by Griffy
May 11th, 2010

Red Dead Redemption, Rockstar San Diego's Open World Western video game, is already creating that buzz within the gaming industry that could mean big things for today's gamer. News leaked recently that Game Informer Magazine and the UK's GamesTM have awarded RDR a 9.75/10 and 9/10 rating, respectively. Amid early concerns that this new Rockstar title would be "Grand Theft Auto with Horses" seems to be unfounded after the early reviews.

The UK's GamesTM Magazine says the game's world is "as expansive and inviting as any we've explored." It's the authenticity and technical accomplishments that seem to shine through, and there may even be more depth to the gameplay than initially expected: "Redemption is a game unafraid to mete out its ideas slowly, meaning that you're still learning new tricks several hours into the game."

As a fan of the Western Genre I am very excited for this title's release date of May 18th in the US (May21st in the UK). While previous attempts have been made to capture the spirit of the West, most of those games did not receive the critical acclaim or sales support to lead to additonal attempts on this scale. The lack of quality games for a very popular genre is surprising and could be what led Rockstar Games to focus on an open-world Western environment.

While previous attempts have come close to the Sergio Leone's brand of Spaghetti Western, none have achieved that spirit of the West that has captivated so many fans throughout the years. Rockstar Games remembers their first attempt well; Red Dead Revolver was the first in the Red Dead cowboy series from Rockstar after being initially dropped by Capcom. Following a hellish development cycle, it eventually hit the PS2 and Xbox in summer of 2004. It was a gritty, Spaghetti Western-inspired 3rd person shooter that featured a slo-mo bullet time mode. With its tense quick-draw face-offs and dark sense of humor, this is the closest we've come to seeing Sergio Leone's brand of western hit a games console so far.

Other developers have attempted to break into the Western Genre and some have achieved a moderate level of success. Call of Juarez and its superior sequel Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood are two of the best cowboy games out there right now. Available for the PC and Xbox 360, with the sequel also available to PS3 owners, these 1st person shooters nail the tone of classic western films to a tee, even if the gunplay is sometimes a little lacking. Bound in Blood is a quality game all around though, and definitely worth seeking out.

The sandbox game Gun is perhaps the closest thing to the forth-coming Red Dead Redemption we've seen so far. First hitting the PS2 and Xbox in 2005, it takes the open-world mission structure of Grand Theft Auto and mixes it with a little western spice. Receiving strong reviews, it's another tale of revenge and has an all-star voice acting cast, featuring the likes of Kris Kristofferson, Lance Henriksen and Ron Perlman. It's a pity that the Xbox 360 remake didn't really capitalize on the potential of the then-brand-new hardware though.

For a quick Recap of why Red Dead Redemption should be on your Radar check out the following article by GamingUnion.net's Jordan Douglas:

Why Red Dead Redemption Should Be On Your Radar
Mon, May 10th, 2010, 8:12 am (EST) by Jordan Douglas

Red Dead Redemption, developed by Rockstar San Diego, is set for release next week, and the anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. The minds behind Grand Theft Auto have proved numerous times that they can make a rich open world game, to say the least. Based on what Rockstar has shown so far, there is growing evidence to suggest Red Dead Redemption will be their best offering to date. For starters, the game is set on the western frontier of turn-of-the-century America, or as it's more commonly known, the wild west. In addition, Redemption boasts a thriving, incredibly detailed world full of dynamic side missions, and some fresh multiplayer modes to boot.

The Western Setting

The wild west is an especially interesting setting for Red Dead Redemption because games have barely scratched the surface of this historical period. The only other western themed, recent release I can think of is Call of Juarez. While that series did a decent job of creating an enjoyable western atmosphere, it was ultimately a fairly standard, linear experience. The idea of an open world game, set in the wild west, made by Rcokstar, is certainly enough to peak my interest. Fortunately, the story of Red Dead's protagonist, John Marsten, also seems intriguing. A man with a checkered past, Marsten finds the law has caught up with him, and in order to protect his family, he will have to take down his former partners in crime.

A Living, Breathing World

Grand Theft Auto IV raised the bar for the current generation sandbox. Red Dead Redemption looks as though it will uphold the same high standards with gorgeous visuals, expansive environments, and an incredible attention to detail. Redemption's game world spans a vast area, covering desert, forest and mountainous regions of the American southwest. The world is so massive it stretches all the way to areas of Mexico, which represent a sizable portion of the experience, from the southern American states. The scope and variety of the environment is quite impressive.

Dynamic Side Missions

While taking a break from Marsten's quest there are a ton of other adventures to pursue. The side missions are randomly generated, dynamic events which will help keep the player guessing as to what they might run into next. These events could consistent of hunting wild animals, rescuing a couple from bandits, chasing down bounties, gambling, fighting gangs and/or the law, or preventing an execution. The amount of options available, outside of the core plot, will make it easy for players to get lost in the world for hours on end. Random distractions aside, there is good reason to carefully consider how each situation is approached. A morality system based on your actions in these side missions will effect the way people perceive you. For instance, having a reputation as a tough badass will make wannabe thugs more likely to challenge you to a duel.

Free Roaming Multiplayer

Rockstar is attempting to reinvent sandbox online multiplayer with Red Dead Redemption. The most striking new feature is the free roaming mode. This mode gives players the entire world map to explore with their friends or solo as they please. Joining a posse will open up cooperative missions such as raiding a sheriff's station or challenging another posse. The leader of a posse can set waypoints, thereby deciding what adventures the group will undertake. However, the system is very flexible - any member of the group can jump in or out of the posse seamlessly and go on to pursue their own interests. For example, if a member breaks off to kill civilians, the marshals will focus their attention solely on that one person, not the group. Bottom line, free roaming mode is set up to give players complete freedom to shape their experience.

All of the features mentioned above are only a fraction of the overall game. Of course, along with the side missions, there is a full narrative to the single player campaign. There are also more traditional online competitive modes such as deathmatch and capture the flag, if free roam feels too unfocused. From what we've seen, Red Dead Redemption is shaping up to be a fully featured package, offering an expansion of the ideas developed in Grand Theft Auto, adapted for a western setting. Be sure to check out our final review of Red Dead Redemption in the coming days.