Saddle up! The Red Dead Redemption impressions thread.

[USMC Kato]

Got it!! Heading home to install. Mount up people!!!!

[lildrgn]

At least you guys are doing something AWESOME. Last "midnight launch" I did was for Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

 

[CeeKay]

got it, opened the box and I can walk again!

[Booner]

Wow...the closest EB had it going on. There were only around 30 folks there, one register was getting everyone paid in full before 12, then at 12 it was just a matter of handing them out. I left my place at 11:50 and was back home by 12:05...no complaints from me.

Just cleaned up my HD and am installing it now, so I guess I'll have some impressions by daylight.

[Destructor]

Heading out to grab it...and then head to bed. But I'm also up far earlier than when they open, so it's a net gain for me.

[Razgon]

I am very very jealous... Dont go to sleep people, Play and post! PLAY AND POST!

[CeeKay]

wow, free roam is fun.  we just did a bunch of co op missions and got some levels.

[CeeKay]

oh, and the graphics are AWESOME!  there's nothing like topping a ridge and seeing the land going on forever.

[Razgon]

...

I need this game!

[CeeKay]

taking a break to cook up some beans and have some whiskey before I give SP a shot.

[CeeKay]

one annoying thing:  the Rockstar Social Club and code unlock servers are down.  seriously Rockstar, WTF?  did you think no one was going to want to use their codes right away?


an interesting observation from tonight's midnight release:  I saw maybe 6 copies of Alan Wake getting taken off the shelf and just a few more copies of the new Prince of Persia game.  I wonder who in their respective companies thought it would be a good idea to launch on the same day as RDR.

[jersoc]

Alan Wake is pretty big imo. But I think a lot of people, like myself, are extremely caution of that game.

[Louis Cypher]

I just wanna play. Knowing my game is all alone, sitting in that cold, dirty UPS truck is tugging on my heart strings.

[metallicorphan]

taking a break to cook up some beans and have some whiskey before I give SP a shot.

the Blazing Saddles campfire scene now comes into mind when you mentioned beans

[Razgon]

I fear my kids will be without a father this weekned. I will don my cowboy hat, and ride the long lonesome droveroads, my only company my trusty sixshooter and a bottle of homebrew.

[Soulchilde]

I should have my sometime this evening.

[Turtle]

Here's some questions I had about RDR that you early players could help me with:

How's the frame rate (on the PS3 version)?

Is the shooting like GTA4 or is it improved (not so sluggish for manual aim)? Assuming the frame rate is solid, which is the main thing that hurt GTA4's shooting. Or is the deadeye bullet time mode used as a crutch like lock on was in GTA4?

[skystride]

wow, free roam is fun.  we just did a bunch of co op missions and got some levels.

What does leveling in co-op missions give you?  Is this the 8 people posse co-op mode you are talking about?

[ras752000]

Here's some questions I had about RDR that you early players could help me with:

How's the frame rate (on the PS3 version)?

Is the shooting like GTA4 or is it improved (not so sluggish for manual aim)? Assuming the frame rate is solid, which is the main thing that hurt GTA4's shooting. Or is the deadeye bullet time mode used as a crutch like lock on was in GTA4?

I played a couple of hours single player and an hour mp last night and never noticed any kind of slow down.
Manual aiming is responsive and dead eye makes it much easier but I was thankful for it when 4 bandits were chasing me on horseback after I shot their leader for a bounty. Moving so fast I could never have hit them otherwise.  Sense of scope is amazing and production is incredible.  The gunplay is not as good as uncharted 2 but it is very fun, and I think I'll get better with time.  Definitely a GOTY contender and I've only done like 4 missions.  Any other ps3 specific questions or general ones?

[ras752000]

wow, free roam is fun.  we just did a bunch of co op missions and got some levels.

What does leveling in co-op missions give you?  Is this the 8 people posse co-op mode you are talking about?

you unlock different characters to play as, upgraded mounts, etc.
You start as a lady character with only a donkey.  Only thing I did not like was that after I leveled and could change my character, you have to back out of whatever lobby/game you are in to make changes, then rejoin a game.  Too used to changing my loadouts inbetween round of mw2 or on the fly in bc2 I guess.

What does leveling in co-op missions give you?  Is this the 8 people posse co-op mode you are talking about?

Don't know what happened to the formatting here.  Hard to post from phone @ work.
Oh you unlock titles too like pilgrim or tenderfoot.
[/quote]

[JayDee]

MOAR IMPRESSIONS! MOAR! MOAR!!!!

Seriously, I need to get through work today and I won't be able to hit an EB until 1:30 or so. So please entertain me with your incredible impressions.

