Red Dead Redemption has been out for over 15 years, and its memory still holds strong as one of Rockstar Games’ best titles. The incredible aesthetics and homages to Spaghetti Westerns, paired with a beautifully action-filled story of John Marston hunting his old gang, all aid in a stellar experience that’s hard to forget.
However, with Red Dead Redemption returning for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S upgrades, and a port to the Nintendo Switch 2, returning players who want to ride again as John Marston might find themselves facing a few harsh realities.
Red Dead Redemption: 7 Things the First Game Did Better Than the Sequel
Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 are equally incredible, but there are a few things that the 2008 game did in a superior fashion.
There will be major story spoilers for Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Redemption 2 in the latter half of this article!
The Open-World Feels Smaller This Time Around
The Many States of RDR2 Showcase the Limited Nature of 2010
New Austin, West Elizabeth, and Mexico are the offerings of Red Dead Redemption, and they certainly do feel spacious upon your first playthrough. That is, until you come back to the game over 15 years later after having played other open-world games, and even Red Dead Redemption 2, in which the map is practically over triple in size from the original game.
Red Dead Redemption‘s open world is still beautiful, and the scorching sun that blazes the dry desert landscape of New Austin and Mexico, along with the cold blanket of snow that encapsulates West Elizabeth, remains a joy to explore. However, there’s not a lot to do here outside of challenges, main missions, and the occasional Stranger mission.
The Gun Variety Isn’t as Robust as the Prequel
No Dual-Wielding, Or the Ability to Leave Weapons With Your Horse
There are a bunch of weapons in Red Dead Redemption, with 5 Shotguns, 3 Snipers, 7 Rifles and Repeaters, and even 8 Revolvers and Pistols. This arsenal that John Marston can have certainly feels great to wield, but replaying the game means you’ll have to go out of your way to get them, and that’s with the fact that you’re missing some of the best weapons from RDR2.
As a game that’s 8 years older than RDR2, it’s no surprise that Red Dead Redemption lacks the innovative weapon system of the prequel. There’s no off-hand holster to allow John to dual-wield revolvers, nor is there a bow to enjoy stealthy action. The combat remains fun, and the weapons vary, but these systems will certainly be felt this time around.
You’re Alone in the Wild West
There’s No Company or Conversation Like in RDR2
John’s family has been captured by the government, and he’s been sent on a mission to kill the men he once called his brothers. As such, it’s no surprise that John Marston feels very alone and isolated. Replaying Red Dead Redemption will have you face the harsh reality that John does most of his adventure with just himself and his horse.
Venturing to different towns, there’s not much conversation to be had outside of main mission cutscenes. There are no campfire conversations or confrontations with dialogue, much like there was in 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2. Being alone in the Wild West might feel a tad different this time around, since that lonely feeling is hard to get used to, even if the world is easy to immerse in.
Hunting Can Feel Rather Limited
Immersive Features Aren’t as Detailed as the Prequel
Hunting was a core feature in Red Dead Redemption 2, with an abundance of different animals to track, study, and hunt across a range of regions. This was another feature that players might feel has spoiled a replay of Red Dead Redemption, as there are still animals here, but the selection is far smaller, and hunting them isn’t as rewarding.
Biggest Unexplained Mysteries In The Red Dead Redemption Games
The Red Dead Redemption series has a ton of unexplained mysteries worth looking into, so here are some of the best and unsolved to pay attention to.
While you can get some looting equipment from them, the system is not as intricate and immersive. Returning to Red Dead Redemption might feel a tad bare bones when you’re hunting cougars, bison, beavers, and anything else that might look good facing the barrel of your rifle.
Harsher Movement and a Lack of Swimming
Future Rockstar Titles Feel Far Smoother, and Provide Swimming Lessons
John Marston can’t swim, and what was once used as a mere way to stop players from reaching places they shouldn’t, has actually become part of his character. Entering water in Red Dead Redemption would cause John Marston to instantly die, and this can be pretty frustrating when exploring.
