cars. The train takes forever to leave the station and is only like two running at once. Killing a bunch of animals and not having your horse to stand over it (and avoid cut scenes) and avoid skinning takes forever if you have 20 wolves, for instance. It is cool scene at first just like picking herbs but gets old. Other minor inconsistencies I’d hope they’d fix if made a new one: many chests are just decoration, all the ones you open look exactly the same; in a mission you shoot a lock off a jail door but later you can’t do this in just playing, and some doors are locked so I think it should have break in feature/shoot lock; some of the guns are not correct to originals. Some guns don’t penetrate what they would in life. Some are inconsistent depending on people/animals taking two where it should take one. etc.

All this is no big deal though. Eventually you get so much money you have nothing to buy but ammo and so that takes away a bit. No new guns or outfits or houses and you don’t need all 15 horses, just 3 best…. [John doesn't seem to need food or sleep (except to save)]

The pros so, so, so far outweigh any bad.

I could see one with Jack headed further West/Northwest or some other story line. Would be great. Just start and sail off from Punto Orgullo or Blackwater.

OVERALL: WELL worth the money, very enjoyable to play and do the missions (some are challenging, some side ones very challenging), all adds up, and you can try and get the achievments and cheats can be found. Great story line. Great gameplay and thought. Even greater, more beautiful, graphics/interactive landscape.

Rating

There is no other game out there like it, single player is as good as multiplayer and they have dlc already coming. I would highly recommend this game to everyone, even if you don’t like westerns because every gamer should experience this game. And there is only 1 bad scene, which is nice for a rock star game.

Rating

It would be easy to dimiss “Red Dead Redemption” as “Grand Theft Auto” with horses and ten gallon hats. But Rockstar San Diego has in fact created a more heartfelt world than the rather parodic and cold world of Liberty and Vice cities. In other words, RDR’s world is as much focused on the wild-eyed temperance preacher standing outside the saloon as much as the crazed and whoopin’ drinkers inside. It’s handling of characters -with some notable and unfortunate exceptions- is sympathetic. Most of all, it gives the impression of a lived-in world that is both old and new, tired and vibrant, and with room for both the myth of the charismatic gunslinger and the lonely and crazy people that the brutal society of the West created.

RDR improves on the template of GTA not only in terms of its superior and softer characterisation. Although the story is the same old tale of a wronged charismatic central character taking on a bette noir from his past, mission structures tend to be a little more varied, with the slo-mo Dead Eye mechanic a cool nod towards the films of Sam Peckinpah and Sergio Leone. Side-quests can vary from collecting flowers, to going after wanted criminals, to hunting the various exquisitely detailed wildlife -varying from birds to coyotes and skunk- dotted about. These side-quests give a sense of the richness of RDR’s envirnoments. The whole honour system adds a motivation to really behaving like a good guy, as well. Furthermore, Rockstar’s decision to set the game as late as 1911 means that we are always being given a concrete setting for the birth of our own world.

Although I’m not a big fan of online multiplayer, there are enough game modes to keep anyone entertained for many hours; the online free roam mode is excellent for just messing about and shooting innocent characters without worrying about the consequences to stats, too.

But the biggest improvement in my opinion over the rather needlessly detailed and cynical world of GTA is RDR’s absolutely stunning score. Sparse musical accompaniment often refers in fragments to Ennio Morricone’s famed scores for Leone’s films and the more sweeping arrangements for Anthony Mann and John Ford’s famous Westerns. It gees up effortlessly for fight and chase sequences, before ebbing away to occasional splashes of impressionistic and moody pizzazz. Most of all, the music perfectly illustrates how RDR so often favours feel, shadow, landscape and melancholic observation over the pyrotechnics of violence, flamboyance and simplistic story development. The music is so much about what represents RDR’s lasting achievement.

This does not mean RDR is perfect. Although characterisation is generally very good, is there any need for a sneaky, alcoholic Irishman? The cover system can be a little unwieldy in tight situations, but RDR is not the first game in history to have this problem, and it certainly won’t be the last. But the game works so beautifully, with so few snags, that you really have to nitpick to find serious faults. Plus it must be emphasised that RDR looks phenomenally good, at least on the XBOX360 version I’ve played: amazing detail to the various character models and environments, with very little pop-up. It gives a sense of scale, dynamism and -most of all- possibility to the game world.

“Red Dead Redemption” is an exhilarating and smooth ride of a game. It has the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever seen in a game. It is a Peckinpah film made by Leone, a Howard Hawks western with the conscience and heart of Jimmy Stewart. And I’ll settle for that.

Rating

I love it, there’s so much to do in this game. I can’t help but hunt and play poker for hours lol. Other than that there are many missions that are really fun. Rockstar made a great wild wild west grand theft auto. I had a lot of glitches in mine though. Nothing major, but stuff I laugh about like invisible people holding brooms.

Rating

Awesome game, feels exactly like GTA but whole different theme with just as much creative story line and side game play. tough to get sick of.

Rating

Move over…everything else. This game is a new all time favorite. I’m terrible at shooters, and couldn’t even figure out why I was buying this in the first place. But I felt like it was sort of ‘just right’ for my level. Nothing was impossibly too hard, but if it was, there is always a ‘skip to next checkpoint’ option so that you don’t get stuck and can continue on with the story. I never used it, because it might’ve taken me many tries to get past a level, but I had no incentive to stop. I could not put this game down until the credits started rolling. And even after that, the online mode has still got me playing. My new all time favorite game. Buy it, you won’t regret it.

Rating

This is a purchase, no doubt about it. I like it better than GTA4 because you can actually go inside the buildings. If you have 2 ps3s buy 2 so you can play in this sandbox together.

Great graphics (a little diluted from the Xbox version but less pop-ups). Great sound, presentation and GUNPLAY!! Can almost be like a movie when you take someone out…

So why not a 10?

I don’t care for the mapping and menu system, its a bit archaic and causes many pauses in the action. Annoying, I don’t know how many times I have to bring up the map during play to see which way you are going. I don’t like the reverse buttons either, you push the right button to bring up the left menu and the left button to bring up the right menu???? I never stopped pushing the wrong button which only brings up the wrong menus, but after doing this a hundred of times I ask myself why they did it this way. multiplayer menus are not great either.

What would have been nice would have been a menus system like the one if Dragons Age Origins, the game definitely could have had a better system.

Some freezing, floating objects, no big deal.

Buy it enjoy it and play by your self or with friends and you will have one of the most immersive gaming experiences you will have ever played to date!!!

Rating

Best video game in the history of the entire world. The only negative: there is only one controller layout, and no options to change it. Using L2 and R2 to aim and shoot on the PS3 isn’t good. Other than that? Perfection.

Rating

When it comes to video gaming the entire spectrum is abundant with Sci-Fi, Racing, World War and Shoot-em-ups dime-a-dozen. Now the gaming world has been given a newer fresher choice in Red Dead Redemption. Though there’s been Wild West games in the past none like this. Rockstar whose fame is the GTA series has given gamers new life and a new experience. If you ever wanted to be a “Clint Eastwood” or eperience a “John Wayne” western style here’s you chance and this game doesn’t disappoint.

I cannot compare to the GTA series as I never reaally played them. But I have had my share of Sci-Fi to World War shooters and I can honestly say this is a breath of fresh air. No super-duper, fancy, spectacular explosions, effects and weapons…just old school western landscape, six shooters, Winchester Rifles, whisky, wild cowboys, bandits, drunks, cattle and horses.

Visually – The game is downright solid and detailed all over. The landscape feels and looks like the Wild West with rock, mountains, trees to even tumble-weeds going by. As to the structures, Rockstar nailed it with detail in everything from the wood, paint, and layout in towns to ranches. Go inside a General Store and it’s filled with store items from that period. Even the Salons with the bar and tables are detailed enough to you just want to look around for the heck of it. The outfits and attire are sensational as well with several various characters and outfits to see. But what I sy is the best is Rockstar uses a “day-to-night” style where during gameplay you experience a real day though not actually 24 hrs time frame. The change during the day with lighting is really something to see with high noon sun to nice sunsets to a glaring moon with plenty of stars. Night time is really fun with small laterns scattered throughout for a nice touch.

Audio – is as solid as ever with critters, aniamals, gunfire, wind, hoof-beats of houses, chatter and of course gunfire. Besides the “look” of the Wild West you can hear it as well. If you have a decent surround system you’ll enjoy this for sure.

Gameplay – if you’re a die-hard Sci-Fi, World War shooter that’s accustom to fancy weapons you may get bored or say what a relief.First off the movement and mechanics of the game are solid and good. From walking to running to riding horseback to conversation to firing six-shooters to jumping to knife-throwing to punching someone it’s there. Of course the main thing in the game is shooting and the target system comes in three flavors depending on your style and adapting to pace. There’s a neat “Dead Eye” part where you can slow down time a bit to help target and shoot. You can also shoot someone in the leg and they’ll either hop along or crawl. As you progress more weapons become available as do outfits and yes horses. Do more chores, good deads and of course “Bounty Hunting” you earn money to spend or play poker. Heck you can even play Horsehoes. You can also screw-up and have the Law after you.

There’s plenty of side missions including “hunting” from coyotes, deer, raccons , crow, hawks, bears, snakes, skunks and cougars. Being a “Sandbox’ game and it’s a huge sandbox you can pretty much wander around and just explore. In towns you may help a strnger, take down some unruly cowboys, help a lawman on a task, breakup a fight…who knows but the game is anything but predicable and same-old stuff.

Multi-Player -I really haven’t played much except in “Free Roam” where you can hookup with up to eight players total to form a possie and head out for various missions and places scattered throughout. As you level up you gain better weapons and choices of characters to be. It’s pretty fun and experience to ride along with friends and even strangers

Final Thought – Is the game perfect…no as several have stated there are some bugs and occasional bug but not enough to declare it unplayable. As to style and substance of the game it’s a gem and worthwhile of the ratings it’s received. There’s simply nothing out-there in the same league. If Rockstar supports this as they’ve done with the GTA series you can pretty much bet on more maps, more add-ons and more DLC over time. In fact they already have six co-op missions coming and that was before the game came out. If you wanted to be “Clint’ in High Plains Drifter or Pale Rider look no more…Red Dead Redemption is as close as you’ll get.

Rating

This game is just awesome.

You play in this western style game, where being the good guy is not so innocent by today’s standards.

You can take the game’s path and do some chores, like killing bad guys, rob some chaps, etc; or you can just be a lone wolf and discover your own way, when you find damsels in distress, hidden treasures, gangs in need of an extra help, trains to rob, etc.

A neat game that is endless, resembling GTA in it, only on a 19th century scenario and scenery.

Three thumbs up!

Rating

I’m not a HUGE gamer, but I own a fair amount of 360 games: Assassin’s Creed games, Batman: Arkham Asylum, the first two GTA games, etc. I love open environment games, obviously.

and I thought Assassin’s Creed II was addicting, but MAN, this one is keeping me up late, every night! I even took a break from the main story line (I’m in “Act 2″ right now – Mexico), and I’m having a blast just doing the hunting and sharpshooter challenges! There is SO much to do!

I love the music. Love the main character. Love the SOUND mixing! Love the gameplay. Love it all.

If I had to pick any cons, it’d be the occasional bug – horse gets stuck and “jolts” repeatedly, or the repetitive bounties – which are always fun, but I’d rather not hunt for the SAME exact bounty in the same exact location. But I’m knit-picking, here.

Overall, if you like westerns and you like video games – this is a MUST.

Rating

Remember when you’d eat at grandmother’s house and the food was always fantastic? When you’d ask about it she’d sit back, smile to herself and say her secret ingredient is love. It’s cliche but it’s absolutely true.

The RockStar team was head over heels for this project and it shows in a big way. Every detail was painstakingly crafted and the environment breaths life. The clearest evidence of this is how the world behaves without interaction from the player.

If you happen to be in town between 8 & 12 you might see one of the local deputies stroll out and tack up a new wanted poster. It didn’t just magically appear as we’ve often been accustomed to. That guy at the poker table is Herbert Moon and he owns the dry goods store across the street. The working girls are flaunting their wares and hoping to avoid the sadistic customers with seedier appetites. Wildlife scurries to and fro, grazing, at times predator and other times prey. Travelers move along the roads attempting to avoid packs of wild dogs, cougars and the occasional bear. They might stop for a rest and even invite you to their camp but just be sure to check what’s cooking in the pot.

The measure of realism achieved here is not how the world reacts to the player but rather how the player reacts to the world as it changes around them. Even if you’re not a fan of the old west you owe it to yourself to experience the next generation of video games and what we should continue to demand going forward.

That being said, Red Dead Redemptions greatest flaw is the incredibly high bar it has set for future titles. You just might love your other games a little bit less after playing this one but for a game this amazing, I consider it a price worth paying.

Rating

Best western ever! It’s like a western grand theft auto with much better mechanics and truly engaging characters and voice acting.

