Red Dead Redemption 2 – 20 More Insane Details You Likely Missed

As someone who’s spent countless hours traversing the wild west landscapes of Red Dead Redemption 2, I can confidently say that Rockstar Games has outdone themselves with this masterpiece. The level of detail and realism they’ve managed to achieve is nothing short of extraordinary.

Red Dead Redemption 2 stands out due to its immersive nature; stepping into the vast wild west landscape is a delight, and much of that credit goes to its meticulous detail. Rockstar Games appears to have spared no thought, and the game undeniably thrives on these tiny details. Here are twenty examples, though this aspect could easily list hundreds more.

Marko Dragic’s robot rusts

Starting with something you might have noticed yourself, let’s journey to Marko Dragic’s lonely robot, perched on a snow-capped mountain peak close to Colter in 1899. Take a look and remember its appearance. If you return to the same location in 1907, you’ll notice that Dragic’s robot has developed signs of rust, hinting at its long solitude.

Missable water effects

In the spirit of capturing intricate details, Rockstar skillfully added lifelike yet subtle water effects to Red Dead Redemption 2. Droplets from rivers can be seen on struggling fish caught on fishing rods, while rain trickles down the brims of hats. The rain moves according to wind direction and pools through drainpipes during a storm.

Dog barks at a window

Visit the local store in Rhodes, and you’ll likely encounter a faithful canine friend barking at the shop window. Remarkably mimicking real-life dog behavior – either adorably persistent or annoyingly demanding depending on your fondness for dogs – this dog is actually yearning for some cured meat that is within. Regrettably, Rockstar Games didn’t include an option to feed the game’s dogs; it seems that detail was left out.

Accurate musician performances

In less detailed games, they might skip showing a character’s fingers matching the piano keys while playing, but not Red Dead Redemption 2! Make sure to drop by Reid at the Armadillo saloon and watch him play. Interestingly, the notes you hear are actually shown as his fingers strike the keys in perfect synchronization with the music. While it’s possible that some games could get away without showing this, it’s a testament to Rockstar’s commitment to adding minute details that make the experience more immersive.

Railroad timetable

At the Victory Street trolley station in Saint Denis, you’ll find a comprehensive map and train schedule for the Cornwall City rail service, much like a traditional train station. Interestingly, it doesn’t need to provide this information but does so. It also features accurate estimates of travel times for each loop – approximately two hours for the blue loop and an hour for the red loop if you’re curious about the journey duration.

Signs of horse fatigue

Oh, your trusty mount, it’s so simple to overlook its strength. Push it too much, however, and you’ll notice the strain, perhaps prompting a well-deserved break. A long ride will cause it to pant from exhaustion. Dismount and you’ll spot salt beads on their flanks, and their trembling legs will testify to their need for rest.

Three intertwined deer

In the game Red Dead Redemption 2, there are numerous unexpected events, and one of these seemingly unusual interactions takes place at a specific spot called Diablo Ridge. Here, you might come across a melancholic scene involving three dead deer, their antlers entwined. It’s intriguing, and undeniably poignant, that this scenario mirrors a real-world event. In 2015, the bodies of three deceased deer were found in the same position in Ohio.

Beaver dam realism

Right near Annesburg, I stumbled upon an astonishingly authentic beaver dam. The realism of it all is jaw-dropping, with felled trees surrounding the area, each one displaying precise beaver gnaw marks. Half-masticated trees serve as territorial markers, and the interior of the dam looks just like the real thing, hollowed out and ready to flood. To top it off, there are actual beavers bustling around.

Wild animal behaviour

For a brief instant, let’s focus on the diverse wildlife that inhabits the Old West as depicted in Red Dead. These creatures exhibit behavior true to life. If you pursue a possum, it will feign death; however, if you chase a rabbit, it will scurry into its burrow for safety. Cats, wandering aimlessly, will hunt rats.

Wolves grieve

Okay, one more entry for the animals, and this is another sombre one. Happen across a pack of wolves and should one or more be dead you’ll see the remaining wolves howling forlornly as if grieving their dead loved ones.

Blackened bodies (from explosions and shotguns)

Fire a shotgun blast close to a non-player character (NPC), just enough for them to be affected by the impact but not receive the shell directly to their face, causing their skin to darken from gunpowder residue. Similarly, throw a Molotov cocktail nearby an unwilling participant and the fiery explosion will leave soot marks on their skin and clothing.

Sunburn

Under the intense sun similar to that of Guarma, Arthur Morgan’s skin would get severely burned, as there was no sunscreen available until 1932. Consequently, he is left with nothing but the telltale signs of prolonged sun exposure: a distinct redness and soreness.

Cigarette smoke in miner’s headlamps

Only a minor thing (sorry, pun intended) but observe a miner smoking and their smoke will flash through the beam of their headlamp in truly realistic fashion. It’s cool more than anything – not the smoking, the effect.

Arthur squints on horseback

Indeed, it’s not only the horses that show signs of exhaustion during long journeys across wild landscapes. Arthur himself often squints his eyes as he speeds along at a rapid pace, suggesting the wind in his face is quite uncomfortable. What makes this interesting is that since you’re usually focusing on the back of his head, you might not easily notice this detail.

Horses get spooked

Ride your horse near a gushing geyser and witness it abruptly bolt away. Likewise, approach a potentially harmful creature such as a snake (for example, a python) at a gallop, and you’ll notice your horse demonstrating evident unease.

Improved arrows penetrate deeper

“As one might anticipate, we can verify this experiment. Fire a standard arrow at a fencepost and examine how far it goes in. After that, use an upgraded arrow, shoot the same fencepost again, and you’ll see it slices through the wood more efficiently. It’s a minor aspect Rockstar didn’t need to add, considering it’s not common for someone to try this, but here we are.

Rail worker tombstone

The central Union Railroad was shaped by determination and resilience, yet under the harsh conditions of heavy manual labor, many workers tragically lost their lives. A gravemarker near the railroad serves as a memorial to these fallen workers.

Ringing the Rhodes bell at night

Absolutely, ringing the bell at Rhodes during midnight will surely wake up the locals from their peaceful sleep. They’ll get agitated and exclaim angrily, “Hey, I’m trying to sleep!” as you seemlessly continue ringing the bell for no apparent reason other than causing annoyance.

Water trough bullet hole accuracy

In Red Dead’s meticulous pursuit of realism, if you were to fire a gun at a water trough, the water would indeed spill out. Interestingly, though, the amount of water that escapes will only be up to the level of the bullet hole. This detail might seem unnecessary or improbable, but it’s one of those small touches that Rockstar added to enhance the game’s realism. It’s highly unlikely that someone would shoot a water trough in reality, and even if some water seeped out beyond the bullet hole, it wouldn’t have significantly affected the overall immersion of the game.

Campfire wood burns to charcoal

Lastly, an intriguing aspect that Rockstar might have omitted is the option to light a campfire and observe it as it burns realistically, turning into charcoal. Observe, wait, and be captivated by the transformation of the wood.

2024-12-06 22:15

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