From tip to tail, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a profound, glorious downer. It is the rare blockbuster video game that seeks to move players not through empowering gameplay and jubilant heroics, but by relentlessly forcing them to confront decay and despair. It has no heroes, only flawed men and women fighting viciously to survive in a world that seems destined to destroy them. It is both an exhilarating glimpse into the future of entertainment and a stubborn torch bearer for an old-fashioned kind of video game design. It is a remarkable work of game development and, possibly, a turning point in how we remark upon the work of game development. It is amazing; it is overwhelming. It is a lot, and also, it is a whole, whole lot. Rockstar Games’ new open-world western opus is exhaustively detailed and exhaustingly beautiful, a mammoth construction of which every nook and cranny has been polished to an unnerving shimmer. It is a stirring tribute to our world’s natural beauty, and a … [Read more...] about Red Dead Redemption 2: The Kotaku Review
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Red Dead Redemption 2 extended gameplay preview: Six hours in Rockstar’s biggest ever map
Red Dead Redemption 2 is arguably 2018's most anticipated video game. Grand Theft Auto creator Rockstar Games has pulled out all of the stop for its Wild West epic, which they are calling their 'most ambitious game to date'. We have had the chance to spend a day in its world; six hours to explore Rockstar's biggest map yet and familiarise ourselves with the ragtag members of the van der Linde gang. In our series of articles, we explore why Red Dead Redemption 2 could be Rockstar's best story yet, look at how to survive in its harsh world and, here, take a deep-dive into the map. And the most arresting thing I see as I explore Red Dead Redemption 2’s vast western wilderness is the bright neon lights of St Denis. As outlaw Arthur Morgan, I have rode south from the snows of the Grizzly mountains, through the lush greenery of the Cumberland Forest, over the plains of the Heartlands and into the rolling fog and swamps of the Bayou Nwa taking in as much as I … [Read more...] about Red Dead Redemption 2 extended gameplay preview: Six hours in Rockstar’s biggest ever map
Red Dead Redemption 2 hands-on
As the train thunders through the snow and towering peaks of the Grizzly Mountains, it has become increasingly clear that we are going to have to jump aboard. It had all been going to plan in this first hands-on with Rockstar’s hugely anticipated Red Dead Redemption 2 ahead of its 26 October release date. The Van Der Linde gang, of which you are a dedicated member, had schemed to rob the train of local wealthy business magnate Leviticus Cornwall. It was all set, tracks ready to blow, carriages ready to plunder. There’s bounty in them thar hills. But the attempted great train robbery is a bust as the bomb fails and the train whizzes past unhindered. The gang, including your character Arthur Morgan... Register or log in to view this and other Technology Intelligence articles. It's free and easy to do. Access brilliant stories, features and analysis Sign up to our exclusive Technology Intelligence daily newsletter Become part of our ambitious Tech networking … [Read more...] about Red Dead Redemption 2 hands-on
Red Dead Redemption 2 exclusive gameplay preview: Riding with the Dutch van der Linde gang
After finally seeing Red Dead Redemption 2 in action for the first time, it’s clear that the next great Western is not a film. It’s Red Dead Redemption 2. During a visit to Rockstar North’s studio in Edinburgh, I had been made aware of the hand-crafting involved in creating its vast 19th century American landscape, the meticulous sound design that ensures its score never arrives or leaves with a crash, and the effort that has gone into making sure there’s never a break in the action. It’s clear that every effort has been made to ensure the world is as action-packed and involving as possible. But none of that prepares you for watching the studio’s efforts working in sync. The way mud gleams in the sunshine. How a bank heist taking place during a monkey’s wedding looks positively poetic. And how the game’s protagonist, outlaw Arthur Morgan, drops to his haunches to contemplate the horizon after a period of player inactivity manages to … [Read more...] about Red Dead Redemption 2 exclusive gameplay preview: Riding with the Dutch van der Linde gang
Red Dead Redemption 2 exclusive first-look preview: Here comes the next great Western
After finally seeing Red Dead Redemption 2 in action for the first time, it’s clear that the next great Western is not a film. It’s Red Dead Redemption 2. During a visit to Rockstar North’s studio in Edinburgh, I had been made aware of the hand-crafting involved in creating its vast 19th century American landscape, the meticulous sound design that ensures its score never arrives or leaves with a crash, and the effort that has gone into making sure there’s never a break in the action. It’s clear that every effort has been made to ensure the world is as action-packed and involving as possible. But none of that prepares you for watching the studio’s efforts working in sync. The way mud gleams in the sunshine. How a bank heist taking place during a monkey’s wedding looks positively poetic. And how the game’s protagonist, outlaw Arthur Morgan, drops to his haunches to contemplate the horizon after a period of player inactivity manages to … [Read more...] about Red Dead Redemption 2 exclusive first-look preview: Here comes the next great Western