I like what critics dislike

[Cyper]

Many of the negative user reviews on metacritic contributed to why I bought the game in the first place. These users complain about the game being to slow, to complex, to clunkly, to much uneccessary features like eating, shaving, etc. This is precisely why I like the game. Along with the critics reviews, the negative user reviews is the reason why I bought the game.

 

The character feels more like human being rather than an avatar floating around on the screen. The aiming feels more like aiming with a gun than with a analog stick or a cursor. The slow gameplay makes it different from action shooters. Features like ating, shaving, looting, etc. puts some rpg elements to it, and it feels more like you're in a world where you have to survive - and to be honest - the requirement to shave, eat, dress properly, does is not overdone; you don't have to eat or sleep all the time. This game, so far ( I have haven't played that much though - just got myself out of the snowy mountains) seems to have taken what I liked most about GTA SA, GTA IV, Bully, L.A Noire, and Red Dead Redemption 1. Now, there are indeed some design design decisions that does not make sense, such as the inability of not being able to run in the camp. This makes absolutely no sense at all. More than that, this is the kind of game i've been waiting on for a long, long time! So far it feels like a proper SINGLEPLAYER game rather than a poor SP which is only used as a spring for online.

 

 

 

[Algonquin Assassin]

I'm pleasantly surprised by how well eating, sleeping, shaving etc is integrated. It's nowhere near overly intrusive to be annoying, but I appreciate we still have maintain Arthur in a semi RPG like fashion. The thing about not being able run in the camp doesn't really bother me. 

 

Who needs to run when everything is within walking distance anyway? 

[Mrs. Buzz]

I totally agree.

 

Even running through the "prologue" - I just stopped following them, felt the cold, watched the environment, paused here and there, took pictures. I played for arround 10h now and made just 9% progress. I started to ignore the quests, went to hunting - selling - gambling - sleeping - caring my horse/myself - back to hunting - collecting flowers - selling stuff. Unable to run in the camp? I couldn't care less. I made $500 for now just doing that.

 

RDR2 with its *deceleration* gameplay totally fits my way to play. I only played GTA5 storymode to 23% and from there only played online further. I bought RDR2 "only" for online in 1st place. But... while its delayed, I thought take your time to learn gamepad again in singleplayer. Now, it seems I'll stay in storymode until I reached 100% or close to it before I enter RDRO. It's more my cup of tea - like the first RDR which I finished almost 100% and went back for gambling and hunting almost every evening here and there these days. Like RDR, which was a reason to buy a console back these days, RDR2 got me back to NG consoles, training myself to use a gamepad again - (a small reason why I go that slow tbh).

[BerntBalchen]

I just love that there is so much to do.

[Raj The Rager]

When I was younger I used to boast about how user scores mattered, but now I realize they aren't really accurate. Because people will give a game zeros for stupid f*cking reasons or in this case hate on it because it's not on their favorite port. All while not realizing what a zero actually means. For a game to be a zero it means nothing works at all and absolutely nothing is redeeming about it. Red dead redemption  2 is not that.

Edited October 28, 2018 by Chamberman20

[HockeyMike24]

People had similar complaints when The Witcher 3 came out. When a gem like this is released it tends to catch people off guard and they get overwhelmed thinking they'll just run through the story like they did with the last generic open world story title released. 

[Merle Travis]

I agree, mee to. The detail and complexity is why this is such an experience imo. There is one thing that is missing though that I find jarring, and that is a much slower day night cycle. I think now a full day night takes around 48 minutes, just like GTA V. Sunsets and sunrises are very fast, they are over in like 10 seconds. It would be great if Rockstar can add a option in menu to make time slower!

[darthYENIK]

I agree.  What Rockstar wanted from this game was to slow it down.  And that’s obvious from the start.  No riding full speed across the map non-stop.  You ride at a regular, sane speed, and soak in the scenery.  And that thought process is used throughout the game.  It was a choice.  My only complaint about speed is that Arthur walks as slow as sh*t.  But that’s just me, in real life, I walk fast.  I’m a fast walker.

[ChengizVlad09]

These were my exact 'fears' even before the game came out. I am so glad that Rockstar took the risk and did this. I swear to f'cking god, either people love broken and half finished games or I'm completely blind or stupid. It is amazing that RDR just keep on surprising us with all this unexpected things happening, you know, the game itself doesn't need to tell you everything in advance, where's the fun in that? After 14 long years (GTA SA) R* finally takes somewhat more bald RPG looking approach. I couldn't be more happier. It was about damn time I'd say. Futher down the line I assume those bitching about RPG elements, and doing things more gradually are the same critics that give FIFA 19 good ratings. Jesus f'king Christ, what world are we livng in.

