Red Dead Redemption

Overview

Red Dead Redemption is the Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 sequel to the first Red Dead game, Red Dead Revolver. Developed by Rockstar San Diego, Red Dead Redemption is a third-person shooter set in a large open world inspired by the Wild West. Its story follows John Marston, a reformed outlaw ordered by the United States government to kill or capture his old gang members.

Plot

The game is set in 1911, in the American Old West. On the trailing edge of the Industrial Revolution, as westward expansion is starting to tame the once wild plains of New Austin. The government is also starting to invade the west, much to the local population's dismay. You play as John Marston, a former outlaw who has been forced to work as a gun fighter for the government.

The game starts at a train station in the town of Blackwater as two federal agents escort Marston to a train headed west to Armadillo. Upon his arrival in Armadillo he makes his way to the saloon where he meets a man named Jake. Jake knows where one of the men Marston has been sent to kill is and provides Marston with a horse and guide services to get him to Fort Mercer. Once there Marston comes face to face with Bill Williamson, a former brother-in-arms. Marston tries to reason with him, not wanting any bloodshed but Williamson won't listen and shoots Marston in the abdomen and leaves him to die outside the gates of the Fort. Sometime after being left for dead a wagon comes by and we see Marston's body being loaded into its back.

New Austin

John Marston with a bandana

Marston wakes up and finds out that he was in fact saved by Bonnie MacFarlane. Bonnie takes care of John and John helps her out by going on night watches with her or herding cattle. John tells her that he must catch Bill because people (the government) are holding his family hostage. John also heads down to the local town, Armadillo and meets the local sheriff, Marshal Johnson. The Marshall tells him that he'd like to take down Bill and his gang but Fort Mercer is out of his jurisdiction. John helps him out anyways and ends up once again meeting Bill who manages to escape.

Marston also comes across Nigel West Dickens, a traveling sales man. After John saves his life, Dickens offers to help John get inside Fort Mercer. His plan is to build a "Trojan Horse". They'll sneak their way inside unnoticed and then wreak havoc, like in Homer's epic story. To prepare for such a plan, John must first get money (by racing and promoting Dicken's "magic" elixir) and a government certified gatling gun. To do all this, he must work with Dicken's friends: Seth and Irish. After many fetch quests and odd jobs, they finally manage to pull it off and enter Fort Mercer with the help of Marshall. After tearing up the place, they discover Williamson has fled to Mexico to hide with former gang member Javier Escuella. Marston hops on Irish's ferry and heads for Mexico.

Mexico

After a "warm" welcome into Mexico, Marston discovers a country ravaged by civil war, a war between the totalitarian government and the rebels. He goes to work for both the rebels and the government who both promise him that they'll help him find the men he's looking for. He starts to work with Landon Ricketts, an old gun slinger who tries to help him find the two fugitives but fails, instead they save a young lady called Luisa. Landon tells Marston that Luisa is deep in the rebel movement (being the so called bride to be of Abraham Reyes, the leader of the rebels) and can help to find his men. After saving Reyes, the rebel leader tells Marston that his spies will find his men in no time.

Colonel Allende (left) and Captain De Santa

While this is all happening, Marston is also working for the corrupt government that is lead by Colonel Allende. This government hunts down and kills the rebels, even if it means destroying innocent towns. They also capture and rape the country's women. Marston mostly works with Captain Vincente De Santa, a low life army thug that's sent out to do Allende's dirty work. After doing a certain number of jobs for the government, Allende tells him that Bill and Javier have been spotted in a town and that it was time for John to enact his revenge. But upon arriving at the deserted town, De Santa turns on him. As Marston is about to be executed, Reyes and his band of rebels arrive and save the day. Reyes being fully aware that Marston was helping the government, decides that John must prove his worth before Reyes is willing to give him intel. One train robbery later and after putting a bullet in De Santa, Reyes tells Marston that the government had been hiding the two outlaws the entire time. Marston raids a government fort with the rebels but only finds Escuella whom he delivers to his superiors or Marston can just choose to kill him. After all this, Reyes decides to conduct a full blown revolution against Allende who's hiding out with Williamson. After a stage coach chase, Reyes kills Allende and John kills Williamson. Reyes takes control of the country while John's superiors ask him to go after Dutch, the gang's ex boss who's hiding out in Blackwater.

