Chapter V is best.

[LucidLocomotive]

18 minutes ago, ViktorFekete said:

I couldn't agree with you more, the whole chater 5 is pointless as it is. I posted a while ago my opinion about this so just keeping it short, I really hate that you can do nothing during the chapter, there are only the missions which are really boring and far-fetched, and altough now we know how much energy they put into Guarma (which was supposed to be bigger) the final product is just a side note.

 

I would like to defend chapter 1 because it is kind of a tutorial which I can enjoy. but chapter 5 is pointless.

I love the linear nature of chapter 5. It’s my favorite part. It’s good to see different opinions here

[Edward RDRIII]

1 hour ago, ViktorFekete said:

I couldn't agree with you more, the whole chater 5 is pointless as it is. I posted a while ago my opinion about this so just keeping it short, I really hate that you can do nothing during the chapter, there are only the missions which are really boring and far-fetched, and altough now we know how much energy they put into Guarma (which was supposed to be bigger) the final product is just a side note.

 

I would like to defend chapter 1 because it is kind of a tutorial which I can enjoy. but chapter 5 is pointless.

Just for you to understand how big Guarma was supposed to be/is, if you consider the unfinished landscape as canon:

 

 

If Rockstar delayed RDR2 for a extra year to finish it, among other things, I'm sure Chapter 5 would've been way more enjoyable, especially considering we would be able to go back to it and explore it normally. I don't think Rockstar ever planned to add Nuevo Paraíso to RDR2 though, it's there just for the looks.

[Buddy Hightower]

All 6 chapters are awesome.

Chapter 1 is one of my favorites.

What I find really boring is the beginning of chapter 2.

[Cutter De Blanc]

Chapter five is alright,  it's not my favorite though. The linear nature works within the concept of the narrative because you feel trapped on the island, and as a player you feel a pressing desire to return to the mainland, because there's not much interesting to do on the island. It puts you in a similar headspace to where Arthur is supposed to be at the time. 

 

Whenever I'm in Chapter 5, I like to use the Bronte glitch to turn off the sniper and explore the island a bit, and I can see how that feeling of relative freedom conflicts with the stranded, shipwrecked, "we just wanna go home" feeling they were going for. It's like, really, why would you want to go back?  You just robbed a huge bank. You're being hunted and pursued. The island is beautiful. No one who was looking for them knew where they were. They had an out and didn't take it, due to Dutch's poor leadership. They should have just moved the rest of the gang there and lived the rest of their days in a tropical paradise. Wasn't that the plan, Dutch?

Edited April 15, 2022 by Cutter De Blanc

[LucidLocomotive]

On 4/14/2022 at 7:06 AM, Edward RDRIII said:

Just for you to understand how big Guarma was supposed to be/is, if you consider the unfinished landscape as canon:

 

 

If Rockstar delayed RDR2 for a extra year to finish it, among other things, I'm sure Chapter 5 would've been way more enjoyable, especially considering we would be able to go back to it and explore it normally. I don't think Rockstar ever planned to add Nuevo Paraíso to RDR2 though, it's there just for the looks.

Wow yea larger would be cool. I just hope they wouldn’t have gotten rid of the linear nature, and made it all open world like the rest of the game. 

[Edward RDRIII]

15 hours ago, LucidLocomotive said:

Wow yea larger would be cool. I just hope they wouldn’t have gotten rid of the linear nature, and made it all open world like the rest of the game. 

But why? Wouldn't you like a new map to explore?

[LucidLocomotive]

14 hours ago, Edward RDRIII said:

But why? Wouldn't you like a new map to explore?

Because the linear nature of V is my favorite part. It provides a break from the exploration and a chance to just worry about the narrative and cinematics for a little while. 

[Edward RDRIII]

5 hours ago, LucidLocomotive said:

Because the linear nature of V is my favorite part. It provides a break from the exploration and a chance to just worry about the narrative and cinematics for a little while. 

I think you must be playing the wrong game.

[LucidLocomotive]

17 hours ago, Edward RDRIII said:

I think you must be playing the wrong game.

No I love the game and it’s open world and exploration. But I love guarma because it offers a break from that and provides contrast. It’s a time where you can just enjoy the cinematic nature and the narrative for a while

[Edward RDRIII]

9 hours ago, LucidLocomotive said:

No I love the game and it’s open world and exploration. But I love guarma because it offers a break from that and provides contrast. It’s a time where you can just enjoy the cinematic nature and the narrative for a while

Fair enough, you got a point there.

[Dan_1983]

It's not too bad, but by the time we rescue Javier, I want to get back to the states. I don't like being stuck there with Dutch and his lapdogs lol.