Edited October 29, 2018 by ChengizVlad09

[lh1]

Let's face it, many critics dislike the things you like because RDR2 felt way too different than the first RDR. 

RDR2 is pretty much an Action RPG while the first RDR is an Action Adventure game (with some elements of RPG) 

The way I see it, Red Dead series is Rockstar's lab mouse, the first Red Dead gameplay is similar to House of Dead, and the second Red Dead gameplay is a GTA clone while the third one is an Action RPG most likely inspired by Witcher 3 ( For some reason, I get Witcher 3 vibe from RDR2) 

[Jimbatron]

With you on this.

 

I’m loving it. And it helps the visually the open world is so divine, you can really enjoy taking it in by slowing it down.

 

I may well write a review when I’ve played more. My only slight gripe so far is the wanted system. I actually got fingered for unarmed assault by climbing on my horse when an npc was standing next to it and got knocked over before I’d even moved. They should have made it so the peds get out of the way or aren’t hurt unless you are spuring the horse forwards towards them.

 

The shaving and eating mechanics seem fine - although I don’t think I’ve quite got my head around how to manipulate health and stamina with them yet. Kind of like the fact I have to put a kill on the back of the horse. Compared to the old game where you could be a millionaire from spawn killing bears and collecting 50 pelts before bothering to ride into town and sell them.

 

Ive done three bounty missions so far and they’ve all been nicely varied - unlike the last game where they were all pretty much identical except for difficulty.

 

The stock weapons are crap but again that makes them more realistic. You can’t take on a full mob in the open as you won’t reload fast enough. In the old game I could run and gun with impunity.

 

My only gripe with GTA V was I blasted through the story mode in two days. This feels like it will last longer.

 

I’m sure it won’t be for everyone. It’s going to require patience and dedication to work it all out and lead an effective life with Morgan. The masses I suspect may want more run and gun action, less realism. But that’s potentially where online comes in. R* may, I hope, have decided that SP is a vehicle to focus on what some of the long term fans have been asking for and online can be a more accessible experience for more casual gamers. And not to sound snooty about it - I can enjoy both. But it’s getting a big thumbs up from me so far.

Edited October 29, 2018 by Jimbatron

[Commander S]

It's the same reason why the Mafia games (particularly the earlier ones - III makes some concessions towards GTA-style accessibility and convenience compared to I and II) are more niche favourites compared to more 'fun' open-world games.

 

The average GTA fan would probably rage if GTA VI penalised them for running red lights, speeding, unholstering weapons in public, etc. - but those are all things that Mafia II is strict about, and that's why I'm a fan of the series, flaws and all.

 

Come to think of it, I'd bet decent money that, like with the clear influences of things like The Witcher 3, MGSV, etc. on RDR2, this is R* finally getting around to looking at the areas where the Mafia games had more realistic details than GTA (in Mafia II, you can turn on all the light switches in apartments, open windows, that kind of thing), and saying "we see your ______, and raise you _______".

[HockeyMike24]

5 hours ago, lh1 said:

The way I see it, Red Dead series is Rockstar's lab mouse, the first Red Dead gameplay is similar to House of Dead, and the second Red Dead gameplay is a GTA clone while the third one is an Action RPG most likely inspired by Witcher 3 ( For some reason, I get Witcher 3 vibe from RDR2) 

Yeah, they were definitely taking notes from the Witcher. I'm glad they did too, I love the new hunting system.

[Dr.Rosenthal]

Agree with OP and, well, the rest of ya, lol. I'm real glad R* decided on this take on RDR2. It's meant to be a "slow" (though slow is a bad choice of word), immersive, deep experience. As some reviewers has said, it is precisely that "slowness" that gives weight to the whole game.

 

I'm glad not all game developers think that their customers are 13 year old energy-drink addled speedfreaks. Real glad that this is what we got. I love every part of this game, and I'm taking it sloooooooow as hell.

 

One of my online buddies finished the game earlier today. Poor thing. I don't see the point of playing this game like that; it almost frustrates me to know there are those who do!! It's almost like if he was proud: "Hey, I was FIRST of us to finish the game! How far you got?". He's young, though, I think he's 16 - maybe that might explain his immature take on it.

 

I don't rush, at all - and I've told everyone that. I just don't see the point. There's so much to experience in this game, and rushing through it is a complete and utter waste, in my opinion.

[Mister Pink]

I didn't notice that the game was much slower and probably because I deliberately didn't play RDR anywhere near playing RDR2 because I wanted RDR to be as fresh as possible. Just like when the next GTA comes out, I won't play GTA for as long as possible before so it feels fresh and there's no controls or physics bias.  