Blackwater

After arriving in Blackwater, Marston informs Edgar Ross of Williamson's demise. Unfortunately, Ross now orders Marston to go after Dutch Van Der Linde, the former leader of Marston's gang, in order for him to see his family again. Van Der Linde has taken up arms with a group of Native Americans in the area to fight against the US Army and/or commit violent crimes. Marston is eventually lead to a Native American informant named Nastas who also helps track down Van Der Linde, but is found out and Marston rescues him. He takes him back to a Yale Anthropology Professor named Harold MacDougal who is on a forced sabbatical from Yale. He is supposed to get the information of Van Der Linde's whereabouts from Nastas, but is forced to flee back east when Nastas is shot in the head and killed by Van Der Linde's gang during a supposedly peaceful meeting. Marston eventually teams up with the US Army and tracks down Van Der Linde to his camp. After a long chase, Van Der Linde is trapped on a cliff. He tells Marston that he and Marston have lived out their usefulness in a rapidly progressing world and faced with the choice of cooperating or death at the hands of Marston, he throws himself from the clifftop to his own death.

Marston's Ranch

Agent Edgar Ross

Fulfilling his duty to his country, Marston settles down at his ranch alongside his wife Abigail and son Jack, as well as the charsimatic drunkard, Uncle. Starting at the ranch again, he acquires some cattle from the MacFarlanes and breaks wild horses. He also takes his son on several hunting trips. Unfortunately, their happiness is shattered when the US Army along with Edgar Ross comes and attacks their ranch. Uncle is shot and killed, leaving only John and Jack Marston to defend the ranch. Outnumbered, the Marstons take refuge in their barn and John tells Abigail and Jack to get on a horse and ride as far away as they possibly can. After they have left, John comes out of his hiding place and tries to take out as many men as possible. Unfortunately, he is shot multiple times by the remaining men and he falls over dead. Abigail and Jack hear the gunshots and return to their ranch to find John dead. They bury him on the hill above the ranch, next to Uncle. The story then shifts from 1911 to 1914 to reveal that Abigail has also died. A figure picks up the hat from John Marston's grave and as the camera turns he is revealed to be Jack Marston, all grown up and ready to take up his father's role in the world.

Optional Ending

Upon completion of John's story, players are able to search for Edgar Ross to exact revenge upon him for the murder of his father, despite his compliance with the federal requests. Edgar Ross has peacefully retired, and is on a hunting trip to Mexico, after having won a chestful of medals for his work against Marston's gang. Jack tracks Edgar down, and engages him in a duel. Upon killing Ross, the 'true' ending to the game is achieved. The final newspaper contains the following stories:

• Seth has grown rich from hunting for treasure.
• Marshal Leigh Johnson peacefully retired and left the New Austin region.
• Irish shot himself dead in an outhouse while inebriated.
• Landon Ricketts died peacefully in his sleep.
• Harold MacDougal attacked another professor with a croquet mallet, resulting in his removal from Yale University.
• Abraham Reyes has achieved presidency in Mexico - and his people now consider him a tyrant.

Gameplay

A third-person shooter.... with cover!

Red Dead Redemption gives players a massive open-world to explore; players can roam on foot, ride horses, interacts with characters and the environment, and engage in shootouts. The combat in the game utilizes a cover system that allows players to blindfire, auto-target or free aim, all using period weaponry, ranging from revolvers to cannons. The combat system also allows players to target specific body parts for non-lethal take downs.

While the game plays like a typical open-world third-person shooter in a lot of ways, the western setting allows for a number of unique gameplay mechanics that differentiate it from similar titles:

Fame and Honor

Fame and Honor affect how people react to you.

The game uses a fame and honor system. The fame system is an indicator of the player character's notoriety; as you complete missions and earn yourself a name your fame will grow. A player's fame rating affects how NPCs react to you; for example, when a player with a high fame

rating enters a town for the first time he might be challenged to a shootout by someone who is trying to make a name for themselves.

Similarly, the honor system works as a sort of morality system, where the player has to choose whether he is for the law or against it. A number of factors influence your honor; like the way you dress and the side missions you complete, as well as how you respond to events in the environment. An example of this is Marston coming across some highwaymen that are holding up a group of travelers; Martson can either take the honorable path and shoot the would-be robbers, or he can join the bandits by killing the travelers and looting their bodies with them.

