The evening Inbox rails against the evils of audio logs, as one reader wishes Rockstar wouldve made GTA VI instead of Red Dead II.
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Minute one
I awaited 00:01 on Friday morning with baited breath and I was not disappointed. I wont go into anything for not wanting to reveal spoilers but after four hours of non-stop gameplay, I am blown away.
I completed the first couple of missions and then set about exploring the area. I partook in some hunting of deer and had a nasty encounter with a huge bear, plus I shot a rabbit at point blank range with a sawn-off shotgun.
The game is totally immersive. It feels alive and it feels as though its trundling on even when Arthur isnt nearby.
All I can say after my all too brief bout of gameplay is, Thank you Rockstar!
Now Im off to sleep (hopefully, and not feel tempted to switch the Xbox back on!).
Ritch
Cars before horses
Im sure Ill play it eventually, and enjoy it, but I find it hard to get too excited about Red Dead Redemption II.
its the cowboy and barren wastes thing. With a new GTA you get a vibrant living city, quirky music to listen to as you drive around at speed, secrets to find.
With the last red dead you had a super slow horse and lots of empty space meaning I ended up using fast travel whenever I could.
Im sure this game will sell well and make lots of money but if they had used the staff to make a new GTA instead for the last few years Id imagine they would sell far more.
dsb
When not if
Im looking forwards to picking up my copy of Red Dead Redemption II after work today. Its been a while since I bought a physical copy of a game, since I switched to PC gaming last year.
Ill literally dust off my original Xbox One and hope any system updates Ive missed are done with quickly.
Ive a slight worry about the performance though, as Ive gotten used to 60fps and Im hoping the drop is not too jarring.
It sounds like Rockstar have done an unbelievable job with current tech but with the Xbox lagging behind in power to the PlayStation 4 and the enhanced consoles I wish a PC version was ready at launch.
As it is I just hope it actually gets announced for PC.
Conor
GC: Its definitely coming to PC. Its just a question of when Rockstar announce it.
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Uninteractive storytelling
Your comments on the long conversations in Red Dead Redemption II hit a nerve with me as it is something of a bane of contention for myself.
The way exposition is still handled in games is somewhat primitive and regardless of the steps that are made technically this still seems to be an area stuck in the past.
From letters left in caves, huts, houses, dead bodies that we are required to read, to numerous audio files left around the place.
The recent Spider-Man was guilty of this, as it seems that Dr Octavius got a great deal on dictaphones that are strewn about his lab, expecting you to stay stationary whilst listening to his rambling.
For me it is lazy design and something that has been done since the dawn of gaming, but no one has stopped to think how it could be done better.
I suppose Rockstar believes that riding along chatting is the best solution and to some extent the most realistic, I doubt friends on horseback would ride in complete silence.
Yes, I am the sort of person to sit back and complain, yet offer no solutions, but if I have to read one more letter, or stand still twiddling my thumbs waiting for an audio file to finish I may just… I dont know.
I quite liked Horizon Zero Dawns technique of playing audio logs through your earpiece, thus allowing you to continue your adventure. Many thanks guys.
Rob
GC: We agree entirely. Gaming puts far too little effort into evolving its own unique form of storytelling and we especially despise audio logs.
Niche audience
Is anybody actually buying the Xbox One S or is it that Microsoft just dont seem to be able to give their base console away these days? The Xbox One S deals are just getting better and better by the week. I mean, on Amazon today they have a bundle set with a 1TB Xbox One S including two official joypads Red Dead Redemption II and the new Assassins Creed Odyssey Limited Edition game all for just a poultry £230!
Or if you dont want the extra joypad you can also get the same deal, but have Forza Horizon 4 instead. So thats the 1TB Xbox One S, Red Dead Redemption II, Assassins Creed Odyssey, and Forza Horizon 4 for just the same price. That has got to be the bargain of the year surely and again its not even officially Black Friday yet until next month.
I can honestly see a lot of Xbox One S selling like hot cakes over this weekend, whilst this deal is on, because if they dont start shifting off the shelves now when will they ever start selling them GC?
