Despite the title, Red Dead Redemption 2 is a prequel to the original Red Dead Redemption, not a sequel. It takes older characters from the original Red Dead Redemption like Javier Escuella, Bill Williamson, Dutch Van der Linde, and John Marston and shows what they were like in the years preceding the original game's story. Most of these characters are given a more youthful look. Dutch, for example, is missing the gray in his hair until Red Dead Redemption 2's epilogue, and Bill is seen without most of the wrinkles found on his original model.
Most of the characters who appear in Red Dead Redemption and its prequel appear understandably younger. Perhaps with the exception of Uncle, who is still the same grumpy old man in both games. There are of course other characters like Arthur Morgan that don't have a comparison with their original Red Dead Redemption model due to the fact they were not in the first game as well. One Red Dead Redemption 2 fan believes that one character didn't get enough of a youthful look in the game compared to his original appearance.
John Marston is the playable character of Red Dead Redemption 2's epilogue and the original game. For many gamers, he is one of Rockstar's most well-known and loved protagonists. Joining the Van der Linde gang at a young age, one fan imagines what John Marston may have looked like when he initially joined up with the lot of outlaws. Without his famous scar and next to no facial hair, it's clear that the John depicted by Reddit user JUPACALYPSE-NOW is a younger one than the character fans see in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Being so young, this John Marston likely comes from a time before he meets Abigail, the woman who would become his wife in Red Dead Redemption. Apart from John's face, other aspects of John change over the course of Red Dead Redemption 2, the game's epilogue, and Red Dead Redemption. Compiled in an image on Reddit, John Marston's changes can be seen clearly through all three phases of the character showing his growth thanks to his own experiences and mentors like Arthur.
While fans do get to see a younger John Marston thanks to this edit, unfortunately there is no older John Marston for players to compare the image with. As those who skipped the first Red Dead Redemption may not know, John Marston meets an untimely end in that game, similarly to Arthur's demise in the second title.
Red Dead Redemption 2 is now available on PC, PS4, Stadia, and Xbox One.