The originalRed Dead Redemptionis a classic for a very good reason and still remains one of Rockstar’s best games. It’s an immersive, gorgeous, heartfelt, and heartbreaking game filled with memorable characters, locations, and quests. Veterans of the game likely have fond memories of it and the various hijinks they got up to as John Marston when it first launched in 2010.
Warning: This article contains spoilers for Red Dead Redemption.
However, now thatRed Dead Redemptionis on PCand has launched on next-gen platforms, replaying it may seem like a tempting option. On the whole, venturing back intoRed Dead Redemptionis a great idea, and the game absolutely holds up for the most part. However,like any game from that era, there are some minor issues that make replaying it a little difficult. While it is by no means a bad game now, replayingRed Dead Redemptioncomes with a handful of caveats.
10Its Open World Is Quite Small
It Can Still Feel Quite Empty
These days,open-world games tend to feel the need to have the biggest world imaginable, with the likes ofAssassin’s Creed: ValhallaandTears of the Kingdomoffering players truly enormous sandboxes to roam around in. Even thebest open-world games of all timehave succumbed to this, which has in turn created an expectation that all open-worlds should be like this.
Red Dead Redemption 2’smap isalmost double the size ofRDR1’sand features more diverse biomes and areas. Players can even explore much of the first game’s map inRDR2, although it’s largely a ghost town.
However, the originalRed Dead Redemption, while relatively large, is nowhere near as big as more modern triple-A titles. Even compared to its sequel,Red Dead Redemption’sbeautiful open-world feels as wide as a puddle. For a few, this may actually be quite refreshing, as it can often feel more focused and less busy. However, for those who’ve grown accustomed to the larger open worlds of today,Red Dead Redemption’ssmaller world may come as a shock.
It’s Hard To Get RDR2 Out Of Your Head
Red Dead Redemptionwas a very immersive and realistic open-world game for its time, offering players an unprecedented and exciting cowboy experience. Naturally, since its release all the way back in 2010, developers have learned a lot of lessons about open-world games and have improved upon the mistakes of older titles. This is absolutely the case withRed Dead Redemption 2, which took everything Rockstar had learned from the first game and improved upon it.
As a result,playingRDRafter playingRed Dead Redemption 2can feel like quite a shock, as it lacks all the bells and whistles that title has. While there are actually quite a fewfeatures inRDRmissing inRDR2, there’s even more that the original game lacks, from a Wanted system that actually matters to the simple pleasure of fishing. It’s not exactlyRed Dead Redemption’sfault, but it does make replaying it just a little bit difficult.
8Its Story Isn’t As Tightly Told As RDR2
John’s Story Is Amazing, But Not As Strong As Arthur’s
One of the best aspects ofRed Dead Redemptionis its story, with the central plot line of John and his quest to hunt down his former gang creating a truly moving and touching experience that still holds up today. With brilliant writing and a phenomenal, tear-jerking ending, it’s hard to fault. However, while it is excellent,it’s simply not as good or as compellingly told asRed Dead Redemption 2.
Red Dead Redemption 2has the power of an additional console generation behind it, meaning it could not only present its story with better visuals and more cinematic flair, but it could also have far more varied missions across a more dynamic world. As a result, its story is given the scope and scale it needs, allowing it to play out over a far greater period of time and setting up the opportunity to better flesh out its characters.RDR2’sstory is betterby virtue of when it was made, which can make returning toRDR1’sstorytelling a bit hard.
7It Hits Different If Played After RDR2
Certain Characters Are Ruined
Red Dead Redemption 2is a prequeltoRed Dead Redemptionthat was made nearly a decade later. As such, its characterization and writing for certain characters are going to be quite different. While it was obviously made with the first game in mind,there are specific characters that feel vastly different, despite the fact that the two games are only set a few years apart.
One example is Javier, who is a somewhat likable character in the second game and a rather terrible person in the first.These changes can make replayingRed Dead Redemptiondifficultafter having played the second game, as it can be hard to contend with the vast character differences. It’s not a huge problem, and it only affects a handful of characters, but it is nevertheless a minor issue.
6Mexico Is Pretty Dull
It’s A Fun Yet Dull Distraction
Going to Mexico inRed Dead Redemptionis one of the most memorable moments in the entire game, if not the entire series, especially thanks to “Far Away” by José González playing softly in the background. There’s a wonderful sense of magic about the whole experience, one that feels like the perfect microcosm for the overall atmosphere and vibes inRed Dead Redemption. Thinking about it even today is enough to give someone the chills. It’s excellent.
