Red Dead Redemption 3 - 10 Ways To Make The Perfect Sequel
How could Rockstar possibly top Red Dead Redemption 2?
Red Dead Redemption 2 had a tall order to fill when it was announced back in 2016. Not only was it Rockstar's first new game since 2013's Grand Theft Auto V, but it also had to contend with its predecessor, which was -- and still is -- widely considered one of the greatest games ever made.
So what happened when the prequel finally dropped? It exceeded all expectations, both critically and commercially.
Not only did RDR2 have the second-highest launch in entertainment history (sitting behind GTA V), but the universal critical acclaim it garnered catapulted it into the sphere of "Greatest Games of All Time", joining titles like The Last of Us, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
With that sort of success, it would be the understatement of the century to call Rockstar foolish, should they not pursue another instalment. But where could they go with a Red Dead Redemption 3?
What could they do to make it even better than Red Dead 2, as insurmountable a task at that may seem? Well, I have some ideas.
10. Refined Combat
This is definitely the most technical of the ten entries on this list, but it bears talking about. One of the few legitimate criticisms levied at the Western prequel was the clunky, outdated nature of combat.
The shooting often seemed too easy. It wasn't challenging.
Generally, that's okay, as it makes for a smooth experience. However, there were times where it felt almost TOO smooth, so much so that the sense of danger felt compromised.
It'd be a nice change of pace to feel like we really have to put some thought into our shots, and not just auto-target someone's cranium because video games. You COULD chock that up to the character being a talented marksman. That's fine.
Less excusable, however, is the awkwardness of hand-to-hand combat.
Basically, this is what it boils down to: smash the punch button, block if you feel like it, and when the opponent stops hitting you, you've won the fight. For a game that's on the cutting edge of pretty much everything else, it's disappointing to see such a rudimentary combat system. Hopefully Rockstar polish this up in the future.