Rockstar has done it again, once more delivering a title that changes our depiction of the open world genre. Rockstar San Diego has gone to great lengths to breathe life into an authentic yet merciless time in history.

The plains and terrain of the west have never been more beautiful in a video game. Every blood, sweat and tear of the developers is present in Red Dead Redemption and has definitely been perceived.

The world of Red Dead Redemption is full of social unrest, where families are murdered. Women are kidnapped or raped and sheriffs with little or no support are out for justice in this unforgiving land. Be prepared for high octane action, betrayal and a tissue for your tears on John Marston’s journey to liquidize his former brothers in arms. 

Yet again Rockstar reaches another milestone with one more fantastic title. Red Dead Redemption deserves an Oscar for taking interactive storytelling to a new peak.

Never has a video game had such a perfect balance of emotion, betrayal, turmoil and redemption, attached the player to the protagonist. At times it feels as though you are filling the boots of John Marston taking every step with him in this seductive world.  

In the vast epic land of Red Dead Redemption, there is more than meets the eye. With a large open world full of cactus, bushes and terrain you’re probably thinking what could possibly occupy my time in such a simplistic landscape.

The San Diego team must have faced challenges when it came to deciding what players can do in the game. Other than riding across the plains, players will encounter random events that require saving a life, killing bandits, returning a stolen horse or stopping a woman from being kidnapped to name a few.

Just like in GTA IV you will come across strangers with a task to carry out, which can be completed at your own leisure. On the map the strangers are marked as question marks, scattered around the game’s environment.

Rockstar has always had an eccentric cast of characters in their titles, which follows suit in Red Dead Redemption. The people you meet along John’s travels are either murderers, sociopaths or both. Without the talented voice actors and humorous script writers, it wouldn’t feel the same.

Several animals can be found in the games environment, ranging from bears to rabbits. They can be hunted and sold for a reasonable price. The highlight of killing these animals is skinning them. The sound that this process makes is quite squeamish. The end result is a sight for sore eyes, there’s just you and a skinned animal.

After a hard day of work why not drown your sorrows at the saloon and play some poker or blackjack while you’re at it. Become a bounty hunter and track down criminals pictured on wanted posters.

Rather than killing the bounties it’s recommended to hogtie them for extra money. Clearing out gang hideouts is another side mission, which rewards you with loot and a step further to unlocking certain outfits.

There’s never a dull moment in Red Dead Redemption, if the ruthless inhabitants of the west don’t kill you the animals will. Strolling across the plains without your horse is a bad option; there are rattlesnakes, wolves and bears that will happily devour you.

The day and night cycle is just astonishing, a true credit to the artists talent. Walking into the sunset is like experiencing a walkway to heaven you never knew existed. It makes you think how such a charismatic environment can be full of such catastrophe.

The multiplayer is impressive I can see myself loosing countless hours in this mode. You got your standard team deathmatch and capture the flag but once you take in consideration, of the euphoria physics being used and epic gaming environment it changes everything.

Not to forget the free roam session you can enter (Red Dead Redemptions world) and be continuously killed in by campers and high ranking players. What better way to begin a match than a standoff between 2 teams. It’s a cool implication by Rockstar that definitely makes things feel fresh.

Rockstar has done a fabulous job of telling a story of a time where the world was unforgiving and how the life you lead had big implications. The essence of the early 1900’s has definitely been captured. The game does a great job of portraying the hardship and reality of living in that era through John Marston.

Rockstar has achieved a lot from this title, showing everyone their versatility as developers. Red Dead Redemption is easily the best game of 2010 so far, if I was you I’d giddy-up to the nearest retailer for a purchase you’ll never forget.

9.5/10