I have owned a PlayStation 4 since my PlayStation 3 stopped working. This was quite a tragedy for me, as the PlayStation 3 had the advantage of being able to play both PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 games. You can imagine my disappointment when I discovered that the fourth iteration of the console did not offer backward compatibility. How rude! However, the PlayStation 4 did provide some fantastic titles, many of which were exclusive to the system. So, just like when I purchased the PlayStation 3, I selected a number of game titles to enjoy on my new console.
Red Dead Redemption 2
That was over six years ago, and the PlayStation 5 has been out for most of that time. What can I say…I’m slow to adapt. But one of those titles I purchased for the PS4 was Red Dead Redemption 2. I had heard great things about the Rockstar game, and it sounded like exactly what I would enjoy—riding horses, robbing trains, banks, and riverboats. What’s not to like? The problem was that, like with the other titles I bought, I never found the time to play them. Life tends to get in the way, especially when you’re over 60 years old. That is, until around June of this year, when I finally decided to give Red Dead Redemption 2 a try. Man…what took me so long?
“Kill Them that Needs Killing!”
It is appropriate that it is made by Rock Star Games because Red Dead Redemption 2 ROCKS! A great background story that, by the time it is all said and done, (depending on your game choices) touches the heart. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. The game environment is so wide-open and chock-full of opportunities to try different things, make some bad or good choices, and either kill or be killed. For the most part, I proceeded under the mantra that Arthur Morgan followed: “Kill them that needs killing.”
I won’t deny that I indulged in a bit of vengeance now and then, especially when it came to the Lemoyne Raiders, the Skinner Brothers, or the Murfree Brood. Those irritating pests multiplied like cockroaches—no matter how many you took out, there were always more. That was fine by me. I had a bullet, an arrow, or a knife ready for each of them. And if all else failed, I’d trample them with my horse, turning them into a western-style speed bump.
My Kingdom for a Horse
When it comes to horses, it’s hard not to develop a bond with your noble steed. It can be quite painful when your faithful companion meets an untimely demise, whether due to an enemy’s actions or, in some instances, your own carelessness. Lesson: “Never play the game when you are getting sleepy.” Right over the cliff. Opps…Sorry Buddy! Hopefully, you’ve acquired some Horse Revival tonic to bring your horse back from the brink of death. If not, you can always capture and tame a new horse, provided you have the necessary skills. I was pretty adept at this with Arthur, while John has struggled with it almost as much as he struggles to swim. (A word of advice: if a task requires swimming, it’s better to use Arthur. John swims like a boulder, sinking straight down.)
With Red Dead Redemption 2, it’s important to note that the game’s main storyline is influenced by your actions, which can lead to a high honor or low honor status. The choice is ultimately yours. However, it can sometimes be unclear what the game interprets as high or low honor. For example, during the epilogue, I chose to fulfill a request from Uncle, one of the gang members, to gather ingredients for an ant-itch salve.
The last ingredient was a skunk carcass. So I was hanging around in a wooded area to bring down the ferocious purveyor of bad odor. But, before I stumbled onto one, it got dark so I decided to camp for the night. However, before I could decide to make some vittles or get some sleep, here came two Skinner Brothers who immediately shot at me. Remembering our motto, “Kill them that needs killing,” I shot them both. The game decided that my actions were low honor. What did it expect me to do? Invite them into camp for “some delicious Smores?” As I told my mother many times when I was a kid and a fight was involved…”They Started IT!”
There are so many things I can say about this big, beautiful game, but I want to comment on a few scenarios that I found interesting, infuriating, and even sometimes funny.
Wanted for Murder
I was in the epilogue as John, working toward catching all the “Legendary Fish.” As I reached my next destination, I encountered two riders racing in the opposite direction like bats out of hell. Naturally, I couldn’t quite get out of the way, and we crashed into each other. Once I picked myself off the ground, I saw what the issue was. A mountain lion had been chasing them, and now it had its sights on me. Nothing a Cattlemen’s Revolver couldn’t handle. Especially when you empty the chamber into the cat, but here’s where the weird thing happened.