Dead-Eye Targeting

John Marston is a very lethal shot, and the game reflects this with a kind of bullet-time system known as Dead-Eye targeting. Players can activate Dead-Eye to slow down the game world, allowing them to either place precise shots on specific body parts or 'paint' multiple shots across several enemies. When the sequence ends Marston fires off all the shots in quick succession to devastating effect, usually resulting in one shot kills.

Horses

Horses are your main form of transportation in Red Dead Redemption. There are many different types of breeds, some faster than others. The game recommends you stick with the same horse as you can build a bond with said horse, increasing its stamina. If you try to make your horse gallop for too long, it'll throw you off it. If your horse dies two things can happen: You have the deed for it thus after about 30 seconds all you have to do is whistle and it'll come back, you don't have the deed and you just get a random horse.

When having to follow someone who's also on horse, you can hold down A or X and your horse will automatically follow the horse in front of you.

Ambient Missions

Ambient missions are special tasks that have you interacting with the game world in different ways. There are four types of missions: Sharpshooter (usually has you killing things with your gun), Survivalist (has you collecting flowers all over the game world), Treasure Hunter (you find a map and must try to find the treasure) and Master Hunter (has you killing the local wildlife). Each mission has different levels and completing all of them unlocks certain things.

Hunting

Hunting different animals present different challenges; from bears, to buffalo, to cougars. Some animals require stealth and sneaking, some require extreme firepower, some rare animals need to be tracked and some require a chase. Some animals can easilly kill you. Once and animal is killed Marston can skin it and the meat and pelt can be sold or traded in towns. Here's the list of all the animals that you can come across in Red Dead:

• Armadillo
• Bear
• Beaver
• Bighorn Sheep
• Boar
• Bobcat
• Buffalo
• Chicken
• Cougar
• Cow
• Coyote
• Crow
• Deer
• Dog
• Donkey
• Duck
• Eagle
• Elk
• Fox
• Goat
• Hawk
• Horse
• Owl
• Pig
• Rabbit
• Raccoon
• Seagull
• Skunks
• Snake
• Songbird
• Vulture
• Wolf

Sandbox Events

While traversing the world of Red Dead Redemption players are confronted with a variety of random events which both change up the gameplay and help develop a unique sense of place in America's Old West. Over 500 unique characters and 40 unique animal species populate the world and their unique AI provides scores of opportunities for gameplay with traveling across the plains.

The people and animals of the Old West provide Marston with the following challenges and opportunities:

• Ambushes - When traveling by road or when approaching strangers ambushes can arise, often resulting in deadly shootouts.
• Bounty Hunting - Players can take up bounties to track down criminals for the police. The player can use the lasso to take the prisoner alive for greater reward and a positive effect on his honor, or he can simply kill the bandit.
• Burglary - Players can break into houses, banks, and homesteads and get away with as much loot as possible. If caught, however, Marston's honor will plummet.
• Camping - At night players can join camps in the wilderness to hear news and rumors about the events of the game.
• Cattle Herding - Players can take jobs to assist ranchers herd their cattle for rewards.
• Dueling - Players can engage in a classic duel of quick draw. If you are first to draw, you have more time, but your accuracy takes a hit. Same goes vise-versa.
• Escort Missions - While traveling the wilderness strangers may approach Marston and ask for an escort.
• Executions - Be it roadside shootings or formal hangings, player will experience public executions and react however they feel. Intervening can affect your fame and honor.
• Hideouts - In the world you may come across gang hideouts where you can fight.
• Horse Taming - When players come across horses in the wild they can use the lasso to capture them and then break
  the horse and use it to travel. The player can also find pens and break horses to help the townsfolk.
• Nightwatch - Characters may ask Marston to help them protect their ranch or town from armed outlaws and animals over night.
• Plant Gathering - Rare species of plants in the environment can be collected and sold at towns and outposts.
• Treasure Hunting - Players can buy maps or just get lucky and find treasure throughout the world.
• Guard Trains - Sometimes when riding a train robbers may attack it. Here you will need to protect yourself and the passengers.
• Challenges - Events such as shooting birds, gathering plants, and finding treasure maps unlock challenges that can be completed as the game goes on.
• Attack or Defend Cart - Players can either help the bandits or travelers when it is attacked, both giving you different honor and money.

