Summary
There are few series in gaming as revered asRed Dead Redemption. It’s a name that commands respect thanks to its memorable storytelling, beautiful presentation, and unwavering atmosphere.2018’sRed Dead Redemption 2, is arguably the peak of the Western genre in gaming, and likely will be for years, and possibly decades to come.
To not see the release of a third game in theRed Dead Redemptionseries would be a huge shock. Nothing has been confirmed yet, given that developer Rockstar Games is hard at work making the next installment in the esteemedGrand Theft Autofranchise, which means there’s plenty of time to conjure a list of desires for the as-yet-unannouncedRed Dead Redemption 3.
Red Dead Redemptionhas a stellar track record of crafting protagoniststhat stand the test of time. Arthur Morgan and John Marston are two of the most beloved characters in gaming. Dipping back into Arthur’s past with Dutch as the next protagonist could be an interesting plot thread to pull, but this idea may have worked best in DLC. Instead,Red Dead Redemptionwould be best served with someone completely new, maybe on a different side of the law, giving the wild west more depth.
More main characters means adding tothe wider lore ofRed Dead Redemption, and the series can go in plenty of different directions with the lead of the third game. LikeGrand Theft Auto’s insistence on bringing someone new in almost every game, the formula has yet to fail forRed Dead Redemption, so the third outing would be wise to stick to convention.
Rockstar Games earned praise for its approach torealism inRed Dead Redemption 2. Simple acts like looting items and cooking means were implemented in a way that felt so true to life which, paired with the jaw-dropping visuals, made the end product’s presentation value feel sky-high. However, in the minute-to-minute play ofRed Dead Redemption 2, all of that can feel largely irrelevant as the aforementioned tasks feel so slow to complete.
Red Dead Redemption 3would do well to speed things up. That’s not to say it has to undo the strides the second made entirely; instead, it has to find a middle ground that feels both realistic, but upholds a decent pace of play. The open-world formula of the series is one of its best traits, but its core mechanics have to facilitate exploration and fun, and realism can be a barrier to that.
Though thestory ofRed Dead Redemption 3remains a mystery, it would be a big surprise if it was set anywhere other than the USA during the late 19th or early 20th century. However, both titles have a substantial portion that takes place elsewhere. Mexico in the first game and Guarma inRed Dead Redemption 2were interesting narrative deviations, but more importantly, they were a way to showcase a whole new environment and setting. The third game doing something similar would uphold the tradition that feels like an essential part ofRed Dead Redemption’s setting design standards.
WithRed Dead Redemptiontaking place in 1911and its sequel in 1899, the series perfectly captures the fading of the wild west. This is deliberate, as the story being told has a melancholic feeling as the player knows that all the delusion of grandeur will, ultimately, be for naught.
The originalRed Dead Redemptionis a spiritual successor to the 2004 titleRed Dead Revolver.
It’s a smart time setting that elevates the tone and overall feel ofRed Dead Redemption. Yet, there’s only so many stories that Rockstar can tell that are focused on the turn of the 20th century. Going forward in time isn’t an option because the outlaw way of life was largely dead not long into the 1900s thanks to America’s westward expansion.Stepping back further into the 1800s forRed Dead Redemption 3seems like a viable solution, though, as it could use similar environments while toying with the fallout of the Civil War more than the first two titles.
Red Dead Redemption 2
WHERE TO PLAY
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
