
By the time RDR 2 rolled around in 2018, it was positively archaic. The gunplay of Red Dead Redemption is both smooth and intuitive, and at the time, bullet time was still a somewhat interesting gameplay mechanic (even though it stretches back to the early 2000s). Which is a shame, considering that game was nearly a decade old. But it is significantly outdated, and it failed to innovate on the first game’s core gameplay mechanics. It works fine, and it does the job well enough. There’s nothing inherently wrong with the gunplay of Red Dead Redemption 2. RDR 1 had a much faster and more “video game-y” pace in the vein of Grand Theft Auto, and for some, it was all the better for it. RELATED: 8 Funniest Quests In The Red Dead Redemption GamesĮverything in RDR 2 was deliberately paced and almost poetic – simply skinning an animal was an exercise in patience, and it could take 10-15 minutes riding from A to B. Red Dead Redemption 2 focused intently on realism, and for some, it was a creative direction not worth exploring. Those looking for a more traditional video game will definitely enjoy the first Red Dead Redemption more than its successor. There’s nothing like it in the first game. Each has their own distinctive personalities, subplots, and character arcs, and simply hanging out with them around a campfire proves an engaging experience. The expansive cast of characters alone is nothing short of magnificent. The first game is like a great personal drama, whereas the second is an epic on the scale of Great American Novels. The first Red Dead Redemption tells a great story, but there’s no denying that it’s a significantly smaller one.