Outfits

You can wear different outfits in the game. To earn these outfits, you must do certain tasks that the game outlines for you. Each outfit gives you a special ability from being able to cheat at poker to making yourself look like a gang member, thus never being attacked by that gang:

• Cowboy Outfit: Marston's first outfit. It doesn't give you any bonuses.
• Gentleman's Attire: Lets you play poker at Blackwater. You only get it by syncing your gamertag or PSN ID with the Rockstar Social Network.
• Elegant Suit: Lets you cheat at poker.
• Bollard Twins Outfit: Makes the Bollard Twins gang think your one of their own and not attack you.
• Treasure Hunter Outfit: Same effect as the previous outfit except only works with the Treasure Hunter gang.
• Bandido Outfit: Bandidos take you as a friend.
• Reyes Rebels Outfit: The law in Mexico don't pursue you.
• US Army Uniform: Does nothing other than make you look cool.
• US Marshal Uniform: The law in the US doesn't pursue you.
• Legend of the West: Increases your Dead Eye.
• Bureau Uniform: Lets you do whatever you like without intervention from the law.
• Duster Coat: Does nothing other than protect you from dust.
• Mexican Poncho: Makes you look like Clint Eastwood.
• Rancher Clothing: Marston's typical outfit when herding cattle.
• Walton's Gang: Makes members of the Walton Gang friendly towards you. Outfit is exclusive to PS3 version.
• Deadly Assassin: Makes dead-eye meter regenerate faster. Outfit is only obtainable through pre-order bonus.
• Expert Hunter: Makes the player receive double the amount of materials from any skinned animal. (Available through the free Hunting and Trading Outfits DLC pack.)
• Savvy Merchant: Gives the player half-off any items purchased at any gunsmith throughout the game. (Available through the free Hunting and Trading Outfits DLC pack.)

Strangers

The game is populated with side quests given to you by "strangers". They're represented on the map by a question mark and are optional. When you accept one, you can finish it whenever you like. Some require you collecting things, others just ask you to kill people. Some stranger missions are multiple parts and some are even just cut-scenes. Some let you chose how you want to complete them. For example, early on in the game one stranger asks you to get a property for him. You can kill the owner of said property or nicely buy it from him.

Mini-Games

In true open-world fashion the game includes a variety of mini-games for players to engage in, including five-finger fillet, Texas Hold 'Em Poker, arm wrestling, Blackjack, drinking, horseshoes and Liar's Dice. These mini-games primarily take place in saloons and each features unique control schemes to suit their style.

Multiplayer

As is usual in most recent games, Read Dead Redemption's multiplayer includes a persistent leveling system. Gaining levels earn players new horses and outfits. Weapons also level up individually; and, if a player achieves all levels on a particular weapon they will receive a gold version of the weapon. Multiplayer in Red Dead Redemption will take place in to separate forms:

Free-Roam Free Roaming Posse Multiplayer Free-Roam was revealed on April 9th with the release of the first official multiplayer trailer. In this mode, up to 8 players can form a 'posse' and play simultaneously, exploring the entire world map and battling each other or NPCs in a variety of modes. In their posses, players can attack gang members and their hideouts, go hunting in designated area or explore the massive terrain. In addition, there is a Hunter/Hunted mode, a game of cat and mouse where the player(s) can capture fugitives dead or alive or run from law enforcement. More game modes are said to be revealed at a later date.

Competitive Modes Competitive games begin with a Mexican Stand-Off The game also features a number of more conventional competitive multiplayer modes, with smaller maps and more structured rules and objectives. These game modes can be entered through specific locations in the free-roam world or through a game modes playlist. All matches begin with a "Mexican Stand-Off", in which all players stand in a circle and shoot off until there is only one person remaining; he will then have the advantage of running to the best vantage point before the other players re-spawn. So far five game modes have been announced: Shootout - Essentially a traditional deathmatch; players must kill every other player to earn points. Gang Shootout - This mode is a team deathmatch that brings your posse into the game. Hold Your Own - A classic game of capture the flag; each team has one base and one bag of gold and must attempt to capture each others gold and return it to their own base. Gold Rush - A every-man-for-himself mode with several bags of gold. Each player must find and return bags of gold to their base. Grab The Bag - One bag and two teams. Teams must fight to return one bag to their own base. Competitive modes will feature, gatling guns, cannons, horses, and crates which will supply weapons, upgrades, ammo and will fill your Dead-Eye meter.

