And I loveRed Dead Redemption 2.
Few games in recent memory have felt as full of promise as this one.
And, for the most part, the finished game has delivered on that with a few small caveats.
Normally, not 100%-ing a game before giving an opinion about it isnt a big deal.
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Hence weve split the bulk of our thoughts into these two separate parts.
Ive since finished the game, up to and including the two-part epilogue.
Because, just like its predecessor,RDR2ends on quite the powerful note.
After a robbery gone bad, the gang flees into the mountains.
I feel I should begin by mentioning my thoughts about the gameplay.
And even halfway through the story, I was still finding new ways of doing things.
The horse gameplay is especially compelling to your author, a former cowgirl.
The horses movement, reactions, and behavior is all very lifelike.
When you get done perforating fools, you naturally want to pick their bloodied pockets for cash and trinkets.
Trouble is, Arthur can only do that by literally picking up the bodies and rifling through their clothes.
I get that thats what hed have to do if this was real life.
Im your Huckleberry
So much for the gameplay.
Lets get to the story.
These characters are by far the games strongest asset.
Instead, we get a family full of interesting, layered, complex people.
Its all in the details.
(Dutch has a white stallion named The Count, because of course he does.)
They each have conversations with each other that have nothing to do with Arthur.
The voice acting is, generally, quite good.
Of the newcomers, Harron Atkins as the eager Lenny was my favorite.
And of course its an utter delight to hear Rob Wiethoff return to the role of John Marston.
Thats why it pains me to confess I wasnt terribly fond of Roger Clarks performance as Arthur Morgan.
I didnt hate it by any means it just didnt sound quite right.
InRDR1, Johns gravelly drawl was perfect for him.
He didnt have to put on an accent so much as lean into the one hes already got.
I cant point out the exact problem in cadence or tone.
Thats the tricky part about making a prequel.
Heck, the environments themselves parallel the gangs downward spiral.
But it didnt, and that was what effected me the most.
Most of the time, when Dutch has a bad thought, its given to him by Micah.
He does this even if youve been playing him as a nasty, dog-kicking sonuvabitch up to now.
Honestly, whats the point in carrying on, Trevor Phillips-style?
Its not gotten us anywhere good so far.
The ending of Arthurs story neatly parallels Johns.
This section could have so easily devolved into a wink-wink-nudge-nudge mummers show replete with references to the first game.
Story byRachel Kaser
Rachel is a writer and former game critic from Central Texas.
She enjoys gaming, writing mystery stories, streaming on Twitch, and horseback riding.
Check her Twitter for curmudgeonly criticisms.