Rating

I just finished this game and I was blown away by the ending. The story is excellent and really flows nicely. The controls respond well and make the gameplay smooth without any frustration. There are alot of errand missions like Grand Theft Auto 4 so if you were put off by GTA 4 you will probably hate some of the missions.

This is a long game and well worth the money. Amazon shipped this game pretty fast and I recieved my golden guns code on time. I also recieved a 20 dollar credit and a 5 dollar credit for MP3 downloads. This just sweetened the deal to an already awesome game. Highley recommend to any who likes western games and GTA games. You will not be dissapointed.

Rating

Awesome game. The sandbox, 3rd person games are my favorite and this fits the bill perfectly. Tons of fun stuff to do in the game, and while some don’t like it’s slower pace I really enjoy it.

Visuals and sounds are just incredible, and gameplay is great too.

I won’t bother breaking down each aspect of the game as that’s been done over and over, I just wanted to chime in and add my rating. Definitely recommend this game.

Rating

This game is often said to be just a GTA in the West but it is much more than that. The characters are more dynamic and more lively than that of GTA. Most of the as[ects of the game are great but there are a few minor setbacks.

Positives

+ HUGE world to explore

+ Varying amount of difficulty

+ Fun multiplayer

+ Pretty good graphics

+ Euphoria engine allows for great animations

Negatives

- HUGE world…sometimes you have to travel a long way

- Euphoria engine sometimes gets you stuck into objects or continually running into objects

- Either the story wasn’t that good or I have add, there are soooo many sidequests you often forget the story

Overall it’s a great game, but if you get distracted easily with open world games then you may just want to give this one a rent. But either way, this title definitely packs fun for many hours.

Rating

Great story great graphics replay value is very high free dlc just over all great buy

Rating

I wanted this game so bad-but my mom said she wouldn’t pay 60 bucs and I had to find a deal so I searched online. Amazon had the best deal and quick shipping! I love this game so much-I play it all the time!!!

Rating

This game is very fun, both single and multi player. The single player has so much depth and different things to do that it’s actually the first game I haven’t dove straight into multi player. I have played multi player for a good bit though it’s very fun, way better than GTA4.. It’s a very Different game than I’ve every played, i guess because it’s Western and it truly feels realistic.

It’s a must buy for either system!!!

Rating

I am generally not a GTA fan and started to have concerns about Rockstar games until now. This is pure genius. Single player story mode is very well done.

Rating

Although I am only a quarter of the way through the game, I must say that it is pretty addictive! Being over 50 years old, the game brings me back to some of the old Clint Eastwood westerns. A very good story line. You get so caught up in the game at times, that you sometime forget that this is only a game! I highly recommend this game, even to some of the old timers!

Rating

I am not one to buy new releases. I always wait until they are $20 or so. I’ve never paid full price for a game, until RDR. I bought into the hype and decided I had to have this game. Do I regret it? Hell no! I haven’t put a ton of time into it but I have to say this game easily ranks in my top 10 and will probably climb to the number one spot.

There are moments in this game that will just make you laugh. They will amaze you. They will irritate you (like when I dismounted my horse to help a guy being chased by coyotes and my dumb horse wandered off a cliff and died). But they are all great! I am just in awe of the graphics. My wife came in while I was playing and thought I was watching a movie. She sat down and watched me play for 20 minuted while I hunted some animals and she was in awe and she couldn’t give a flip about video games.

There is so much to do in this game. I am speaking single player strictly…I haven’t played multiplayer yet. It’s fun to just ride around and do stuff. You really get the feel of being in the old west. And if you are tired of doing stuff in the game, you can play one of the minigames. I won $75 in a poker game this morning. It was great (the AI is average).

I love the random events. Stuff happens in this game. I was out one night and just hunted down a treasure map and a cougar came out of nowhere and killed my horse. I couldn’t get away and couldn’t get a beat on it and it killed me. Amazing.

You won’t regret buying this game. It’s been awhile since I’ve had a game that has captured my interest like this one has. I can’t wait to get home and play some more.

Rating

Bought this for my boyfriend for his birthday – he loves it! Great purchase!

Rating

I bought this game because a lot of my MW2 buddies are on it plus read reviews. This game lives up to the hype. Honestly there is really nothing to complain about with the single player mode. The story is great, graphics are wonderful. So many things you can do its outrageous. Who would have thought you would actually want to pick flowers in a video game. Taking peoples money in some poker, or getting your money taken in some horseshoes…its all good. This is just small stuff. If you feel up to it go look at a wanted poster and earn a little bit of money collecting bounties. Then can catch a movie after you are done. I dont know how many movies they have, but the one I watched was funny. It was about 5 minutes long.

This game if very well made, and although I seen people compare it to GTA…it is not like that. I played GTA up to SAN Andreas, but eventually had to stop because it glorfied too many things. This game is closer to fallout, before the fallout. Overall this is a great buy.

P.S, I’ve gone on a few online Co op missions they are fun, untill you get some butt in your posse that starts killing you. Makes it boring real quick.

I will give an updated review later.

Rating

I love this game. I’m usually a casual gamer but after seeing the review on The Totally Rad Show – I knew I had to check it out. I’ve always been interested in cowboy stories and that era and now I got my chance to virtually be part of it.

This game is well polished and looks incredible on the PS3. I have a hard time putting it down every time I play it.

Highly recommend it.

Rating

The Good:

-Great, compelling storyline

-Lots and lots of activities, games, and side quests

-Beautiful landscape

-Top notch soundtrack

-Fun multiplayer

-New honor system and wanted system is fantastic

The Bad:

-A few glitches here and there

Overall, this game is amazing. I’ve been playing it nonstop and its very hard to find any complaints. I can recommend this to anyone, not only fans of sandbox games.

Rating

The developers at Rockstar have done it again. They have taken everything great about the GTA series and stuffed it into another open world sandbox game and made it even better. The wild west setting of Red Dead Redemption is so fully realized that the player feels like he’s in a western himself while playing this game. Thank you Rockstar for making another must-own game.

Rating

This game is GREAT, a pice of art. Since you gai control there are too many things to do. There are a couple of missions that are plain stupid like the cow herd mission with bonny or shoot some guy’s hat with west dickens (this mission teachs you how to use dead eye though) I love the side missions (personas, night watch, helping people on the road) didnt understand the liar’s dice game at the beggining but i managed to beat some guys anyhow. Riding the horse is so much fun. Getting all the outfits takes a lot of time and you wont be bored for a while.

Rating

As probably most here I have spent a good amount of time playing GTA4. And, also waiting for a good themed western game for any platform. Betting that Rockstar got it right I ordered this for release day delivery. I have a few days of playing and can say this game is square on right. If you are familiar with the GTA format then this is very like that as far as controls. As always large open world with a billion things to do. Missions, bounty hunting, killing wild game, herding cattle etc. The textures are done very well and I am impressed with the excellent resolution and animations.

Pros::::::::::

Wonderful graphics with excellently rendered animals

As open as the world gets

Open ended game play

compelling story line

This is the best western on any platform

If you liked GTA4 you will love this

Cons::::::::::

Load times can be long

If you aren’t excellent with GTA4 controls you are going to have some deaths!

Five stars rockstar!!!! BUY BUY BUY

Rating

Awesome game so far. Its a really good character driven game, which does a really good job in sucking you into the story. Graphics are pretty good, landscape and environment is amazing, and gameplay is great!

definitely a must play.

Rating

This is a great game that I continue to play over and over.

You can literally play for hours and not do the same thing twice. A great adventure, especially if you like westerns.

Rating

This game by far is my game of the year! I have put well over 40+ hours into the single player alone. I did reach 100% in the single player and once I did that – there isn’t much reason to go back and play it unless you really enjoyed the minigames or just causing havoc in the wild west!

This game is a DEFINITE improvement over the original Red Dead Revolver. The story-line does not have anything to do with the first game, but it has definite aspects of it. It moves from a fps game into a 3rd person Sandbox game. (Which was a definite improvement)

The multiplayer is fun and the achievements are definitely a challenge, but all-in-all the best part of the game is definitely the single player aspect.

The game has a great story line with its twists and turns throughout! 10/10

The gameplay is a little difficult to get used to and the switch of weapons gets a little annoying but overall it is amazing – 10/10

Replayability – is 9/10 (I am giving this a 9 because Rockstar plans to have at least 5 DLCs for this game)

Sound – 10/10

I didn’t find the difficulty to be terribly hard, but there are some missions that do get annoying – 8/10

Achievements – 10/10

Overall – 9.5/10

This game is a definite pick-up! If you enjoy sandbox games or the western Genre – Definitely go out and buy this game!

Rating

At last a 3d game on ps3 that is not meant for 10 years old. Great story, tons of freedom, beautiful and with the Dead Eye it is fairly easy to target with no mouse.

Great game!

Rating

The single player is the best, multiplayer is fun. Get it you won’t be sorried.

Rating

Since I got this game I forgot I had other games, its been less than a month and I havent stop playing it. And im talkin only About the multiplayer. Even though I’ve hear the single player story is excellent, i have not been able to press “A” instead of “X” in the main menu screen. The multiplayer free mode and the posibility to jump to cooperative and competitive games right away is just too engaging.

This games is near perfect in every aspect. I recomend it to anyone

Rating

Well, it’s official, this game is addictive. I played 18 hours of gameplay in 72 hours. Although i haven’t had time to experience multi-player, it seems to be pretty good and interesting from what i have seen of it.

The single player mode is a great experience. The graphics are great and the ambiance was unique to me. Although some of the talking between the characters seemed awkwardly spaced and awkwardly written, the interaction between characters felt fairly authentic. Sometimes your character, John Marston, shouts at times where there is no need to and gets super pissed off at nothing. Sometimes it makes a scene seem stupid and awkward.

My main issue with this game is the way that you have to get from one part of a mission to another. Often times you just hold down “A” (or “X”, if ps3 is your preferred platform)and listen to some pointless dialogue between John and your riding companion. Sometimes the conversation is interesting and helps along the plot, but sometimes it’s pointless and makes you wish you could just skip to destination.

One of my other complaints with this game is the whole system of looting and skinning. Although when i first started playing i always looted and skinned, it has now become a bit tedious. In the middle of an intense gun-fight it’s kind of irritating to watch a 3 second animation that consists of bending down and standing up.

Although this game generally ran smoothly for me, I did have a few annoying glitches. When a man asked me for help from bandits, I was on way to a mission and didn’t feel like stopping. Five minutes later, when i reached the mission start point, it still was acting like i was helping out the man. I had to travel all the way back out to the middle of no where to kill three bandits…

Yes, this game certainly has it’s share of annoying glitches and bugs, but it also is a great experience. They could have released a GTA V, but i feel like that franchise has become a bit worn out. (I think the playability of GTA IV proves that) This is a completely different feel and a different perspective. Plus, the weapons are unique to the game. What other game can i pack heat with such style? I feel safer knowing i have an array of deadly rifles and revolvers strapped to my back.

Speaking of unique weapons, the lasso can be a hilarious part of the game. You can throw it around the waist of a person and drag them behind your horse. You can also hogtie both innocents and criminals, and carry/murder them/put them on train tracks and wait for a train to show up/whatever you want.

***SPOILER ALERT*** (Content reveals end of story)

When I was nearly at the end of the game, I was ready to snap the game in half. Really, Rockstar? Herding cattle and scaring crows away from my silo? If i wanted to experience how running a ranch feels for two solid hours, I would play FarmVille. However, all of the stupid father/son bonding time activities and hunting made the end of the game better. At the end, when John sacrifices himself to protect his family, (Of course bringing down as many bastards as he can before he dies) you kind of feel for the characters. Now, I’m not one to get emotion from a game, but the ending was definitely a good one. Plus, you get to play as John’s son, Jack, and murder the government official who ultimately took down John.

In the end, if your looking for a game that has a good, plot, great, graphics, but are willing to suffer for a bit to get to some of the best parts of the game, this game is perfect for you. What other game offers you a playable character that is a badass-ex-outlaw turned bounty hunter-turned farmer-turned government errand boy who also manages to take time out of his day to play poker and horseshoes? Definitely a game to buy.

Rating

It really was like playing GTA but in the wild west. It’s pretty much a lock if you own a 360 just like Mass Effect. These are must have games!

Rating

RED DEAD is back and better than ever!!! The gameplay is awesome and very extensive, you will never run out of things to do. The Multiplayer experience is very clever, great and diverse. The Co-op missions are outstanding. The servers need to be beefed up a little, but still acceptable. Downloadable content is now available and im sure there is more to come. This game should be in everyone’s collection!!!!

Rating

This is going to sound a bit ‘cheesy’ but the character development and plot in this game is so incredibly well-done that by the end of the game, you actually care about the characters and what happens! Combine this with an immersive environment and expansive gameplay, you have one of the most entertaining games that has come out in a long, long time! Single-player will easily lat you 25-35 hours depending on how many side missions you accept. Multi-player is so-so but adds to the overall value of this great title! Even if you are not a fan of the Western theme, do NOT miss out on this exceptional game!

EDIT 6-24-2010

Here is some info on the latest free COOP misson pack available for download from the PS Store. There are 6 missions in call; unfortunately you cannot choose which one you want to play; it loads randomly, which kinda sucks.

