When developerNaughty DogannouncedThe Last of Us Part 1in 2022, the fanbase was a bit perplexed as to why a “remake” was necessary. After all,The Last of Ushad already received several re-releases on multiple platforms. It didn’t feel necessary. Then, upon its release, it became clear that it was to ensure it would be on par withThe Last of Us Part 2in terms of haptics, loading times, and most of all vastly improved technology that could shine on the PlayStation 5.
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When rumors surrounding a remake of the firstRed Dead Redemptionstarted coming to light, fans hoped that John Marston, Jack, Uncle, and company would get a similar treatment. After all, it’s over ten years old and fans have been asking for it for a long, long time. Unfortunately, developer Rockstar Games announced that the open-world cowboy classic would be getting only a remaster,which befuddled audiences. While a game-savvy person could observe that most ofRockstar’s focus is on the long-awaitedGrant Theft Autosequel,one principle remains true: John Marston deserves better.
While it’s true that chronologically speakingRed Dead Redemptionwas released first, the real irony is thatRed Dead Redemption 2was a prequel. Therefore, the two games should have technically been released in reverse. Regardless, among the most prevalent aspects ofRed Dead Redemption 2were the relationships players built as Arthur Morgan alongside something of a morality system. One thing that a remake of the original entry could explore is the aforementioned antagonist ofRed Dead Redemption 2who also happens to be one of the franchise’s best roles.
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However, therein lies the issue as Arthur is not mentioned at all inRed Dead Redemption.This is likely the case for several reasons, the most obvious being that he wasn’t “created” untilthe second game. This would be an opportunity to somehow intertwine his story with the Marston family. Even more so when it comes to how Arthur’s story ends andRed Dead Redemption 2leaves off. After all, characters like Bill Williamson and Dutch Van Der Lind were part of the plot ofRed Dead Redemption,but their exposition is explored tenfold in the sequel.
4A Facelift Worthy of 2023
Visually speaking,Red Dead Redemption 2was in a league of its own upon release. While this was complimented by multi-layered characters with a fantastic narrative, the flora and fauna of the various landscapes were a sight to behold. The Guam section especially was breathtaking, but the inability to return there in the post-game was a bit frustrating. Similarly, the portion ofRed Dead Redemptionthat takes place in Mexico is a fan-favorite area.
To see that recreated from the ground up and be just as completely explorable would be a huge plus. Not to mention, Mexico as a locale was sorely missed inRed Dead Redemption 2. Given thatRed Dead Redemptionwas released back in 2010, all of this would likely be reworked utilizing the most current visual upscaling alongside new models for characters. While it’s a nice idea, it would likely only be possible with a massive engine upheaval (likely using Unreal Engine 5).
One of the more underrated technological advancements in Rockstar Games’ more recent releases is the inclusion of a first-person mode in otherwise third-person game modes. Introduced inGrand Theft Auto 5, this mechanic allowed players to feel even more immersed in the story itself. This is specifically where the beauty ofRed Dead Redemption 2’s aesthetics was put to the test and paired with photo mode. SinceGrand Theft Auto 5was released in 2013, a 2010 game would obviously not feature this.
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Beyond that, there are benefits to using said first-person mode. Traveling is a bit easier and things that normally take a long time seem to go a bit faster (skinning, looting, etc.). The first-person mode also adds a more cinematic feel to a story that already feels very narratively driven, so this would be another added bonus. Finally, just as this mode was also a good way to seemany of Arthur’s intricately detailed firearmsin better lighting, the same could be true for John Marston in aRed Dead Redemptionremake.
2Random NPC Mayhem
Among some of the more silly aspects ofRed Dead Redemption(andRed Dead Redemption 2) are the various hijinks that can transpire while in the Old West specifically regarding NPCs. Sometimes this comesin the form of various side quests, other times it comes from randomized events. Either way, the sky is the limit when it comes to the things that a player can do inRed Dead Redemption.
Even though this all existed to a degree inRed Dead Redemption’s heyday, the engine understandably saw many updates and quality-of-life changes since the prequel’s respective release in 2018. It will only be improved upon in the years to come, and as such, an updated engine would need to be put into place.
Finally, there is the elephant in the room regarding the fan-favorite DLC forRed Dead RedemptionentitledUndead Nightmare. In this standalone expansion, players face a pandemic of epic proportions in which Uncle and by proxy, John Marston’s wife Abigail, have been subjected to an infection that is turning all denizens into flesh-eating zombies within Blackwater. There are some minor additional beats plot-wise, but it’s essentially an alternate future in the world ofRed Dead Redemption. Certain characters die who are alive at the end of the game, and vice-versa. This is a welcome change toRed Dead Redemption’s narrative-heavy storyline.
On top of this, there are many other added features in the expansion including being able to ride any of the four horses of the apocalypse, getting new weapons, and having Blackwater get a dark and spooky facelift. When considering that a lot of the appeal comes from watching characters players have grown to know and love chasing after the player with bloodlust,Undead Nightmarewith the help ofUnreal Engine 5would look gruesome and beautiful. A mere remaster wouldn’t be enough for such outdated graphics. And besides,it still holds the crown as one of the most coveted Zombie games in existence.
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