10 Shocking Video Game Bait-And-Switches You'll Never Forget
5. He’s British, Of Course - Red Dead Redemption II
The best open worlds are often those teeming with life and Rockstar knows just how to add flavour to their games via interesting NPCs.
The Red Dead Redemption II stranger mission “He’s British, Of Course” introduces the player to Margaret, an eccentric showman who has hit a snag in his travels across America. The master of ceremonies of his own little circus, Margaret’s prized exotic animals have escaped and it's up to the player to track down and return a zebra, tiger and two lions.
However, the zebra turns out to be nothing more than a painted-up mule. Margaret explains that illusion is more powerful than the real thing and thus the player sets off again to track down more of these acting animals. One of the "lions", which was a dog in a wig, is found dead and the body is used to lure the tiger, which is just a cougar in orange paint, back into its cage.
The remaining animal is spotted at Emerald Ranch. The player follows a trail of blood and, rather suddenly, this charming little comedy jaunt comes to a viscous stop when they are charged by an actual lion.
Rather than lean even more into the ridiculous nature of the quest, players are forced to stop a wild beast before it kills them in one of the most memorably surprising side missions of the game.