The thread where we are respectful of Red Dead Redemption

[pinback]

Nothing is better than Magnolia.

[pinback]

Let me say this, though, while I'm at it:

A complaint, arguably legitimate, has been made against RDR that the "formula" is wearing a bit thin. Yes, it's set in the sprawling old west, and it seems on the surface an entirely new experience than GTA3, GTA4, etc.

And yet, the formula is still quite in evidence, and as some have suggested, may be "showing its age". Multiple storylines marked by big letters on your minimap that you need to go to. Random mini-stories interspersed between. And most of all, all of these games have three main "areas" which you have to work through. After a third of the game or so, you'll gain access to the second big ol' area, and after two thirds, the third area.

No arguments. I just got to the second area of RDR last night. Yes, it's the same formula.

And you'll get no spoilers from me, but let me say at least this, that the formula is at least partly strayed from by some truly brilliant artistic choices, which made arriving at the second area, for me, MAYBE one of the most amazingly, emotionally resonant moments in my weak-ass history of gaming.

I think it helped that I had had a few, and in game-time as well as real-time, I arrived at the new area in the dead of night. But who cares. It was... chilling, magical. Wonderful.

I have no defense for those who would say that the missions are the worst part of the game. I admit it. They are. This, to me, is as much praise as damnation. When a world is as vivid and stunning as the one you've been given, seemingly the last thing you want to do is run off on some fool errand. And yet, this is balanced perfectly too. As soon as I got tired of roaming aimlessly around the first area, it was time to do the rest of the missions and get to the second, and get awestruck all over again.

There are those who have spoken of the "Avatar blues", those so enraptured by the world of Pandora that once they had to take off the plastic glasses and get back to their real lives, they got bummed. These of course are pathetic losers, because Pandora is a gay place for gay blue gays.

I kind of get it now, though, every time I switch off the ol' Xbox, and the RDR menu fades to black.

Gay.

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

I think it's perfectly legitimate to have those feelings, robot. I thought very highly of Tass Times in Tonetown because - back in the day - it created a unique world that was fun to run around in. Video games today have incredible advantages, like animation with more than five frames. I believe it makes a lot of sense to love a game because of its sense of ... [/i]place[/i].

(And it's why the Eberts who sound their ignorance about the games-as-art thing are so wrong, so childish, so stupid. We're making worlds here. Worlds!)

[Ice Cream Jonsey]

I found this thread trying to reply to lethargic on The Gas Chamber.

I would just like to say that it is 2013 and RDR is not in the bargain bin. Gamestop wants $29.99 for it new.

I hate Take Two so fucking much.

[lethargic]

Why would the greatest game ever made be in the bargain bin?