Are any other Tilders Red Dead Redemption 2 Junkies like I am?
(Still don't know if Tilders is a thing, but I'm rolling with it.)
Red Dead Redemption 2 has hooked me like no other game has in years, and that's saying something. My collection is massive between my Steam library, PS4 library, and all the older titles I hoard. But ever since RDR2 came out a few months ago, it's almost all I have played on a daily basis.
Aside from the fact that the graphics and animations are objectively jaw-drop gorgeous, there is something about this game's pacing, writing, thematic story telling, game-play, and characters that has absolutely captured my imagination, and has become my go-to way to unwind after a long day. Most of this applies to the story mode.
But I also dove completely head first in the Online Beta for a few months straight. I'm now rank 101, have all I want really for online as it stands, and I loved every minute of my crazy solo-hunting/fishing/griefer oblitherating grind. Taking a break for new content coming on the 26th of this month, and also really need to get some friends to play with... (I have a perma-posse on PS4 named "The Pariah" as well if anyone decides they may be interested)
I'm a lifelong vegetarian, and somehow, RD2 MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH HUNTING IN IT. I could go on, but I'm hoping to get some discussion out of this and not just blabber on and on like I do in real life about it.
So... please tell me I'm not the only freak on here that loves this game. The Reddit communities for this game are a toxic dumpster fire, and I really want to discuss it with some people who actually like to... discuss.
Hmm. I had the opposite experience. This was my first "big budget spectacle" game in years and to me it's a symbol for everything that is wrong with "movie games". The controls have a 1 second delay to everything because they have to play through the "cinematic" animation first. It's not really the "pacing" that is slow, it's the animations. The dialogues are ridiculously stiff and cliche (how many times can you repeat the same word in one conversation?). All the stats and grind don't seem to have any impact on gameplay and all the activities are variations of "quickly press X when prompted". So yea, I'm done with this type of game for a while after RDR2 but I'm halfway through and want to see how it ends.
I gotta say one thing, though: The wildlife simulation is amazing. What kept me from dropping the game altogether was just hiking into the mountains to hunt and explore. It's beautiful. But while the level of detail with the dozens of bird species and whatnot is insane, it's not even the first game to do the squint-and-it-looks-like-a-photograph realism in an open world game. It's the 20th. Or the 50th. AAA games have to come up with something new.
Honestly, the control delay seems to be the most divisive part about the game, haha. And I get it, really. Games generally do feel better if your character goes in the direction you input, when you make the input. I could never imagine playing something like, say, 2016 DOOM with delay. It would be a nightmare.
I actually like the feel of Red Dead, but I also like the feel of Rockstar's open world games in general. Since GTA IV, most of their games have felt similarly sluggish, slow, and deliberate in their animations. I'm pretty sure this is because of the physics engine they developed for GTA IV and continued to use and upgrade.
It's really hard to explain why I like this type of movement, but I suppose it's just a combination of being very familiar with it, as well as the fact that I personally feel more immersed while playing because of it. It feels more "realistic" to me.
I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but I've had a fair amount of experience in trades as a career, and it kind of reminds me of operating machinery, hahaha. But I'm weird.
I think they actually physically simulate most animations, which means turning around involves putting Arthurs foot sideways and then crossing it with his other leg and such. I remember how amazing it was back in GTA IV to see animations that don't "jump" between states as they used to in the past but actually interpolate movements correctly!
Exactly! GTA IV really broke new ground in my eyes as to what animations could look in a video game. EVEN though mechanically speaking, it leads to more sluggish movement that not everyone is a family, I've been a fan of it since GTA IV, and I still am.
But that's just me, and I understand why not everyone agrees with me on this.
I havent gotten past where you first get to saint denis because I have spent a lot of my time hunting stuff for the clothes and satchels. I've only looked up spoilers a few times, both on treasure chests. Once to even know what I was looking for... It is not like in RDR1. Second was also a treasure because I was at the area and it wasn't popping up. Seems as though I was in "combat" with a legendary animal and I couldn't loot it.
Soooo funny thing about me, I haven't beaten the story. I got to Chapter 4 on my first play-through, then something... dramatic happened, and I realized I had rushed the game much faster than I wanted. I've never had a game emotionally effect me so much like that.
