Red Dead Redemption will always be a timeless classic. I first played this game back in 2013 & I absolutely loved it. And then I played Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2018 & loved that as well. Both these games are incredible in their own right but this is actually the first time I have played RDR1 in about ten years. I was 14 years old back then & now I am in my 20’s.
Before I go any further I’ll state the obvious. Yes this port did not need to happen. And yes it’s way overpriced for what it is. £40 is criminal for a game from over a decade ago & with not a whole lot of major improvements. But even with that in mind…I just don’t care all that much because replaying this game for the first time in so many years has been one of the most surreal experiences I’ve had in quite some time.
I said at the beginning that this game is a timeless classic & I stand by what I said. For a game from 2010, RDR1 still looks & sounds fantastic & that’s not even mentioning the smooth 60fps framerate that it runs at on PS5. The wild west aesthetic is so visually pleasing & the world is full of so much life that certain games today wish they could replicate. Just riding around on your horse & exploring the vast landscape taking in all the scenery is truly breathtaking & there’s nothing else quite like it.
The story is undoubtedly the highlight though as expected. You play as John Marston, a former outlaw who is tasked with hunting down & taking care of his former gang members by the government that are holding his family hostage & making him do their dirty work. Without saying too much for those who haven’t played the game yet it’s an extremely gripping narrative with a lot of twists & turns & a cast of (mostly) compelling characters. And my experience was greatly heightened because of the events that transpired from RDR2 also. So many scenes hit different with the knowledge from the sequel in my mind & the context behind what actually happened made it all the more interesting.
If you’ve played any Rockstar title then you know exactly what to expect with the gameplay. This is an open world game with a variety of things to do whether you’re shooting up gangs or playing rounds of poker, blackjack etc there is a vast array of activities you can partake in even outside of the main story. There are multiple outfits to unlock, many guns to obtain, you can go hunting for rare animals & treasures you can find across the world just to name a few. I think as a whole the gameplay has held up pretty well with maybe one or two aspects which feel dated mainly the horse mechanics but everything else from the shooting to the overall feel of the game still holds up.
Now while I admit I wish we could actually have gotten an actual remake of Red Dead Redemption instead of a straight port can I still wholeheartedly recommend this game? YES I ABSOLUTELY CAN!! Whether you’ve never played RDR1 before or want to play it again, personally I would say this was 100% worth picking up. It’s the same incredible experience it always was, not much has changed at all.
This game really has stood the test of time even after all these years & I’m really glad I got the chance to replay this again & truly appreciate what it does. Not only the best Rockstar Games title but one of my favourite games of all time period. Absolute masterpiece.
Final score: 10/10
Before I go any further I’ll state the obvious. Yes this port did not need to happen. And yes it’s way overpriced for what it is. £40 is criminal for a game from over a decade ago & with not a whole lot of major improvements. But even with that in mind…I just don’t care all that much because replaying this game for the first time in so many years has been one of the most surreal experiences I’ve had in quite some time.
I said at the beginning that this game is a timeless classic & I stand by what I said. For a game from 2010, RDR1 still looks & sounds fantastic & that’s not even mentioning the smooth 60fps framerate that it runs at on PS5. The wild west aesthetic is so visually pleasing & the world is full of so much life that certain games today wish they could replicate. Just riding around on your horse & exploring the vast landscape taking in all the scenery is truly breathtaking & there’s nothing else quite like it.
The story is undoubtedly the highlight though as expected. You play as John Marston, a former outlaw who is tasked with hunting down & taking care of his former gang members by the government that are holding his family hostage & making him do their dirty work. Without saying too much for those who haven’t played the game yet it’s an extremely gripping narrative with a lot of twists & turns & a cast of (mostly) compelling characters. And my experience was greatly heightened because of the events that transpired from RDR2 also. So many scenes hit different with the knowledge from the sequel in my mind & the context behind what actually happened made it all the more interesting.
If you’ve played any Rockstar title then you know exactly what to expect with the gameplay. This is an open world game with a variety of things to do whether you’re shooting up gangs or playing rounds of poker, blackjack etc there is a vast array of activities you can partake in even outside of the main story. There are multiple outfits to unlock, many guns to obtain, you can go hunting for rare animals & treasures you can find across the world just to name a few. I think as a whole the gameplay has held up pretty well with maybe one or two aspects which feel dated mainly the horse mechanics but everything else from the shooting to the overall feel of the game still holds up.
Now while I admit I wish we could actually have gotten an actual remake of Red Dead Redemption instead of a straight port can I still wholeheartedly recommend this game? YES I ABSOLUTELY CAN!! Whether you’ve never played RDR1 before or want to play it again, personally I would say this was 100% worth picking up. It’s the same incredible experience it always was, not much has changed at all.
This game really has stood the test of time even after all these years & I’m really glad I got the chance to replay this again & truly appreciate what it does. Not only the best Rockstar Games title but one of my favourite games of all time period. Absolute masterpiece.
Final score: 10/10