“Red Dead Redemption” – more than “Grand Theft Auto” with horses

For a long time in the video game industry, developer Rockstar was synonymous with one thing – “Grand Theft Auto.” Through various locales, cities, time periods and numerous generations of consoles, the “GTA” series has gone from a generic top-down open-world shooter to a critically acclaimed, often emulated juggernaut. Rockstar tried to break the mold with “Bully,” a sandbox game set on the grounds (and the surrounding town) of a New England preparatory school. While “Bully” was a great game, it didn’t nearly reach the popularity of Rockstar’s flagship franchise. “Red Dead Redemption,” however, seems intent on making gamers everywhere forget all about the bustling streets and drive-by shootings of “GTA.”

Set in 1911, “RDR” follows the story of former outlaw John Marston. Though he’s left his violent ways behind in favor of starting a family, his past continues to haunt him. Government agents kidnap Marston’s wife and son and give him one option – if he wants to see his family again, he must hunt down former gangmates, Javier Escuela and Bill Williamson. Marston is forced to consort with all manner of unsavory characters in order to get close to Williamson and ends up chasing his bounty across the Old West and into Mexico.

The story itself brings up very poignant and relevant ideas on topics such as the reach/limit of governmental control and what exactly it means to be good or evil. It’s a testament to the Rockstar writing staff that they can make a game about the Wild West feel connected to the issues we are facing in this country right now. These story missions, however, are presented is the same way they’ve been presented since “GTA 3” – do an almost unbearable number of menial tasks for people of questionable reputation until you get to deal with your target. Unfortunately, you should be prepared to do plenty of “go here, kill x number of faceless baddies” or “go here, pick up something, return it while killing faceless baddies” missions.

I am thrilled that Rockstar finally went out on a limb and created a sandbox game in a wholly new and unique landscape - I just wish they had left their played-out mission structure in Liberty City as well. At least Marston doesn’t have a cell phone with which he can be constantly badgered by his many acquaintances.

Thankfully the cast of characters in “RDR” is more colorful and interesting than most found in any “GTA” game (with the exception of, maybe, the charismatic and out-spoken “alpha male” Brucie Kibbutz). From the sagely gunslinger Landon Ricketts to the aging swindler Nigel West Dickens, Marston meets a wide range of characters during his travels. But even the most interesting, comical and original characters introduced in “RDR” can’t do much to help the tired mission structure.

Fortunately, the world of “RDR” is more interesting than all of its characters put together. With myriad varying, picturesque landscapes, tons of side-missions, random events and player challenges, there could very well be a substantial amount of time between the actual story missions you decide to embark on. There’s plenty of fun to be had just roaming around the giant open world, taking in the sites of the large map.

Making the world feel more alive, New Austin is populated with many different species of animals and plant-life that can be collected and sold in various towns for a profit. Though the animations for the different actions of collecting flowers or skinning animals (don’t worry, the gore is kept off-screen save for a few splashes of blood) can get a little redundant, it’s a minor complaint in the grand scheme of the game.

Controlling Marston is similar to past “GTA” games, though selecting weapons has changed slightly and the addition of the Dead Eye mode helps with dispatching large groups of enemies. Using an upgraded Eurphoria game engine (the same from “GTA IV”), characters move and react in incredibly realistic ways. The animations and movement of horses is also some of the best looking I’ve ever seen in a game. “RDR” controls perfectly fine most of the time, but its flaws start to show through when the action picks up. Too often you’ll wind up in cover that you didn’t intend to be in and it’s sometimes difficult to do something as simple as walk through a doorway without getting stuck on an edge and wind up walking into the wall instead. It’s even more upsetting, although not unforeseen, that these tiny problems are even more noticeable online.

Rockstar improved the online experience with one of the most innovative ideas in sandbox multiplayer gaming – turning the entire game world into an online lobby. If you’ve ever played a game online, you know that pretty much every match of every game begins in at a lobby screen where you and the other people participating are listed along with the game options. When you select multiplayer in “RDR,” you’re put in the lobby, a.k.a. Free Roam. You can be joined by up to 15 other players in a Free Roam, start/join posses, complete challenges and gang hideouts or select competitive game modes. New weapons, characters, mounts and titles are unlocked by gaining levels and completing challenges. It’s fun to be able to form a posse with your friends online and take on the game’s various modes but with such a large world, the options presented to gamers can feel underwhelming at times. Though there are many competitive game types, I find myself sticking primarily to Gang Shootouts (Team Deathmatches) or completing gang hideouts in Free Roam.

In terms of ambition, “RDR” is a new milestone in its genre and is what all future sandbox games should strive for. Unfortunately it does little to break new ground in terms of gameplay and mission structure and, with the exception of the Free Roam lobby, offers the same online experience as “GTA IV.” Thankfully, what it borrows from Rockstar’s most popular series, it borrows exceptionally well and presents it in a beautiful and unique landscape. Gamers who yearn for the tall buildings, fast cars and huge explosions of Liberty City may not be impressed with the wide open spaces of New Austin but those who give it a chance will undoubtedly be mesmerized by the living, breathing world of the Wild West and will calling the open range their home for some time to come.