Ammunition – The Mexican Army has the town of Tesero Azul under siege. You and your comrades are pinned down, caught under heavy artillery fire and enemy reinforcements. Your first goal is to clear the town of all hostiles while avoiding enemy artillery blasts from the ridge. Once completed, the next phase of the mission shifts to clearing out the Eastern and Western fortifications surrounding the town. These areas are rife with snipers, riflemen, and gunners on mounted Gatling guns. Once the flanks are secured the final phase of the mission begins, prompting one of your team members to grab explosives from inside the town and plant them on the high ridge amidst the opposing artillery encampment. The mission concludes once the camp is secure and the explosives detonated.

Walton’s Gold – Walton’s gang has taken control of a small mining camp rich with gold. Fight through the camp while avoiding sniper fire from the ridge and mounted Gatling guns near the entrance to the mine. Once inside, pile as many bags of gold as you can into a mine cart while fighting off waves of Walton’s cronies. Be quick, the mine is rigged to explode! Once safely outside the mine, defend your newly acquired riches from Walton’s reinforcements.

The Escape

Interrupt an arms deal and steal a coach full of gold, with the option of using a second, Gatling gun-equipped wagon for protection. Turn the gold in to the American Army and clear out remaining resistance in the town of Tumbleweed. The battle at Tumbleweed involves cannons and Gatling guns. After a classic double-cross that ends in a stand-off, escape with the Gold Coach to Mexico, battling Army soldiers the entire way.

The Herd

Cattle rustlers have taken control of Box Canyon. Fight your way in and wipe out the rustlers, then use teamwork to protect the herd as you lead them home to Armadillo under heavy fire – watch for snipers on the ridge, and reinforcements on horseback.

The Kidnapped Girl

Another gang has taken over Fort Mercer, and they’re holding a farmer’s daughter hostage. Charge the fort and eliminate the gang’s inner stronghold, then fend off reinforcements as you transport the girl by stagecoach to her home at Ridgewood Farm.

The River

Use a raft to head downriver, taking out rebel encampments along the way until you reach the rebel stronghold of Nosalida and a final epic battle for the town’s massive weapons caches. Watch out for Gatling gun-equipped enemy rafts.

Rating

Graphics – 10/10: Simply put, the game looks beautiful. The landscapes are very realistic and you really get a sense of being in the old west. In all honesty, it’s one of the best looking games I’ve seen. Draw distance is great. (That means that you hardly ever see things “popping” into view.) I’ve found myself just stopping to look at a sunset or landscape multiple times… just because it looks so good.

Audio – 10/10: The music choice is amazing for this game. The soundtrack is very well put together and certain story moments are made much more theatrical thanks to song choices. Perfectly fitting to the game.

Immersive Factor – 9.5/10: There’s not much to say here. You really get the sense of being in the old west with this game. The story is very good, and the ending is one of the best I’ve seen in recent years.If you like old west movies, I’d highly recommend this game.

Length / Replay ability 9/10 – I’ve played the game for 30 hours now, and I’m 96% done with the entire single player. In my opinion the single player is an almost perfect length. There are about 57 main story missions which take around 15 hours. There is a wealth of side missions/collecting/challenges/etc. that can easily double the life of your game experience depending on how you play. Once I complete the 100% though I have no plans to replay through the game.

Multiplayer / Co-op 8/10: The multiplayer is most fun if you play with friends instead of random gamers. With the added Free DLC, this game has a lot to offer multiplayer gamers. A word of a warning to achievement completionists: One achievement is for reaching the highest level in multiplayer, and it’s proving to be very time consuming to achieve.

Annoyances: -1 for collecting plants. Maybe I just don’t like collecting things in video games, but the hour I spent getting the “survivalist challenges” was brutal. I thoroughly didn’t enjoy it. and -1 for leaving trains and lassos out of multiplayer. Hopefully they add them in some upcoming DLC.

Final Verdict (45.5/50) Great Game! Highly recommended to fans of GTA IV, Old Western Movies, and action/open ended video games.

Rating

I got this game on its release date, May 18th and I still love to play it. I’ve logged almost 3 days into it.

The SINGLEPLAYER is by far the best single player I’ve ever played. This accounts for maybe 30 hours of gameplay. The Red Dead world is huge, the story interesting, and the choices you make in the game affect everything. The ending to the game is great.

The MULTIPLAYER is good as well. Free roam is great but I can see how it could get boring. You need friends and creativity to really have a good time in free roam. The online gang matches are good, but there are few maps and Team deathmatch is rather dry(the objective game types are much better, in my opinion).

I also recently picked up the Outlaws till the End Coop mission pack. Very good, already beat all the missions with my friends and its free!

BUY IT you won’t regret it.

Rating

Playing RDR is the most fun I’ve had playing a game. There is just so much you can do in it. Also, it’s the most beautiful game I’ve seen, as far as the landscape and scenery goes. There is just so much thought and detail put into the game. It’s definitely a must have.

Rating

Rockstar has proven themselves again at being the best at making free roaming, sandbox games. Although this game plays similarly to Grand Theft Auto IV, it’s unfair to compare the two. This is because Red Dead Redemption is far better in terms of scope and storyline. Even the multiplayer is more creative and varied with the unparalleled free roam, interesting game modes, and numerous character models/gangs. Here is a basic rundown of the game in my opinion:

Graphics: 5/5

Controls: 5/5

Sound: 5/5

Single Player Campaign: 5/5

Multiplayer: 5/5

Sure, the game can get a little glitchy here and there, but it isn’t really noticeable. Hope this helps.

Rating

This is a trully good game, I have been playing since I got it and I’m very satisfied with it

PROS:

-A lot of missions and situations to play

-Beatyfull scenery and ambient lighting

-Mini Games, Blackjack, Poker, Horsehoe and more.

-Excellent Graphics, Better than GTA4

-Fantastic Gameplay, even in online Mode

-Huge enviroment to explore

-Easy learning curve

CONS:

-Some minor graphics glitches

-During online gamming, sometimes you are ALONE in the world

-Cheats are limited and tedious to enter

Rating

Just wanted to throw my dusty ol’ cowboy hat in the ring and say that I love this game and pretty much agree with all the other 4-5 star reviews. It’s an amazing achievement by R*. It’s so amazing what is possible. Buy it and enjoy!

Rating

Move over Bethesda, Rockstar has a strong contender for “GAME OF THE YEAR”. This game is as good as FALLOUT3 and OBLIVION. The attention to details the outstanding graphics, story, acting, cut scenes all make it outstanding!!!

This review is only about game play and the details of this BEST WESTERN saga. All basic story etc have been discussed so lets get some meat and potaoes about “RED DEAD REDEMPTION” (RDR).

1. First you get a very good detailed map of the territory (18 x 28 inches this territory is as big if not bigger than OBLIVION. I’d say 40 square miles of desert, mountains, monument valleyish area, Bayou swamps to Tall pines cross the river into Mexico wow this is some great beautiful stuff!! All the cactus & sage, howling critters & singing birds. ) I use the map often (great planner especially for fast traveling).

2 Watch the trailers and just the opening scenes makes you realize this is the first serious WESTERN video game!!!! ROCKSTAR BRAVO!!! I’m truly HOME ON THE OPEN RANGE!!

3. Basic High Lights of Single Player (Note it will take you a few sessions and a commitment to become one with this virtual world. It is so worth it later in the storyline. Learn and use everything!!!

A. Free Roamimg – explore, learn your environment it is alive and dangerous This game easily will clock 100+ hours if you live in this old west environment and discover the many scores of mini quests and discoveries (mines, ghost towns, cattle drives, treasure etc.) Traveling using all modes walking, horse, stage coach, train etc.

B. Become the character do it all, Gunfighter, Legend (Fame), Hero (Honor) as in OBLIVION and FALLOUT3 everything you do is tracked and your reputation known.

C. Ride all modes of transportation, Horses, Wagons, Stage Coaches, Trains etc.

D. Master Weaponry, Shooting, Roping, Throwing Knives (especially while riding on horseback on a wagon etc.) Survival in the wilderness. Roping (wild horses) & bronco busting get a lasso. Lassoing outlaws bring in alive double bounty!!!

E. LEARN “DEAD EYE” The art of slow motion targeting (3 levels – 1st level slow motion / brief time to use. 2nd level 1st level plus auto targeting / longer time to use & 3rd level 1st&2nd levels plus manual paint (also multiple targets) specific target areas / extended and quick recovery time.

F. $$$$ Matters use all ways to make it (jobs, hunting game for pelts, feathers etc)

G. Listen!!!! Hopefully you have a great 5.1 dolby digital sound system. The wilderness sounds ie. animals, bandits, horses, trains knowing the direction allows you to react in a timely manner. LISTEN!!!! turn look look shoot (don’t forget DEAD EYE !!! Freeze those varmits!!! Good luck!

How does all this work keeping track etc?

START BUTTON during game play tracks

MISSIONS – (reference / history), MAPS – mapping territory, OUTFITS – (14 in all provide specific disguises to wear for missions ie “LEGEND OF THE WEST” max skill in all Challenges!!! WEAPONS- organize and compare. STRANGERS (people you help for rewards or information), JOURNAL – tracks your challenges levels. CHALLENGES (Leveling up 1 – 10 in specific skills aka SURVIVALIST (living off the land plants), MASTER HUNTER (hunter, skin pelts, feathers etc), TREASURE HUNTER (treasure maps and finding booty) and SHARP SHOOTER (Using DEAD EYE effectively)

As you can see there many detailed things to use and do in the Wild West!!

This game is a must and you can do almost anything here in RDR here is a list, Gamble (poker & dice) Lasso horses tame or wild. outlaws, runaways you can ride and shoot!! Herd cattle, shoot wild game cougars (very dangerous), coyotes snakes, birds (buzzards, owls, hawks etc), armidillos, rabbits, Set up a campfire in the wilderness to save game and rest.

Well I must tell you in cowboy boots you can’t run fast or climb much (you can slip very easily on rocks and cliffs.. NOTE you can’t swim You die.

Be prepared to die out in the wilderness until you become proficient in your challenge skills.

This is a great game and the mission and story is the best. Buy, Play, and ENJOY!!!

Rating

I got this game last night, and decided to play a quick game, that lasted 5 hours…

Its entertaining. Graphics look great.

I’m surprised by the voice work. I was convinced some of the actors were NAMES but they weren’t. Still grade A work.

The controls are easy, the targeting is easy. Shooting is easy. Maybe a little too easy. I had no problem shooting hawks, in flight. But then again I was using the double barreled.

The fist fights are pretty good. Though there is a delay when the camera switches angles. I guess to give a more cinematic feel, except the slight pause. which can draw you out of the fight, or believability.

The only problem I had was the camera, I attribute that to the sandbox genre. Coming off of playing AC2. I took a bit to get use to the camera and controls. John is definitely not as fluid as Enzo. But, that is probably just me being unused to the right stick controlling the camera so freely.

I think this game is much better than GTA4. Simply for the fact that it is a western. This is the game I wanted once I beat GUN. A definite must buy for R* fans, or Spaghetti Western/ John Wayne fans…

Rating

Great gameplay and single player story mode. Excellent online multiplayer and private game modes. Tons of replay value. Buy this game now!

Rating

Rockstar games knew what they were doing when they made this game. While at first I was skeptical about it, thinking it would just be GTA in the west, I was surprised to find this game is something all on its own.

Concept and narrative.

In the world of video games, westerns are few and far between. The only one I played was Wild Guns on the Super NES. But taking a Wild West setting, making it an open world game, and making it an homage to the classic spaghetti westerns of the 30′s – 60′s was a great idea. As for the story, well I can’t say too much since I have yet to finish the game, but from what I’ve seen it is engaging and very deep. All I’ll say is that the story is about an outlaw turned lawman John Marston. Having his family kidnapped by the government, Mr. Marston is now forced to bring down the men who he once ran with.

Gameplay

The gameplay is basicly an open world third-person shooter. You start out with just a basic revolver but as you progress you get rifles, repeaters, shotguns, snipers, throwing knives, a lasso, and my personal favorite, dynamite. There’ll be plenty of people to shoot but you also get to hunt animals with them. I haven’t found them all but from what I heard there are over 40 different kinds, each with their own AI. The world is also rather huge, and as for transportation, well horses and carriages are obvious, but I was surprised to find a mission where you ride in an automobile, you can use the carriages to ride quickly to the different towns and settlements, or ride on horseback across the vast lawless plains.

One big aspect of Gameplay are two meters, the fame meter, and honor meter. As you progress your fame will steadily grow as you become more well known, and the honor meter can either raise or drop, depending on your choices, you can either be an honorable lawman, or an outlaw, this is probably where the story has a weakness as it probably wouldn’t have as much of an impact on people going as outlaws. Another big thing about the game is the randomly generated random events that happens everywhere. Throughout the game you can encounter people who might need help such as carriages under attack or people about to be hung for no reason, or bandits who try to threaten and kill you. however this does depend on your honor, if your an outlaw you could rob a train or help bandits take down carriacges, then kill them and take all the loot. Their are also set missions aside from random and story events that you can do at any time.

