Summary
- Red Dead Redemption 2's immersive gameplay and detailed open world made it a hit among gamers, with simulator-like mechanics that create a realistic experience.
- Red Dead Redemption 3 is unlikely to be set after the first two games, as there is not much left to explore in the American Wild West setting. Going back in time would be the best option to further develop the story.
- Characters like Dutch, Hosea, Arthur, Javier, and Bill deserve more screen time and could be explored further in a prequel game set during the early days of the Van der Linde Gang.
Red Dead Redemption 2 struck the general gaming audience for several reasons. The game features a massive open world with incredible details littered throughout. The way that the player interacts with their own character, their horse, and the world around them was, at the time of its release, like nothing else to date. Many of the mechanics in Red Dead Redemption 2 are simulator-esque, and the experience the game provides is one of the most immersive in the gaming medium. All of these mechanical intricacies make players feel present in the game's world, surrounded by the Van der Linde Gang members.
Red Dead Redemption 2 was itself a prequel, so the idea of moving back in time again may seem odd. Despite the oddity of each entry turning back the clock, Red Dead Redemption 3 is unlikely to be set after the original, or even the second game. So far, both games in the series have been set at the end of the period associated with the American Wild West. While this setting is interesting, there's not a ton left to explore, and going forward would mean abandoning the cowboy trappings that have defined the series. The best option is to go back in time once more. This would also create the opportunity to spend more time with some of the characters from RDR2.
Plenty of Characters from Red Dead Redemption 2 Deserve More Screen Time
Dutch van der Linde and Hosea Matthews
Dutch and Hosea are presented as father figures to Arthur Morgan, and the two leaders of the Van Der Linde gang, which they formed alongside the other original members, Arthur and Susan Grimshaw. Dutch and Hosea's early days would be a strong premise for Red Dead Redemption 3. While RDR2 focuses on Dutch's fall into delusion and the end of the gang, seeing why people believed in him in the first place would be fascinating. Hosea and Dutch's relationship is the bedrock of the gang, so spending time with them around the start of it would make its tragic collapse in the second game all the more impactful. Spending time in the early days of the gang would also allow the game to check in with some other fan-favorite characters.
Arthur Morgan
Arthur Morgan was the protagonist of Red Dead Redemption 2, and while the second game completes his story, fans of the franchise would surely love to spend more time with the character. Going back to the gang's origins would allow Rockstar Games to feature a young Arthur Morgan. Fleshing out the character more would only build the connection between players and the character, and building out his relationship with Dutch and Hosea could make for great content in a game centered around them. The time of Arthur's youth in the 1870s seems like one of the most likely time periods for Red Dead Redemption 3 to be set in, so leaving out the character would be a real shame.
Javier Escuella
Javier Escuella has a fascinating past. Escuella grew up in Mexico, raised by an alcoholic. At a young age, he saw his uncle and some other men killed for suggesting they receive a fair wage. This stuck with Javier who grew up to be a noted bounty hunter and political revolutionary. Escuella eventually killed a powerful figure and feared that his family would become targets, so he fled to America and was eventually taken in by the Van der Line Gang. Mexico would be a great setting for Red Dead Redemption 3, and Javier's backstory would be a perfect plot for its own game.
Bill Williamson
Bill Williamson has a tragic backstory. Raised by an alcoholic who slowly lost his mind, Bill always feared meeting the same fate. He eventually joined the military but was discharged for attempted murder and deviancy, a term frequently used to describe homosexuality during the era. Despite finding a home in the Van der Linde Gang, Bill is frequently teased for his sexuality in subtle manners by those around him. Bill's inability to trust and poor treatment from Dutch give rise to the monstrous Williamson Gang in the original game. Fleshing out Bill could make his fall into a life of crime all the more tragic, and it would be fascinating to see his early years in the Van der Linde Gang, just like the other characters mentioned above.
Red Dead Redemption 2
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 95 /100 Critics Rec: 93%
- Released
- October 26, 2018
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Engine
- RAGE
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- N/A
WHERE TO PLAY
America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age.
