IGN recently got the chance to witness a 45-minute demo of Red Dead Redemption 2, and they’ve returned with the first real details about 2018’s most anticipated game.
The overall impressions of the game are glowing. The demo Rockstar showcased suggests that Red Dead Redemption 2 might just end up featuring Rockstar’s most detailed and believable open-worlds. Unlike the original Red Dead which was pretty sparse, there’s quite a bit happening in RDR 2. The game doesn’t betray the scenic and serene nature of the Western setting to fit in these extra details but rather finds ways to get more out of what is already there.
For instance, the people of towns now actually live their own lives and will dynamically react to whatever may be happening around them. Raise a gun in town, and people will scatter or even draw on you. Even camps of people – which includes the customisable camps that you’ll be able to set-up for your gang – feature everyone performing some kind of role that makes sense for the situation. Complementing all of this detail is a reportedly stunning graphics engine that may look just as good as the visuals shown in the game’s highly-cinematic trailers.
In fact, trying to compile the number of features and little things the game allows you to do just from what we know about this 45-minute demo is a daunting task. Some gameplay highlights include a much more involved hunting system (which now requires you to get clean kills for maximum value), a greater emphasis on your horse as a character (he can even carry more equipment for you), advanced animal AI, the return of gambling, a much-improved honor system that features moral complexities, the ability to perform more robberies (and be pursued for being too notorious), and so much more.
However, the most impressive takeaway from this demo is the quality of the game’s central plot and your ability to influence it. It seems that Arthur will have much more control over how he – and by extension, the player – chooses to handle every situation. From basic dialog options to truly complicated story choices, it seems that Red Dead‘s core missions will work to constantly develop both the story, the main character, and the complicated relationship between the game’s band of outlaws.
For instance, the seemingly simple bank robbing mission detailed requires players to choose the way they approach the bank, how to best cause a distraction, how to get into the vaults, and how to survive the escape from the mission once the law catches on to their daring heist. That last part is described as an epic encounter that highlights the game’s refined combat system and stunning environments.
Overall, we get the impression that Red Dead Redemption 2 just might find a way to live up to the considerable hype that surrounds it. We’ll be sure to bring you more details on the game as they become available.