Red Dead Redemption 2 And The REAL Wild West

The classic western period we see in the movies is 1849 (the height of the California gold rush). In the 1880's, it was still entirely possible for a badass card-playing saloon bouncer to walk into a dusty town, become deputised as a Sheriff, get in a shootout and follow it up with a week’s long ride of vengeance, hunting down all those who brought lawlessness to said town.

In case you don’t know, this is the classic rendition of the life of Wyatt Earp, who gunned down a posse of hoodlums at the O.K. Corral and followed it up with what is awesomely known as the ‘Earp Vengeance Ride’, going after the ones that he and his fellow lawmen missed.

While I’m sure Arthur will meet his fair share of badass lawmen in 1899, things have changed and not for the better, at lease from an outlaw’s perspective. U.S overseas wars in Spain and the Philippines have seen to a steady growth of federal authority and we can fully expect to see some more professional lawmen then Earp and company coming after the gang.

The second gameplay trailer of Red Dead Redemption suggested Lawmen will actually investigate crimes! This sounds novel but most law enforcement theory leading up to this period left that to private detectives, lawmen were there to enforce the law in real time, not investigate or spy on citizens.

It’s going to make for some great tension, old school outlaws coming head to head with a more thorough and scientific police force.