Graphics and music

The graphics are beautifully rendered and detailed and the music is very authentic, there are even full lyrical songs that play at certain moments in the game that fit perfectly.

Overall

This game is a must buy for any fan of westerns, shooters, or open-world games, and would be my pick for game of the year. Rockstar had outdone themselves with this game.

Rating

This is an awesome game! Well worth the money. Aside from a few bugs/glitches i would give this game a perfect score.

The major qualm i had was that i preordered the game and it took over 2 weeks to get delivered, which is something not at all wrong with the game, but with amazon themselves.

Rating

I needed a new game and this hit the spot. Just like PB&J does when your starving. I needed something to tie me over until the release of Socom and this did it. The multiplayer mode is awesome and I love going horseback riding through the desert with some friends. I also love ganging up on other members with friends. The one player mode is pretty good and it’s a lot like Grand Theft Auto. I can see playing this until they come out with another one, and I hope they do because this is an awesome game.

Rating

I wasn’t planning to buy this game because it was $59.99. However once Amazon dropped it to $48.00 and I found out it was up for game of the year, I figured why not because for one, a lot of people and review sites say it is a great game to play, and if you like western movies/games it makes it just that much better. Well I have to say I can not agree more! The graphics are amazing and game play is exciting and continually engaging. It is a 3rd person shooter, however I normally really only play 1st person shooters because I’ve had bad experiences in the past with 3rd person shooters. This is because it isn’t as easy for a company to produce a quality 3rd person as much as a 1st person and most aren’t willing to go the extra mile. Flat out if you are looking for a great game worthy of every penny this is it. The graphics, game play, story, and fun factor are all tops for this game. You won’t be sorry!

Rating

This is a fantastic concept and game. For any fan of the west and old west movies, this is what we have waited for!

Rating

There may small glitches there and there for graphics but the game have such a great story and gameplay which will suck you in for long hours of enjoyment. Online mode also as enjoyable as single player. Highly recommended!

Rating

Forget What The Haters Say Graphically The Game Is Gorgeous 10 Steps Above GTA IV Graphics Red Dead Redemption Is The Best Western Video Game Period 10/10

Rating

Simply put, this is the game sandlot fans have been waiting for. It takes a game engine as GTA 4 and irons out alot of the issues and improves on all others. I find that this game is fun weather you are trying to play multiplayer, the single campaign or just mess around and shoot at people in towns. If you enjoyed any of the GTA games, BUY THIS GAME NOW.

Rating

This game is very fun to play, has good graphics, great music and sound effects, good amount of unlocks and achievements, multiplayer, good balance of light RPG + action + open-world elements, originality, and a great story. I would recommend this title to most gamers, however, it does come packaged with a few faults. First off, it is entirely too easy. I never died when I was careful, only when I was goofing around or trying something out of the ordinary. It just didn’t have very many challenging moments, even the pivotal story climaxes. Second, for those of you who didn’t like the grunt work missions of the GTA series, don’t expect to dodge those… My only other complaint is the multiplayer. Maybe it’s just me, but I cannot get into it. Multiplayer isn’t straightforward, it’s kind of confusing, and hasn’t really pulled me in like other multiplayer games have.

For it’s faults though, Red Dead is still a standout game and deserves a run-through from any fan of the genre or who likes GTA, Fable, Assassin’s Creed, etc.

Rating

- Story: The characters and plot are both compelling. Even without gameplay in consideration, it’s rewarding alone just to get from cutscene to cutscene.

- Gameplay: Essentially, RDR is built on Grand Theft Auto IV’s engine. As you’d expect, gunplay isn’t perfect, but thankfully the engine has been polished a lot since Rockstar’s last game. The sheer amount of variety ranging from minigames to treasure hunting means you’ll be entertained for a long while.

- Graphics: RDR is a beautiful game to look at. The wild west setting is depicted perfectly and feels very authentic. Texture pop-in is annoying but unnoticeable when you’re sucked into the game.

- Audio: Outstanding voice acting from a variety of characters coupled with great sound effects. The soundtrack is very basic given the setting but it serves the game well.

- Replay Value: Rockstar has put together a massive game full of enjoyment and content. The multiplayer is fully-featured and incredibly fun to play with friends. The single-player is roughly 30 hours in length but there are tons of thing to find and unlock.

Rating:

Story: 9.5

Gameplay: 10.0

Graphics: 9.0

Controls: 9.0

Sound: 9.5

Replay Value: 10.0

Overall: 9.6

Last Thoughts:

Own it – This is one of the biggest releases in a long time and should be purchased by everyone regardless of tastes in games. The story is compelling and its inarguably the best game set in the Wild West ever.

Rating

RDR is not perfect, but it’s probably as close to perfect as I’ve ever seen. There are occasional visual glitches, and I think the game was actually just a little too long. I was chomping at the bit probably two hours before I actually reached the end of the game.

Those problems aside, it is an *excellent* game. From the wind swept and snow capped peaks in the north, to the dusty high deserts in the south, the environment is gorgeous. The solitude of the wilderness is palpable. The story is exciting and tragic, as the old west should be. The political commentary is relevant to our times. You’ll like it, especially if you’re a fan of the 10th amendment and don’t like the Feds sticking their nose in everyone’s business. Multiplayer can be a lot of fun if you have a posse. The action is great and does a good job of being challenging without being frustrating. The music is subtle and moving. Final impression is, the wild west is dead, and yet will never die. If you think you’ll like this game, you’ll love it. Get it.

Rating

Single Player is addicting after the patch and Multiplayer is very fun. Must buy for collection.

Rating

Red Dead Redemption is not “GTA in the old west.” Actually, it’s a lot more like Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, set in the fictional old west of spaghetti westerns.

What strikes you at first is the scope of the game. There’s so much space, and so many things to do! Seriously, you could skip the single player and just hang around in the game world, and you’d have enough to keep you busy for a very long time.

The animation is fluid and beautiful. The characters are well acted by their voice actors, and well illustrated by the game designers. It’s simply remarkable how beautiful the world looks. Sunsets are stunning. Starry nights are gorgeous. Playing this game is like taking a vacation to the frontier.

If you rush through the single player game, you won’t appreciate all the game has to offer, but you’ll still be heartily satisfied by what’s included. If you stray from the single player path, or jump into the free-roaming multiplayer game, you’ll find it’s hard to get bored. Hours melt away when you’re playing RDR, and that’s the best compliment I can give a game.

You are absolutely missing out if you don’t have online access though. From new missions and DLC to the rich multiplayer modes, this game is made better with an Internet connection.

If anything really stands out in this game, it’s how alive the world is. There are all manner of animals running around and flying through the skies, and you can interact with all of them. The birds are really there, and you can shoot them, pluck their feathers, and sell them. From snakes and rabbits, to wolves and cougars, to hawks, owls, and crows… The world is full of creatures.

My only complaint about the game is that it’s easy to offend NPCs and end up on the WANTED list, with a bounty on your head. Just yesterday I ended up wanted because my horse was slow to stop and ran into a lawman, who took that as “assaulting a lawman” and opened fire on me. Why didn’t the fool just get out of the way? It wasn’t my fault! It was my horse!

That aside, this game is one of the games I’d say is worth your $60 to buy as a new release. There’s no doubt you’ll be able to grab this in a year or two for $29 in the Platinum Hits collection, but you’re doing yourself a disservice if you hold off playing this that long.

The old west genre has been suitably represented here, finally. Earlier games like GUN, Red Dead Revolver, and Call of Juarez were OK, but failed to really provide an immersive or aesthetically-pleasing experience. Red Dead Redemption belongs in the same category as movies like “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” as MUST-OWN western media.

The soundtrack is good, but does get repetitive. I almost wish they’d gotten Clint Bajakian, who scored LucasArts’ “Outlaws”, to contribute some music. As it is, after a while I turned down the music because I just thought the game “felt” better without a constant score.

Bottom Line: If you ever enjoyed Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, and are a fan of the movie westerns, then you owe it to yourself to grab Red Dead Redemption. It’s one of the best sandbox games ever made.

Rating

It’s very like Grand thef auto but in a more much fun enviroment, like the wild west… You`ll have the oportunity of ride horses and more, to have duels and lots and lots of firing… Very NICE

Rating

I figured it’d be much like GTA in the west, but was afraid they might try and change a lot and screw it up. Luckily, they only improved on the GTA success in Red Dead Redemption. I must say, everything is stunning in this game, I could not put it down. I managed to complete the single player 100% and continue to play it along with the multiplayer.

Gameplay: 10.0 – Great story, A LOT to do, open world, not a single negative to be had from me.

Controls: 9.5 – Same as GTA controls.

Graphics – 9.5 – Stunning, I could care less about graphics, but they’re great.

Multi-player – 8.5 – You can tell the free roam was thrown together, but they tried their best. I wish the train was in the free roam, and the multi-player has something left to be desired, but still really fun.

Overall: 9.5

Great game, must own!

Rating

When I first heard Rockstar picked up this game, I was a little excited. I didn’t even reserve this game or plan on purchasing it because of how mediocre previous western games have been. Little did I know this would be the most fun game to play/look at on console, period. It even looks better than God of War III did, in my opinion. I’ve heard there are some graphical hiccups, but I have yet to see any major graphical or control problems.

Graphics: Looks even better than God of War III. They really did a good job all around, from the landscape to the towns. Seeing the level of detail in the clouds, stars, desert plants, towns and animals really creates a sense of realism in this game.

Sound: Good voice acting (especially for a western), better than in Grand Theft Auto IV. The music is well-placed and matches every moment. Riding horseback on a trail going to Armadillo, for instance, you could pass a pack of wild dogs attacking a man on a horse. The amazing part is that you don’t have to see this, you can hear everything going on. You’ll hear the dogs bark and growl, the horses neighing in panic and the men/women shouting for help. Great sound.

Controls: A little awkward at first if you are used to the controls in Grand Theft Auto IV, but I quickly became accustomed to them without a problem. The horse is a bit touchy at first, but in my 2 hours of playing the game I’ve already “mastered” the horse controls. Sometimes you have to be really quick with Dead Eye, but have the wrong weapon out, so it can be a bit confusing when trying to switch weapons AND go into Dead Eye mode before you get shot up by 4 robbers at gunpoint, and I died once trying to switch to my shotgun and take them out with Dead Eye. Good controls overall.

Fun: This game is really deep and intricate. The missions are well thought out, and aren’t where they are without reason. The western setting creates a lot of great missions and tasks for you. Rockstar was real creative setting up the mission structure and all of the elements of this game. It is a huge map, and there is always so much to do just riding from one town to another that I doubt I’ll get bored any time soon.

Online: I haven’t played online yet, which is very surprising because I usually buy games only for online play. Free Roam looks awesome though, and the competitive modes look exciting.

In conclusion, this game and God of War III are the best I’ve played this year, and even last year. I would say that Red Dead Redemption is better than God of War III, and deserves the title of “Game of the Year”. Can’t find any flaws aside from the one or two very minor glitches I saw in my 2 hours of play time, so I give this game a 99/100.

Great game, and I suggest buying the PS3 version for the bonus content. Now I have to go play Red Dead Redemption…

Rating

You can lasso townsfolk and hogtie them. You can ride horses and blow their brains out. You can even play Texas Hold ‘Em, Blackjack and Liar’s Dice. The storyline is really good. However, if you just feel like messing around, there are endless amounts of side-missions, tons of stuff to shoot up and skin, and plenty of new land to explore. The map covers all the way up from Colorado and down to Mexico. Some people I know have said the ending actually made them cry. That’s how addicting this game is and how wrapped up you can get into it. I haven’t even tried the online mode but I’ve heard that’s great as well. All in all, it is hands-down the best game I have ever played. If you own a PS3, you best get down to your local shopkeeper and buy this game. Giddy-up!

Rating

Please allow me to cut to the chase: Red Dead Redemption is everything I wished a GTA game could be. And I liked the GTA games. So I REALLY liked Red Dead Redemption.

By now the basic premise is something we all know. RDR is essentially a GTA IV style game draped in the cloth of a Clint Eastwood western. Instead of an urban environment you’ve got the wide open expanse of the American west circa 1911. Instead of city gangsters you have bandits and outlaws. Instead of cars you have horses. Instead of endless city streets you have huge expanses of wilderness.

These are all reasons why I love the game, incidentally. Because I love what the GTA games do, but I’ve never been all that enamored with the setting. This? This is right up my alley.

The basic gameplay is very similar to any GTA game, GTA IV especially. You’ve got a big, three-part map you unlock as the story moves ahead. Story-based missions appear on the map, during which you watch a cutscenes, gallop off to a location, and shoot a load of people. These usually have good variety and mix things up frequently. Between missions you’re free to wander the world, engage in mayhem, do side missions, explore, and so on.

