(Review) Red Dead Redemption: A deep journey into the heart of the wild west (PS5, 2023)

By Pablo Vargas | pvargas@revistalevelup.com.

In the heart of the Wild West, 'Red Dead Redemption' woven a mighty story of redemption and revenge, into a majestic and immeasurable production that would be the pinnacle of Rockstar Games on every level, with its mesmerizing graphics, innovative gameplay, haunting atmosphere. and passionate narrative, took players on an unforgettable journey that would forever mark the history of video games.

Thirteen years later, we're greeted with the remastered version of Dan Houser's original masterpiece for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, to revisit the land where he rewrote the rulebook for open-world gaming. Will it live up to expectations? This is our review of the remastered of 'Red Dead Redemption' (2023) of its versions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.

Red Dead Redemption: A deep journey into the heart of the wild west

Rockstar Games experienced a true revolution at the narrative level that marked an impressive golden age with the launch of 'Grand Theft Auto IV' (2008), 'Red Dead Redemption' (2010) and 'Max Payne 3' (2012), consecrating three of the best titles of the Xbox 360 and PS3 generation, in which the narrative of 'Red Dead Redemption' would be framed in gold letters as a departure from everything it had done before, with a more focused, mature and emotional story to what we had seen to date from the study.

Meticulously crafted to resemble the late 19th century American West, the immersive game world provided players with a sense of place and time rarely seen in video games. And it is that beyond the impressive and innovative graphics that Dan Houser's masterpiece displayed; At the center of 'Red Dead Redemption' was a story that stood out and would become a testament and testament to Rockstar Games storytelling prowess.

John Marston, the game's protagonist, is a former outlaw who strives to put his violent past behind him and reunite with his family. His internal struggle between his desire for redemption and the harsh reality of his past choices creates a multidimensional character that players can connect with on a deep level. From the game's opening bars, Marston's inner conflict reflects themes of personal growth, redemption, and the complexity of human morality in a way few have.

Marston's story was a story of personal struggle and the inexorable passage of time, but also of a past that continually haunts us as we try to redeem ourselves from our sins, as well as the consequences of our actions; The narrative themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the fading of an era were underscored by a cast of characters as diverse as the Old West. The narrative wasn't just about gunfights and confrontations; it was a journey through a world struggling against change, where Rockstar Games' ability to create unforgettable characters laid the foundation for more complex branching narratives in later games.

From the enigmatic Bonnie MacFarlane to the eccentric Irishman, each character felt alive, full of personality. The interactions between John and these characters brought emotional depth to the story, making players really care about their fate and adding depth, variety and nuance to a narrative that grows with every second of the story and helps create a most immersive and believable representation of the Wild West.

Building an unforgettable adventure

The impact of 'Red Dead Redemption' extended beyond its narrative and characters. He played a pivotal role in advancing open world game design. The attention to detail in the game world and the seamless integration of activities, such as hunting, gambling, and treasure hunting, set a new standard for ambient immersion. Other game developers took note and subsequent open world titles sought to replicate the level of player engagement achieved by 'Red Dead Redemption'.

And it is that 'Red Dead Redemption'not only carved out a place in the hearts of the players; rather, it reshaped the very landscape of game design, marking a turning point for Rockstar Games, showcasing its ability to create narratives with depth and emotional resonance, which would later influence titles like 'Grand Theft Auto V' and 'Red Dead Redemption 2'. ', in which even the atmosphere of 'Red Dead Redemption' was a character in itself.

Dusty towns, lonely prairies, and untamed wilderness worked together to create an environment that felt both welcoming and terrifying. Whether it was the sun-drenched landscapes or the haunting silence of a moonlit night, the game's atmosphere took players into the heart of the Wild West, through a masterfully composed soundtrack by Bill Elm and Woody Jackson, featuring chords that would make Ennio Morricone himself proud and would make your heart jump in combat or cry with emotion, when you crossed the border for the first time to the rhythm of Far Away by José Gonzáles.

