Red Dead Redemption, PC redux: Showdown at high noon

When older console titles are ported to PC, the big question is whether they will still hold up. Some, like Silent Hill 2, succeed, while others, such as Until Dawn (page 6), fall short.

As for Red Dead Redemption – originally debuting on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 – I’m pleased to report that it largely succeeds.

Experiencing it for the first time, 14 years after its original release, Red Dead Redemption is a cinematic treat, perfectly capturing the essence of a classic spaghetti Western.

The story follows former outlaw John Marston as he hunts down his former associates at the behest of government agents, all the while pining for a peaceful life with his family that seems to evade him at every turn.

Saddle up

Fundamentally, the game could be described as a cowboy version of Grand Theft Auto (GTA), featuring hallmark elements like numerous side activities, quirky characters, and the familiar structure of a third-person open-world experience – only with horses and horse-drawn carriages instead of modern vehicles.

Something that crops up a lot in Red Dead Redemption is horseback combat that typically involves multiple pursuers (or quarries).

Something that crops up a lot in Red Dead Redemption is horseback combat that typically involves multiple pursuers (or quarries), which feels more involved compared to GTA since you aren’t completely sheltered in a vehicle.

Chase sequences can be particularly challenging, as enemies often scatter in different directions, forcing the player to constantly switch their focus between targets.

Fancy a firefight?

On the whole, combat was quite enjoyable, with some decent challenges here and there. While Marston can take a few hits and regenerates health over time, jumping head-first into a shootout with half a dozen gunmen is generally a quick path to disaster.

The action set pieces are quite thrilling, with many shootouts putting the player in a position where they’re pinned down, forcing them to fight what appears to be a veritable army of bandits.

I wound up taking a more methodical approach, gunning down a few enemies at a time before ducking back behind cover.

That’s not to say the game is especially tough – I only died about a dozen times throughout my playthrough.

The action set pieces are quite thrilling, with many shootouts putting the player in a position where they’re pinned down, forcing them to fight what appears to be a veritable army of bandits.

Though I could have done without the turret sections, especially since I prefer relying on my small arsenal of guns and Marston’s Deadeye aiming ability.

When activated, Deadeye slows time and lets players line up multiple shots to take out several enemies at once.

Past its prime?

Visually, Red Dead Redemption doesn’t look as dated as you might expect from a 2010 game. This is likely thanks to the work done by Double Eleven, the studio behind last year’s launch on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.

In some sections and environments, the game still pulls off some stunning vistas as you ride around the world.

Granted, it’s no spring chicken – textures are still flat in places, and animations are stiff by modern standards. But in some sections and environments, the game still pulls off some stunning vistas as you ride around the world.

Also, some parts of Red Dead Redemption clearly show its age, though these are minor annoyances rather than huge bugbears.

For instance, it can be very easy to accidentally skip cutscenes as it only takes a single tap of the A button with no confirmation.

This can be an issue since players also have to mash the A button to run in the game.

Fundamentally, it could be described as a cowboy version of Grand Theft Auto (GTA), featuring hallmark elements like plentiful side activities, quirky characters, and the familiar structure of a third-person open-world experience.

While players frustrated with games like Genshin Impact, which restricts cutscene skipping, might appreciate this, it was a bummer for me as I don’t want to miss any story beats.

Then come the cattle herding parts, where you have to guide the cows to safety. These sections feel slow and frustrating due to the cows’ awkward movement.

Fortunately, these missions are few and far between, so they don’t spoil the enjoyment of the game.

The story follows former outlaw John Marston as he hunts down his former associates at the behest of government agents. — Photos: Rockstar Games/Double Eleven

Something I really appreciated was the lack of repetitive content on the map, like compounds to liberate or lookout posts to unlock map visibility, which I have always considered to be more like busywork than anything else.

This makes Red Dead Redemption refreshing to play, considering how common that sort of thing is in open-world games from recent years.

On the flip side, the desert area of the map feels empty, offering little reason to travel between locations. In some missions, you can even skip the journey and go straight to the destination while riding with an NPC (non-player character) who drives.

There’s also the option of just fast-travelling if you’re the sort looking to collect herbs and want to have other side encounters.

Off into the sunset

All in all, if I had to describe the game in a single word, it’d have to be “cinematic”. The most memorable moment for me was crossing into Mexico, which can rival an action movie sequence.

If I had to describe the game in a single word, it’d have to be ‘cinematic’.

It was followed by a long horse ride at the start of the second act, accompanied by a nice musical overture to drive everything that happened in the story thus far home.

That was the moment when it clicked for me. Everything before this was an introduction – and a somewhat long one at that. Mexico was when the game really hit its stride, and I was glad there was still a lot more to see in the rest of the game.

Red Dead Redemption makes for an incredibly compelling and engrossing experience, with only minor things getting in its way. Next on my chopping block will have to be Red Dead Redemption 2.

RED DEAD REDEMPTION

Rockstar Games/Double Eleven

Platform: PC (RM210)