The setting is a major point of departure from the GTA formula, however. No dense city streets teaming with people and cars to run over and crash into. Instead you get a huge swath of American and Mexican wilderness peppered with towns, outposts and landmarks. Everything from the Great Plains to the Sierra Nevadas to Monument Valley to vast desert landscapes. You’ll see herds of buffalo, packs of wolves, wild horses, and loads more. You can hunt game, catch horses, and so on. It’s a big place made even bigger by the fact that there are no sports cars to hop into. Though you can fast travel using carriages, trains and a campsite quick travel option, most of the time you’ll be motoring along on a horse.

While you’re doing this, STUFF happens. There are all sorts of crazy people out there, many of them doing crazy things or having crazy things done to them, and you can intervene at will. Lawmen might be chasing down an escaped criminal, a husband might as you to help his kidnapped wife, someone might try to steal your horse, and dozens more. Get involved and you can see your fame increase. These events are random, and they breath life into the world.

The meat and potatoes of the game is in the main story, and it’s a good one. Reformed outlaw John Marston is being forced by the government to track down his old gang mates. A series of rich characters help you find them, but only after you get involved in their stories and help them out. You’ll help a lawman and a swindler, get involved in a Mexican revolution, work with some insane loons, and eventually fight it out in the dying days of the old west. It’s a Rockstar game through and through.

As with most Rockstar games, the voice acting is impeccable and the cutscenes are well written. There are a LOT of them, and they can be long, but the story is never less than entertaining. And the ending is as bold as it is inevitable – the story COULDN’T have ended any other way, and I love them for doing it.

When not doing the story, there are plenty of side missions to do. In addition to a series of 40 challenges involving hunting, sharpshooting and other skills, there are a number of “strangers” missions, brief mini-stories prompted when you encounter certain people while out and about in the world. Some are brief and pointless, others interesting, but all add to the richness of the world.

This being a Rockstar game, a few of the usual niggles still apply. The save function still requires you to stop in at safehouses to save (though you can now save on the road using a campsite), shooting isn’t always easy or accurate (you’ll be using the slow motion Dead Eye system a LOT), and the instructions and tutorial stink. If you haven’t played a GTA game, there will be a learning curve involved.

But it’s hard to dwell on these flaws when the game itself is so darn good, in my opinion easily surpassing the acclaimed grand Theft Auto IV. It’s Rockstar gameplay through and through, with a great story, a fantastic setting, and loads to do. Highly recommended.

Rating

This game is a ton of fun. I am a big fan of the western genre, and this games brings it all to the table. Gunslinging, railroads, hogtying, and the goldrush … you name it! Probably my favorite buy for the PS3 to date.

Rating

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QUICK REVIEW (LESS READING)

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Graphics- 9.5 Excellent details and textures, everything from the wool jackets, to the animal pelts you collect is highly detailed and gorgeous in HD. I did have a few hiccups and a freeze up during a cut scene, it happened one time, and could very well be my Xbox.

Sound- 10 The surround sound is top notch in Red Dead Revolver, from a steam engine barreling down the tracks, a cougar growling from the bushes, to the small things like birds chirping and wind blowing…the sound envelops you and keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Gameplay- 10 Excellent control setup (GTA vets will be right at home) the only thing that took a bit of getting used to was riding a horse, its not bad, just a bit different than a car in terms of handling. Plenty of story/mission hours to waste away, followed by double the hours you’ll spend just exploring and causing havoc (or helping the kind settlers).

Re-playability-9 Just going home and being able to run around the Wild West is enough for me, Rockstar included a solid story, but you can make your own as you go, helping damsels in distress, or massacring an entire settlement, its all up to you. This is gonna be a great game for a bit of relaxation…or some stress relief.

Multi-player- 9.5 I only played a bit of MP, since the rest of my “posse” hadn’t received the game yet (or were struggling to get one at the store) The premise seems really interesting though, and the game of death match I played was a real nice change from the normal FPS death matches I’ve been playing lately. The open world MP game has always been something I wanted to see more of, and I’m sure once this game gets into more peoples hands its gonna be a real treat for the gaming world.

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I’ve been a fan of the Grand Theft Auto series since it had a top down view, so when this was announced by Rockstar I was pretty interested.

The first thing I must say is Rockstar has really outdone themselves, this game takes GTA to the next level, while taking it back a hundred years on the time line. The first thing you notice is the vast area you get to call “home”. The colors and sand blowing and swirling is truly beautiful eye candy. I hate to compare this game to GTA, but the undertones are all there.

I don’t wanna share any of the story, and honestly that’s icing on the cake for this game. The graphics are simply gorgeous, from the leather straps, and jackets, to the grizzly beards on the characters…all very well done. One thing I must say is not being in the big city setting is a breath of fresh air, no car horns blaring, police sirens at every corner, just the wide open Western range…at times I thought I could taste the fresh air.

As far as game play goes, its hard to beat. You can do anything, and I mean anything (*Ill give a example at the end of this) The stores and shops are fantastic, and walking into a new town just makes you feel like a real gunslinger! Again I don’t wanna get into the story to much, but the voice acting and cut scenes are almost Hollywood movie grade, its always nice when you feel for the characters, and this game does an outstanding job of delving into their history and stories!

As another reviewer said the game takes about 20 hours to play through the main story, however getting 100% completion will take you some extra time. The problem is playing through the game, no matter how hard I tried to go to the next mission, I ended up going way off track, killing a bear, saving a stage coach, or just getting a bunch of horses together to test a dynamite stick on. No matter what path you choose, your in for a surprise…Red Dead Redemption really delivers.

If you haven’t picked this gem up yet I would highly suggest it, I said I’d give an example of doing whatever you want and here it is: Find some poor townsfolk, give em a round from your six shooter in the kneecap, hogtie them, drag them behind your horse to the nearest railroad…and leave em on the track, sit back and wait for the train to come through, nothing better to relieve the stress of those long days at work/school.

Red Dead Redemption far exceeds anything you’ve played before, pick up this game, and I’ll see you behind the saloon at high noon!

Rating

If you loved GTA 4, and you love western games, you’ll love this game for sure, it brings the best physics engine, which makes everything look fantastic, but all engines do come with their faults, after a while, there are glitches, and the characters do start to freeze and tweak out, but besides that, there is a lot of authentic western adventures to go on, i don’t want to spoil it, but i know you’ll like this if you loved GTA, and if you didn’t, still give it a shot, it wont disappoint.

Rating

If you enjoy shooters at all, this game is worth a purchase. The environments are stunning, the story missions are a hoot-and-a-half, the weapons are all fun to use and sound great, it’s just an overall very-well made game.

I was entertained just riding around the deserts, hills, forests, streams/rivers, mesas, cliffs, and various other places just hunting bears and cougars and wolves or robbing people. There is so much stuff to do I could get sidetracked for hours from the main story and have a blast doing so. I’ve beaten the game and now I’m considering playing through again because it was so much fun.

I encountered a single glitch once in the entire game, where a short cutscene did not load properly, but besides that I have had a flawless experience.

I haven’t played much multiplayer but it is very fun, moreso if you have friends with microphones to play with.

Rating

…This game is awesome! I’ve alway’s wanted to have a good ‘western’ game and it has finally arrived, YAY! Now I just need to find more time to play

Rating

I’m picky about my games. I’ve loved Unchartered 2, Batman, and Assasins’s Creed 2. Not cared much for Little Big Planet, Grid and others.

Red Dead is a ton of fun. Lot’s of things to have fun with in this sandbox. Looks fantastic, gameplay is always fun. I’m about 10 hrs into the game, and I’m learning new ways to get things done. Great shooting with Red Eye, running and flying real critters to kill and skin.

I’M A COWBOY! Wooo-Whoooo!!!

Rating

First off, I’ve never done a review on anything before, but this being probably THE BEST GAME I’ve ever played, I thought I’d say a few things. I loved the story, most movie scripts aren’t written as well, the gameplay and graphics were equally impressive. I honestly enjoyed every second of this game, mostly because of the free-roam style. There is the option of taking a stage coach to avoid the long horse rides to the next missions, I took advantage of this once. In most games if there is a way of skipping the drive or ride to the destination, I almost always do so. With Red Dead Redemption, the ride is what I enjoyed most, although the missions were extremely enjoyable, the things you can accomplish on the way were just as fun, if not more fun. In the amazing world of RDR, you can hunt and skin a number of different wild animals including deer, rabbits, bobcats, grizzly bears, armadillos, a number of different types of birds and much more, all depending on the area you’re in. I often found myself forgetting about the next objective and just hunting down as many animals as I could find lol. There is even a store you can sell the skins, meat and the other things you cut off or out of the animals you’ve hunted.

The missions are very entertaining and original, I enjoyed every single one. In RDR it’s not all about shootin’ and killin’ the bad guys. Though it is that, among other things, throughout the game you’re asked to help#most of which you can choose not to# simple farmers and civilians, which is equally as fun as the killin’. These objectives vary from domesticating horses to capturing prisoners who’ve escaped their transporter, which you can choose to kill or hog-tie and return to the lawman. The actual objectives needed to progress in the game are unique in their own right, they depend on the character from whom they were given. About half of the time you’ll be asked to kill so-and-so, which usually isn’t alone. But the other half consists of aiding in escapes, blowing up convoys of enemy wagons and other important events. No matter what you find yourself involved in, I promise you will have fun with it.

And if you’re not interested in any missions, hunting or doing simple favors, you can go have a shot at the bar, play poker, black jack, horse shoes, five finger fillet or arm wrestle. I’m sure I’m missing a lot of things with this review, that said, the possibilities are endless. I give this game 10/10, if you’ve enjoyed the GTA’s, COD’s, MOH’s, basically any first or 3rd person shooter’s, or anything with a story, this game blows everything out of the water in my opinion. It’s definitely worth buying, but if you’re not wanting to spend $60 on a game, it’s more than worth a rent and any late fee’s you might accumulate when you lose yourself in this one. Hope this helps and I didn’t sound too dorky, take care guys.

P.S.mom’s account, not Roberta so it wasn’t some lady that gave this review, I’m 21 and a dude so…I hope that makes it more credible.

Rating

Red Dead Redemption is simply one of the best games I’ve ever played for the new generation of console games. This is easily the best western game ever produced, and Rockstar has done an outstanding job. One thing I noticed is that the game feels a lot like Grand Theft Auto IV as far as controls are concerned. This is a boon, considering that a large portion of the gaming community will instantly be familiar with motions.

There is so much to do and explore in this world. It’s value for replayability is great! I’ve noticed some negative reviews, BUT I have yet to see any valid reasons why this is not a good game (unless it’s style/genre isn’t your cup of tea). It has an interesting narrative, hours and hours of playtime, good graphics, great details and lots of fun things aside from the main plot. It may handle like GTA IV, but button control does not make it the same game. A point of gripe seemed to be other games have had better graphics. This game is massive and to expect highly polished graphics is unrealistic.

So if you don’t like this game, snap into a slim jim and get back to playing Ratchet & Clank.

Rating

A great game from a great developer. I have always loved Rockstar games and I own each and every one of them (still play my xbox and my PS2). I’m at almost 50% completion of the game and aim for 100% as i always do. And this game has been nothing short of fantastic. The environments are full of life. The lighting, characters, attention to detail is all top notch. Near perfect. That s not to say that there are not a few shortcomings though. Starts slow, like most Rockstar games but it picks up nicely. Glitches are common but don’t keep you from enjoying the game. Most of the spontaneous side missions are repetitive (i.e. damsels in distress from abusive drunks or escape convicts just to name a few). Almost regretted my choice for the PS3 version instead of the 360 version. Apparently the 360 version had the graphical edge. BUT I no longer have regrets. The game looks great!! Any fan of open-world games should BUY this game… If you are not a fan, at least rent it for a day or 2. My brother, who always hated GTA, played RDR once at my house when i first got it. Now he owns it and we play online, which is great actually. I was a little skeptical about online play from a game such as this but it turned out to be brilliant. This is a game that s well-put together and that everyone should at least try (wether you like it or not is up to you).

Rating

Great game, just like gta but in western style. More violent and ordinary.

Great action game.

Rating

for the first time since being a kid in the mid 80′s, i have been glued to the television for days. this is a must have game, all worth the money.

Rating

I’m just start play this game and is awesome, if you like western games this is your game for sure, one of my favorite games is GTA4 and this is really great western game, is amazing all you can do on this game, don’t even think about it – GET IT

Rating

I’ll make it quick so you don’t have to read someone’s 500+ word review.

This game is a Grand Theft Auto based in the Old West. You can freerome like Assassin’s Creed 2 and do just about anything in a HUGE old west world.

The voice over work is Amazing. The look of the game is great too. Rare glitches, but nothing major.

The Multiplayer is pretty cool and has a lot of depth to it. You can level up your character by completing quests/mission in a online world with the same map as the single player game. You can also join a posse or create one with your friends and take on the old west world.

I am 30, play video games as a hobby. I love this game and found it easy to learn. Tons of hours of game play here. Well worth the price. Hope this helps.

Rating

Fantastic game. Wasn’t sure at first if the aiming system was my cup of tea, but after turning up the sensitivity everything worked perfectly.

