Red Dead Redemption

Open-world Western? I'm there.

It sucked? There were good elements, but the basics blew. I'd love this one to be good, but I'm not really holding my breath.

Fun fact -- the following review is, I think, why Rockstar still doesn't like me: http://xbox.gamespy.com/xbox/red-dea.../510477p1.html

I remember renting the original and playing it for maybe an hour. I wasn't impressed by it at all.

The original had some fantastic atmospheres and some decently designed looks on the bosses if I remember correctly. The rest of it was horrible. Terrible gameplay.

Haha, nice review.

I played the original, and it wasn't good. But I get the idea that this one's going to have a different take than the first. No one's made a great Western game yet, which is surprising.

I rather liked 'Gun', actually. It wasn't earth shattering, but it was decent.

GUN was so close. It was certainly the best Western game since Sunset Riders (Oh! Ow! Oh!) but it didn't fulfill the premise of the open world.

I did like GUN's story a lot, though, which was a surprise.

EDIT: Found my old review of GUN: http://videogames.yahoo.com/xbox360/gun/review-414819

'Gun' also featured some great voice work in it: Thomas Jane, Kris Kristofferson, Brad Dourif, and Lance Henriksen all did stellar work in this.

I agree, Russ. The story was very strong as well.

I played just the beginning of the original. I loved the way it started but it couldn't hold my interest. Maybe I'll go back and try it again... maybe not. As far as other games as Westerns go, what about Call of Juarez on the 360? I've heard mostly good things on that one.

I thought Juarez was very entertaining. Moreso than Gun. but they were different kinds of game.

I thought Gun was way better than Red Dead Revolver although RDR had some cool elements. Gun was a little bit too easy, but I liked the variety(Texas Hold'em, hunting rare animals, etc) and it had a cool story. I also kind of liked that the world wasn't insanely huge, but it was just big enough to have an "open" feel to it.

The atmosphere was great, and the music and voice work definitely made up for the fairly easy gameplay. It only took me like a week to beat and I bought it for less than $20 so I feel I got my money's worth.

Western themed games are definitely a rarity so if this is as good, or better, than Gun I would definitely check it out.

I'd love to see a well done Western mmorpg.

When I was playing Fallout 3 last week I was thinking how similar it was to a western and that Bethesda should make a western RPG. Perhaps this will come close.

I didn't know RDR did well enough to warrant a sequel. As a western nut though these are surely welcome news. But where's the GUN sequel? I loved that game, for all its flaws.

Neversoft is busy churning out sequels to other, more lucrative franchises.

I remember playing the original, and not enjoying the gameplay, but enjoying the idea of the whole thing. I've got a real soft spot for this kind of post-modern re-exploration of the Western genre.

Gun with the GTA4 engine and more to do in the world would just about do me.

Another attempt at an open world Western (Gun was so close)

consider me very interested.

Suprised to see this get a sequel. I'd have bet on BULLY 2.

Hell yeah. Horse jackings? Picking up hookers on horseback. This could be a hoot!

Now that you mention it I'm surprised too that Bully isn't getting a sequel. I loved the skateboarding in that game.

God, I'm glad I'm not the only person who thinks that Sunset Riders was a pretty great Western game. GUN was pretty great too, all things considered.

RDR was a mess. It was an interesting mess with lots of potential, but still a total mess.

I so want this to be good. I was all jazzed for the first one ... until the terrible reviews came in. I ended up never buying it. But I will totally fork over $60 for even an above-average open-world western.

GUN looked too much like an everyday shooter with a western skin thrown on it, so I skipped that one too. (Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.)

The guy who mentioned FALLOUT 3 is right. That game does feel like a western a lot of the time. I'm down for a Bethesda RPG set in the 1890s.

Wasn't 'Red Dead Revolver' a Japanese(?) game that Rockstar ended up buying some way through the development. There's an old trailer for it that had all sorts of crazy bosses flying around.

GUN had tons of atmosphere: the music, the voices, the vistas, the story, ...