However, while theexperience of venturing into Mexico(and even some of the plot line within it) is interesting inRed Dead Redemption, a lot of it feels like a bit of a dull distraction. It never quite lives up to the expectations it sets, and the area itself often feels empty.ReplayingRDRand having to venture back to Mexico can feel like a bit of a slog, although hearing that song never gets old.
5Rockstar Has Learned A Lot Of Lessons
A Lot Has Changed Since 2010
In the time betweenRDR1andRDR2,Rockstar learned a lot as a developer and blossomed its passion for realism in video games. As a result, there are a lot of gameplay decisions in the first game that don’t carry over into the second, as they’re old-fashioned and no longer enjoyed. ReplayingRed Dead Redemptionknowing what Rockstar is now capable of, and was even capable of a few years afterRDR’srelease withGTA V,can be tough.
For players who enjoy Rockstar’s new vision for its video games, replaying its older titles can be a surreal experience.
For players who enjoy Rockstar’s new vision for its video games, replaying its older titles can be a surreal experience. For example, the disparity between the hilarious, arcadey, andat times goofyBullyand the weightierRed Dead Redemption 2is immense. Of course, there isn’t as big of a gap when it comes toRed Dead Redemption, butit still feels vastly different to Rockstar’s modern titles.
4Combat Can Get Repetitive
TheRed Dead Redemptiongames are some of the mostimmersive action open-world games ever made, but that doesn’t stop them from feeling a tad clunky and repetitive. This is especially true ofRed Dead Redemption, whichrelies far too heavily on the Dead Eye featureand doesn’t ever truly improve on the overall combat gameplay flow throughout its relatively long runtime.
There’s A Very Obvious Story Choice For A New Red Dead Redemption Game
With the possibility of another Red Dead Redemption installment being in the works, this one important event needs to be playable in a prequel game.
Of course, duels are a lot of fun, and blasting people with a rifle and revolver never really gets old, even by the end ofRed Dead Redemption. However, for those more accustomed to modern gaming standards, especially when it comes to third-person shooters,replayingRed Dead Redemptionwill feel limiting and not quite as fun.
3Moving John Around Can Be Clunky
It’s Got 2010 Controls
It’s very hard to fault a game that came out in 2010 for having 2010 levels of clunkiness, butRed Dead Redemptionis absolutely a clunky game. For the most part, players can enjoy exploring the gorgeous open world without too much difficulty, but eventually, they’re going to run into some good old-fashioned clunk. John can be a bit tricky to move around, especially in towns, and that can be a tad frustrating at times.
It’s just one of the downsides of playing an older game, and it’s ultimately one of the key reasons whyRed Dead Redemptiondeserves more than a remaster. While it won’t ever truly turn players off,replayingRDRand experiencing some awkward movement can be tiresome. It’s not the game’s fault, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t annoying from time to time.
2The Twist Is Ruined
Players Already Know What Happens To John
Red Dead Redemptionhas one of thebest endings in video games, and that’s largely because it’s truly heartbreaking. Watching John die and then having to play as his son is not only an interesting twist, but an instant tear-jerker. When experienced for the first time, it’s unexpected and mind-blowing, and it feels fresh and new.
Unfortunately,that feeling is hard to sustain on repeated playthroughs, as the twist of what will eventually happen is completely ruined. Knowing it’s coming does add a new layer to the game, but it’s not enough to mitigate the disappointment that comes with having already experienced it once.It’s probably the worst part about replayingRed Dead Redemption, but that shouldn’t stop players from doing it anyway.
1It’s Never Quite As Good The Second Time Around
Certain Moments Just Don’t Hit As Hard
All of these entries culminate into the biggest harsh reality, and that’sthe simple fact thatreplayingRed Dead Redemptionfor a second, third, fourth, or however many times is simply not as fun or as good as the first time. Sure, the overall game is phenomenal, and it’s always great to relive some of the game’s best moments and set pieces, as well as spend time with John.
10 Best Arthur Morgan Quotes From Red Dead Redemption 2, Ranked
Arthur Morgan is RDR2’s most variable character, a brilliantly-written protagonist, and a decent wordsmith himself. Here are some of his finest lines.
However, moments like riding into Mexico or watching John get riddled with bullets just don’t hit as hard when they’ve already been experienced. Knowing what happens to each character and when to expect it ruins a lot of the suspense, and experiencing the same missions again makes it all feel a little stale. It’s a problem with replaying any game, ultimately, but it especially hurts withRed Dead Redemptionbecause that first time is truly remarkable.
