While theGrand Theft Autofranchise usually gets most of the praise and attention, Rockstar’sRed Dead Redemptionseries is just as worthy of the praise, containing two of the most critically-acclaimed video games of all time. Released back in 2010,Red Dead Redemptionwas an immediate critical and commercial hit, offering the best gameplay Rockstar had to offer at the time in an extremely unique setting. And though it took eight years for the sequel, the wait was more than worth it, withRed Dead Redemption 2being an improvement on its predecessor in almost every way.
Over the last year or so, a handful of rumors have started to crop up online, all pointing to the existence of some kind ofRed Dead Redemptionremake or remaster. Themost recentRed Dead Redemptionremake rumorsoccurred just a few weeks ago, when a South Korean rating board listed a new game simply titledRed Dead Redemption, leading many to believe that a remaster or remake is on the way. This was soon followed by industry veteran Colin Moriarty confirming the leak, saying that aRed Deadremake announcement was imminent. But while this news is very exciting for fans, aRed Dead Redemptionremake wouldn’t hold a candle toRed Dead Redemption 2.
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The firstRed Dead Redemptionwas a phenomenal game for the time. In a year that saw such incredible games asSuper Mario Galaxy 2,God of War 3,Mass Effect 2, andCall of Duty: Black Opsrelease,Red Dead Redemptionwas still the highlight for many. With its unique Wild West backdrop immediately setting it apart from the rest,Red Dead Redemption’s surprisingly deep story, compelling characters, and fun gunplay all came together to give the game an easy home run. ButRockstar’s game design has moved on quite a bit since 2010.
With each new video game release, Rockstar makes a plethora of sweeping changes based on the prior game’s reception. For instance, following the mixed reception ofRed Dead’s online component, Rockstar ensured thatGrand Theft Auto 5’s was a fully-fledged experience, resulting inthe decade-long success that isGTA Online. With eight years coming betweenRed Dead RedemptionandRed Dead Redemption 2, it’s only natural that the sequel is better, and that’s true for just about every aspect of the game.
While fans might still prefer the originalRed Deadto its sequel, there’s no denying that the vast majority of game mechanics and systems inRed Dead 2are simply better.Red Dead Redemption 2features more compelling side quests, a more realistic and grandiose open-world, better gunplay, better horse riding, more customization options, fully fleshed-out characters, and an even more complex and enthralling story oozing with Spaghetti Western charm. Put simply,Red Dead Redemption 2is one of the best games ever made, and while aRed Dead Redemptionremake has some strong nostalgia working for it, it probably won’t hold a candle toRed Dead Redemption 2.
The only way that a new version ofRed Dead Redemptionwould be able to hold a candle toRed Dead 2is if it was built front the ground up in theRed Dead 2engine, but even then its open world and quest design would remain less interesting. Rockstar’s a busy studio as well, presumably with most of its resources currentlydedicated toGrand Theft Auto 6, so making a fully-fledgedRed Dead Redemptionremake unlikely. A remaster is the more believable scenario, and if that is the approach taken, the sequel will surely remain the superior game.
Red Dead Redemptionis available now on PS3 and Xbox 360.
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