Above John’s head was the blurb, “Wanted for Murder: John Marston.” MURDER??? It was not in an area that designated him as a wanted man. And, it was an accident! We BOTH crashed to the ground. Why one of the other riders died, I had no idea. But MURDER??!! The only thing that might have made THAT claim was the Mountain Lion. Needless to say, I jumped on my horse and ran. In a world that could claim murder in THAT situation, I wasn’t taking a chance with the local justice system. Better to run off and pay off the $15 Bounty later. Although this was not the last time a Mountain Lion proved to be problematic.
Damn Mountain Lion
I am still on my Legendary Fish search. On my journey, I found a deserted cabin. Exploring the inside of the cabin, I found a bed just calling my name. I take advantage of the opportunity and get in some well-needed shut-eye. I wake up with a gleam in my eye and the hope of more Legendary Fish. Only to step outside the cabin and immediately, a loud growl, and I am under a snarling mass of bad intentions with a grip on my neck…DEAD! It was the ONLY time I was legitimately startled because I didn’t expect it at all. Damn you, Mountain Lion! But that’s not all…
I Just Want to Sell My Legendary Animal
If you want to almost to guarantee a visit from either the aforementioned villainous groups, a pack of wolves, or that accursed bad-tempered kitty, try to bring your freshly captured Legendary trophy to the trapper. On numerous journeys, I was assaulted by either the Raiders, the Skinner Brothers, or the Murfree Brood, followed by a pack of wolves. While my first instinct is to stand my ground and fight, I know that if I am killed, that trophy disappears. So, once again, I get on my “high horse” and run like hell. Only to get close to the trapper and run once again into that damned cat. Again, it killed me before I could fight it off. I HATE those things!
No Tail-Gating
If there’s one thing that’s common in RDR2, it’s the ill-tempered cowboys you encounter when you’re going in the same direction they are. Especially if they feel you’re “following too closely.” They usually warn you that they don’t want your company or might ask, “What’s wrong with you?” But sometimes, they escalate and try to pick a fight. The idea that you might just be heading the same way doesn’t seem to occur to them.
One time in Saint Denis, an aggressive cowboy took it to the extreme. He followed me and opened fire, killing my horse. To avoid getting on the law’s radar, I decided to just beat him down instead of shooting back. Apparently, the Saint Denis police is okay with fisticuffs. But then again, the law in Saint Denis can be quite blind.
Turning a Blind Eye
In a previous visit to that burgeoning city of Saint Denis, I had a minor issue with my firearm and accidentally shot a wall in the city proper. No harm no foul…the wall probably deserved it. A patrolman came over, and I professed my innocence, claiming a late night as a possible excuse. I was given a warning and told to leave town. FINE! I don’t like Saint Denis anyway. The place is RIFE with vampires and ill-tempered citizens. (Okay, only ONE vampire, and you have to complete the mission to find him) So I left the city only to return later for that aforementioned vampire search.
As I wandered the city streets, a poor, unfortunate woman was lying dead on the street, an apparent victim of a “hit and ride.” As I walked past the poor victim, a policeman saw me and exclaimed that “he couldn’t believe I had come back and he was keeping an eye on me.” Apparently, his “eye” didn’t include the poor woman’s demise as he (and every other patrolman) ignored her while bystanders gaped. They might want to rethink their hiring practices for Saint Denis law enforcement.
In a Cloud of Dust…
The game is expansive and a lot of fun. Even after finishing the main story, I’m still discovering new activities to engage in. I’ve been bounty hunting, identifying new plants and animals, locating rock carvings and dinosaur bones, and trying to complete the Kessel Run in 12 parsecs. Well, actually, you’re challenged to race your horse between various locations within a set time, aiming to finish “in a cloud of dust.” For instance, you need to get from Valentine to Rhodes in less than 5 minutes, or from Strawberry to Saint Denis in under 9 minutes without touching the water. There’s also a challenge to race from Van Horn to Blackwater in less than 17 minutes, again without touching water. Are you up for the challenge? I guess we’ll find out soon!
If you have the opportunity, you need to try this great game. No matter that it has a bit of years on it now. Red Dead Redemption 2 still holds up well. You will not be disappointed.
Senior Writer at GeekVibesNation – I am a 60 something child of the 70’s who admits to being a Star Trek/Star Wars/Comic Book junkie who once dove headfirst over a cliff (Ok, it was a small hill) to try to rescue his Fantastic Four comic from a watery grave. I am married to a lovely woman who is as crazy as I am and the proud parent of a 21-year-old young man with autism. My wife and son are my real heroes.