The only, ONLY con of this game is sometimes I can’t ride that horse to save my life. Wilbur and I have a love/hate relationship.

Rating

I’ll admit, I had some reservations about Red Dead Redemption. The studio that released it (Rockstar) hadn’t done too much to distinguish it from GTA with horses. Within the first 2 hours, however, I was blown away. The story starts with our hero John Marston attempting to track down his former gang leader Bill Williamson and bring him to justice. After a short cut scene, he’s shot and left for dead. The game opens up after some dialogue and tutorials, leaving you to your devices in 1912′s Texas and Mexico. The first thing you’ll notice is the beautiful visuals. Everything has an incredible amount of detail and draw distance, and the character models animate wonderfully. Watching the sunset on horseback is a truly visceral video game experience, and won’t soon be forgotten. Combat works in a very fun, gritty way. You have a large variety of period weapons to deal the bad guys (or good guys). Quests can appear by talking to certain NPCs essential to the story. They can also appear at random, forcing you to act quickly or watch an innocent die. What really surprised me was how well the minigames were made. Poker could be sold as a separate game in of itself, with AI “tells” and bluffing. Five-finger-fillet is pretty funny to watch if you make a blunder. Horseshoes and bar fights provide some enjoyable distractions. You can waltz over to a local movie theater and watch some very funny silent films that convey the mindset of the times. Red Dead Redemption has the most believable open world I’ve ever played, with every feature one would expect. The atmosphere is simply unmatched in terms of immersion and realism. I haven’t even mentioned multiplayer yet. RDR supports up to 16 players over Xbox Live or PSN for full-on gunfights and skirmishes. Game types can range from free-for-alls to CTF-structured team based modes. There is also a separate mode called “Free Roam” that lets you and your friends form a posse and explore the entire single player map. You can slaughter gangs, hunt down wild game, and duke it out with other posses over an enormous map. There’s a fully featured ranking system that tracks your progress throughout your online exploits. Multiplayer should keep you hooked for weeks on end as you shoot up the West. Overall, Read Dead Redemption is an incredibly good game that can’t be missed. Pretty much everything is perfectly polished and consistent, and you’ll find yourself loving the Wild West’s final days. Go buy it now.

PROS

+ Awesome, deep combat

+ Breathtaking visuals

+ Addictive multiplayer

+ Strong voice acting and writing

+ Best open world in a video game to date

Cons

- Occasional animation glitches

- Some network problems, especially in Free Roam

- Could be a little more difficult

Rating

I have to admit, I was a little skeptical of purchasing this game after reading some of the other reviews. However, I was very surprised on how fun this game is. You really have to try it out and determine if it is for you or not. I just like certain sandbox actions and shooters, this to me felt like a little of both worlds. Nevertheless, great game lots of fun completing the missions and of course running around causing chaos!

Rating

Finally, someone made a solid western video game! This was excellent!!! Rockstar took the good from its Grand Theft Auto series & nearly perfected it. This game is highly addicting, I found myself glued to the 360 controller immediately!

Rating

Ever since the evolution of modern cinema over the last several decades, moviegoers everywhere have grown familiar with the spaghetti western genre. The medium helped establish actors like John Wayne and Clint Eastwood as pivotal, household figures part of an ever-evolving art form. Eventually what started as movies branched off into different types of outlets including cartoons, comics, radio shows, and video games. Rockstar Games latest release, Red Dead Redemption, serves as a love letter to the genre by paying homage to the concept with the signature style that the company is known for. Here are a few reasons why you should pull the trigger on picking up this title.

Red Dead Redemption is a compelling action-adventure story of revenge and reaffirmation set in the west during the year 1911. The player takes on the role of John Marston, a retired outlaw turned bounty hunter who is separated from his family and forced to capture or kill members of a notorious gang in order to get them back. The only drawback is that he too was once part of this gang and is faced with the dilemma of hunting down savages he once called his friends. Throughout his journey, he experiences several trials and tribulations all reminiscent of the violent past life he use to live. You’re also introduced to a wide variety of secondary characters that each have distinct personalities, but are essential to your progression through the story. When it comes towards expressing the dynamics of character development, Rockstar nails it best in the supporting cast by offering up memorable performances that each commands a certain response from the main character. People like Bonnie MacFarlane, Landon Ricketts, and Luisa Fortuna are believable characters who you’ll have a profound emotional connection with.

As for Marston himself, he is portrayed as a drifter of sorts and you only know about his past based on dialogue he shares with others. With no flashbacks provided this concept somewhat disconnects from the story and doesn’t quite express why you should care about this character. Perhaps if the character had an ornament that reminded him of his wife or son then the sense of conflict would have made you want to root for him more. All criticism aside though, the lengthy story varies in hours of gameplay based upon all that you decide to do and has enough twists and turns to keep you satisfied day in and day out.

When it comes to the open sandbox environment in which you play, the creative team has worked ambitiously to capture the true essence of a world with no limits. Your quest will have you start in the town of New Austin and travel to the deepest parts of Mexico. The map system works similar to the GTA games in the sense that you can establish your waypoint early on and use it to reach your destination. The only drawback here is that the location may not always be accurate and instead you’ll be in the vicinity of where you want to be, having to figure out the rest of the way by yourself. Luckily, you’ll have the option of a horse, stagecoach, or train to aid you in your travels. Riding the horse is an easy task just so long as you don’t overuse them by tapping the button too quickly. Once you do commit this error, the horse will abruptly stop and knock you off his or her back without a second thought. However, you’ll gain access to general stores which not only will offer you supplies, but also adrenaline pills to help speed up your horse and get you to your destinations quicker without sacrificing their exhaust meter.

One aspect worth mentioning in regards to the world is in the way the surrounding people are portrayed in response to the hardships of the time period. There is a deeper sense of government unrest and political corruption that dwindles down to what you see. There will be instances where you will see people being robbed, raped, beaten, or killed right in front of your eyes, instantly giving you the choice to act accordingly. Even more interesting is that you’ll also see hitchhikers on the roads supposedly needing your help, but quickly robbing you instead. A.I. aesthetics like these aim to keep the difficulty at a steady pace while also testing the player’s morality to situations. Even the use of newspaper impresses by giving you clues as to what is happening with other characters you have or will interact with. All these steps are a testament to the depth of detail Rockstar goes to create a living, breathing world.

The core elements of gameplay are based on missions, side-quests, and free roaming. The missions start out as favors that you do for other characters that are later returned when you need their help. Some of these missions can be repetitive when they involve getting into shootouts with enemies, clearing enemy hideouts, or participating in horse racing competitions with the local talent. There are also herding missions, which involve you taking care of and preserving large groups of cows and cattle. While I’m an animal lover and I appreciate the diverse array of missions, I have to admit that the herding tasks were a little tedious and boring. They do more to convey the care and concern of other cast members, but not so much John Marston himself. Also the night-tracking jobs wouldn’t be half as bad if you didn’t have to wait so long for the dog to sniff out the criminals.

On the other hand, the side-quests by themselves were quite enjoyable. You can respond to bounty posters left throughout each location and receive cash rewards for your efforts. This can also be tricky because every criminal that is wanted usually has a posse of followers you’ll have to deal with beforehand. Once you apprehend the culprit you can either hog-tie and ride him back to the sheriff, or you can kill him. Capturing him alive would double the cash amount you would be offered for the job. By the same token, if you choose to commit crimes then you would have a bounty placed upon your head. You then would have the option to pay it off, or risk being captured every time your near the authorities. The next best bet would be to either pay off or execute a witness who saw the crimes, which would make your bounty essentially disappear. You’ll also be able to play several fun games like Poker, and Liar’s Dice. Participation in certain events also open up challenge modes which help you gain achievements and fulfill tasks. Just be cautious that you aren’t caught cheating because if you are you’ll be summoned to a duel with the person you cheated against.

The duels capture all the drama and suspense of the same type of standoffs you’ve seen in every type of western movie known to man. You’ll have a set amount of time to build up your gauge meter and aim appropriately at your adversary before he shoots you. One of the strongest aspects about the combat system comes in the introduction of the Dead Eye attribute. By holding down the right trigger button, the screen color fades and actions slow down temporarily allowing you to mark your target or targets before firing away. This mechanic is especially beneficial in face-offs, and encounters where there are multiple enemies gathered together at once. Aside from this feature, the targeting system varies based upon the situation your in. If you’re close enough to an enemy there will be a gruesome scene of you either shooting him in the face, stomach, or back. However, if an enemy were at a distance away from you, better aiming would require finesse and precision on your part. Once again, this is where the enemy A.I. constantly challenges you, which in the end only makes you a better gunslinger.

When deciding to free-roam you’ll encounter strangers who require your assistance. You’ll know who a stranger is on your map when you see a purple question mark, indicating their location. These encounters also offer up both interesting and diverse characters and serve as good tests for your loyalty and honor meters. Ultimately doing a combination of all these elements would allow you to unlock various costumes for John as you move forward in the story. Lastly, when it comes to money and survival you’ll be able to gather and sell different types of flowers, as well as hunt and skin all types of animals. I’m pretty sure PETA would ban the game alone for including this segment, but personally I find nothing wrong with it. Once again, the realities portrayed in light of the environment are significant and it’s essential to express these concepts so that the game feels believable to its core audience.

Red Dead Redemption offers up an array of multiplayer options for the ambitious gamer. The fun begins in free roam mode, which acts as a hub that connects you to different game modes. Once you begin each mode players have a Mexican standoff to determine the last man standing. If you survive the shootout then you can get a head start on finding a hiding space to set up shop. The single player game modes include Shootout, and Gold Rush. Shootout is a variation on Last Man Standing, meaning that whoever has the most kills at the end of the session wins. In addition to stats, you’ll also be able to level up your player based upon how you do in each round. It’s worth noting that these modes offer everything you unlock as you progress through the single player mode, with the one exception of the Dead Eye. This specialty trait can only be acquired if you are able to find it in any of the various crates located throughout the warzone. Another single player online mode I enjoyed was Gold Rush. This competition is in many ways like capture the flag but the objective is to capture as many bags of gold as possible and deposit them into designated crates. Your opponents can make this especially challenging by killing you and thus stealing your bag of gold at any given time.

The real meat and bones of the multiplayer lies in the competitive team match modes, which include Gang Shootout, Hold Your Own, and Grab The Bag. Gang Shootout and Grab The Bag are team versions of the single player online modes listed above but with the addition of more players. Hold Your Own is a team based capture the flag were territories are set, invaded, and marked. This can account for both chaotic and fun battle sessions providing that you have a great Xbox live, or PSN connection. Another plus to having these sessions lies in the skills that your prospective posse members can contribute to the battle. If you have a higher ranked player on your team then it will sometimes make it much easier to face-off against the opposing team. As of this writing I am still forming my posse and will enjoy the results once I have paid my dues. Overall, the online components of this game are rock solid and with more multiplayer DLC promised in the near future, I believe it’s safe to say that this game will keep you busy over the traditionally slow summer gaming months to come.

Red Dead Redemption is an absolute gem of a game, which portrays the love of western cinema in all it’s dignified glory. While I pointed out a few flaws, I don’t believe any of these are critical enough for you to pass on this game. Chances are if you enjoyed any of the GTA games that this company is famous for, then you’ll feel right at home with this title. Rockstar has truly crafted something special with Red Dead Redemption, a game you wouldn’t mind riding off into the sunset with.

Rating

A must play for all!!!! This is my first “open world” shooter game I have played for any next gen console. I am 28 and just got back into gaming recently. I am a bit of a fumble when it comes to “shooters” and usually end up not getting into such games due to my own limitations and end up getting killed too much(i.e. MW2). I have no problem in saying that I really do suck when it comes to complex control schemes that normally come with high action, fast paced gaming. This game is very forgiving. If you do end up getting shot down during a story mission you usually get to start pretty close to where you where before you met your end. That makes it great, since sometimes(in other games)you would have to start over at the beginning and that would be pretty harsh. The overall game is awsome, the story characters are great, there is sooooo much to do and you are never inclined to follow one specific game mechanic(i.e. not always have to go guns blazing). There are many things for a non-violent person to do in this game, and it is not just filler. Everything you do in this game has it own charm and all goes to the totality of the experience. There is only one aspect of the game that I have been frustrated with as of yet and that has to be the times you are driving a stage coach and you become surrounded by “baddies”. You have to move the camera to your rear while aiming, shooting, and the whole time the road ahead of you still moves. I find it very hard to drive a winding road while bullets are flying and you are facing rearward. Most of the time I end up way off the road(which slows you down) or I end up in a rock with guys all around. That being said, this might just be me, there might be guys that can handle this task. Even though it is kind of hard…it is probably one of the most fun times you will have with a stagecoach!!! I have only put about 11 hrs into the game and have not yet even thought about the multi-player. As of now all I can say is that I hope it dose not end. I cant get enough of the game. Every night when I turn off my system, I almost always want to turn it right back on again. This game has done a great job of pulling me in and keeping me there. It is a must buy of the year, and I would buy it again if it got stolen:)!!!! RED DEAD LIFE

Rating

Fun, fun game, but shorter then the typical Rockstar, “Grand Theft Auto” game. Multiplayer is repedative. Once you have played multiplayer you are severly bored after a few hours. I do recommend since it is the ONLY awewsome Western game out there.

