Fourteen years after its preliminary launch, Red Dead Redemption has lastly landed on PC. The PC port is, definitely, the easiest way to play Rockstar’s open-world Western. Rockstar and co-developer Double Eleven have added a handful of graphical options and enhancements that make this the smoothest and most stunning model of Red Dead Redemption thus far. These visible enhancements intensify an already wonderful story that has unquestionably withstood the take a look at of time.
I’ve spent roughly 20 hours exploring every of the sport’s main areas on max settings with an ultrawide monitor, and it’s chic. Red Dead Redemption was praised in 2010 for its impeccable ambiance, and that is still intact in spite of everything these years. The rhythmic thumping of hooves echoing all through the plains because the early morning solar peeks by means of the clouds is simply as intoxicating because it was in 2010. Moments like this are frequent in Red Dead Redemption and the improved visuals and efficiency additional improve these highs.
The obvious improve is the prolonged draw distances. Whereas spectacular on the time, the Xbox 360 and PS3 variations of Red Dead Redemption look as if something exterior of protagonist John Marston’s instant neighborhood has a blurry filter over it. Like 2023’s PS5 model, the PC port makes use of the additional horsepower to fill out these particulars to create a a lot cleaner picture. When paired with the PC port’s native 4K decision, Red Dead Redemption hardly appears to be like its age. Eagle-eyed gamers could discover just a few objects and textures that also look somewhat muddy, equivalent to a pair facet characters or the collectible herbs that dot the frontier, however it’s simple to overlook once you’re using by means of the golden plains of West Elizabeth.
The star of the present, although, is Red Dead Redemption’s ultrawide help. Seeing this world from a 21:9 perspective goes hand-in-hand with Red Dead Redemption’s themes and cinematic inspirations. Slowly approaching Fort Mercer in the sport’s opening hour feels prefer it may have taken straight from Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch or Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven. The broader facet ratio provides all the expertise a sparse, desolate really feel that matches the ambiance fantastically.
The ultrawide presentation does have one noticeable concern: The sport’s cutscenes are nonetheless rendered in a 16:9 facet ratio. Whereas a 21:9 facet ratio may destroy the framing of some pictures, it’s a disgrace Rockstar and Double Eleven haven’t given gamers the choice to alter this, particularly since modders have already addressed this very concern. Seeing among the sport’s most iconic cutscenes in a cinematic, ultrawide format with out having to put in mods would have been a welcome addition.
As strong as this port is, it does really feel barebones. Most notably, the PC port–like 2023’s Change and PS5 versions–removes the sport’s authentic multiplayer and cooperative parts. Given server prices and maintenance, I perceive why Rockstar and Double Eleven wouldn’t wish to resuscitate multiplayer, however it’s a disgrace to see it lacking contemplating how its open-world construction laid the groundwork for the wildly in style GTA On-line. On the time, Red Dead’s multiplayer modes took an enormous swing at what a social multiplayer expertise might be, and it’s disappointing that that ambition isn’t represented right here. Moreover, the dearth of a photograph mode in explicit is a missed alternative. A lot work has been put into the visuals, and a photograph mode may have actually highlighted these graphical enhancements.
Nevertheless, what’s impressed me probably the most about revisiting Red Dead Redemption in spite of everything these years is not its visuals or efficiency, however its stellar writing. Red Dead Redemption manages to juggle a number of advanced themes in a means that feels genuine. Characters–although launched and discarded quickly–are colourful, witty, and exuberant. A lot of them cynically personify the vices, virtues, and myths of the American Dream and the untamed West. Nigel West Dickens is kind of actually a snake-oil salesman parading as a dignified capitalist, whereas Landon Ricketts is a washed-up gunslinger who’s gone south to feed his savior advanced. Though John’s bloody quest for redemption quantities to a really lengthy record of errands, the vivid characters and intelligent dialogue maintain the journey from ever feeling stale.
John Marston’s stint in Mexico stays a spotlight given how messy the politics, leaders, and allegiances are. Marston embodies American interventionism as he ping-pongs between causes in order to search out his former gang member Invoice Williamson, an goal that feels so narrow-minded when in comparison with the chaos and bloodshed unfolding in entrance of him. It’s arduous to not really feel uncomfortable as John aids and abets either side of a bloody revolution, however this discomfort is what makes Red Dead’s themes and its ending hit so arduous. That is all punctuated by Marston’s usually endearing and simplistic philosophical diatribes about freedom, warfare, good, evil, human nature, fatherhood, masculinity, and so forth.
Red Dead Redemption is a sprawling epic that stands shoulder to shoulder with among the biggest Westerns of all time. If you happen to’ve by no means performed it, the PC launch is the proper time to present it a shot. Nevertheless, in case you’ve already performed Red Dead Redemption or picked up 2023’s PlayStation 5 or Nintendo Change port, there’s not a lot else right here apart from improved visuals.