I walk into the general store and my eyes are immediately drawn to the ornate cash register on the counter. It's practically begging for me to shoot the clerk and pilfer the cash drawer. After a moment of hesitation, I decide against this course of action. I purchase an apple I don't particularly need and walk out of the store.

No, I am not eyeing your cash register!  I'm thinking about how delicious an apple would be right now. One apple, please.

It's sunset and I'm riding through the bush just on the edge of town. Out of the corner of my eye, I see something move in the bushes. It's probably a wolf or a coyote -- I'm gonna fill this sucker full of lead before it can even think about attacking me. But it might be one of the stray dogs I often see wandering the streets; I can't shoot an innocent dog. I put away my weapon and ride away from the conflict.

I want to be bad; I want to be an outlaw that cares only about his own well-being. But I can't help but feel as though Red Dead Redemption really wants me to be good.  A local woman named Bonnie nursed me back to health from a gunshot wound, and while I've got enough money to give her a wad of cash as a token of my gratitude, the game has me repay her by protecting her property and herding her cattle. Fine, she was nice to me and I can see how even a bad guy would want to do right by her.

Sure I'll help watch the chickens, but only if you promise me that later I can go out in a thunderstorm and herd some cattle!

But I have no love for these townspeople. They bump into me and give me attitude like it was my fault. That bearded guy over there took $100 from me in a game of poker. Don't even get me started on the man who shot me because I mistakenly got on the wrong brown horse.

So why not waste them all?

Red Dead wants me to be good. If I'm too much of a jerk, I won't be allowed in certain establishments. I'm only about eight hours in and  I don't know exactly how severe the repercussions would be for running afoul of the law, but I feel as though the developers have made it clear that it's in my best interests to behave a certain way.

There's very little opportunity to cut loose and be  truly bad during the first few hours of the game. So, like most people,  I've established myself as a solid citizen; one that you can trust with your problems. I'll take care of your issues, and you give me cash. This arrangement works well, but damn, sometimes I feel like such a wimp.

I never would have found these exquisite flowers if I had tried to rob that train!

In many games, I don't have a problem with being guided along a particular path. In fact, I almost welcome it -- I don't have to ponder every little choice as though it's the most important decision of my life. But in Red Dead, this guidance feels a bit heavy-handed. Of course, this conflict between good and evil -- and the game's seeming bias towards good -- might exist only in my head. Perhaps this struggle is nothing more than my secret desire to be a badass once again succumbing to my natural inclination to do the right thing.

Fine, I'll be a good guy. I'll help the old man collect flowers. I'll bring the crazy religious girl medicine. I'll do the right thing because the game rewards me for following the righteous path, and deep down, it makes me mildly uncomfortable to be evil -- even in a game.

 No I do not want to make out with you! I've got to catch a nap before I watch a cartoon at the movie house. Silly scantily-clad whore!

After a good night's sleep in the brothel where I own an apartment (yet never partake in any fun), I hop on my horse and head out west to explore a bit. It's very dry out there and outside of picking flowers, there's little to do.

As I come around the bend, I see a gentleman in need of assistance. Right next to him is a patch of sage that I've been looking for. I hop off my horse, pick the flowers, and then turn to help the man. The son of bitch is on my horse! I was going to help this guy, and he stole my friggin' horse! This is what I get for being a nice guy? Guess it's going to be a long walk back into town…

Excuse me sir, but I do believe that horse is mine. Kindly give it back or I shoot the living crap out of you. Thanks in advance for your cooperation, it means a lot to me.

No! Fuck that! I'm a cowboy and this is the Wild West -- you don't steal a man's horse! I pull out my revolver, take aim, and fire three shots right into the man's back. He falls to the ground, dead. I loot his body, hop on my horse and get back on the trail.

Sometimes it's good to be bad.

Note: I know that there's a bandana you can wear that allows you to do bad things without hurting your fame and honor, but to me that feels like something the developers threw in almost as an apology for encouraging you to have ideals. No bandanas for me. Good or bad, I'm a man of honor.