The music evoked the desolation of the frontier while capturing the sense of adventure and danger that permeated the air, forever seeping into the souls of the players, reflecting the wild and rugged beauty of the Old West. The atmospheric sound design, be it the howling of the wind, the echo of a gunshot in the distance, the creak of saddle leather to the distant howl of a coyote, woven a tapestry that drew players into the world of gameplay and cemented the immersive quality of the game, making you feel like you're in a forgotten corner of history.

A remastered that does not fail and excites

From the dusty deserts of New Austin to the lush wilderness of the Tall Trees, 'Red Dead Redemption' was a visual marvel in which the game's most beautiful landscapes were a canvas painted in stunning detail; its lush environments and realistic lighting, creating stunning sunsets that bathed the landscape in a warm golden glow, seamless transitions between day and night, and a realistic weather system in which to witness a sudden storm sweep across the plains, with lightning lighting up the darkness like ink, it was nothing short of cinematic.

All of this is perfectly maintained in the remastered version of the game that improves and rescales the resolution to a completely stable and fluid 4K/30FPS in the PlayStation 5 version, with greater details in textures, vegetation, shadows, lighting, elimination of technical imperfections, fluidity in the animations and notable improvements in loading times, which give greater stability compared to the PS3/360 version and which perfectly replicate the port made by Xbox in its retro-compatible versions of Series X/S.

The same happens in the Nintendo Switch version, which conforms to the technical characteristics of Nintendo's portable console to give us a resolution of 1080p at a stable 30FPS in its desktop version, and a resolution/performance of 720p/30FPS in its version. portable, which make it with its own merits, along with 'The Witcher 3' and TLOZ: Tears of the Kingdom, in one of the largest, most interesting and beautiful open-world video games that exist in the Nintendo Switch catalog.

The addition of the critically acclaimed 'Undead Nightmare' add-on content, a parallel universe adventure in which we must stop a curse that brings the dead back to life, as part of the core game set in both versions, is a nice encouragement to see him back; what has not returned, unfortunately, is the sensational online mode of the original game that is available to date in the version ported from Xbox 360 to Series X/S, and is not present in the remastered version for PS4, Nintendo Switch and PS5.

However, it is necessary to point out that the elimination of the online mode does not at all tarnish the wonderful and epic experience of enjoying one of the best video games of all time once again, in its remastered version. Would it have been great to be able to enjoy the online mode? Yes, but it's not something that will make us lose sleep, or in any way affect the experience of those who didn't play it at the time on their Xbox 360/PS3 versions and now want to enjoy a true masterpiece in portable mode or on next-gen consoles, in its final version.

Is it worth it for those who already played it at the time? Although 'Red Dead Redemption' came out earlier than 'Red Dead Redemption 2' at launch, the fact that the second installment is a prequel makes the first installment chronologically a sequel. This makes everything that happens in 'Red Dead Redemption' hit harder, being closely related to the events of both games.

Without spoilers, I have to admit that I was surprised, with emotions on the surface, after remembering key moments in the history of 'Red Dead Redemption 2', and I am sure that those who enjoyed the latest installment will also be impacted the same way. They were not our companions, they were our brothers. And if it still hurts today, in the soul. Going back to 'Red Dead Redemption', makes it hurt more. So in very personal opinion, the answer is yes. It's worth it. Each minute. Every bullet. Every tear. Every moment.

At the end of the road...

'Red Dead Redemption' wasn't just a game; It was a turning point in the history of Rockstar Games, and in turn, a watershed in the history of video games. Its emotional and shocking finale is a faithful testimony to the power of storytelling in video games and one of the main reasons why they are considered true art, whose legacy continues to influence game design, narrative exploration and the recognition of video games as a powerful medium for storytelling and emotional engagement.

Its impeccable remastering is an excellent excuse for those who want to enjoy this wonderful, imposing and unforgettable adventure again in its next-gen version for PlayStation 5, portable on Nintendo Switch or retro-compatible on Xbox Series X/S. As well as a first approach to those who did not enjoy his original work and wish to expand the powerful narrative experience that occurred after 'Red Dead Redemption 2'.

One way or another, saddle up and take your boots, the Wild West awaits.

Final rating: 9/10

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