Downloadable Content

Outlaws To The End Co-Op

A posse doing a co-op mission

The first official downloadable content for the game was released on Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network on June 22, 2010. This first piece of DLC is free of charge and adds six cooperative missions for 2-4 players to tackle online, as well as new XP rewards for multiplayer and new trophies and achievements. Discussing the pack, Rockstar co-founder Sam Houser said that 'With these missions we wanted to create new ways for players to share in the experience of engaging with this amazing landscape' and detailed three of the missions;

• Walton's Gold - In this mission players must enter a mining camp that has been taken over by Walton's Gang, fight their way to the gold and carry as much out as the can; and fast, since the gang have rigged the place to blow.
• The River - Here players will ride a raft down a river taking out enemy encampments as they pass by and fighting off enemy rafts equipped with Gatling guns. The mission's climax leads you to the rebel stronghold of Nosalida where you must fight to take the town's huge weapons supplies.
• Ammunition - The setup for this mission is that the Mexican Army have the town of Tesoro Azul under attack. Players must fight their way out and destroy the army's artillery.
• The Kidnapped Girl - A gang has taken control of Fort Mercer and has kidnapped the daughter of a farmer. It is up to you and your friends to storm the gates of the fort, rescue the girl, then transport her to her home by stagecoach while being attacked by gang reinforcements.
• The Escape - You with the help of your friends must steal a gold filled stagecoach and a wagon augmented with a Gatling gun from a group of gang members, and deliver them to the American Army while at the same time, exterminating the remaining gang members from the town of Tumbleweed. Once the town is cleared get ready for a exciting chase that will lead you and your friends to Mexico.
• The Herd - Cattle rustlers have stolen Armadillo's cow supply and have taken refuge in Box Canyon. You and your gang must enter the canyon and vanquish the cattle rustlers by any means necessary. Once they've been dealt with, your gang must escape the canyon while being attacked by reinforcements, and at the same time herding the cows back safely to Armadillo.

Legends and Killers Pack

Red Harlow is now a playable character with the Legends and Killers pack.

Announced July 8, 2010, along with the Lairs and Cheats, Free Roam, and Undead Nightmare packs. Legend and Killers, the second downloadable content, was released on August 10, 2010 for $9.99 on Playstation Network and 800 Microsoft Points for Xbox Live. The pack adds new multiplayer maps for all competitive mutliplayer modes, character models for multiplayer from Red Dead Revolver, and more. A more in depth list of features below

New competitive multiplayer maps

• Blackwater
• Escalera
• Fort Mercer
• Hennigan's Steed
• Manzanita Post
• Sidewinder Gulch
• Tall Trees
• Thieves Landing

Playable Red Dead Revolver characters for use in multiplayer

• Ugly Chris
• Red Harlow
• Pig Josh
• Mr. Kelley
• Buffalo Soldier
• Annie Stoakes
• Jack Swift
• Shadow Wolf

New Weapon

• The Tomahawk, adding new single and multiplayer challenges for it.

New Achievements/Trophies

• Adding 10 new achievements/trophies, bringing the total up to 68.

Liars and Cheats Pack

A game of Stronghold in session

A downloadable released on September 21, 2010, including a new multiplayer mode, a new weapon (the Explosive Rifle), and new multiplayer character models taken from the single player campaign. The previously announced Free Roam Pack content will also be included with purchase due to restrictions on the number of free packs that can be given away on the platform networks. The Liars and Cheats pack will be available for $9.99 for PlayStation Network and 800 Microsoft Points for Xbox Live. A more in depth list of features below

• Multiplayer Poker and Liars' Dice Games
• Multiplayer Horse Races
• New weapon: The Explosive Rifle, adding new single and multiplayer challenges for it.
• 7 New Gang Hideouts
• 4 New Hunting Grounds
• Stronghold Competitive Multiplayer Mode (new Attack-and-Defend team-based mode)

• Posse Scoring and Leaderboards
• New achievements and trophies

Playable Red Dead Redemption characters for use in multiplayer

• Agustin Allende
• Seth Briars
• Nigel West Dickens
• Luisa Fortuna
• Irish
• Leigh Johnson
• Dutch Van Der Linde
• Abigail Marston
• Jack Marston
• John Marston
• Harold MacDougal
• Bonnie MacFarlane
• Abraham Reyes
• Edgar Ross
• Bill Williamson

Hunters and Traders Pack

Released October 12, 2010, this free DLC added two new outfits along with new challenges to unlock them.

