Red Dead Redemption First-Hand Preview

If the prospect of grand expanses of unpopulated land sounds a little barren, Redemption has an involving ecosystem that that breaths life into the wild plains. Each region features its own selection of wildlife that interact with each other independently of the player as well as responding to the players actions. “You can expect to see vultures to arrive after a bloody massacre,” says CJ. With the finished game boasting an Attenborough documentary’s worth of wildlife including bears, cougars, wolves, snakes, armadillos, rabbits, vultures, buffalo and dear, John is only ever a hunting rifle away from harvesting useful pelts or furs for trading in the towns.

From the hip to the head. Problem solving, early 20th century style.

One subtle aspect of the game of the game that will force players to pay particular attention to their surroundings is the cleverly implemented treasure hunting. “Rather than a simple ‘X marks the spot’ the treasure maps require you to locate specific landmarks and use visual cues to locate the treasure,” says CJ, demonstrating a map that shows a hill formation that demands an observant eye. It’s very in keeping with the direction of the game and is far more interesting than a simple Sat Nav approach to map reading.

Night-to-day time cycles and a variety of weather effects are a sight to behold.

The many missions you are tasked with look set to fulfil every Wild West fantasy you have ever had, from aggressively defending a fort with cannons to horseback stage coach chases, to dispatching a room full of ruffians with the devastatingly effective Dead Eye targeting system, and that’s before you explore the mini-games at the local cantina such as blackjack or whiskey drinking.

Explosive encounters with bandits are an occupational hazard.

As with a certain other Rockstar sandbox game, Redemption will ship an online multiplayer option, though CJ is unable to go into specific details. We are assured it will be more than just an afterthought though: “Multiplayer will be a big deal in the game,” he promises.

Even in this unfinished build, Redemption is filled with the kind of incidental detail that brings Rockstar’s hugely expansive open worlds to life. Red Dead Redemption has the good fortune of boasting a largely unexplored theme in video games, and judging by early impressions, it could well be the first game to do it properly. Red Dead Redemption rides into town next Spring.