[Chaz]

So what level do I need to be before I can play as the big fat Mexican guy in the sombrero?  This will directly impact my desire to play MP.

[ras752000]

So what level do I need to be before I can play as the big fat Mexican guy in the sombrero?  This will directly impact my desire to play MP.

 
not sure about that but I got to level 5 and had about 7-8 choices for character and unlocked 1 horse.

More impressions?  I'll expound on the great voice acting.  Spot on perfect.  It's also funny b/c I saw a review that cited the main character seems to just be along for the ride while other characters drive the story, and so far everyone keeps telling Marston, "you don't talk much do you?"
complaint is not really legit though.

[The Grue]

I got it last night, but only played through the first segment (mostly story and tutorial).  So, really all I can comment on are the graphics and I have to say the game is beautiful.  I also love all the period costumes and talk, so this game will kick the crap out of GTA's modern setting for me.

[spigot]

Picked up my PS3 copy last night (along with Alan Wake). Put in about 2 hours so far and I'm liking it a lot. The whole concept of an Western themed open world sandbox game really really appeals to me. I'm a big fan of spaghetti westerns so this game really tickles my fancy. The world, or what tiny piece I've seen so far, just oozes with that unique rustic charm that romanticized views of the old west always evokes.

The framerate has been good so far, but some of the textures are a bit muddled. Voice acting is great. Shooting mechanics feel good so far, you can pop in and out of cover using R1. There's some nice location based shooting as well where you can shoot a guy in the leg and he'll fall over clutching it or shooting his arm and seeing him drop his gun. Love the skinning bits - you get to see John go to work, then a nice little hairless carcass afterwards 

I have a feeling I'm really going to enjoy just taking my time with this one, soaking in the whole 'cowboy experience'. I love the ability to just get on a horse and explore. Some of the random things I've encountered just riding around:

- guy riding through a field, being bucked by his horse, then chasing after it
- two lawmen chasing after a thief running towards a campsite, then shooting him dead
- a gang of bandits riding through the town square shooting in the air and raising hell, one of them dragging some poor soul behind him with his horse

I'm looking forward to: indians! (or maybe not) and using a lasso!

[Harkonis]

loving it so far, time for sleep now...

[Arch_d]

loving it so far, time for sleep now...

Hark played for about 10 hours straight... I took a bit of a break. Damage was on all night from what I can tell...

[Caine]

loving it so far, time for sleep now...

Hark played for about 10 hours straight... I took a bit of a break. Damage was on all night from what I can tell...

he'll have this one finished before I even get my feet dirty...

[spigot]

Anyone know if you can lasso, then tie up a woman to the train tracks? Mustache twirling and maniacal laughing optional 

[Nonnahob]

Anyone know if you can lasso, then tie up a woman to the train tracks? Mustache twirling and maniacal laughing optional 

Um, doing that very thing to a nun is actually one of the achievements in game.

[TK-421]

Does it have to be a nun?  

I assumed just doing that to any woman in general would work.

Dastardly
Place a hogtied woman on the train tracks, and witness her death by train.

[Caine]

tk-421 beat me to the draw. 

it was the article by the religious gamer who linked it to nuns only.  typical assumption fallacy on his part and a sign he didn't bother to check what the achievement actually said.  had he tossed a hooker on to the tracks instead, we'd be hearing about how rockstar is really a against prostitution instead.   

[Isgrimnur]

had he tossed a hooker on to the tracks instead, we'd be hearing about how rockstar is really a against prostitution instead.   

I thought that this had been demonstrated in their previous games. 

[Lockdown]

Any more comments on the multiplayer would be welcomed.

In specific, some of the things I am interested to hear from GT members are:

1.  Ease of getting into free roam with friends?  Do you need to be invited, do you just launch into their "lobby" and start playing, etc...

2.  Once in a friend's free-roam, do you decide whose posse you are going to be in and join, or do you need to ask for an invite?  

3.  Free roam again:  Can you shoot anyone anytime, or is based strictly on your posse?  Can you be "unaffiliated" and just start shooting anyone?  Is their friendly fire among posse members?

4.  Do you have any sort of HUD manipulation?  If for some reason you wanted a completely blank HUD, can you turn off things like the minimap, etc...?

5.  How does experience seem to be calculated in free roam?  Do you have a separate avatar for free roam as compared to SP, or is it the same guy?

Thanks!

[spigot]

I haven't participated in any carnal acts yet. If the stagecoach is a rockin'? 

[CeeKay]

wow, free roam is fun.  we just did a bunch of co op missions and got some levels.