• Savvy Merchant Outfit: Buy guns and ammo at half price.
• Legendary Hunter Outfit: Collect double skins and hides from hunting.

Undead Nightmare Pack

Zombified version of Red Dead Redemption's original cover art

Ghost towns and cemeteries have gone wrong in the wild west. The Undead Nightmare pack is available for $9.99 for PlayStation Network and 800 Microsoft Points for Xbox Live. It was released October 26th, 2010.

• Brand new single player adventure, challenges and quests.
• 8 New multiplayer zombie characters.
• Additional animals.
• New dynamic events.
• New "Undead Overrun" Multiplayer Mode (Horde Mode)

Myths and Mavericks Pack

Myths and Mavericks Pack

The Myths and Mavericks Pack was announced on July 27, 2011 and will be the last downloadable content released for Red Dead Redemption. This pack, which is the second free DLC, will bring new characters and maps to Deathmatch, Grab the Bag, Gang matches, as well as other popular multiplayer modes. Landon Rickets has been confirmed to be a playable multiplayer character. The release date is September 13, 2011.

New Multiplayer Maps:

• Cochinay
• Nekoti Rock
• El Presidio
• Plainview
• Gaptooth Mine
• Pike's Basin
• Rio Bravo
• Perdido
• Benedict Point
• Beecher's Hope
• Torquemada

New Playable Characters in Multiplayer:

• Landon Ricketts
• Vicente DeSanta
• Drew MacFarlane
• Deputy Eli
• Deputy Jonah
• Javier Esquella
• Nastas
• Uncle

Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare (Retail Release)

Undead Nightmare Map

On November 23rd, 2010, Rockstar released Red Dead Redemption: Undead Nightmare to retail stores in North America. The European version came out on November 26th, 2010. The Undead Nightmare retail disc contained all non-free DLC along with the original Free Roam Multiplayer mode as a standalone disc. Also included is a foldout poster with Undead Nightmare artwork with a map of the game world on the other side that reflects the Zombie invasion.

In-Game Content:

• Liars and Cheats

• Legends and Killers

• Undead Nightmare

• Original Red Dead Redemption Free-Roam Multiplayer (Standalone)

Compatibility

You don't have to own or have played the original Red Dead Redemption to be able to play this standalone Undead Nightmare-disc content. If, however, you already have played the game and its multiplayer, your online-progress carries over into Undead Nightmare. Challenge stats, character level, playtime data, and all other stats are imported from your save file. The free DLC - "Outlaws to the End Co-Op" and "Hunters and Traders" pack are also compatible with Undead Nightmare, as well.

To ensure compatibility, make sure that you do not mix regions (i.e.: North American Red Dead Redemption and European Undead Nightmare). The different European releases (BBFC, PEGI, USK) appear to be compatible with each other. For example, the PS3 version of Undead Nightmare from the UK (BBFC 18 rating, BLES Code 01179) works with a previously installed Red Dead Redemption from France (PEGI 18 rating, BLES Code 00680). And since both discs also carry the German USK 18 rating logo, compatibility to the German version can be considered a given.

Whether or not releases from different regions are compatible with each other is unknown but highly unlikely.

Install

The PS3 version of Undead Nightmare requires a minumum 2427MB install and stacks on top of previous Red Dead Redemption trophy data.

The World

It's a big, beautiful, and bustling world.

The game world in Red Dead Redemption is the largest ever seen in a Rockstar game. The game takes place on the border of the United States and Mexico in the Old West during the turn of 20th Century. The region and time period were thoroughly researched to provide the most historically accurate rendition of the area as is possible.

The unique geography of the region means that the game world features deserts, forest, canyons, and snowy mountains, along with towns, people and architecture of both period accurate American and Mexican culture. The unique time period means that the world has a mix of old and new buildings, weapons and technology.

The game's map consists of 3 main regions each with their own sub-regions:

New Austin New Austin This Frontier region contains four sub-regions: Gaptooth Ridge, Rio Bravo, Cholla Springs, and Hennigan's Stead. Some of the major features are Lake Don Julio, Hennigan's Stead and Thieves' Landing.

