Red Dead Redemption (PC) Review – Unforgiven

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I must say that Red Dead Redemption has certainly stood the test of time, at least in terms of its story-telling, characters, and world design. However, when it comes to the price tag, I find myself scratching my head, much like John Marston might do after a long day in the Wild West.

Just like death and taxes, disappointing re-releases of iconic Rockstar games seems to be an unavoidable part of life. Last year, they finally brought Red Dead Redemption to more recent platforms (like PS4 and Nintendo Switch), which many players had eagerly anticipated for years. However, despite their wishes, the remake fell short, even by today’s standards, leaving some feeling underwhelmed.

This game offers low-resolution maps and assets, runs at 30 frames per second without any upgrades or bug fixes, lacks multiplayer content, and sells for $50. It’s not as visually impressive or polished as ‘Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – Definitive Edition’, and considering the lack of additional features, it’s not a great bargain. Its positive reception is likely due to the original game’s quality, despite ongoing bugs and issues.

Is it enticing for PC gamers, particularly those eager to delve deeper into the storyline from “Red Dead Redemption 2”, whether the additional features are a worthy investment?

Approaching the next twelve months or so, you’ll find that the computer version of Red Dead Redemption has hit the market. This event is noteworthy as it represents the game’s debut on this platform. Although there are some enhanced graphical elements and settings, the core gameplay remains similar to its previous iteration, encompassing the same price point and content (or lack thereof). PC gamers, particularly those eager to continue the story from Red Dead Redemption 2, may be intrigued by this release. However, one must consider if the additional features justify the cost.

Regardless of whether you’re a novice or an expert in the franchise, chances are you’ve heard of Red Dead Redemption. Debuting in 2010 for PS3 and Xbox 360, it revolves around John Marston, who is enlisted by the Bureau of Investigation to track down the last members of the Van der Linde gang. The genre of Wild West fiction often conjures up images of over-the-top macho characters, but while the style echoes classic films directed by Clint Eastwood, its themes delve much deeper.

Instead of portraying himself as a lone gunslinger with no attachments, Marston is taking on these tasks primarily for his family’s sake and to grapple with his past. And let’s not forget about Undead Nightmare, an add-on that finds John battling against a zombie epidemic. Despite its campy nature, it presents a lighthearted, non-canonical tale that’s quite entertaining.

In contrast to Rockstar’s latest game, the original world might seem smaller, but it’s still impressive in scope and detail, setting a high standard for its genre. Each town has a unique life of its own, and there are numerous activities to participate in such as bounties, treasure hunts, horse training, and random encounters. Your actions, both good and bad, affect your Honor, which impacts how the townsfolk treat you. It’s best to abide by the law and avoid indiscriminately killing every outlaw for widespread harmony. However, a high level of infamy can open up intriguing opportunities from unsavory characters in society.

Red Dead Redemption (PC) Review – Unforgiven

Let me clarify, the game ‘Red Dead Redemption’ is definitely worth playing due to its compelling narrative, well-developed characters, and impressive world design. However, I wouldn’t recommend it at the current price point.

The fight remains simple as always. Hide and choose between spraying bullets at opponents or peeking out for precise shots. Dead Eye grants a temporary slow-motion effect, enabling you to spot targets and then finish them off with flair. You can clumsily move from cover to cover, but there’s not much else to it. However, controlling the aim with a mouse and keyboard is more intuitive compared to the default auto lock in console versions, plus the option to customize keys and have alternative settings is a huge bonus.

Despite the fact that some elements like textures, animations, and character models have aged significantly and could benefit from a complete overhaul, the game’s artistic direction, music, and overall ambiance continue to impress. It’s delightful to stroll around and soak in the scenery, whether it’s admiring various signs or observing other characters carrying out their daily routines. The voice acting is still exceptional, with Rob Wiethoff delivering a stellar performance as Marston, as expected.

Don’t get me wrong – you should play Red Dead Redemption for its story-telling, characters, and world design, but not at this price. It was too high for last year’s version, which received significant blowback from fans. And while you would think Rockstar learned from this and thought to extend an olive branch to PC players, especially since they’ve been waiting much longer for a port. Nope. Pay $50, please.

Although I found Undead Nightmare entertaining with a good deal of extra content, the absence of multiplayer features still bothers me. It’s not just missing certain modes; it has left out numerous cooperative missions and unique character classes as well. Having some form of substitute would have been great, but it seems like Rockstar isn’t putting in the extra effort to provide that.

Red Dead Redemption (PC) Review – Unforgiven

Instead of providing a critique on Rockstar’s perspective towards the PC platform, “Red Dead Redemption” serves as an exhibition of how they intend to showcase their timeless games to modern gamers. At its current cost, it remains almost unjustifiably expensive on PC.

Without a doubt, Red Dead Redemption delivers a robust PC version. Developed by Double Eleven, it offers a range of customizable options such as running at 144 frames per second, high dynamic range (HDR), up to 16 times anisotropic filtering, and adjustable sliders for shadow quality, softness, and geometry, terrain, tree, and grass detail. Additionally, it includes anti-aliasing (FXAA) and supports Advanced Micro Fidelity Super Resolution 3 (AMD FSR 3) and Nvidia Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS), complete with Frame Generation and DLAA technologies. It’s also capable of native 4K resolution, works well with ultrawide and super ultrawide screens, and incorporates Nvidia Reflex Low Latency technology.

This PC version offers a broader selection of graphical options compared to previous editions, making it smoother and visually improved over last year’s console versions. However, it’s not the most extensive range ever, but still a notable improvement. The quality enhancements are subtle and may not fully justify the price increase, unfortunately.

Regardless of some aspects of its gameplay that may not be as fresh anymore, Red Dead Redemption remains an exceptional game due to its remarkable storytelling and presentation, immersive open world, and responsive systems tailored to your outlaw persona. Few games can match the depth and authenticity it provides, even after so many years. Furthermore, John Marston’s narrative continues to resonate, offering a unique, emotional perspective on the Wild West.

Nevertheless, time revolves in a loop, and even though additional effort was invested into this PC version (considering the minimal input for previous releases), it’s suggested to purchase it at a discounted rate. This statement doesn’t necessarily reflect Rockstar’s perspective on the PC platform, but rather illustrates their approach to presenting their timeless games to modern players. Red Dead Redemption, even at this price point on PC, borders on daylight robbery.

This game was reviewed on PC.

2024-11-05 19:13

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