JAH
GC: Sales of the Xbox One X, and PS4 Pro, are only a small percentage compared to the standard models. Thats why they dont bother discounting them, because only the hardcore buy them.
Lone voice
I just had a query with Red Dead Redemption II. Ever since it was announced I decided I wasnt going to get it. This was due to the fact I didnt get on to well with the original. I know it gets loads of praise here and everywhere and Ive hardly seen anything negative written about it. My problem was that I found it mind numbingly repetitive at the time in terms of the missions and stuff and didnt finish it. I cant even remember how far in I got.
I was the only one out my group of mates and work colleagues who had this issue with it, so I must be in a minority here and I also had a similar issue with GTA IV too. However, I loved GTA V and had no such issues with that. Im unsure if thats due to Rockstar making changes in any way or whether its just my gaming attitudes thats changed over the years.
Anyway, the closer Red Dead II has come to release the more Ive considered getting it and obviously reading your review, which I was convinced you were giving it a 10, the game is obviously awesome. I guess what Im trying to ask here is if its likely Ill have similar issues with this one like I did the first. Want to be sure before I hand over 50 quid. Also, I think Im correct in saying this is actually a prequel so the fact I didnt finish the first wont effect the story in the new one.
Keep up the awesome work GC. Love my daily read of all your work and the Inbox.
Bertie1 (PSN ID)
GC: Thanks. Like all prequels the games story has references that you might not get but its perfectly self-contained in terms of plot. Whether youll like it or not depends on exactly the issue you had with the original. The mission design is very varied in the sequel, in terms of scenarios, but its once the action breaks out that things can start to seem repetitive.
Time is money
I felt the need to put my head above the parapet and ask why people are criticising the length of a game and obsessing over having to complete it by a certain date. I even read today somebody setting aside a couple of hours a day divided by 60 hours! Forgive me if I am wrong but when did the fun of gaming turn into some type of mathematical equation?
As a gamer of over 35 years I can categorically state this is a golden era for just being able to immerse yourself in a story.
Relax, and stop thinking about the next game that is coming out.
Hooper man
GC: We dont think anyone is criticising the length of games, just the amount of spare time they have.
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You cant win em all
I know everyone has their own opinions and reviews are subjective and all that, but I generally agree with your reviews.
The only game score that I have ever completely disagreed with you over, would be A Hat In Time.
Man, I got the impression from your review that this game was going to be the perfect compliment to Super Mario Oddysey.
I hated almost every second of it. I thought the controls were awful, the level design was a joke (you could literally go into a level without the ability to progress if you didnt obtain certain key items) and the story was just a load of nonsense.
The only thing I did agree with you on was the very atmospheric haunted house level.
I played the game through until the end though, but the whole thing felt like a chore. If I had to score it, I probably would have given it a 3 at best.
Would this be a good idea for a Hot Topic?
Do you have love for a game that most people seem to hate? (or vice versa).
Scott Jenkins
PS: If you could kindly refund my purchase of a hat in time, that would be great. (Only joking, I forgive you.)
GC: We have had Hot Topics like that before, so were sure itll come up again.
Inbox also-rans
RE: Wreckfest in the Inbox lately. As it happens I picked it up last week, so can do a Readers Feature on it. Which might tide folks over until the console version and GCs review next year. Should be ready in a week or two.
r-s-w (PC)
GC: That would be very welcome.
Red Dead Redemption II out and MediEvil getting a full remake? This has been a good day!
Dookie
This weeks Hot Topic
The subject for this weekends Inbox was suggested by reader stanley71 and asks what was your favourite video games magazine?
With the news that GamesTM and GameMaster are to close next month the era of the games mag is almost over, but what are your fondest memories and which were your favourite titles? How often did you use to read games mags and how important were they to you in terms of entertainment and games advice?
Do you still read games mags now and do you think theres any way they can survive? What do they do better than the Internet and what will you miss most when theyre gone?
E-mail your comments to: [email protected]
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The small print
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