Red Dead Redemption 2 is a video game that has been heavily anticipated since it was announced in 2016. After the first game in the series, Red Dead Redemption, became a massive hit in 2010, developer Rockstar Games immediately started working on a second game. Both of these games are western style, mission-oriented games. The one thing you probably notice right away is the huge gap between release dates. 2010 to 2018. Rockstar Games spent 8 years creating this game—painstakingly adding the smallest of details to every part of the game. These details can range from almost unnoticeable things, such as your body being covered in mud if you fall on the ground, to much more visible things, such as the fact that your character will grow a beard over time if you do not shave. Not only did this game require a lot of attention from the developer, but it also demands a lot of attention from the player. Players have to keep track of their hunger, cleanliness, and appearance, as people in the game will react differently to you depending on these factors. If you go many days without a bath, people in town will comment on how you smell, and will stay away from you. It’s these small but noticeable details that make the game feel like you’re actually in the Wild West.

There is no lack of things to do in the game, even after the primary story has been completed. There is a multitude of side quests. They range from becoming an 1899 Uber driver to pushing people in barrels off of waterfalls. There are also hundreds of random encounters that can happen as you travel through the world. From saving a man bitten by an alligator to giving money to a homeless veteran, the game constantly introduces you to new people and stories as you travel through the Wild West. The game also includes many realistic factors. The horses, for example, actually behave like real horses. If you ride them too fast for too long, they will retaliate and throw you off of them. If you keep them clean and show them enough attention, you will grow a bond with them and will unlock more abilities.

RDR2 has received top-notch reviews all around the board. It has a 97 on Metacritic and a 10/10 on IGN. The game is extremely playable and fun. Whether you are into games such as Madden or Call of Duty, there’s no doubt that you will have fun here. The only issue that I have with this game is that I was able to breeze through it. While the game does take around 50 to 60 hours to beat, it offered me little challenge. I would think that 8 years of development would have produced a more complex and varied storyline. I give the game a 9.5/10 because this flaw, though singular, was also difficult to ignore; in every other respect, the game is excellent.