It just felt so small and "contained". It didn't take you very long to run from one invisible wall into the next. Also shitty: the final boss battle. Lance Henriksen with an explosive shotgun and a conquistador's breastplate (that works more like a confeddit faws field, if you ask me) must be beaten by... timing your dynamite bow shot to hit the little geysers he steps on while making his rounds.

Yeah, something like that went down. If I recall, a studio that had a deal with Capcom was making the game, but then Rockstar went and bought that studio and "finished" the game.

As long as the GTA folk are at least lending advice and a guiding hand to this one, it should end up being a far better game.

All I want is a game where I can ride into a town, kill the sheriff while he sleeps, take his job, protect my people from a few hostile gangs, be rewarded with hookers and cash and then slaughter the entire town as I ride out of town toward a new destination. Is that so much to ask?

BTW, for my money, the best western videogame of all time is LAW OF THE WEST. Commodore 64 owners represent! (God, I'm dating myself here.)

Started playing CALL OF JUAREZ, and while I generally like the setup and concept, some of the execution is terribly frustrating. The constant barrage of save screens breaks the flow, the script isn't particularly good and the FPS platforming mechanics are pretty bad. But there's a good game in here somewhere, I think.

The best bit is playing as the Preacher with one gun drawn, the other holding the Bible open and spouting verses while gunning down criminals etc.

I wonder if DC ever called them on having made a thinly-disguised Saint of Killers game.

Russ: Was there ever any talk of making a sequel to GUN?

There have been persistent rumors, and there was a fake poster in another Neversoft game a while back.

My understanding is that the studio really wants to do a sequel, but Activision isn't convinced. That could be wrong/outdated, though.

Thanks Russ. That's pretty much all that I've heard as well.

It was a modest success, so I'm surprised that they didn't try and make a franchise out of it.

Activision has trouble with success when it's modified by 'modest'. Especially when really making a decent sequel to GUN would be an expensive affair.

There needs to be a GUN 2. Make the world bigger, add more activities and side-missions, and DLC. The gameplay itself was pretty solid (although I would like more choice in designing your character rather than just leveling up all stats). I just wanted more.

Hopefully Redemption will fill this gap in the market well.


And, I guess since it uses R.A.G.E™ it will have that wonderful Euphoria thingy that made all the Peds in GTA4 move and Ragdoll so enjoyably.

That thought alone will make the Horse trampling such a beautiful sight.

also:

http://www.rockstargames.com/reddeadredemption/

Trailer hits Thursday. I'll have it up asap.. really curious about how this looks in action.

The official site says Wednesday. Here's hoping they knocked it out of the park. I really want to own a great Western game.

Trailer's up over at IGN (hope I'm not stepping on your toes, Alex). Looks fantastic. Mostly cinematic stuff.

"I've buried more of my kids than I've raised..."

Fingers crossed.

No toes stepped on, no worries. Rockstar peeps are sending it to me tomorrow, so apparently IGN's got the exclusive for a day. I'll get something up tomorrow on it!

I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this game. An open-world Western is so appealing (obligatory "Please make GUN 2" plea).

Penis erection +5, this and Alpha Protocol are my end of the year must haves.


R.A.G.E engine looks good in this setting. Hope for some awesome Multiplayer too, rob some coaches with CHUD, don't get any better than that.

Good lord does this look tasty. I think it leapfrogged Prototype for most anticipated game.

A rockstar western is something I have dreamt about for a LONG, time. Granted, it's not Rockstar North... What has San Diego done?

You realize this is the second Rockstar western, yes?

Took them long enough to send it over! http://chud.com/articles/articles/19...TED/Page1.html

Anyone else hearing familiar voices in that trailer? I sent an email over to see if they had anyone we'd want to know about contributing their voice- doubt they'll answer this early, though.

Second Rockstar western?! Was Red Dead Revolver Rockstar...? I figured they picked up the franchise.

No shit, it was. Had it been any good I would have remembered that. Reviews I recall didn't like it. Gun was the last western that I truly enjoyed. Hope this is Gun the next generation, something a little fleshed out.

What voices are you hearing Alex?