(Image courtesy of SteamDB.) “John Marston strikes an iconic pose on the box art for ‘Red Dead Redemption,’ released on PC for the first time.”
Aaron Preziosi
Connector Editor
Last month, Rockstar Games finally released their classic open-world Western adventure “Red Dead Redemption” to PC. Having been a console exclusive for all 14 years of its existence, saying players have been anticipating a PC release of “Red Dead Redemption” would be a gross understatement.
Rockstar Games’ 2010 smash-hit made waves when it initially released because of its cinematic stylization, homages to classic Western films, stories of outlaws, and cowboys. When former outlaw John Marston’s past catches up to him, government agents extort him to work as a hired gun. As he sets out to bring his former gang to justice, he has to reckon with the idea of the world he once had a place in changing and explores his own philosophical ideals which manifest as powerful themes of what it means to be a man, what it takes to find peace and redemption, self-forgiveness, and the destructive cycle of violence. Ultimately, John’s story is one of nuance, but still leans heavily into action and Western tropes, delivered through a charming fourth-generation gaming experience. If 2019’s “Red Dead Redemption 2” is an Oscar-winning masterpiece, then 2010’s “Red Dead Redemption” is a pulpy, popcorn-crunching spaghetti western, and never forgets it is a video game.
However, that isn’t to say “Red Dead Redemption” isn’t flawless. The game is great, yes, but its age shows in the PC rerelease. The open world is quite small, there are few side quests, and overall, very little to do outside of the main story. The PC rerelease also removed the original game’s multiplayer. Despite the lack of features expected in a modern release, Rockstar Games is selling “Red Dead Redemption” for $50, which has caused a stir among fans due to the aforementioned shortcomings.
Additionally, while fans are ecstatic to have “Red Dead Redemption” officially playable on PC in the first place, some still are upset about the lack of graphical upgrades. Rockstar Games did take care to provide some upgrades necessary to facilitate a PC rerelease, such as native 4K support, high frame rate support, beautiful HDR lighting, and ultrawide monitor support. Many were expecting a full remake of “Red Dead Redemption” in the same vein as its award-winning sequel, “Red Dead Redemption 2”, and were sorely disappointed by what was provided. On the bright side, this PC rerelease features “RDR”’s beloved expansion: “Undead Nightmare.” The DLC hurls Marston and hurls him headfirst into a pulpy, messy zombie apocalypse, still within the romantic Western setting. It is undeniably a trend right out of 2010, but “Undead Nightmare’s” depiction of a Western zombie apocalypse is very charming and serves as a sort of entertaining time capsule, reminding new and returning players of the early 2010s’ obsession with zombies.
All in all, “Red Dead Redemption” remains an incredibly important, very entertaining game. It may not have the depth or all the cinematic quality of its sequel, but it is an equally worthwhile experience. The open world, while dated, is lovingly crafted and despite the lack of changes, the graphics remain impressive. “Undead Nightmare” remains a perfect “remix” of the main experience, diverging from the coherent story of the campaign to create something fun and
pulpy, showing the influence of the films that inspired it while playing to the trends of its own time. However, it may be best to wait until a sale to pick up “Red Dead Redemption” on PC, as it features a steeper price tag.
Grade: A
