Grand Theft Horsies. The comparison is always going to be made (probably not so eloquently) - and Rockstar don't seem to mind at all. Red Dead Redemption is GTA IV in the wild wild west, and why the hell not. In case you've been hiding under a rock that game sold
pretty well.
The RAGE (Rockstar Advanced Game Engine - don't call it RAGE Engine) was actually developed specifically for Red Dead Redemption by Rockstar San Diego - not GTA IV or MCLA (what), but RDR. So the similarities between Red Dead Redemption and GTA IV are always going to be present. At the end of the day though, RDR is setting up to offer a lot in its own right, and we can't wait.
The first thing I noticed when my Rockstar host first launched into the world of Red Dead Redemption was the movement of the horse. The Euphoria Physics engine from GTA IV and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is once again in effect for RDR, and it really shows in the movements of the horses this time - not just the people. It seems like a great deal of attention has been paid to making the horses move realistically, and it pays off visually.
Immediately we're thrust into a gun battle as we attempt to save a woman from some outlaws - Red Dead puts players in the shoes of the "good" guy, a step away from the more traditional focus of Rockstar titles. Not a large step however - John, the main character, can still do pretty much whatever he likes with very little in the way of consequences, and as a reformed outlaw he's seen his fair share of evil deeds. Still, the focus behind the story will see you working for the right side of the law for once.
The cover system from GTA IV is once again in effect, though it's been dramatically improved. John can hide behind almost anything he'll fit behind now, and a few things he doesn't really. The "Dead Eye" slow-mo shooting system from the first title in the series makes a triumphant return in Red Dead Redemption - if you didn't play the first game, Dead Eye allows you to slow time and essentially paint targets on your enemies. With your classic revolver you have six targets you can paint, and once you engage the Dead Eye shooting mechanic you'll immediately let fly with six shots in quick succession. It lets you be a quick drawing gunslinger - without having to be The Waco Kid.
We save the damsel in distress and head back to town, and things start to get really interesting. A sharp whistle will call your horse to you - unlike cars in Liberty City, horses are a rare commodity - and before long we were taking the scenic route to the main settlement. One of the major concerns with any open world game is keeping the game alive while you're traversing between areas - even when thematically it's appropriate (Fallout 3 drew some criticism for the desolate wasteland nature of its... desolate wasteland).
To alleviate this issue, R* San Diego has given the world life through nature - the harsh wilderness of the wild wild west truly is harsh. As we moseyed towards the nearest settlement we witnessed a pack of coyotes take down a woman not metres from her homestead, saw sherrifs mete out frontier justice on a criminal and witnessed as buzzards circled over the corpse of a dog. The world is alive with action - from the snakes which spook your horse all the way up to plans for bears and cougars in the final build.
The horses keep things interesting as well - they have their own AI and emotional triggers, like being afraid of snakes and cacti to not wanting to gallop down steep hills. Different breeds will serve the same functions as different types of cars as well - some horses will be faster, others will have more stamina - and you'll have as much opportunity to steal them as you will to buy them with your hard earned legal tender.
Money can be won and lost in the RDR world a number of ways - there's heaps of extra activities for you to earn a quick buck in... or squander it. We got a chance to look at Five Finger Fillet, a game involving a knife, a table and the hand of a very brave (stupid) person. The mini-game itself is simply a Simon Says QTE type thing but the rewards are good, and it fits the atmosphere perfectly. Can't help but wonder if Rockstar might be setting themselves up once the kiddies start trying to play along at home, however.
If I had to pick just one thing to look forward to in Red Dead Redemption, I'd have to go with the potential inherent with adapting animals to the pedestrian system. I'm looking forward to a lot more than just that, but finding and taming wild horses, hunting and skinning cougars and running away from grizzly bears - that sounds awesome. And if I saw coyotes attacking a woman on the side of the trail, I wouldn't help her either. After all, why should she be saved when we already have our Redemption?
