Red Dead Redemption – An Open-World Masterpiece

As a child, when I started playing 2D action-adventure games on my Atari and 386 personal computer, I used to be very anxious to see the next frame that what will come next on the upcoming screen. In the 2D games, you never knew what surprise you have on the next screen. Will there be a devious trap? Or will there be a guard? or maybe there will be something that will blow me up? That used to be the surprise factor in the 2D games that the developers did not intentionally do, rather than it happened due to the technological limitations. Still, it proved a blessing in disguise for the players and this fit into the game so naturally that it used to give the player an eagerness and make them extra cautious that what would be the upcoming surprise in my plate?

I have played numerous 2D games, including the original Prince of Persia, Dangerous Dave Series, Double Dragon, Prehistoric series, Double Dragon, and many others. One thing these 2D games had in common always made me a little sad. I could not explore the environments surrounding me; I cannot press the up arrow to go into the environment. I cannot explore the world, to be frank.

This wish was fulfilled by 3D games later in the late '90s, but even in the 3D games, there were many locked doors and places where I could not go. Now the problem is, "Ah I can see a beautiful garden behind this window but I wish If could go into the garden and roam freely.”

How can you experience such a thing in a linear game? Of course not. This is where the Open World idea came into play. I guess I was not the only one who had the wish to roam freely in the environment. In fact, when I even wished for that thing, the developers were already conceptualizing and working on such a game.

In the most real sense, Rockstar Games has pioneered the Open World genre when they launched Grand Theft Auto 3 back in 2001. In simplest terms, in a game where you can go anywhere around your gaming environment and interact with any objects, you are in an open-world game. As years passed, many developers worked on various MMORPG Open World Games and Action Adventure Open World Games. One action-adventure open-world game that fetched immense popularity worldwide was none other than "Read Dead Redemption". The game was set in Middle Western United States; an American cowboy style that has always fascinated me is incorporated into the game. The game was released back in 2010, and it won numerous game of the year awards and earned several accolades.

Rockstar Games took a long while to release the sequel, and I remember when it was announced, there was a massive buzz among the fans and gaming industry. Red Dead Redemption 2 was released in 2018. Naturally, every successful game's sequel always generates enormous expectations. Red Dead Redemption 2 did not disappoint the fans. Instead, it relied on its predecessor's greatness and came out as a Masterpiece in an action-adventure open-world genre.

The game was a prequel to its predecessor. The storyline took place in 1899. You take control of a different playable character named Arthur Morgan, who battles with the rival gangs and government forces in a fictional Middle Western United States. The protagonist of Red Dead Redemption, named John Marston, also stars in the sequel. However, he is a secondary playable character this time. This adventure mainly revolves around Arthur Morgan. As a player, you can travel in the horse, interact with non-playable characters, roam freely around anywhere in your playing world, make choices, and engage with intense shooting against your rivals. I love Red Dead Redemption because it combines the linear and open-world mechanism into the game. You are not just wandering around and doing the strange stuff. Instead, your travel is meaningful in this game, and you have a storyline to play through.

Red Dead Redemption 2 earned massive praise across the gaming world, won a number of game of the year awards and the game was critically acclaimed too. The game also got blockbuster sales across the globe. For gamers, my advice is that even if you have not played the 2010 Red Dead Redemption, you can still play and enjoy Red Dead Redemption 2.

In 2021, as a fan, I am waiting for Red Dead Redemption 3. I know I may have to wait for more years for this news, but I feel that this game setting has the colossal scope, and it has the potential to shine for many years to come.