That also goes for the band of characters that you'll interact with throughout the story, from both the familiar faces and the new characters that you'll encounter while roaming through the West with the Van der Linde gang. While there's the sheer novelty of getting to be reacquainted with characters like John Marston and Dutch Van der Linde for fans of the previous game, many of the new faces in Red Dead Redemption 2 prove to be just as memorable and engaging to interact with, such as the fierce and determined widow Sadie Adler, and the unpredictable hitman Micah Bell, who Arthur has a bit of a complicated relationship with. Over time and through your interactions with the rest of the Van der Linde gang, there is a clear sense of the gang's camaraderie and why Arthur is so fiercely protective of them, and getting to explore and deepen these relationships with the other gang members is easily one of the highlights of Red Dead Redemption 2 's narrative thanks to its impeccable writing and strong performances.

But... we’ve been here before, haven’t we? It’s a recently-scribed tale as old as time: A sophisticated, wondrous looking trailer drops for an upcoming big-name title. Gamers then drop some serious coin on pre-orders for the game, only to be delivered a half-finished, buggy game that fails to meet expectations. This was notoriously the case for both _ No Man’s Sky _ and _ Sea of Thieves

This is the prime time weapon for players wanting to build an effective Champion that deals quick damage while maintaining some good speed stats. The Statik Shiv, when reaching its maximum at 100 stacks can deal a massive hit as Shiv Lightn

What's worth noting though is that I don't think what Rockstar has done with these ideas is really all that revolutionary by any means. No: instead, they've just leaned into these things that other developers would certainly stray away from for the reasons that I've already heard many complain about this weekend -- it ends up being too slow and too boring. However, Rockstar knew before release that Red Dead Redemption 2 would sell millions of copies no matter what they did. This notion allowed them far more experimentation and more willingness to take chances compared to what other studios might attempt. For the most part, I think it's an experiment that has worked to Red Dead Redemption 2 's benefit so far.

When it was first announced that GTA V would have three player characters, it seemed like a bit more of a gimmick to deviate from its previous games than a truly enhanced gameplay experience. But those thoughts were quickly silenced once players saw how much fun having multiple characters could be. Having the freedom to play with different special abilities, personalities, and intersecting stories makes this feature an absolute shoo-in for Red Dead Redemption 2 . Judging from Rockstar’s pattern of releasing larger, and larger sandbox maps with each new title, having multiple characters scattered across the map could make for a much easier and more natural way of exploring it, than simply fast traveling. The vast lands could unfold as the player uses each character from the regions of the different regions of the

Red Dead Redemption 2 's scope when it comes to depth and detail aren't just apparent in its world and storytelling but also in its gameplay, as the game delivers just as much in action and combat as it does in bringing players a sense of place and immersion. Expanding on many of the systems that we saw from Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto V , Red Dead Redemption 2 's combat expertly delivers the kind of spectacle that its Western setting provides. Throughout the game, players will engage in a variety of missions alongside the rest of the Van der Linde gang ranging from bank heists to train robberies and more, and while I don't want to spoil any of the surprises in store at all, it's easy to say that Red Dead Redemption 2 features some of the most thrilling action sequences and set-pieces that I've ever experienced in a game; they're moments that truly make the game feel like a classic Western come to life.

Red Dead Redemption ’s Online component also set a new bar for sandbox multiplayer games. The ability to create and organize gangs as well as engage in intense shootouts with other skilled players set the framework for what would become GTA V ’s amazing multiplayer experience. And who could possibly forget the genre changing DLC expansion, Undead Nightmare , that turned to the American West into a zombie infested hell hole, complete with rideable demon hor

But unlike many others that I've talked to about this, I don't find myself turned off by any of these aspects of Red Dead Redemption 2 . In fact, I think these elements are Red Dead Redemption 2 ' s biggest strength from what I've played so far. Rather than just feeling like I'm another bland avatar that is filling a void within this larger Open world games crafting guide-world, Red Dead Redemption 2 is forcing me to live the actual (fictional) life of Arthur Morgan.