Eight years in between video games is a long time to wait, but in the case of Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption II, the wait was worth it.
The largely takes place in 1899, 12 years before the events of the original game. You play primarily as Arthur Morgan, a lieutenant in the Van Der Linde gang. The gang comprises several characters from the first game, including Dutch van der Linde, Bill Williamson, Javier Escuella and of course the first game’s protagonist, John Marston.
When the game begins, Dutch is a man with a simple motive: avoid the new direction the world is taking, while also staying free from the government. The rest of his gang follows this philosophy, with Arthur being amongst the most loyal of the gang.
As time goes on, it’s clear that the government is closing in on the gang, in the form of the Pinkertons, led by agents Milton and Ross (Ross, of course, being the primary antagonist of the first game). And as Dutch’s paranoia grows, he becomes more and more irrational, causing several gang members to question their loyalty to him, including Arthur.
Arthur begins to serious reexamine his life after a diagnosis of tuberculosis, which in the time period was a fatal disease. He questions Dutch’s every move, leading Dutch to suspect Arthur of ratting out the game to the Pinkertons. In addition, Arthur requests that John take Abigail and Jack away from the gang when the time is right so that they can have a better life.
In the end, someone betrays the group and depending on your honor level, the game has two endings. Arthur will either succumb to the TB if your honor level is high or the traitor will shoot him to death if it’s low.
As with its predecessor, the game jumps a few years after this to 1907, where the player now controls John Marston as he tries to live a normal life with Abigail and Jack. I’ll leave the details out, only to say that John is able to avenge Arthur’s death, which as it turns out, leads to the events of the first game.
Aside from a fantastic storyline that keeps players wanting to keep playing, the game itself is one of a kind. The graphics are simply breathtaking and shows just how far gaming technology has come, even in the eight years between this game and the original.
The controls of the game are largely similar to the first. The walk, duck, shoot and other basic controls are all the same as the first game and they respond to the player using them with ease.
The honor system also returns from the first game (the fame system does not). As stated earlier, the main role it plays comes late in the game when Arthur’s fate is sealed based on the honor level the player has obtained.
One somewhat unique addition is the need for the player to let Arthur and John function as humans. The player will need to keep an eye on the stamina and health levels and make sure they are feeding the characters regularly. Arthur will gain and lose weight depending on how much he is fed. He’ll also get dirty and need a swim through water to get clean, as will his horse. And if you’re someone who doesn’t like facial hair, you’ll have to keep up with his beard and shave it, as Arthur and John’s facial hair will grow at a realistic rate.
Finally, the game works because it adds depth to the characters we met for the first time back in 2010 in Red Dead Redemption. While we always knew John left the gang (or rather, it left him, as he said in the first game), it’s now clear why with Red Dead II. In addition, we learn how the events of 1899 and 1907 shaped the three characters John is forced to track down in the first game (Bill, Javier and Dutch). Probably the most fascinating is Dutch, who seems optimistic and father-like at the start of the game, but ends up as a distant man hell bent on destroying anything and everyone in his way, even his friends.
All in all, the 8-year wait was certainly worth it. With such an extensive storyline, it’s certainly one that can be played multiple times and enjoyed each and every time.
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