Game Tech: Good, the bad and the ugly

In terms of pace, if games were holidays, Grand Theft Auto would be New York, but Red Dead is Connemara, writes Ronan Jennings

While many are enjoying the rolling hillsides of Red Dead Redemption 2, Rockstar is rolling in the cash instead. Their divisive masterpiece has pulled in almost €1bn since its launch last Friday, making it the biggest weekend launch for any entertainment product in history.

The Red Dead sequel is a huge step forward for open-world gaming, but it’s not a perfect experience. After dozens of hours with the game, here’s our list of the good, the bad and the ugly about Rockstar’s magnum opus.

THE GOOD

It’s all in the detail. Rockstar have challenged people not to ‘play’ in their American West, but to live in it. To make that challenge worthy of player respect, they created the most detailed video game world yet. From the slow-paced animations, to the nigh photo-realistic landscapes, to the sheer litany of minor actions that drive Arthur’s day, Red Dead 2 carries a weight to it like no other game before.

A TRAGIC TALE

At one point, Arthur sits down next to a gang member and says he ‘doesn’t know what’s wrong with him’. He’s been killing animals for fun, shooting men, he’s just ‘so angry’. Rockstar has written Arthur and the gang for exactly what they are — a collection of thieves and murderers in denial. For once in an open-world game, the chaotic actions of the player are reflected in the story.

PACING YOURSELF

Rockstar simply won’t let you play this game like other blockbusters. Deep into Chapter 3, which took us 15 or 20 hours to reach, Red Dead 2 is still feeding you tutorial messages and unveiling more of the systems at play. The result is an experience that never feels rushed. If games were holidays, Grand Theft Auto would be New York, but Red Dead would be Connemara.

THE BAD

In order to make their world feel harsh and realistic, Rockstar implemented a bounty system that is far too sensitive. Bumping someone on the street can be seen as assault, while Arthur is often recognised or caught for crimes when no one else is in sight, or while he is fully disguised. While this can lead to hilarity, too many great dynamic moments can be ruined by unwarranted bounties.

CORE PROBLEMS

Arthur’s health, stamina and Dead Eye systems are represented by an outer ring, which shows ‘time’ and an inner core that represents ‘energy’. You need a litany of items and food to keep both in check. While this drives you to hunt, eat and forage and maintains an atmosphere of survival, the truth is that these ‘cores’ are frustrating and clunky.

TAPPING OUT

While the user interface in general has issues, by far the worst aspect is button-tapping to make your horse run. Considering how much time is spent riding your horse in the game (we estimate at least 50% of the time), having to repeatedly tap ‘X’ to make your steed run is a technique that belongs in the 1990s.

THE UGLY

Just like the Wild West itself, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a beautiful place with a dark underbelly. Reports before the game’s release indicated that employees were working 14-hour days to get the game ready. The lead writer Dan Houser admitted to working 100-hour weeks in the lead up to launch, but then clarified that this was only specific to the writing team. Nonetheless, gaming has long been known for pushing its workers far too hard in ‘crunch’ period of development.

STANDARD BEARERS

It might seem a strange complaint, but where does open world gaming go from here? The sad truth is that no other developer can afford to spend seven years and 2,000 employees pumping hundreds of millions into one single-player project. Rockstar hasn’t just dropped the mic, but made it so heavy that no one else can pick it up.

THE TRUTH

Nothing in Red Dead Redemption 2 is uglier than the truth of the story itself. Arthur and his gang may be criminals, but they live an itinerant life in the game, ostracised by American society. The violent nature of the story and the hyper-sensitive bounty system is sadly reflective of how some people still live today. Living that life through the eyes of Arthur helps us sympathise a little more with those on the outside, where the odds are stacked against anyone who doesn’t belong.