Red Dead Redemption

(Xbox 360, Playstation 3)

By this stage, you will have heard of Red Dead Redemption, the sequel to the most underrated game on the Playstation 2, Red Dead Revolver. Craccum is a little late to the party one this one due to the unfortunate timing of the mid-semester break, so this review will probably act as a follow up to stuff you’ve already heard. That aside, Red Dead Redemption is a  must-play, masterfully combining an enthralling storyline with the sandbox freedom that made Rockstar famous.

RDR takes place in 1911, as motorcars and government officials are slowly replacing horses, sheriffs and other wild, wild West clichés. Retired outlaw gunslinger John Marston finds himself in the middle of this sweeping modernisation, when the U.S Government forcibly removes him from his wife and son. He is told they will be safely returned to him if he hunts down and kills the three remaining members of his former gang. John Marston isn’t too happy about it but (despite being a stone-cold killer) he’s a loving father and husband, so he heads on down to the fictional county of New Austin to sort that shit out.

The ensuing (and overwhelmingly free-roaming) adventure leads John from the desert to the Great Plains and even down to Mexico, where he is confronted with all manner of exciting and amusing adventures. On top of it’s 20+ hour story mode, RDR loves to throw other random side missions your way as you make your way through it’s vast world. You can seek out one of the dozens of strangers the game has floating around, who’ll offer you extra missions of varying difficulties, or you can simply cruise through the game and wait for something exciting to happen right in front of you, like bandits attacking a stage coach. Given how tight the controls are, combat never gets old or stale, and you feel like a total badass each and every time you get into a fire fight with outlaws.

A lot of people are comparing this game to Grand Theft Auto IV, suggesting the only real difference is horses in the place of cars. And while there are some obvious similarities between the two, Red Dead Redemption is a considerably more fleshed out and immersive game than its spiritual predecessor. On top of having far more content within the game, such as a fame and honour system, the online mode is unparalleled, dropping you into an online version of the free roaming world. Here you gain experience by completing missions or by killing other players, unlocking new equipment as you go. It’s a fantastic and addictive addition to the already incredible single player mode that essentially doubles the value of the game.

I can’t express just how amazing this game is. Between its gameplay perfection, it’s visual prowess and it’s astonishingly limitless online value, I doubt very much any other game this year will top it.

5/5

I’m calling it. Game of the Year 2010.