Is Red Dead Redemption Really A Great Game?

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Rockstar's Red Dead Redemption (RDR) has been lauded by many as 2010's best game. It's considered a masterpiece, possibly Rockstar's best game. But is it really a great game?

I'll admit I wasn't even interested in RDR. I bought it reluctanctly, based more on buzz than any real hope that it would be good. And I wanted it to be good, because I had been waiting for a action adventure based on the old west since the 1980's.

During the mid to late 80's and early 90's the developer Cinemaware created what at the time were amazing action adventures for the Commodore Amiga. These were ported to other systems, but the principle platform was Commodore's premiere personal computer.

Games like Rocket Ranger, Lords of the Rising Sun, and Defender of the Crown had gorgeous graphics and an interesting blend of action, adventure, and sometimes even strategy. And while Cinemaware let gamers visit outer space, 1930's era Chicago, and even England during the middle ages, they never gave us a Western.

Fast forward to 2010 and Rockstar releases a beautiful and fun action adventure which takes place in the old west. My prayers had finally been answered! Or had they?

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Guillermo Guitterrez

July 30, 2010 22:01

This articles credibilty ended when you said Rockstar sucks at making games. Way to show your unbiased-ness.

Toby Davis

July 30, 2010 23:29

Rockstar is great at making games I don't like playing, but many million people love there games so they do make great games ...

Edo Akse

July 31, 2010 04:06

@ Guillermo: if you're talking about the following sentence: "and Rockstar isn't renowned because they suck at making games." then please note the "isn't" part in there

Chris Winters

July 31, 2010 04:47

I think I agree with the author. I enjoyed RDR, but I felt that personally it was overrated. I had far too many issues with it in many respects.

- Bloated story.
- Boring missions like herding cattle.
- Dreadful ending segment (though the very last epic battle was good).
- Soulless world.

I think a lot of people have rose tinted glasses with RDR.

Gary Lucero

July 31, 2010 06:53

I didn't say Rockstar sucks at making games. Sorry if anyone interpreted my poorly constructed sentence that way.

Jason Wilson

July 31, 2010 08:59

@Chris Soulless world? You didn't catch references to the context of the times -- and how those thoughts and feelings run in today's politics? You didn't enjoy Rockstar's first strong female character? You didn't enjoy just rambling around the Old West? I'm sorry. I thought Red Dead had more soul than anything Rockstar's made.

I can see how some view cattle herding as boring. I enjoyed the challenge of herding an uncooperative group of cows, trying to lasso horses, and many of the other nonviolent activities in the game (like poker).

July 31, 2010 10:33

@Jason, I think all of the action and story elements were good. No problems there. The problem comes when an action adventure lasts more than about 10 hours. I'm not saying it can't, developers can do whatever they want of course and gamers definitely love RDR, so it worked. But for me it all gets too repetitive. It all comes down to user preference but I just think that RDR is too highly rated for what it gives you.

Juan Letona

July 31, 2010 10:43

I am with Jason, the non violent segments were probably the best gaming sessions I have had with video games for this year. The History of the early 1900s is alive and vivid in the game. But I will leave the author with his opinion, no need to pull a Gene Siskell on him.

Bryan Glynn

July 31, 2010 11:02

@Chris: The game is two months old. I don't think rose-tinted glasses can exist yet.

@Gary: "Action-adventure" is an incredibly broad genre. To say that every game in the genre should be under ten hours is unrealistic. RDR is clearly in the "open world" sub-genre, where it benefits from having a massive world with a lot to do. Perhaps you simply don't enjoy open world games, and prefer a more linear and scripted experience. That's fine.

Jordan Snyder

July 31, 2010 11:44

Gary, I agree with your opinion that the game is simply too long, which, in turn, makes the gameplay feel repetitive. The game is definitely overrated, but I still had a blast with it. Had Rockstar stripped away the boring cattle/ranch missions, I could get behind the higher review scores.