Snow is falling around me, I'm shooting outlaws, my way of life is ending, and also as a metaphor for how the American dream can never come true for those born on the wrong side, because power breeds far more power than violence. It works. It breeds violence. Those are the lyrics, right? Something like that. Anyway, when I think of Christmas, snow comes to mind. And when I think of snow, I think of Red Dead Redemption 2.
You're probably thinking, “Oh yeah, that's the worst part of the game.” Well, do you know what a friend is? you are The worst part of the game! Snow in Red Dead Redemption 2 follows the rules both on a thematic level and on a 'actually play the game and enjoy it without trying to look smart' level. It's hugely underrated, and I admit the game's opening is rough. Now it's time to snow.
Red Dead's Snow Has a Core Thematic Purpose
First, if you indulge me, the theme. We know that Red Dead Redemption 2 is a cowboy game. We know it involves robbing trains and shooting bang-bang on horseback through sunny fields. Nonetheless, the game begins in the snow. It's all about, 'What on earth is a polar bear doing in Arlington, Texas?' We feel we are in the wrong place. The character feels he is in the wrong place. These are people with no place to run, no time, no choice.
We'll be back to a more conventional experience soon, but Red Dead Redemption 2 is at least as good as it gets, if not right. good A person in the wrong place at the wrong time. They are thieves in a world that no longer wants them, more like ghosts than people. This is all laid out in the dialogue in the game itself. Red Dead's writing is good, but not entirely subtle. In Red Dead Redemption, it was a train tearing through the map, symbolizing the way the West was cut short by progress. In the first part, soft white snow is falling.
But it's not just an opening. This is the ending. Red Dead Redemption 2 gives us a view of the entire United States, and the map serves as a microcosm of the different states at the end of the 19th century. Our journey takes us everywhere, and we eventually return to where we started. Men and women have nowhere to run, no time, no choice. Nothing good can happen from living a bad life.
It's better if you hug your eyes
Of course, for many people there is an easy answer to this. They don't care. RDR2 has many examples of rich, thematic storytelling, if not always subtle. I know what Guarma is trying to do (bring the island territory into American sights and showcasing an early example of the Pax Americana), but I can't defend it with as much passion as I can roll my eyes at. The cleverness of the storytelling never holds up when playing feels like too much of an ordeal.
I better understand the lack of enthusiasm here. Rockstar is confident enough to give Red Dead Redemption 2 a slow start that keeps the botched heist a mystery throughout the game, starting Arthur (along with the rest of the gang) at his lowest point and making us feel like we can elevate him. . , not just follow him. It's intentionally slow, but slow nonetheless.
I don't think this is a very important factor until the second time around. At first you might want to go out and rob a bank or something, but understand that it's important to meet each character and see where the story goes. It's not until you regenerate that you really want to throw away your training wheels. Likewise, the ending's slow build-up and sharp difficulty spikes play out differently depending on whether you're faced with an ending that has anticipation flowing through your veins, or whether you're like Farmer John and want to finally finish the game after too much downtime. With.
But while these two snowy bookends are the prime time to trudge around in your snow boots, they're not the only time. We can visit icy areas throughout the game, sometimes traveling there as needed, but mostly only as optional detours. Even if you don't like the narrative value of snow, these moments show that to completely ignore snow is to miss out on too much of RDR2.
In the snow, hunting is easier and more rewarding with less leaves to take cover, fishing can yield unique catches, and there are dozens of ice caves or abandoned mines unlike anything else in the game. You'll need to wrap up warm, but for the most part you'll be alone in Red Dead Redemption 2's winter wonderland. Every time I look out the window and see snow falling on the ground, a part of me wishes I could do the same. It was at that very moment that I started touring again with the Van der Linde gang. Really Merry Christmas.
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Open Critic
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Top Critic Rating:
96/100
- released
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October 26, 2018