Rating

One decisive advantage that good video games have over good movies is the level of immersion. After playing an open-world game like Red Dead Redemption, it’s difficult to imagine why anyone would want to sit down and watch an old Western flick on TV while full participation in all the Wild West’s glory is possible.

In Red Dead, you play the character John Marston, a reformed outlaw who is forced by the federal government to travel across the fictional territory of New Austin, and Mexico, to hunt down his former partners in crime. In addition to Red Dead’s incredible attention to detail, which will now serve as the new benchmark for all future open-world games, the game finds the most success in its storytelling. The story of Red Dead is easy to follow, yet Rockstar Games infuses enough drama, suspense, action, and yes, some very dark satire in one complete package, thereby successfully creating a 50-hour plus experience without a single dull moment. Now that’s impressive.

What impresses me even more than the storyline is that Red Dead does not try to preach the idea of a clear dividing line between the “good guys” and the “bad guys.” Rather, the game leaves it up to the player to make (numerous) morally ambiguous choices, and endure the consequences along the way. Like real life, every action carries consequences; some intended and some unintended. This aspect of Red Dead makes it intensely realistic, and it really helps create an emotional bond between the player and the character.

Finally, I found playing Red Dead to be an almost metaphysical experience. While John Marston sought redemption, his redemption ironically led to the destruction of everything he cared about, and also sowed the seeds of a bloody revenge plot that transcended generations. Through our reluctant hero’s eyes, I came to understand why some believe that you can’t escape fate, that things just have to end a certain way. This view of the world, while tragic, has a strange, almost romantic, appeal to me. I was never a fan of the predestined school of thought before, but Red Dead somehow made a fan out of me. So, my hats off to the developer, this game really represents the pinnacle of fiction writing and storytelling, and it thoroughly demonstrates that video game is now a major art form, competing, and overtaking cinematography in almost every way.

5 out of 5 stars. This is a must play.

Rating

Rock Star has made an amazing game with Red Dead Redemption! It’s grand theft auto like, but so much more different and for the better. This game is easily 20+ hours if you do some of the side quests and then when you add in everything you can do with the mutli-player this game is a great buy for your money. I have spent countless hours playing it and still have yet to get tired! A must have for any fan of open worlds games!!!!

Rating

Simple. Put some games together: GTA, CDMW, Gears of War and you gonna have te result: RDR!!!!

Amazing story line, beautiful graphics, realistic caracters, full detailed enviroments, tons of action.

Whoa, I tell you, you want to play this game.

Rating

This is a western version of GTA. The attention to detail that rockstar is known for is evident in this game. The voice acting is great and the cut scenes are top notch. Most of the missions and exploration will be done by horse. While riding in the wild west, you’ll encounter many people or sidequests along the way. This game is fun to play and not too difficult. It’s a great game and a must buy in my opinion.

Rating

This game is very additive and out of all the rockstar games, this is the closes I have ever been to getting 100% completion

Rating

I became a Western game fan with Lucasarts Outlaws all those years ago. Played nearly every one since then, from Desperados, to Red Dead Revolver, to Gun, to Call of Juarez and its sequel. All of these have had their share of fun, but also a good deal of problems. You had to really love the genre to overlook the issues.

Red Dead Redemption, I think, changes that. For the first time there’s a Western game I don’t have to make excuses for.

I’ll start with the early history of the game: Red Dead Revolver. As with the others, it had plenty of problems, but its style and charm won me over (even after nearly breaking the controller in some of the harder duels). The art style was great, the music was perfect, and the gameplay was, for the most part, pretty fun. It had a couple unique mechanics, like the quick-draw mini-game that used the analog sticks to mimic the actual motion of drawing and aiming your gun, to great effect, even if some of the enemies felt cheap. Dead Eye mode was neat. Running around and climbing things was a bit stiff, but certainly functional. Aiming and shooting wasn’t too bad. One of my favorite aspects was the diversity in the weapons. Even if there wasn’t a huge discernible gameplay difference between different rifles, shotguns, or pistols, I appreciated the visuals, and some of the higher level pistols were beautifully designed. All in all, Red Dead Revolver had a lot of potential, even if it wasn’t great.

Redemption builds off that potential, but takes it leaps and bounds over the original. If Revolver built the launch pad, Redemption has now colonized Mars.

Rockstar San Diego has succeeded in creating what feels like a real living breathing place. It’s the sort of world where I’m perfectly content just roaming around exploring, rather than following the story. I’d honestly have been satisfied with the open world alone, even though the story is great. I love riding out into the wilderness and encountering new animals (there are a ton of different species, which really helps with the immersion – in other games where you see the same 10 animals it takes you out of the experience). There are also people all over, doing their own thing. Traveling, hunting for treasure, fighting with each other, robbing each other. You can participate or not! It’s also a beautiful world. Along with the animals, the appropriate plants and landscape really sell the world. And the skies! Really pretty skies. And then there are the towns, also appropriately populated, and each with their own set of activities. I enjoyed a game of poker last night (the guy I played with was a pansy, he busted out quick). I’ve also been having a good time going after bounties and doing night watches at Bonnie’s place.

The action mechanics all work very well. Shooting is genuinely fun. I feel like a gunslinger. The sound effects have good power to them, and the guns handle in a believable and satisfying manner. I also really like the way Rockstar handled the way characters react to being shot. Not only do they use rag doll physics, but they react to where they’re shot. We’ve seen this idea in other games before, but this is the best execution I’ve seen of the effect so far. I’m really looking forward to finding some of the rare guns in the game to see how they all handle.

Riding is pretty fun, too. While not as simple to control as those in Gun, perhaps, the horse handle more realistically, and riding is very satisfying in its own right. They move the right way, and I loved the little touches like the way they slide down steeper inclines. They also spook when snakes are nearby. The idea that you can keep one horse and build its loyalty and trust is great. Unlike other games, where the horse function like cars that you can hop in and out of, in Redemption you’re rewarded for taking care of one horse for an extended period. I actually grew attached to mine. There are many different breeds of horses, too, a first for games that I know of.

And then there’s the story! The story is solid. And interesting premise, with lots of fun characters along the way. I must say, I really enjoyed the interactions between Marston and Bonnie. She’s a great character. The voice acting is pretty darn good. Definitely some of the best I’ve heard in games. Marc Alaimo as Reverend Ray in Call of Juarez is still my favorite, but the voices of Marston, Bonnie, and Leigh Johnston are up there. It’s such a relief to not want to skip through every cutscene.

I have a feeling Red Dead Redemption will be occupying a lot of my time these next few months. I haven’t even tried the multiplayer yet (some friends who were going to get the game bailed on me — their loss!), and there are tons of challenges and side missions to complete yet. I recommend this game not only to Western game fans, but to fans of immersive open-world gameplay done right.

Rating

I wish there was a “.5″ option so I could give the game a 4.5, but I’d still lean high before low so gave it a 5. There are a few annoyances in the game that keep me from giving it a perfect score, like the horse shoe mini-game, but overall this is a phenomenal game. Great graphics, fun controls, and an absorbing open world environment. The storyline is okay, but the world itself is something to be seen. Rockstar’s done it again!

Rating

Easily the best Rockstar game since GTA: SA. The music, the characters, the story, the wild animals, the weapons; it all adds up to a can’t miss game. The only negative, if you can even call it that, is that there’s too much to do in the game. I just don’t have time to get anywhere close to 100% completion.

Bottom line, if you have a PS3, this game belongs in your collection. Amazon of course was fast as usual, I had this 2 days after I ordered. No complaints at all.

Rating

The wait is over and the game is being played alot!!! It was worth the wait. if you have played GTA 4, then the controls are just about the same. single player story is a good length, that has a great ending you wont see coming!!! multiplayer is fun and engaging, plus the co-op is a good challenge. overall…fun and has a great replay value, worth the 60 bucks or less. must play!!!!!

Rating

I really have a hard time figuring out what my basic feelings are for this game, not because of Grand Theft Auto IV of which I am completely not a fan, but rather this is one of those “this part is great but…”, “this thing is cool but…..”. The game isn’t perfect and I have some serious gripes about the game yet it does so many cool things and it does have the labor-of-love feeling coming through but with the game getting so many high reviews and everyone ready to give it their Game of the Year awards for 2010, I’m sure my review will have some unhelpful votes thrown at me but keep in mind I really like this game and I prefer this a hell of a lot more than GTA 4 but at the same time there’s some things that absolutely bug the **** out of me. If I was to base this completely on single player, I’d think it was an excellent single player and great game, but kind of familiar but if I take in the multiplayer as well my reception of the game as a whole is slightly tainted. This is one of the better games of the year for sure but I’m hoping this is a balanced review and I won’t get blasted cause I won’t call it anything less than perfect.

Story: You take the role of John Marston, a former outlaw trying to make a better life for himself and his family. However one thing that has to change is the life of Bill Williamson who needs to be dead, pronto. Arriving off the train, John gets mortally wounded but nursed back to health by a ranch owner named Bonnie MacFarlane and from there John meets a whole host of crazy and memorable characters as he tries to bring Williamson to justice.

Pretty small paragraph, no? Well that’s all your getting cause the narrative is definately one of the better things of the game and the ending is really quite balls-y and really powerful. But then there’s one thing that RDR does that bugs me…well two things: the first is that the story does have a good/evil dynamic where the more good natured stuff you do, the better attitudes you deal with and if you shoot random people well, imagine that reception. The problem is the cinematics and the dialogue doesn’t change so if you play the most evil son-of-a-bitch the Old West has seen, you all of a sudden turn into a guy people walk over and characters that are clearly toying with you or jerking you around John still accepts it and goes along with it. The other is that the structure feels remarkably similar to GTA 4: you get on your horse/car, drive/ride to your destination while you have a conversation with your passenger/fellow rider(s), get somewhere and leave either being chased or eventually being chased and you have to fight them off. In a way, it starts to get a bit too noticeable and despite some occasional missions, it feels a bit too familiar if you’ve played GTA 4.

Graphics: From a looks point of view, this thing’s gorgeous and when you see sunsets on the horizon as you’re riding slowly on your horse down the path, it’s hard not to think anything but it looks almost painter-ly. Character details is really impressive, especially on faces and there’s barely any load screens. However, Rockstar does do what tends to be Bethesda’s problem is that making big massive games with lots of areas, detail and characters is that the performance suffers and the glitches pop up. Seeing a horse carriage literally bounce on the ground making a rumble, seeing a guy literally twirling like a tornado as he runs to cover during a shootout and it can weigh down the game. Multiplayer is also no stranger to this as I saw boxes floating in midair with whatever was on the bottom of it completely see through (and can even be shot through) and a bit of lag. From the looks you’d think the game’s gorgeous but the seam’s show and they’re noticeable but they’re not that bad.

Sound/Music: Can’t fault Rockstar on the audio side and the voice acting is excellent. If you can forgive Marston’s frequent “mister”‘s and “Miss MacFarlane”‘s, everyone is really superb in their roles and there’s never anyone that stands out as being outright bad. The music also has a great sound with whistling, acoustic guitar and one point I literally heard a song with words. This is a great soundtrack and worth listening to outside of the gang. Same thing with the sound design as it brings in the ambiance of what it would feel like to be on your own in the countryside from bird calls, animal sounds and distant gunfire really makes you feel you’re in the environment.

Gameplay: If Fallout 3 was “Oblivion with guns”, it wouldn’t be too crazy to say Red Dead Redemption is “Grand Theft Auto in the Old West” or “Grand Theft Horse”. The mini-map, icons for quests (which inexplicably jump to the next quest on the other side of the map even though he just walked away from me 4 seconds ago) and the cover system makes the game feel similar to GTA but the one thing that RDR does better is a willingness to actually explore the world. I felt Liberty City disappointed me in that it wasn’t like San Andreas or Vice City where I wanted to just screw around and do random stuff but GTA 4 I felt like aside from doing it for achievements, I never felt like I actually wanted to explore the city, sure I could but I never felt the urge to. Red Dead changes that and half the time I was actually searching for things I normally ignore, find places to explore and do challenges which I quite liked. It might be a bit too open country with more sand and rock than side quests but the exploration felt a lot more pronounced here.

