Red Dead Redemption 2andGrand Theft Autoare two franchises that have a lot in common. They’re both about criminals trying to succeed in a system that doesn’t want them to, and each are set in open-world environments that offer some incredible attention to detail.
Over the past few years, there has been speculation that the connection runs even deeper. Some suggest that the two game series share a universe due to references toGTAthat were found inRed Dead Redemption 2,but there’s hardly any concrete evidence. But if there were ever two franchises that ought to share a world, it’s these two. The bond between these two sibling series boils down to so much more than simply cheeky references.
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Red DeadandGTAplay very similarly. Both boast engaging digital playgrounds that allow players to do whatever they want, and going on a crime-spree is a legitimate choice in both. For as fun as it is to commit all manner of crime throughout these games, it’s even more interesting to observe the rationale behindwhythese player characters would be motivated to do so.Each game tellsa story about an outlaw or a group of outlaws. Whether players are roaming around the frontier on horseback or flying high aboveGTA’sLos Santosin a helicopter, the characters they control are generally on the fringes of society, usually for reasons beyond their control.
GTA 5’smain charactersall had rough upbringings thanks to the impoverished conditions they grew up in. Any attempts to lead crime-free lives and earn a legitimate living were upset by society’s cold, apathetic nature. Trevor tried to pursue his passion of aviation, but was grounded thanks to his mental state, while Franklin lost his repo job early inGTA 5’scampaign all because he put his concern for his life above the best interests of his employer. On the other hand,Arthur Morgan and John Marston of theRed Deadseries had similar upbringings; both were recruited by the charismatic Dutch van der Linde at young ages, who raised them to lead lives of crime.
Similar toGTA 5’sprotagonists,John’s attempt to lead an honest life was thwarted thanks to a society that didn’t want him to succeed. His peaceful life as a rancher was disrupted by government agents who forced him to hunt down members of his old gang, only to betray and kill him after he fulfilled his end of the bargain at theend ofRed Dead 1.The protagonists in Rockstar’s neighboring franchises often aren’t involved in crime because they enjoy it; rather, they’re usually forced into it by any number of social and personal factors that leave them virtually no other choice.
Storytelling in RDR, GTA
Another elementRed DeadandGTAhave in common is how they use their worlds to tell stories. This is most evident through their wide variety of side-missions, which feature a colorful cast of characters who further expand on the themes and ideas central to each game.
One notableside-quest fromRed Dead Redemption 2involves Hamish Sinclair, a Civil War veteran who lost a leg in service of his country; he also has a horse named Buell, who is named after a fallen comrade of his. The player forges a friendship with Hamish, helping him hunt various animals across the frontier. Unfortunately, Hamish meets a tragic end when Buell, his “trusty” steed, bucks him off, making him easy prey for a wild boar.
Hamish’s tale is a cautionary one that expands on one ofRed Dead 2’sthemes: the dangers of unconditional loyalty. Hamish is undoubtedly faithful to his country, but that doesn’t mean his country has returned the favor. While crime lords such as Angelo Bronte get set up in expensive mansions in some of America’s wealthier cities, Hamish is a poor man who ends up in a tiny shack in the mountains. Even so, his loyalty to his country persists, evident by how he named his horse after an old war buddy. Ironically, this horse that represented a fond memory from Hamish’s service would prove to be the catalyst of his demise. Similarly, Arthur and the rest of his gang would go on to see all manner of negative consequences due to their unwavering faith in leader Dutch van der Linde.
Switching gears, theGTAseriesgenerally offers critiques of American ideals and culture, with many entries serving as stinging satires on the American dream. Appropriately, many of the series’ side missions further expand on this satire by depicting a variety of characters such as members of the paparazzi or risk-taking thrill seekers that embody some of the more infamous qualities of the nation.
The content of these missions is little less complex than what’s seen in the example fromRed Dead 2previously outlined above, but the messages are just as effective. Through presenting players with parodies of American society, the games end up successfully underscoring and condemning some of America’s more outrageous elements.Red Dead 2’sapproach might be a little more in-depth thanGTA’s, which is rife with very overt humor and satire, but both serve the same purpose: To demonstrate why each game’s setting is far from perfect, just like real life.
The two franchises obviously have a lot to say about their respective settings, and effectively use the motivations driving their protagonists, as well as elements of their open worlds to do so. Even outside of any direct connections betweenRed DeadandGTA,the series' stories dealing with similar protagonists, subject matter, and styles of storytelling make themfeel different entries in the same universe, rather than two distinct ones.
Red Dead Redemption 2is available now for PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.
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