What does leveling in co-op missions give you?  Is this the 8 people posse co-op mode you are talking about?

you unlock different characters to play as, upgraded mounts, etc.
You start as a lady character with only a donkey. 

huh?  definitely didn't start out as a lady, did have a big ass though.  glad I got rid of it, the sound of it braying was driving my dogs crazy.  as for weapons, those you can change by hitting start then selecting weapons.

I also did some solo free roam last night.  I did an experiment: private matches give you XP and I cleared a bandit hideout on my own and got about 2400 xp.

[Booner]

I was able to get about 3 hours of SP in last night and so far my impressions are mostly positive. Due to it's pedigree, I just can't help but compare it to GTAIV when writing about it.

Horse riding is not a simple point and go, it definitely take a bit of getting used to. They seem way too fast at a full gallop, yet feel just right at a canter or slower. Maneuvering at slow gaits can be a bit frustrating, but I bet it becomes easier with experience. Spurring your steed to hard will result in it bucking you the hell off it's back. One thing that surprised me is that the horse begins to 'trust' you with time and will perform better the more trust it has in you.

Gunplay will be familiar to anyone who's played GTA. It's a bit more refined though. The 'lock-on' (normal setting) requires you to be pretty accurate initially as the snap to target margin is tight. Even with Dead-Eye, taking down a mere five rowdy outlaws takes a bit of skill. I'm still kinda unsure of the duel mechanics...I've won two, but it's been more by sheer luck than any skill. I'll need to read up on it as the tutorial wasn't very clear to me. So far...gunplay is far less forgiving than GTA. Where I would go on a mad rampage and slaughter dozens as Nico, Marston will end up face down in the mud. There are tons of cover options...and they're needed.

Missions are set up just like GTA with the minimap, side missions, etc. The few story-line missions I've finished have been well done, excellent cutscenes, and they feel right for the character and the period. The other characters I've encountered so far have been more believable than GTA fare...there are some tongue-in-cheek caricatures, but they're not so over the top that they bust up the cinematic feel. One thing that kinda bugs me is that cutscene Marston is a gritty man with straightforward talk, but in gameplay he can become a hootin-n-hollrin Curly Bill...not always, but it seems out of character sometimes.

I've also had the chance to mess with some side missions as well as some mini-games...both are presented to you in great fashion and feel as much a part of the main story as well...the main story.  

One thing I'll say is that the games nudges you to be a reluctant good guy. If you go out into the world as a ruthless killer of men, women, and children...the story line will seem a bit jarring.

Other than the main points above:  Great graphics and sound overall...I could nit-pick, but nothing that takes away from the game. The couple of towns I've visited are full of life...people seem to go about with a purpose rather than just wandering around.

Not much I more I could comment on due to limited play.

Is it 'Grand Theft Palomino' as someone else called it? Yes...and no.

It's very much a Rockstar game in it's underlying mechanics. If you just don't like the way they drop you off and let you make your way, I doubt RDR will win you over unless you really enjoy westerns. If the GTAs didn't appeal to you due to it's ruthlessness and the way it encouraged you to do very bad things...this might be your way to enjoy their style of gameplay without the guilt.

Anyways..I look forward to spending more time with it later today.




 

[leo8877]

SP and MP XP are connected?  Or are you guys just all playing MP and leveling a character there (a la Diablo)?

[CeeKay]

Gunplay will be familiar to anyone who's played GTA. It's a bit more refined though. The 'lock-on' (normal setting) requires you to be pretty accurate initially as the snap to target margin is tight. Even with Dead-Eye, taking down a mere five rowdy outlaws takes a bit of skill. I'm still kinda unsure of the duel mechanics...I've won two, but it's been more by sheer luck than any skill. I'll need to read up on it as the tutorial wasn't very clear to me. So far...gunplay is far less forgiving than GTA. Where I would go on a mad rampage and slaughter dozens as Nico, Marston will end up face down in the mud. There are tons of cover options...and they're needed.

you can turn the auto snap off if you don't want to be a greenhorn    and yeah, the lawdogs can be quite brutal.  when all of us first fired up the game last night we found ourselves getting killed quite often by the law or the mexican army as we tried to sow our wild oats.

[CeeKay]

oh, and the third mission in the game is a race.

Spoiler for Hiden:

thankfully you don't have to win it! whether or not you're meant to win I don't know (there was quite a bit of rubberbanding of the other party involved and several bursts of speed that make me believe their horse had a V8 in it) and with the stamina mechanics I got my horse ticked off twice and figured I'd have to redo the whole damned thing but didn't.