[Edward RDRIII]

21 hours ago, Dan_1983 said:

It's not too bad, but by the time we rescue Javier, I want to get back to the states. I don't like being stuck there with Dutch and his lapdogs lol.

Yeah, it would be much better if we could get back to it after "Fleeting Joy" and explore the island alone by ourselves.

[Jabalous]

It was the least interesting chapter, imo. I'd have preferred if it was set in Nuevo Paraiso, and that'd be a reason for R* to remake that part of the map. 

[Space Cowboy]

I love Chapter 5 too. Although I would personally never call it the best chapter. Ideally, Guarma would be accessible for us in the freeroam and would contain more things to do - perhaps some stranger missions, collectibles etc. I think Chapter 5 nicely breaks the monotony of RDR2's story and serves as a genuine surprise to anyone who plays through the story. My main gripe is not even the chapter's linear nature. I can honestly understand that and it makes sense from the story perspective. There's no problem with that. I just wish it wasn't just a one-off mission-exclusive location. There could have been so much more there, but at the same time I understand why there's not - the game is already long enough.

I would love if an idea of a far-off remote location such as Guarma would be further explored in another (if there's gonna be another) Red Dead game.

[PsyWarVeteran]

Linear or not, I think we can all agree that it would be a much more enjoyable to roam Guarma/Guama if it was realized to its planned potential fully. I don't know whether it would be the best chapter or not but it would be much more enjoyable than it is now.

[cp1dell]

12 hours ago, PsyWarVeteran said:

Linear or not, I think we can all agree that it would be a much more enjoyable to roam Guarma/Guama if it was realized to its planned potential fully. I don't know whether it would be the best chapter or not but it would be much more enjoyable than it is now.

If it wasn’t cut short and scaled back like what we have now, and fully realized like originally planned, I could see it being loved just as much as people loved when you first go to Mexico in RDR1, and your stint there before finally getting to go back to America.

 

They tried to capture that same magic, but due to all the cuts it was never going to happen.

[subvod]

On 4/21/2022 at 3:00 PM, cp1dell said:

If it wasn’t cut short and scaled back like what we have now, and fully realized like originally planned, I could see it being loved just as much as people loved when you first go to Mexico in RDR1, and your stint there before finally getting to go back to America.

 

They tried to capture that same magic, but due to all the cuts it was never going to happen.

 

Yep. A failed attempt at what could have been a very fruitful endeavor. I like the environment of Guarma, but with such a small area being developed in the final product, it seems an almost pointless element in the overall storyline. Given that, aside from it being a deviation from the path according to the gang needing to escape somewhere far away.

[PsyWarVeteran]

The problem is they don't keep it 100% linear either, they dangle the bone to your face but never throw it, either do it fully or don't.

At the very least they could have let us explore the beach or the village near it, since you can visit if for a couple of seconds before getting instakilled anyway, why not put the invisible sniper a little bit further? It would still be barebones compared to the main map but it would at least be a little more of a unique experience.

[MaddenedGhost]

This is a late reply to this thread, Chapter V is a good "first time" experience, you get the "WOW!" feeling of leaving this already gigantic world and ending up on a totally different, (visibly) huge island, it's a very cool experience the first time you do it.

 

 

Then you play the game again and it becomes a chore you just want to get done with, the wow factor isn't there anymore and you are left with this very linear experience that is against everything the rest of the game was set out to be in the previous chapters, no discovery, no exploration and no freedom, it becomes the Saint Mark's Bistro or Bury The Hatchet of this game, it is even worse when you know the actual size of the island and can't shake the "what could have been" feeling away.

 

 

Don't get me wrong, Guarma will always, ALWAYS be one of the most beautiful locations in the game, it is very visually pleasing, but that's about it after the first playthrough.

 

 

A similar thing can be told about Chapter I, but that one at least has the defense of it being the tutorial of the game, so it IS supposed to be restrictive and linear because it's the "we are showing you some basics" part of the game.

 

 

My favorite chapter has got to be chapter 3 up until A Short Walk In a Pretty Town, before Micah ruins everything.

 

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by The_Ghost

[Caerfinon]

3 hours ago, The_Ghost said:

My favorite chapter has got to be chapter 3 up until A Short Walk In a Small Town, before Micah ruins everything.

 

 

It's true. He does ruin everything.

[Cutter De Blanc]

Micah's fat disgusting gut in chapter 5 tho

 

ladies hold on to your pantaloons 

[BigBoyBertram]

Interesting take for sure. Guarma is a bold section, and while it may not be the best part of the game, I understand the need for it. The game would have felt rushed if after the bank job the gang started the chapter six content immediately. Guarma serves its purpose, and gives the main narrative and some very key plot points breathing room.  I will say though that in the grand scheme of things Chapter V is often remembered as just the Guarma chapter when it shouldn't be. The rest of CH 5, including our favorite May I Stand Unshaken, Fleeting Joy, the doctors office visit, and the mission with Charles to Roanoke Ridge are all excellent additions to the game. 

