Hittin’ the old dusty trail

There’s something to be said for viewing a game’s setting as a character. Few games are able to pull this off well, arguably because, much like game design itself, time and place are so often overused.

Westerns, being an already underrepresented genre, don’t really have this problem, since the rugged spirit of the Old West makes for great, unique aesthetics as well as an interesting backdrop for archetypal stories of the era.

That being said, Red Dead Redemption is far and away the most impressive videogame Western yet created. Not only is the game flat out, jaw-droppingly gorgeous, but its grit, blood and authenticity practically bleed from out of its dusty arid landscapes. Take a ride on your horse for even a few minutes and you’ll really feel like you’re alone in a rugged, unforgiving land.

Interestingly, a tagline Rockstar has chosen for the game is “The West is Dying”—apropos considering that the game takes place in the early 20th century, when indeed the United States was undergoing sweeping, rapid technological and societal changes in the wake of the industrial revolution.

The well-written narrative, involving an outlaw-turned-farmer who is forced by the government to hunt down and bring to justice members of his former gang, provides plenty of opportunities for just about every Western archetype out there—yet the shift to a burgeoning era where cowboys and outlaws are faced with their obsolescence goes a long way toward making Redemption far more than a string of clichés.

It’s also probably Rockstar’s most intellectually mature game yet. The company’s patented blend of satire and social commentary certainly isn’t absent here, but the thematic presentation of its cultural criticism is a far cry from some of its early titles.

Needless to say, these are all some compelling (if perhaps less publicized) reasons to check out Redemption. The good news is, Rockstar’s pedigree for delivering highly polished games is well intact here. To put it another way, Redemption is a hell of a lot of fun.

As is the case with open-world design, the game is just bursting with things to do. There’s the cowboy prerequisites, like dueling, drinking and playing cards, rustling cattle and fighting bandits, but such activities barely scratch the surface. There’s plenty of wildlife to observe, hunt or target practice on, treasure to search for and shady characters to interact with, too.

Of course you can run on either side of the law, bringing in wanted men (or just dragging them from your horse) or conversely robbing banks, hijacking stagecoaches and leaving tied-up women on railroad tracks. The sky is more or less the limit here (unless you want to see if you can die of thirst by running across the desert).

What may be the most impressive thing about Redemption, however, is just how much of a living, breathing world it is. Everywhere you look there’s random events happening in the world, whether it’s some poor settler being robbed, prostitutes suffering abuse or a stranger rifling through the pockets of some unfortunate corpse. Whatever the case, you can choose to interact with a scenario or simply go on your way.

Redemption‘s open-world design is very similar to Grand Theft Auto IV, which may be a disappointment for gamers tired of fetch quests. But overall, the engrossing narrative is tight and well scripted to the point that when you inevitably become sidetracked with Redemption ‘s myriad optional distractions the main story doesn’t get too watered down.

This one shouldn’t be missed for the sheer scope alone, but for anyone that’s ever dreamed of being a gunslinger, Redemption‘s quality speaks for itself.