Red Dead Redemption 2 Review: 7 Ups & 3 Downs

Ups...

7. It's The Most Immersive Open World Ever

If that title sounds like hyperbole, it really isn't: this is Rockstar we're talking about, of course.

Though you can argue that RDR2's storytelling is a bit of a step back ambition-wise from GTA V's brilliant multi-protagonist gimmick, the developer has undeniably created a more atmospheric, rich and fully lived-in open-world here than has ever been achieved in the medium before.

Riding through the hills and stumbling upon "random" scripted events that weren't on your map never ceases to amaze, and though it's clear this world has been carefully curated to the highest order, it really does feel like its components are "alive" whether you're watching them or not.

That this is all so masterfully executed while offering up few loading screens and never feeling like an overwhelming, Ubisoft-esque icon-fest, is absolutely staggering.

One can scarcely imagine how much thought must've gone into crafting the world and making it coalesce so seamlessly, and pulling it off on ageing current-gen hardware only makes it that much more incredible.