With high-noon duels, lawless frontiers and gruff leading men, the western genre seemingly has all the essential pieces to make a smooth transition into video games. For Rockstar's first full-fledged effort in the genre (the company purchased "Red Dead Revolver" from Capcom), it decided to do what it does best: explore the topic at hand with an immersive open world.
"Red Dead Redemption" is set during the birth of the 20th century, where the federal government is moving swiftly to domesticate the untamed frontier. To keep this development moving along unabated, the feds have created the Agency, a branch of law enforcement determined to rid the outer territories of violent gangs.
John Marston used to be one of those outlaws. But after his gang left him for dead during a robbery gone awry, Marston embraced family life. Like his spiritual predecessor, "Grand Theft Auto IV" protagonist Niko Bellic, Marston discovers that running from his past doesn't mean he can escape it. Using evidence of his past transgressions against him, the Agency forces him to hunt down the members of his former gang.
While the setup reads like a Clint Eastwood script, the gameplay construct is pulled straight from "Grand Theft Auto." In order to track down his outlaw friends, Marston has to consort with an unsavory cast of snake oil salesmen, drunks, grave robbers, washed-up gunslingers and corrupt politicians. Assistance doesn't come easily, as Marston must complete fetch quests and rack up kill counts to earn their trust. The game is at its best when it embraces gunpowder-centric missions that only a Western-era game can deliver, including assaulting a gang stronghold with a posse of regulators.
Each weapon in "Red Dead" -- from six-shooters and repeaters to sniper rifles and Gatling guns -- has a distinct feel, and the hit detection system couples with Natural Motion's Euphoria animation technology to create visceral shootouts. When bandits descend on your position, you can activate the slow-motion Dead Eye ability to paint a large swath of enemies and watch in awe as Marston effortlessly puts them all in an early grave. Less practiced gunslingers can stick with the snap-to-auto-aim mechanic borrowed from "GTA IV."
The story moves along at a fast clip when you're hot on the heels of your former gang. But the second section of the game, a plot line involving the start of the Mexican civil war, drags on too long.
But once you embrace the rural rhythm of the Wild West, the game opens itself up much like "The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion." You can sharpen your survival skills by hunting animals (including grizzly bears), scavenging for treasure or perfecting your sharpshooting skills on buzzards. Colorful strangers also riddle the landscape, and side missions offer a fresh change of pace.
"Red Dead" allows you to round up a posse of friends to roam the game world, which also serves as the multiplayer lobby. With 50 levels and unlockable character skins, mounts and titles, the multiplayer is a fully featured complement to the excellent single-player experience.
