Summary
- Red Dead Redemption 2 explores modernity through tech inventions in side missions like submarines and hot air balloons.
- Marko Dragic's storyline showcases the concept of technological advancement and the consequences it can bring.
- The next Red Dead game could feature emerging technologies like radios and automobiles for more engaging side quests.
One of the main themes of Red Dead Redemption 2 is progress and change. The Van der Linde gang has to deal with the incoming wave of modernity which threatens their outlaw way of life, with both positive and negative consequences. Characters like Dutch Van der Linde struggle to accept and adapt to change while the rest of society embraces it.
There are many ways a sense of change is present in Red Dead Redemption 2. One of the ways Rockstar ensures players feel like modernity is encroaching is through side missions that show off new technology that is being invented. It would be a good idea for the next Red Dead Redemption game to also feature such missions, as it gives the franchise a chance to show off inventions of the early 20th century.
If Red Dead Redemption 3 takes place directly after the events of Red Dead Redemption and the prequel, it would provide the franchise another chance to explore the emerging tech of the early 20th century.
Marko Dragic and His Wonderful Inventions in Red Dead Redemption 2
When Arthur Morgan visits Saint-Denis, he meets an inventor named Marko Dragic. The first time the two cross paths, Marko is maneuvering a remote-controlled submarine which Arthur eventually takes control of to convince Marcelle that the technology is real and Marko is not a fraud. If Arthur successfully completes the mission, the inventor invites him to his lab in Doverhill.
The two meet again when Arthur Morgan visits the lab. There, he finds Marko creating a robot, and he asks Arthur for help setting up electrical conductors outside the lab. Marko is able to bring the robot to life, which leaves him joyful. When Arthur visits the lab again later, he discovers that the inventor has been killed by his own creation, and Arthur uses an electric lantern to find the murderous robot. Though it may not be entirely historically accurate, Marko's storyline is an entertaining one that showcases the concept of technological advancement.
Arturo Bullard Also Has an Invention
Arthur also gets to witness new technology during his encounter with Arturo Bullard. Arturo agrees to take Arthur on a hot air balloon ride to scout the prison and ensure that John Marston is really there. Arthur is made to control the hot air balloon and after confirming that John is in the prison, they witness Sadie being attacked by O'Driscoll gang members. Consequently, Arthur has to shoot at the enemies from the hot air balloon. Unfortunately, Arturo is shot and he doesn't survive. Once again, players get to toy around with emerging technology, and this time it allows Arthur to take to the skies.
Future Red Dead Redemption Games Should Explore More New Technology
If Red Dead Redemption 3 takes place directly after the events of Red Dead Redemption and the prequel, it would provide the franchise another chance to explore the emerging tech of the early 20th century. There are a few types of technology that could make an appearance:
- Radio communication and the advent of mass media - Reginald A. Fessenden, a Canadian-born American inventor, became the first person to send audio via electromagnetic waves in 1900. In 1906 he became the first person to make a public wireless broadcast. The next Red Dead Redemption game could explore the impact of the invention of the radio and how it ushered in the birth of mass media.
- Automobiles, aviation, and the decline of the horse - This is explored a bit in the first Red Dead Redemption game, but more could be done. In RDR 3, side quests could deal with characters who are skeptical of the new "horseless carriages" or perhaps overly enthusiastic about their abilities. The focus on transport could extend to planes and the numerous failed experiments it took to finally get flying transport right.
Red Dead Redemption is a franchise that places a great emphasis on its narrative and themes. The games could continue to make social commentary by focusing on more emerging technology to illustrate how it affected society in the 20th century. It doesn't have to be entirely historically accurate, and Rockstar Games could have some fun with it, ensuring players have enjoyable side missions to play around with.
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.
