Red Dead Redemption (PS3 Version)

In my usual style, I recently purchased this title months after its release, so I don't claim to have the most current review of this game.  Also, I have not played all of the way through the game, so this review will not be all that in depth.  However, Red Dead Redemption or RDR was compelling enough to tear me away from playing my marathon sessions of Battlefield Bad: Bad Company 2, so that already says something about the gameplay.  So, I will start from there. 

Story/Campaign

Having only scratched the surface of the title with little over 30% of the campaign segment completed, I am already in love with this game.  I have always been a fan of the Rockstar studios titles, and I have played through Grand Theft Auto 4 numerous times, but this title is satisfying in so many other ways.  Good western/cowboy titles are hard to come by in the world of videogames, and this one just seems to have it nailed.  What do we expect from a good western?  A protagonist that is stuck somewhere between being a villain and a hero?  A beautiful, but evocative backdrop with compelling scenery?  Multi-faceted plot points with convincing antagonists?  Well, RDR just nails all of these so far.  Less than half of the way through the game, I know little about the main character or his motivations, but I can't tear myself away from the game.  I know that Red Dead Revolver was a sort of "prequel" to this title, but I never played it, and I read some pretty nasty reviews of that game.  Such is not the case with this RDR. 

Following the release of GTA IV, it is obvious that this game takes some of its cues from older Rockstar releases.  As usual, the dialogue is excellent even though it sometimes serves only to perpetuate some of the stereotypical western character archetypes that are found in the game's world.  However, the voice acting is well done, and all of the characters that I have seen so far are believable and they serve to enhance the story rather than hamper it. 

Gameplay

The gameplay elements in RDR have been borrowed from other Rockstar titles, and the game retains the same free roaming, pick your mission format that we have all come to know and love, but there is so much to explore that you could go on completing side quests for hours without moving the story forward or you can simply wrangle horses or shoot varmints for fun (and it is quite fun).  There is nothing all that over the top about this game, and the way your character is controlled and how he interacts with the environment are nothing new to gaming, but who says that a game has to revolutionize how games are played to be good?  Instead, this title tweaks some gameplay elements from past titles, and emulates others in a blend of action that is extremely satisfying.  In so many ways, this title is a lot like GTA4, but so different simultaneously. 

The free roaming nature of this title is really what seals the deal with this game though.  Since the world you are exploring is so different from the modern environment of other Rockstar titles, it is so much easier to become lost in the simulation of the old and dying west and to love every minute of it.  The game sort of takes on the RPG element of being able to choose how heroic or villainous you want to be as well, and both directions have their own benefits.  It ultimately pays more to be wicked, but being heroic gives you more immunity from the law. 

Overall First Impressions

I think this is an excellent title for both the XBOX 360 and the PS3.  The world of RDR is immersing and compelling while remaining true to the fun loving nature of Rockstar Studios titles.  I am one of those people who nervously watches the game completion percentage and hopes that the campaign will never end.  I have yet to play any of the multiplayer modes yet, but the mechanics of the game work well without making it too easy to make it through too quickly.  All in all, it is an awesome game worthy of purchase for any gamer.