Players were spoiled with Arthur Morgan’s ability to swim, and the fact that horses could also swim, meaning you could traverse rivers and other bodies of water. Sadly, replaying Red Dead Redemption will put you back in a reality where water is John Marston’s greatest enemy.
Missions Can Feel a Tad Repetitive
Ride a Horse and Shoot Stuff, Rinse and Repeat
As a game from 2010, it’s not surprising that the missions in Red Dead Redemption can feel a tad stale. That doesn’t mean they’re not engaging and fun, but gamers constantly expect more innovation with each title, so going back to the past might seem a little odd when the missions range from two modes: ride a horse and shoot people.
Sure, these missions are still fun, but if you’ve played the game before, you’ll sit there with a controller in hand and be ready to pull the trigger again, or spam the sprint button on your horse to reach the next location to shoot some more.
The next entries are all spoiler-heavy!
Killing Your Old Gang
The Van der Linde Gang Falls For the Last Time
The Van der Linde gang was a big focus in Red Dead Redemption 2, and players would fondly remember sitting around a campfire to listen to the stories of Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella, all while following their charismatic leader, Dutch Van der Linde. Yet, these good times don’t last forever, and the gang falls apart before John Marston escapes with his family to Beecher’s Hope.
By the time players re-enter New Austin in 1911, they’ll be hunting down Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella, and Dutch Van der Linde, former members of the gang that you can’t help but feel a little sorry for. A harsh reality here comes from the fact that you’re killing former members of your family, who, in the prequel, you could talk with, go on missions with, and really get to love.
Arthur Morgan Doesn’t Exist
RDR Was Written Before Arthur Morgan Was Imagined
A brutal reality you need to face when replaying Red Dead Redemption is that Arthur Morgan really doesn’t exist here. Yes, the events of the prequel occurred. Still, Red Dead Redemption was created before Arthur Morgan was conceptualized as a character, and it can feel somewhat obvious that this story was made without Arthur being considered as part of John’s past.
While Red Dead Redemption 2‘s epilogue makes it clear that John doesn’t like to think about Arthur because of the pain it brings him, it does feel somewhat sad to know that there’s not even a semblance of a memory for him in Red Dead Redemption. No flashbacks or thoughts, simply because the character didn’t exist back in 2010.
You Know What Fate Awaits John Marston
It’s Not a Happy Ending
John Marston is an icon, but replaying the first game becomes far sadder when you know that he doesn’t get the happy ending he wants at Beecher’s Hope with his wife and son (and even Uncle). Arthur Morgan’s words are lost on John, and he doesn’t listen to “revenge is a fool’s game“, and instead gets revenge for Arthur, only to end up in the pocket of the government as their contracted killer, a contract that ends with his death.
Red Dead Redemption 2: 8 Characters Who Didn’t Deserve Their Fate
While there have been some truly brutal outlaws who deserved what’s coming to them, other RDR2 characters didn’t deserve their fates.
Replaying Red Dead Redemption invites further heartache, as you’ll be forced to play the entire game knowing that it was all for nothing, as John’s fate remains unchanged. He’s still senselessly killed as a loose end to the government, and left buried in a fine spot to be forgotten by time.
Having to Play as Jack Marston
He’s Certainly No Arthur, Nor John
“Work, ya damn Nag!” That’s just one of the many repeating quotes players are going to hear once they roll credits on Red Dead Redemption, as they will be forced to play as an aged-up Jack Marston. Now, there’s nothing wrong with Jack Marston as a character (and his fate is actually quite tragic, since he falls into the same criminal revenge tale as his father instead of moving on as a writer).
However, Jack isn’t as fleshed out as his father, and having spent the entire game (and the latter half of Red Dead Redemption 2) as John Marston, it’s always hard to see someone else don his hat and explore New Austin. So, a harsh reality of playing this classic title means you’ll be stuck as Jack until you call it quits.
- Released
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May 18, 2010
- ESRB
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M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs
- Developer(s)
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Rockstar San Diego