[Edward RDRIII]

My problem with Guarma is not having access to my weapons and my horse, and also having to do one mission right after the other without taking a break, other than that I don't have a problem with its narrative.

[Emmi]

3 hours ago, Edward RDRIII said:

My problem with Guarma is not having access to my weapons and my horse, and also having to do one mission right after the other without taking a break, other than that I don't have a problem with its narrative.

Ye, Chapter 5 is waay to restrictive ... I feel like they had bigger visions for it but possibly cut it down because of lack of time or maybe it just didn't fit the story or it went to nowhere. I mean if you think about it, why would they let us explore Guarma with our horse, weapons, etc. doing side missions, hunting animals, chillilng at a campfire, ... and stuff like that when Arthur's and the gangs main goal must be to get off of that damn island they didn't even intend to go to asap!

[Edward RDRIII]

4 hours ago, Emmi said:

Ye, Chapter 5 is waay to restrictive ... I feel like they had bigger visions for it but possibly cut it down because of lack of time or maybe it just didn't fit the story or it went to nowhere. I mean if you think about it, why would they let us explore Guarma with our horse, weapons, etc. doing side missions, hunting animals, chillilng at a campfire, ... and stuff like that when Arthur's and the gangs main goal must be to get off of that damn island they didn't even intend to go to asap!

We should at least have access to our weapons, not being able to use my M1899 Pistols for that Cattleman Revolver makes me nuts.

[FewPoleCat42]

You guys do realize that that's the whole point of Guarma, right? You lost everything, the gang that is here is at its lowest yet, everyone is miserable and the island itself is extremely poverty stricken and corrupt. Of course I'd love to explore the bigger map, but I really don't think that it's a big deal that things like horses and weapons aren't allow. Honestly, it was kinda fun walking around the island on foot. Hunting the animals was not fun, and the invisible snipers are stupid, but if they were changed I'd thoroughly enjoy Guarma completely.

[Algonquin Assassin]

I don't mind Guarma from the perspective of a change of scenery to contrast the rest of map (though I still prefer Mexico from RDR), but I do agree with the general sentiment that it's too linear and feels rushed.

 

Not having access to all of my weapons doesn't bother me too much since that's a common thing most games do nowadays so it isn't that surprising to me, but the conveyor belt nature of how the missions are distributed is honestly my least favourite part of the story and it's the thing I dread the most about replaying it. It was alright the first time I played the game, but on my second playthrough it was just tedious more than anything. Definitely not something considered for people who like to play through these type of games more than once.

[unfairlane]

This Guarma-idea was a huge mistake by rockstar. Blind chickens. Just try to imagine what this game could have been if they instead had sendt the 

gang to Mexico. They would have resided in Casa Madrgada, or mybe El Matadero. What a story that could have been, and we would have a much bigger playable map.

 

 

[Buddy Hightower]

I thought Guarma was great, but could have been better! I have played through it 3 times now, and I think my issue with it is the same as most, it's on rails with very little freedom. I would have loved to have been able to explore the entire island.

 

Once you get there, save game and log out. The background images are the best in the game, you know on the screen that asks you if you want to play story mode or online...

[JB1982]

I think Guarma itself is a stunning location and like what it brings to the narrative. The shock of being there and stranded whilst still processing what just happened at the end of Chapter 4 makes a great addition to the game.

 

And the way the story on Guarma plays out, it really makes sense for it to be pretty linear. The problem for me is that we haven't been linear since Chapter 1. Which made sense in that chapter as well as the game needed to set itself up on both a story level and a gameplay tutorial level. But to then go through three freeroaming chapters and suddenly go linear again is quite jarring to me.

 

The fact that it is only a short chapter is both a blessing and a curse too. A blessing for the story's narrative but, again, something that I find jarring after three lengthy chapters.

 

Chapter 5 always leaves me feeling like there needs to be... more. Some interesting ideas on here about how the island of Guarma was never fully realised which would certainly have helped in my eyes. Or Arthur possibly arriving back on the mainland via New Austin and having to work his way back to Shady Belle could have worked. But I would also like to suggest that we needed parts of Chapters 2 to 4 to be linear too so Guarma doesn't seem so jarring. Perhaps just a couple of missions here and there that automatically start the next mission. For example, after completing A Quiet Time with Lenny Arthur heads straight to Strawberry in a cut scene starting Blessed Are the Meek?