Gameplay wise there’s nothing completely different than GTA aside from the better cover and shooting mechanics but the main difference is the Dead Eye which is similar to Fallout 3′s VATS where pressing the Right analog slows down time allowing you for more accurate and more numerable shots where normally you couldn’t. It actually works really cool but occasionally there’s a couple “shoot the hostage taker” random events but in daytime they’re fine…but at night and potentially in a thunderstorm? It’s hard not to feel you’ll shoot the hostage because of the darker, almost yellow-ish tint to the screen. There’s also lots of challenges to complete which you can rank up, card and mini-games you can take part in such as Poker, Horseshoe and Five-Finger-Filet (the knife missing the fingers game). One thing I will lament on the game as a whole is that there’s a couple of things that don’t feel explained and even though the tutorial shows up, at times it feels too brief and it’s hard to re-access them and on occasion it’s hard to tell what certain things are required for your playthrough. For example, guy decided to go crazy in a saloon and started to shoot me and my horse yet shooting back at his buddies I get “evil points”…wait, what? Or when you notice a random event where 2 guys are shooting at someone running away which to me I kept thinking of one thing: is the pursuers lawmen trying to stop an escapee or 2 jerks who are harassing a civilian? Turns out it’s the former which gives me evil points. Poo.

Then we get down to the multiplayer in which I kept thinking of one thing: it’s “fine”, it’s “decent” but it’s not something I’d spend so much time in ranking up to. Your first trip is an automatic visit to Free Roam in which most of the time you deal with spawn campers. You can’t change where you spawn, you literally spawn within a good 50 feet from where you were last killed and your icon constantly tells you you’re on the map so as soon as you’re dead, they ride over and shoot you, spawn, find where you are, ride over and shoot. I can understand Rockstar’s idea: join some players, group up and play competitive matches online but fat chance that happening with randoms who don’t shoot you on sight since you get XP if you kill a player. The gang hideouts are really fun and having the option to replay them is welcome. But then there’s the competitive multiplayer which feels imbalanced and just a bit unexceptional. Spawns are laughable (I literally spawned below the stairs of the guy who just killed me, drew my gun and blew his head off), 4 shots to the face with your rank 9 gun apparently does nothing since a rank 32 gun blows your head clean off in one shot and the lack of many game modes makes this an okay multiplayer but it’s not the reason why you should buy Red Dead. It’s nice that it’s here but I could live if it wasn’t included.

Red Dead Redemption is a really well-made game, glitches aside, and despite my gripes about the familiarity to Grand Theft Auto 4, the single player is really excellent but then in comes the multiplayer which completely frustrates me and I wouldn’t bother with it though getting top rank for achievement makes me either suck it up and keep playing or say screw it. But the setting, story and gameplay in the single player is easily worth a playthrough. Don’t know if it’s my Game of the Year but it’s impressive for sure.

Rating

beautiful graphics, intriguing story line, tons of fun. i am genuinely astonished there are people who dont like this game. its really great.

Rating

All I’m going to say about this fantastic game, because I don’t want anyone to make the mistake that I “almost” did, is;

“Do not stop playing this game until you get the rolling credits…(which does not mean 100% completion of every tiny aspect of the game, don’t worry)”

Rating

Red Dead Redemption is an epic game that few games could rival. Everything from the way nature lives and breathes to the way the wind blows in your hair are so realistic and life-like that they make Red Dead Redemption seem more like a movie than a game. Not to mention its gripping storyline that follows former outlaw John Marston on his quest to settle his past. Throughout the story, John meets a variety of different and interesting characters from swindling salesmen to Mexican banditos. The whole selection of weapons that John wields are as varied as the people he meets. From classic six shooters and Winchester repeaters to deadly throwing knives and fire bombs, John makes quick work of his foes. This is a game you won’t soon forget.

The story starts off with John being escorted onto a train bound for a small town in the middle of the desert. His mission is to capture or kill an old friend of his. But it wasn’t his choice; FBI agents kidnapped John’s family and threatened to kill them if he didn’t comply. So John finds himself in this predicament and has to do what he has to do. But when the time comes, it doesn’t work out so well and John has to try again, this time killing every man in his way, one man at a time.

There are also a lot of funny lines in the game. Some are said by John and some are said by random people. Here’s a list of some funny lines:

Uncle: “You sound like you have a bad case of Hemorrhoids.”

John: “You’re about to be suffering from a bad case of someone just shot me in the face if you don’t do what you’re told!”

John: “You’re so crooked, you swallow nails and spit out corkscrews!”

John: “You keep talkin’ and I’m gonna put a bullet in that hillbilly head of yours, and watch your idiot brains spill out.”

Irish: “What’s the spanish word for c**t?”

John: “You tell me…you must have been called it a few times.”

John: (while skinning a deer) “Let me take your coat madam.”

John: “I’ll give you an insight. I’ll show you your own guts.”

Revolutionary: “De Santa is the type of man who likes to shoot men when they’re on their knees.”

John: “I bet he likes to do other stuff to men on their knees as well.”

Soldier: “I have a bad feeling about this…”

John: “Maybe you just need to take a piss or something.”

There are a whole lot of things to do in Red Dead. First off, there is an economy. You make money on missions, on selling goods, or looting it from dead bodies or chests. In every major town there is a general store, doctor, gunsmith, and saloon. In the first three stores, you can buy and sell things. Some things you can buy are: maps, ammo, guns, health, bait, and horses. Some things you can sell are: herbs and animal skins. You find these two throughout the whole world. Different species of animals and plants can be found in certain areas and sometimes you have to find a certain kind of animal and it is challenging to know where to look for it. You can also play Texas Hold ‘Em poker, blackjack, liars dice, five finger fillet, horseshoes and arm wrestling. If you don’t know what poker, blackjack, horseshoes and arm wrestling are, you might want to get out more. Five finger fillet is the game where you stab the knife in between your fingers quickly and try to beat the time limit and liars dice is a game where you try not to get caught lying about your dice under a cup and try to catch your opponent lying. If you are talented in these areas, this is a great way to make money.

Apart from making money, there are two different ratings for your character; Honor and Fame. Honor determines how people react to you. It can go up or down based on your actions. To receive good honor: help innocent people, take prisoners alive, return stolen money or fight bandits. To receive bad honor: kill innocent people, kill prisoners, keep stolen money or help the bandits. Having good honor will get you a discount in stores, make your items worth more when you sell, and make the law more lenient of you. Having bad honor will do the opposite. Fame will make strangers come up to you more often and ask for help and it also makes the law for lenient(for example, if you have really high fame, when committing a crime, the bounty placed on your head is half of what it would normally be). Whether you choose to help strangers is your choice. That is the most wonderful thing about Red Dead, so many thigns are optional it seems like you are blazing your own path. Also makes great for replay value, one time play the good guy and next time play the bad guy.

There are also two jobs that are available in major towns. Horse breaking and nightwatch. The former is lassoing a wild horse, jumping on top of it and moving the analog stick back and forth to stay centered. It lasts for 15 or 20 seconds, then the horse suddenly stops and is broken in. While this is fun, you only make about $6-10 for it, so this isn’t a job you should spend a lot of time at. The latter only can be done at night (obviously) and is where you follow a dog around and stop trouble. It usually is breaking up a fight, stopping a cattle rustler, or saving a woman from a gang. When it is over you go to the police and they give you cash. Often times, it is over $100! Not bad money.

There are also different outfits, just like in GTA games. The first one that is also the standard one is the bounty hunter outfit. You can unlock outfits by finding objects, completing jobs or tasks or buying scraps of clothing at tailors. Most outfits have special talents. The bounty hunter, duster (where you wear an old duster that doesn’t do anything except make you look cool), and cattle rancher outfits don’t have any abilities. But the elegant suit outfit makes it possible to cheat at poker, the several gang outfits make you less apt to get shot at by that particular gang, the US marshal outfit makes the lawmen turn a blind eye at some of your crimes and there are other outfits that I have yet to unlock like a US army uniform and a bureau uniform.

The world of Red Dead looks awesome. Whether you’re up in the high mountains of America with snow on the ground hunting grizzlies or you’re down in Mexico with dust flying all over the place hunting Armadillos, the graphics and animation will be superb. Weapons look great too. You of course have your standard six shooters and repeaters. But you also have shotguns, sniper rifles, knives, throwing knives, dynamite, fire bombs and a lasso. You start out with bad guns and get better ones as you progress. For example, you start out with a pretty bad six shooter and eventually can get a fully automatic German pistol. You can use the lasso to capture horses or take criminals alive. Taking them alive for bounty missions earns you twice as much money!

Yes there are showdowns. It wouldn’t be a western without them. It is necessary for a few missions, but most of the time it is optional. Usually while riding through a town, some gunslinger leaning against a post would yell “I heard you’re pretty fast with a gun, care to prove it?”. You could either accept and then when the time is right activate the red dead meter and kill him or you could walk away. Accepting will get you a small amount of fame and you can always loot his body for some small dinero. I’ve actually found that the showdowns are difficult for me. I might have missed something, but I’m not sure.

The characters, guns, trees, animals and all other aspects come together to make a great western that has a tense story with a shocking finish and is full of hours of wild west action using pistols, rifles, Gatling guns, or just plain old knives. Red Dead Redemption is worth the money and also has an interesting and challenging online multiplayer that is also open world just like the game.

Bottom line: RDR is a great game that allows you choose your path and with the superb graphics, depth, and details when it ends, you feel like a part of you went with it.

Rating

Redefining the term RPG in a way never before seen, Red Dead Redemption takes the best elements of GTA and the Original Red Dead, and intertwines them into an immersing story worth “living.” It’s both rewarding and immensely fun to play from start to finish.

I rate this game, amongst the best I’ve ever experienced. The Story is where this game shines, but I’ll be damned if I’ve ever had so much fun gunning down a table full of gamblers after losing a poker match.

Buy this game. Play it to the end. You will not be disappointed.

_Brad

Rating

This game had great reviews and was reccomended by some friends. Rockstar makes (generally) pretty good games, and this is one of them. I reccomend this for anyone who likes ‘free roam’ games, it’s awesome.

Rating

This game is a lot of fun. Excellent storyline in single player and a huge open free roam map in multiplayer. One of the best if not the best video game I have ever played. If you love the wild west, or Clint Eastwood spaghetti westerns, this game is for you.

Rating

Yes there are some very small minor glitches in this game but they are only noticeable when contrasted with the grand technical feat of the entire masterpiece of a game. Red Dead Redemption is one of the best games i have played in many years. The thing that astounds me the most is that this game really composes of several games all wrapped into one:

1. The single player game missions.

2. Mini games such as poker, liars dice, and fie finger filet which posses such detail they could easily be a game on their own.

3. wandering around the gigantic map itself could consume hours alone.

4. The multiplayer really adds a second tier of gameplay with lots of game types(free for all, etc) and even free roam which creates an MMO type within the massive open world.

The level of detail that has been put into this game will not go unnoticed. its impossible not to get distracted by the gorgeous sunsets, thunderstorms, and open buffalo roaming plains.

I can promise that this game is deffinatly much more valuable than the $60 you will spend on it. And dont forget it comes with free DLC.

Rating

This game blows every other game in the dust, from the graphics, to the story, as well as the game play. If you buy only one game this year, this should be the game you buy, it is just that good. Rockstar Games has created yet another masterpiece.

Rating

I love this game! After being convinced to purchase it by a Gamestop sales associate I reluctantly put it in and it has rarely been out since! There is so much to do on this game. You can play poker, have duels in the middle of cities, even rob banks! It’s the wild wild west just like it was supposed to be. With Rockstar creating this game it is the largest sandbox game I’ve ever played. Also, just like Rockstar you have little side missions like bounty hunting and helping strangers in order to complete the game 100%. That alone makes the game at least 30+ hours of game play. The best bang for you buck is Red Dead hands down! YEE HAW!

Rating

Absolutely a great game, I was skeptical at first, but once I played it, I was hooked.

Rating

Got this game as a gift for my Father and he is lovin it. Old West Video fanatic, the game just makes sense.

Rating

The Game follows the same mission structure and gameplay as The Grand Theft Auto games that came before it. It has a pretty good story. A lot better than I had anticipated. I am not a big fan of Westerns and the like and I thoroughly enjoyed the game the whole way through. I have to agree with the people that said that if you dislike the GTA series you probably will not like this too much. Can’t really say too much more about it because I really don’t want to go into the story too much and write a novel rather than a review. So in short I’ll just say that I think that this is a 5 star game.

Rating

I love this game! The open play world is totally awesome. However, the multi-player portion could have been done much better. I highly recommend this game.

Rating

I’ve played Grand Theft Auto, Saints Row and many more of these types of games. It’s actually nice to play one with a western theme. They did a really nice job with it to. Riding a horse at first was a bit challenging to get the horse to move in just the way I like to get from town to town quickly and without falling off a cliff, but once I mastered it I was having a good time. Overall I think if you like to keep doing repetitive stuff the game is great. However after a few days I lost interest more so than playing Saints Row because it was really doing the same stuff just a little harder. The storyline was good but I still lost interest after time.

Multi-player was a lot of fun once I figured it out, but it took a bit of time trying to figure out that there were actual games in Multi-player not just running around shooting other people in a giant field. Oh and 1 or 2 shots to yourself and you’re dead so its pretty realistic but annoying at the same time if you are trying to figure out the multi-player because some people that have been playing for a long time will just smoother you every time you re-spawn. Nothing like being a Noob and being welcomed to the game.

I’d say its got Game of the Year potential for being one of the first western games in a while, but I would still fall back to Saints Row where I had more exciting times.