Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption | |
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Developer(s) | Rockstar San Diego |
Publisher(s) | Rockstar Games |
Director(s) | Ted Carson (Technical) |
Producer(s) | Steve Martin |
Designer(s) | Christian Cantamessa |
Artist(s) | Josh Bass |
Composer(s) | Bill Elm, Woody Jackson |
Series | Red Dead |
Engine | RAGE[2] Euphoria[2] |
Platform(s) | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 |
Genre(s) | Sandbox, third-person shooter, action-adventure |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Red Dead Redemption is a sandbox-style action-adventure western video game developed by Rockstar San Diego, due for release on May 18, 2010 in North America and on May 21, 2010 in Europe and Australia for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.[1] It is a "spiritual successor"[3] to 2004's Red Dead Revolver.
Gameplay
Red Dead Redemption gives the player a large, open world environment allowing the player to move freely. Players on foot can walk, talk, shoot, kill, ride, run, interact with the environment, and combat enemies with firearms. Different breeds of horses are the main forms of transportation. Swimming is not an option, as the protagonist John Marston cannot swim and will drown if the player ventures too far into a body of water (though he is able to wade where the water is shallow enough).[4]
The open world environment allows players to choose how they want to play. Storyline missions are for progress. Along with the main storyline, players can take part in random events they encounter as they explore the West. These include public hangings, ambushes, pleas for assistance, and dangerous animal attacks. Players can also take part in optional side activities ranging from standoffs, gambling, and hunting fauna for pelts and meat.
Red Dead Redemption makes use of a morality system where players have the ability to gain positive or negative 'honor'. Some of the ways to gain positive honor include taking an outlaw alive instead of killing him, or saving a kidnapped innocent. Negative honor can be attained for committing crimes including killing and/or robbing civilians. This works along with another system, 'fame,' showing and governing how people react based on Marston's honor status.[5]
Combat
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b2/RedDeadRedemptionGameplay.jpg/220px-RedDeadRedemptionGameplay.jpg)
Combat and gunplay are major parts of the game. Gunfights in Red Dead Redemption are conducted using a third-person system. The player can take cover, target a specific person, blindfire, and free aim. Individual body parts can also be targeted, as to take targets down non-lethally. When the player shoots an enemy, the game engine uniquely creates the AI reactions and movements. John Marston has an arsenal of period-accurate weapons to choose from; these include revolvers, primitive machine pistols, lever or bolt-action rifles, knives, sticks of dynamite, molotov cocktails, lassos, mounted Gatling guns, shotguns, and cannons.[6]
A combat feature that Marston can utilize is the "Dead-Eye" targeting system. "Dead-Eye" is used in a bullet-time-like manner, allowing the player to slow down the world to place a precise shot or paint in multiple shots on the body parts of one or multiple enemies. When the targeting sequence ends, Marston will fire in extremely quick succession on targeted people.
Multiplayer
Red Dead Redemption will include online multiplayer with a maximum of 16 players per session.
Every multiplayer game, both free-for-all and team based, will begin with a Mexican standoff. Survivors of the standoff will be able to move to any part of the battlefield in preparation for respawning enemies. Crates in the environment will contain extra weapons, ammo, as well as recharge Dead-Eye powers, which has all the features of the single player version except for slow motion.
Players can level up and complete weapon challenges giving rewards such as new character models, golden weapon skins, and new mount breeds.[7]
Both regular and team versions of Shootout mode follows a traditional deathmatch scenario where players or teams must accumulate the most kills. Many Capture the Flag variants are also available. Hold Your Own is a traditional capture the flag, where each team has their own bag of gold to defend from the enemy team. Grab The Bag has one team attacking and the other team defending; the attackers goal is to grab the bag and return to base, while the defenders must stop them in the act. Gold Rush is a free-for-all variant, trying to grab and keep as many bags, spawned all across the map, as possible.
Like Grand Theft Auto IV's free mode, Red Dead Redemption has its own free roaming mode. All players in the server can form and join player parties, named "posses", of up to eight players and taking part in activities such as attacking computer-controlled gang hideouts or other player posses, go hunting, and create in-server matches.[8]
Development
A trailer of the project was sent to a select number of people at a Sony conference in 2005. The trailer was a tech demo of RAGE set in a western setting referred to as Old West Project. The trailer circulated throughout the internet.[9]
In the April cover of GameInformer, Red Dead Redemption was listed as being for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Although listed, a PC version has not yet been confirmed.[10]
Downloadable Content
Outlaws to the End Co-Op
Rockstar announced that in June 2010 they will release free co-op downloadable content for both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the game. The DLC will include six new co-op side missions ranging from raiding a mine and stealing the gold to riding down a river to secure a town's weapon cache. The DLC will include new multiplayer rewards as well as new trophies/achievements.[11]
Marketing
On February 3, 2009, Rockstar Games announced the first official trailer.[12][13] Resulting trailers showcased numerous characters, gameplay features, and multiplayer modes that will be featured in the final release.
