Red Dead Redemption 1 Or 2 - Which Is Better?

There has always been a fascination with old westerns and the time of the great frontier. From John Wayne to Clint Eastwood, countless stories of heroism, outlaws, and fame have been told. But it's not time to talk about movies, it's time to discuss two of the greatest cowboy games in the business - Rockstar’s Red Dead Redemption series.

I'm going to be pitting the two games against each other by analysing the themes, story, and characters that make up the world of Red Dead Redemption.

To avoid awarding points over an unfair advantage, the graphics of both games will not be mentioned in great detail. Both titles are visually astounding for their time and pushed the limits of their respective console generations.

Both games do an exceptional job of accurately depicting the old west. Having John Marston's story set amidst a majority desert backdrop is a perfect analogy for the old times coming to an end with John himself eventually fading into legend. Arthur, on the other hand, sees much more greenery and life throughout his travels, giving the audience a torturing sense of false hope.

So, let's dive into what separates these two cowboy masterpieces apart. Starting with...

Another aspect of the game that feels unfair to draw comparisons in is the gameplay. Red Dead Redemption 2 builds on the foundations of previous Rockstar games by being able to do more with modern technology. That being said, one aspect that is sad to see go is the duels from Red Dead Redemption.

Duels are included in the prequel to some degree but lack the cinematic execution of its predecessor. The decision to focus less on the duel mechanic stems from Rockstar attempting to stay away from the movie cliches and ground the game in more realistic approaches.

Both titles offer the ability to hunt animals, bounties, and participate in mini-games such as poker. While Red Dead offers more smaller activities than the second game, it is limited by the capabilities of the Xbox 360 and PS3. If a gameplay winner had to be declared then it would have to be Red Dead Redemption 2 due to the drastic improvements and giving each activity a purpose.

Winner: Red Dead Redemption 2