I went back and started a new file. I'm still on Chapter 3 doing as much side content, challenges, trapper clothing collecting, as possible. This truly is a game to be enjoyed slowly, and I feel patience is one of the overarching themes of the whole story.
All I can say is keep enjoying the side stuff, and don't do anything for Dutch in chapter 3 involving a trolley station unless you're ready for things to be... different. That's all I'm gonna say. The ending is somewhat spoiled for me, sadly, but it's stuff that I'm personally glad to know before-hand.
I also recommend making hard saves for each chapter in case there is something you would like to revisit later.
I absolutely loved the game and the main story. Knowing myself and my limited time to game I decided to only focus on the main story missions. Mainly to make sure I actually finished it before I may have lost interest. The ending definitely got me. I haven't played the epilogue at all because it just doesn't feel the same to me.
I have yet to get to epilogue. I've had it spoiled for me, but it's all good. Wasn't spoiled until the bomb was dropped in chapter 4, if you know what I mean. At that point I spoiled the rest myself.
I'll get to the ending... when I'm ready. Until then, I'm playing this game like a completionist. Either until I get sick of that, or I actually do it, haha.
I enjoyed it, but I almost felt like there is too much to do. There's no reason to do 90% of it except that you can, and it's there. It is a truly gorgeous game.
The epilogue starts out boring af, but it gets better. You can still complete challenges and make new outfits, etc but it feels a little empty. Kind of a metaphor for life.
The amount of things to do and collect is... a bit ridiculous. I'm loving it, but it's WAY too much for most gamers to even want to touch.
I've heard the idea tossed around that the sheer amount of stuff to check of collection lists was, in large part, more to impress investors as to how much time players could spend in Rockstar's big new game. Of course, very few, insane people (like myself) would realistically be willing to put that much time into completing one game with the constant slew of titles always on the horizon.
That is probably close to the mark, the world is huge and I can totally see someone spending hundreds of hours to collect everything. For me, I sold all the cigarette cards I got and didn't chase down bones, but I did do some treasure hunts that were a lot of fun and spent way too much time hunting so I could put together the Death Roll outfit. Definitely a fun game, but after fucking around in the Epilogue for a couple sessions I'm replaying Witcher 3.
I can't for the life of me find all but one of the bone locations myself, haha. My first save file I sold all the cards, but I'm hoarding them this time.
They are a real bitch to find too, but at least you can always get a random one by picking up or buying premium cigarette packs.
about 80% of the way through story, too depressing to finish. gave online an honest go, it is a wasteland. when i do return, i usually end up hunting or customizing my guns or whatever. i'll finish the story eventually.
I truly enjoyed the ending along with the epilogue had to go back a couple times to get myself to finish but it was worth it.
"I'm a lifelong vegetarian, and somehow, RD2 MADE ME FALL IN LOVE WITH HUNTING IN IT." love that quote. I am not a vegetarian but always have had a problem with hunting. It really gives you a way to experience the thrill of "the hunt", in an immersive world where it was once actually viable way of life. I would like to play with you but sadly xbox is my consolee. I am also in the process of downloading Metro Exodus and think I will probably be putting most of my play time into it now.
I'm 100% sure that some primal part of my sub-conscious is really enjoying and receptive the way Rockstar designed the whole wildlife and hunting system.
Between the amazing animal AI, beautiful visuals, and complex, challenging, and rewarding hunting system they've made, it makes sense to me why I enjoy this, vs. any of the other hunting video game options I've seen on the market over the years.
And yes, the vegetarian part is the ultimate hilarious irony, haha. The humor isn't lost on me. It may sound weird, but as gruesomely violent as the hunting is in the game, it somehow makes me respect it more. You are penalized for being a bad hunter. If you fuck up your shot, use the wrong weapon for your target, etc, not only is the skin quality ruined and meat yield is lowered, but you are forced to face what you did as the animals cry out and suffer, until you end it.
It makes me feel a lot of things, and that's something I really respect Rockstar for being able to do.
As a whole, I enjoy the game. But the pacing is aggravating. Why can't I run in camp? Is Hussle against the thieves' code? Why couldn't my character lead everyone to the destination? It's irritating to just sit there holding the run button.