Red Dead Redemption 2 is without a doubt one of the best games that I’ve played in years. Whether you think story is excellent, mediocre or bad you cannot deny the incredible atmosphere that is created. It is perhaps the only open world game that truly feels alive. The graphics are stunning and the world feels large and looks beautiful from the bustling New Orleans-esque Saint Denis, or the familiar territory of New Austin or the cattle town of Valentine, the Bayou or the snow capped mountains, this world feels massive even on horse back. The water effects are some of the best I’ve ever seen. Fishing and hunting are fun and feel semi realistic. There are countless subtle details which truly add to the game and make it feel alive.
The story in my opinion was tragic and not too heavily cliched. The game takes place primarily in 1899 and the epilogue takes place in 1907ish. The main idea being brought into light is the dying age of the Wild West. The Van Der Linde gang are the main protagonists. With the player taking the role of Arthur Morgan, a long time friend and almost son of Dutch Van der Linde, who is the main antagonist of the first Red Dead Redemption. The many chapters will take Arthur across the map and a chapter will take him to a Caribbean island as well. Without spoiling too much the gang is on the run after a failed robbery in the town of Blackwater which the character can visit, albeit at huge risk of being killed.
There are countless weapons. From bolt action rifles, countless repeaters, revolvers, pistols, a bow and arrows, melee weapons like knives, hatchets, machetes etc. craft able clothing options, tailors where you can buy clothes, many different breeds of horses from more plain horses like the Morgan or Kentucky saddler to beautiful and fast race horses like the Nakota, thoroughbred and Arabian. As well as larger “war horses”.