In North America, television network Fox plans to present a half-hour in-game special directed by John Hillcoat on May 29, 2010.[14]
Bonuses and versions
In North America, Gamestop and Rockstar collaborated on a pre-order bonus in which customers could vote for one of three outfits that Marston could unlock in the game. Each outfit came with a different bonus. For example, the "Deadly Assassin" outfit allows Marston to regenerate Dead-Eye targeting twice as fast. The "Savvy Merchant" would halve the purchasing price of ammunition and guns and double the selling price for ammunition and guns. The "Expert Hunter" would double the amount of money the player could get from selling hides of animals. Voting was open to all, but only those who pre-ordered the game through Gamestop will receive the winning outfit, The Deadly Assassin.[15]
Along with the Gamestop pre-order special, there are several other pre-order bonuses through other game store chains throughout North America, Europe, and Australia. These are the" War Horse" and the "Golden Guns."[16] The War Horse is a black horse with a white mane, tail and markings considered "rare" as well as being "faster" and having "more health" than any other horse in the game.[17] The golden guns reward increases fame with each kill, allowing users to progress much quicker up the ladder of fame.[17] The official online Rockstar Games store, the Rockstar Warehouse, offers a Red Dead Redemption T-shirt as the pre-order bonus.
A limited edition version of Red Dead Redemption has been announced. With some countries receiving the golden guns and the War Horse, all will contain the Deadly Assassin outfit along with a soundtrack composed and performed by Bill Elm and Woody Jackson.[18][19]
Exclusive Content
It was leaked that the Playstation 3 version of the game would include two bonuses, Solomon's Folly Gang Hideout and Walton Gang Outfit.[20]
NASCAR
The game was featured on NASCAR driver Joey Logano's #20 Toyota Camry in the Nationwide Series running of the O'Reilly 300 at Texas Motor Speedway on April 17, 2010.
Reception
Publication | Score |
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Game Informer | 9.75/10[21] |
GamesTM | 9/10[22] |
PlayStation Official Magazine – UK | 10/10 [23] |
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So far, the game has recieved highly positive reviews.
References
- ^ a b c "Red Dead Redemption Delayed". IGN. 2010-03-03. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
- ^ a b "Yee Haw'–OXCGN's Day with Red Dead: Redemption at Rockstar". OXCGN. 2009-05-29. Retrieved 2010-03-03.
- ^ "Asked & Answered: Red Dead Redemption Multiplayer Posses, Episodes from Liberty City, and Much More". RockstarGames.com.
- ^ "Rockstar Games Presents Red Dead Redemption - News". RockstarGames.com. 2010-04-30. Retrieved 2010-05-02.
- ^ Cocker, Guy (2010-01-28). "Red Dead Redemption Hands-On - Xbox 360 Previews at GameSpot". Gamespot.com. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ^ "Rockstar Games Presents Red Dead Redemption". RockstarGames.com. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ^ "Red Dead Redemption's online 'Multiplayer Free Roam' revealed". Joystiq. 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
- ^ "Multiplayer in Red Dead Redemption". RockstarGames.com. 2010-04-08. Retrieved 2010-04-08.
- ^ "Red Dead Redemption 2005 Teaser". RockstarWatch.net. 2007-05-26. Retrieved 2010-05-12.
- ^ "Red Dead Redemption PC". GameInformer. 2010-04-15. Retrieved 2010-04-15.
- ^ "Red Dead Redemption DLC details - the Outlaws to the End co-op mission pack coming in June as free download". Rockstar Games San Diego. 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2010-05-05.
- ^ Aj Collins (2009-02-04). "Red Dead Redemption Announced". RockstarWatch.net. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ Stewart, Kemuel (2009-02-04). "Confirmed: Red Dead Revolver Gets Sequel". GamerCenterOnline. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
- ^ http://www.aeropause.com/2010/04/fox-to-show-half-hour-red-dead-redemption-special-on-may-29/
- ^ "Red Dead Redemption". Gamestop.com. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ^ "Rockstar Games Presents Red Dead Redemption". RockstarGames.com. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ^ a b "Online Stores - GAME Australia". Game.com.au. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ^ "Red Dead Redemption Limited Edition - Playstation 3 - EB Games Australia". Ebgames.com.au. Retrieved 2010-03-29.
- ^ http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=74711
- ^ "Red Dead Redemption PS3 lands exclusive content". N4G.com. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ^ http://www.nintendoeverything.com/38917/
- ^ http://www.softsailor.com/news/26543-the-first-red-dead-redemption-review-scores-are-out.html
- ^ http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=246436