8 Biggest Flaws In Red Dead Redemption 2
Game of the year? Probably, but was that HUGE epilogue really necessary?
Although everybody knows Rockstar for being one of the biggest pioneers in the video game industry, there was a lot of apprehension surrounding whether Red Dead Redemption 2 could better its predecessor. Sceptics were critical of it being a prequel, while fans were gutted about having to play as a rugged blonde newcomer instead of their favourite scarred gunslinger.
However, not only did it surprise worried devotees by improving on its forerunner in every way, it also outclassed all the competition to become the immediate favourite contender for game of the year. Its story is one of the best the industry has ever seen, Arthur Morgan is an unforgettable protagonist who even eclipses John Marston, and the landscape is a magnificent achievement that has set the bar for the genre going forward.
While the long-anticipated epic is a bona-fide masterpiece though, there are still issues which stop the experience from being perfect. Although there’s never going to be a flawless work of creative genius, most of the issues in Red Dead Redemption 2 could have been avoided through abiding by a less-is-more philosophy, and fixing hinderances that have plagued Rockstar titles for more than a decade.
8. Bizarre Design Choices Make For An Inconsistent Experience
The most echoed complaint about Red Dead Redemption 2 is its deliberately slow approach and obsession with realism. Critics have lambasted Rockstar for needlessly including too many animations, and for crafting a depressing life simulator that ignores the golden rule about video games needing to be fun.
However, the real issue isn’t with the developers being too extreme in their attempts to immerse you, it’s that there are a number of bizarre design choices which conflict with the game’s tone and approach. The biggest of which is that gunsmiths jeopardise their business by refusing to sell weapons you haven’t already picked up from deceased husbands whose faces you have spoiled with bullets.
It’s nonsensical that you can’t buy or rob any gun in the game at your leisure, and it also doesn’t make sense why being underweight rewards you with more stamina rather than less. No matter if you've stuffed your face with cookies or only feasted on your steed’s carrots, your stamina should always be low and quickly deplete.
In addition, the game’s log leaves a lot to be desired, and the ‘cinematic’ black bars are an irremovable intrusion that constantly break immersion by reminding you it’s all a video game.