Red Dead Online

ROCKSTAR BRINGS RED DEAD TO THE WILD WEST OF MULTIPLAYER GAMING

- Chris Burke

There was never any doubt that Rockstar could pull off a persistently online multiplayer version of Red Dead Redemption II – just look at the success of GTA Online. Everything that Rockstar has learned from that game should certainly be able to help it to craft an engaging Western multiplayer world packed with fun things to do.

A decent creation suite births your untalkative convict, sprung from jail by a rich widow who wants you to wreak bloody revenge on her husband’s murderers. But although there are a small number of decent story missions that involve possessing up with other players, you’re totally free to wander the huge map doing whatever you like.

Actually, if there’s one criticism we could level at the story mode of RDR2, it’s that it can be a frustrating experience if you go off-piste. Initially, we were trying not to rush through the story missions, instead taking a little time to smell the prairie flowers, but the world is punishing once you wander off the beaten track. The map is so big, the world so detailed, that we just wanted to ride off on our own adventures. Dying outside of missions is incredibly punitive, though, as it docks you dollars and rewards you with little. Meanwhile, making Arthur fat, or watching his beard grow, could only go so far in sating our RPG needs.

Role with it