Sometimes the finer moments in gaming involve absolutely nothing associated with gaming. No shooting, no blood, no violence... Red Dead Redemption features a ton of big, explosive set-pieces (it is a Rockstar game, after all) but its finest scene has nothing to do with any mission. Upon finding that Bill Williamson (the man John Marston has been tasked with bringing to justice) has fled to Mexico, Marston follows suit and his first steps into the country are unbelievably well done. Back in the Wild West days, Mexico was regarded as another world entirely and Rockstar captured that feeling perfectly. The rough landscape of Mexico (a charred red colour from a distance) is presented beautifully but Rockstar went even further to alienate the player and John Marston. Marston's first journey through Mexico is done in complete isolation; just one man riding his horse. There's no chatter between characters or game prompts to interrupt you - in fact, even seeing other people is a rare occurrence. It's a quiet, reflective moment in Marston's journey and scenes like this really distance Red Dead Redemption from the explosive nature of Grand Theft Auto. To add to the effect, the track 'Far Away' by Jose Gonzalez plays during your journey and the bare bones nature of the song with a hauntingly soft vocal is the perfect accompaniment to this scene. Watching a video of this on YouTube doesn't really do it justice (though it is still great); you need to live with Marston's journey up until this point to fully appreciate this moment of reflection. Sometimes, it seems, a great set-piece isn't just about one single moment. Agree? Disagree? Are there any other unforgettable gaming set-pieces that surprised, shocked or excited you? Let us know in the comments below.
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.
