From riding through the beautiful sunset with a beloved horse, to violent shootouts, Red Dead Redemption two is one of the most beautiful and cinematic games one could play.
Set in 1899, players play as Arthur Morgan, voiced by Roger Clark, a cowboy outlaw who has ridden with the Van Der Linde Gang for as long as memories go back. Throughout the course of the game, the gang embarks through rigorous missions in an attempt to get a large sum of money and escape to a place too far for the law to find.
Through six chapters, and two epilogues, the story is paced brilliantly. At the beginning of the game, things start off at surface level as Arthur and leader of the gang, Dutch Van Der Linde, voiced by Benjamin Byron Davis, go through basic challenges for those of their sort. However, as the game progresses, things exponentially get more serious, heartbreaking, and chaotic. Each chapter was more jaw dropping than the last.
The graphics and visuals look amazing in this game. As the player rides on their horse through the map, whether it’s swamp, mountain, or grasslands, the visuals are stunning.
Insane details and hidden secrets are all over the game and elevate it to an unbelievable level. Each time people go somewhere, NPCs will be doing something completely different and incredibly detailed. For example, if the player goes to camp, they can listen to detailed and relevant conversations in full, or if they go to a town, they can eavesdrop on some NPCs attempting a robbery.
It truly shows how much time and effort the developers, Rockstar Games, put into the game, and those things really make it so much more.
Different features of the game such as the hunting feature are amazing. There are 178 different animals that could be discovered and finding them is a pleasure. Things like this are so impressively intricate and an amazing escape from life and even the main story of the game, making it that much more fantastic.
On an emotional level, the game is immaculate. With other characters, Morgan has very deep, open, and meaningful conversations that are placed at the perfect moments.
 Chaos and murder will be left and right for what seems like forever, but then, Morgan meets up with an old friend and opens up about himself and his deepest feelings. All of a sudden, the world seems still and beautiful. The way the game spaces out different kinds of moments is great and really allows the player to appreciate the beauty of the game.
A common complaint of many is the pacing of the first chapter of the game. Some players find it difficult to get interested in the game at first. Yet, after the first chapter, things only get better and it turns out to be an amazing experience.
Shortly shown, yet so powerful, there is a love story between Arthur and an old lover, Mary Linton, voiced by Julie Jesneck. Though they don’t get much screen time together, their story is so tragic and meaningful. The last interaction they have is deservedly adored by fans, bringing tears to most.
Character development is one of the most impactful features of this game, protagonists turn into antagonists and vice versa. The way the game displays that sometimes people aren’t who you thought they were feels like a punch in the gut. It feels like betrayal, yet it’s so ingenious.
The main theme, it’s never too late to change, is so well thought out and paced, it’s incredible.Â
A conversation in chapter six of the game between Morgan and fellow gang-member Charles, voiced by Noshir Dalal, portrays this theme perfectly. Summed up, Charles calls Morgan lucky, despite his death being near, because he gets a chance to change for the better and make things right before his time is up.Â
Arthur’s redemption of trying his best to do what’s right before it’s too late is portrayed so perfectly. The player can feel it in their heart and soul how Arthur is a good guy trying for the best.
