When they're not making headlines for all the wrong reasons, Rockstar are actually pretty good at designing games. Grand Theft Auto's cities are bursting with life and energy but it's actually the under-appreciated Red Dead series that captures the imagination far better. Red Dead Redemption, in particular, received massive critical acclaim when it was released, yet very few seem to celebrate it as the classic it is. In particular, Red Dead Redemption's design is astounding. The Wild West motif is very familiar to games and movie lovers but here, Rockstar somehow managed to prevent it feeling stale and lifeless. Instead, despite largely being made up of deserts and plains, Rockstar's Wild West felt lively and exciting, like exploring a whole new world. Nowhere is this better demonstrated than with Mexico (the Southern portion of Red Dead's map); a long stretch of desert, pocketed with hills and rock formations which is amazingly easy on the eye. Of course, you can't talk about Red Dead's Mexico and not mention one of gaming's finest moments. The transition from Texas to Mexico is done via lone horseback ride while the song "Far Away" plays, adding to the atmosphere of your first steps into this exciting new world massively. It's an experience that really cannot be done justice with words; do yourself a favour and soak in everything about Red Dead Redemption, it's a phenomenal game.
I have an addiction to achievements, a craving for new bands and a dream to become Captain America. I once finished second in a Mario Kart 7 tournament so I'm kind of a big deal.
