Red Dead Redemption 2: Release date, characters, gameplay, plot

If you’ve been in the gaming world for long, you know what Red Dead Redemption is about. But, if you’re a new entrant, allow us to introduce you to what is a magnificent game. Developed and published by Rockstar Games, the Red Dead franchise is a series of games that take place in the American wild west. Red Dead Redemption 2 is the third and most recent addition to the franchise. However, it is a prequel to the 2010 game, Red Dead Redemption.

Red Dead Redemption 2: Release date

Rockstar officially unveiled the game in October 2016. But it didn’t come out until two years later, on 26 October 2018. The developers initially released it on PS4 and Xbox One. However, they released a Microsoft Windows port in November 2019, over a year later. And with the coming of the next-gen consoles, a PS5 and Xbox Series X version is highly probable.

Characters

The game features Arthur Morgan (Roger Clark voices him), an outlaw, as the lead character. He is also a member of Dutch Van Der Linde’s (Benjamin Byron Davis) gang. Other characters include Hosea Matthews (Curzon Dobell), Andrew Milton (John Hickok) etc. Plus, John Marston (Rob Wiethoff), the protagonist of the previous game, also returns with his wife and son.

Red Dead Redemption 2: Gameplay

Like the previous entries, RDR 2 is also an open-world action adventure game. It also offers both first-person and third-person perspectives, and players can choose per their preference. The game has both single player campaign and multiplayer mode. In the single player campaign, players primarily control Arthur Morgan. In the open-world setting, Arthur can do main missions along with several side missions. Apart from the objectives, players can roam around the map.

As for combat, both melee and ranged weapons are available. Also, Rockstar improved the fighting system from the previous game. RDR 2 also brings back the honor system from its predecessor. Therefore, the player’s actions and attitudes towards other characters and NPCs will have a huge impact. Furthermore, gamers will have to maintain the protagonists, because if ignored, their attributes will affect the gameplay.

Plot

As stated before, the game takes place in five fictional states in the American West. The story revolves around the Van Der Linde Gang. And as the protagonist, players will have to deal with the spread of modern civilisation and subsequently the fall of the Wild West. Furthermore, rival gangs and government agencies are also after the Van Der Linde Gang. Thus, the player has to survive against all these odds.

Red Dead Redemption 2: Reviews and sales

Upon release, many, including critics and general audience, hailed RDR 2 as the best game of 2018. It also received the prestigious Game of The Year title from many reviewers. Moreover, many critics suggested that the game blurred the lines between video games and art form. It is also one of the highest selling games of all time. As of now, the game sold more than 32 million copies.