 

But yeah, I love the RPG-ish elements in RDR2. It's about time we got that depth.  Once you play an RPG, it's hard to go back to games like GTA and the original RDR because the games feel shallower and a bit more superficial, in comparison. They look great but there's not much depth to it. Whereas in an RPG, you kind of assume a role and there are generally lots of crafting to make really unique things that aren't only cosmetically good but very functional too. Rockstar games completely lacked all this stuff that has been around for years in other games. 

 

RDR2 will be a gateway game to RPGs for many people, I think. There was a time when I would only play games like GTA and when you only play a small spectrum of games, it's easy for GTA to be "the best" but after delving into moderate RPG games like Fallout and Skyrim and get into crafting, weapon building and armour building, the economy becomes alive - and you realise everything ties in to each other. You scavenge for materials when exploring. You turn those materials into tools and crafting resources. You craft unique and desirable items. You level up your skills so you can craft more exciting items etc etc. It makes exploring and scavenging more fun because you are collecting and putting things in the pot to make later, just like hunting in RDR2.  You hunt to eat and to craft etc.

 

Not to mention the moral system too, which is great in RDR. I love that I can assume to be a good, bad or nuanced guy. That's also a staple of RPGs. You are assuming the role of a good guy/bad guy. 

 

OP, regarding the people complaining about doing those tasks you mention. If people are complaining about those things in RDR2, we probably don't have much in common in gaming anyway, so I wouldn't really rate that person's opinion much. I would assume they don't have a broad taste in games and probably play GTA, COD but aren't really familiar with doing tasks like that or can see why people might enjoy it - how it contributes to a more immersive experience. 

[Algonquin Assassin]

22 hours ago, Mister Pink said:

I didn't notice that the game was much slower and probably because I deliberately didn't play RDR anywhere near playing RDR2 because I wanted RDR to be as fresh as possible. Just like when the next GTA comes out, I won't play GTA for as long as possible before so it feels fresh and there's no controls or physics bias.  

 

But yeah, I love the RPG-ish elements in RDR2. It's about time we got that depth.  Once you play an RPG, it's hard to go back to games like GTA and the original RDR because the games feel shallower and a bit more superficial, in comparison. They look great but there's not much depth to it. Whereas in an RPG, you kind of assume a role and there are generally lots of crafting to make really unique things that aren't only cosmetically good but very functional too. Rockstar games completely lacked all this stuff that has been around for years in other games. 

 

RDR2 will be a gateway game to RPGs for many people, I think. There was a time when I would only play games like GTA and when you only play a small spectrum of games, it's easy for GTA to be "the best" but after delving into moderate RPG games like Fallout and Skyrim and get into crafting, weapon building and armour building, the economy becomes alive - and you realise everything ties in to each other. You scavenge for materials when exploring. You turn those materials into tools and crafting resources. You craft unique and desirable items. You level up your skills so you can craft more exciting items etc etc. It makes exploring and scavenging more fun because you are collecting and putting things in the pot to make later, just like hunting in RDR2.  You hunt to eat and to craft etc.

 

Not to mention the moral system too, which is great in RDR. I love that I can assume to be a good, bad or nuanced guy. That's also a staple of RPGs. You are assuming the role of a good guy/bad guy. 

 

OP, regarding the people complaining about doing those tasks you mention. If people are complaining about those things in RDR2, we probably don't have much in common in gaming anyway, so I wouldn't really rate that person's opinion much. I would assume they don't have a broad taste in games and probably play GTA, COD but aren't really familiar with doing tasks like that or can see why people might enjoy it - how it contributes to a more immersive experience. 

See the thing is I'm not really an RPG type of guy, but I feel this is R* treading the waters so to speak. Red Dead Redemption toyed with it (as in the whole fame/honor system), but in this game it's been turned up to a whole new level. Normally I don't like the idea of crafting stuff, but the way it's done here is brilliant IMO.

 

I also like how hunting actually matters because in Red Dead Redemption it always felt like organised slaughter (lol if you could call it that) because all the pelts were good for was selling for cash. Now we can hunt to eat and craft new gear like a true frontiersman. I doubt we'll ever see this level of depth in a GTA game, but I wouldn't be all that surprised to see some sort of crafting in GTA VI.

 

A lot of features like how you have to dress for the climate, clean your weapons etc feel like "experiments" .

[Shadowfennekin]

I like it. The choices, the longevity, all the cool stuff to do.....

Critics don't know sh*t. I like when a game I paid $100 for actually lasts almost that many hours, rather than a game that I can complete in 7-8 hours and do basically everything. This seems like a game I'll play again and again.... which I can't say the same for most modern games. I'm really intrigued by what Online will look like and I'm definitely going to give it a go