Nuevo Paraiso Nuevo Paraiso Nuevo Paraiso (Northern Mexico) has three sub-regions: Punta Orgullo, Perdido and Diez Coronas. Some of the major features in this region are Las Hermanas, Torquemada, and Primero Quebrada. The name of 'Nuevo Paraiso' roughly means 'New Paradise' - ironic, considering the region is embroiled in bloody conflict at just about every turn.

West Elizabeth West Elizabeth The third region unlocked by players. West Elizabeth boasts only one town of note: Blackwater. However, this town is much more advanced than any of the others in the west of America at this time, and boasts paved streets, a uniformed policing force, and also motor cars.

Weapons

Red Dead Redemption take place in a historical period in which new technologies had a huge impact on society. Specifically for the Old West, new weapon technology changed life forever, and this mix of terrifying new weapons and old classics are the tools for John Marston.

Lasso A staple of life in the old west; the lasso can be used to take down both animals and people. It makes it much easier to return bandits alive and earn yourself greater rewards, and it also allows you to capture and train wild horses or take down other wildlife. This weapon is perfect for hog tying people to train tracks and watching them get crushed.

Cattleman Revolver The Cattleman Revolver is a basic 'six-shooter', appearing in the game as a starter pistol. It provides an acceptable, if not extremely impressive first rung on the firearm ladder, and is a staple weapon of many players during the early game.

Mauser Pistol The 'Mauser Pistol' is a German-made semi-automatic pistol. According to media produced about the game, the pistol has high power. While this is the case, the High Powered Pistol proves to be more damaging to hostiles. The Mauser has the highest rate of fire of any of the pistols and can be rapid fired should a player use Dead Eye, or have a sufficiently fast trigger finger.

Repeater Carbine This gun represents one of the older weapons in the game, but still proves to be one of it's most useful. The Repeater Carbine balances range and power, and is easy to use while on horseback; a trait that makes it ideal for the Old West.

Throwing Knives The throwing knives of Red Dead Redemption are perfectly balanced for throwing. They are perfect for quick, effective, and most importantly quiet take downs.

Sawed-Off Shotgun This powerful weapon's shorter barrel means it has a wider spread over a shorter distance. If you double tap the trigger while wielding the sawed-off you can fire from both barrels for devastating effect.

Other guns that appear in the game are sniper rifles, automatic pistols and buffalo rifles, and other weapons such as; fire bottles, cannons, Gatling guns and dynamite can also be unlocked.

Avatar Awards

Red Dead Redemption has several avatar awards, some of which have not been made available yet.

• Posse T-Shirt: Awarded to the community for reaching a certain total of XP in the Multiplayer Mode.
• Gentleman's Attire: Awarded to the community for reaching a certain total of XP in the Multiplayer Mode.
• Lady's Finery: Complete the Rockstar Game Social Club "Skin It To Win It" challenge
• Yellow Rockstar Logo T-Shirt - Open the chest in the attic of the farm house in Beecher's Hope.
• Black on Red RDR Logo T-Shirt - Open the chest inside the burned down cabin at Riley's Charge.
• Sombrero - Shoot someone's hat off (without killing them).

Development and Marketing

Controversy

In January of 2010, a blog post published on Gamasutra written by the "Rockstar Spouse" pointed out the unethical practices used at Rockstar San Diego during this game's development, including 12 hour days and 6 day weeks, with lower-than-the-industry-average salary increase.

A few commenters on the blog who claimed to have worked at Rockstar San Diego at some point mentioned that the project is "an organic disaster of the most epic proportions ", that the game has been in development for more than 4 years, and that game developers from Rockstar Toronto, Rockstar Vancouver, Rockstar Leeds, Rockstar New England, and even the Midnight Club team at San Diego had to be transferred over to work on the game to finish it.

This controversy evoked similar emotions in media to the "EA Spouse" scandal, but it only seems as if the working conditions at Rockstar San Diego are considerably worse.

In April of 2010, an email sent by Rockstar PR to a reviewer from the British magazine Zoo was published on several online websites, reporting that Rockstar was requesting Zoo's review of the game reflected 'the huge achievement' the company had made making Red Dead Redemption.

Pre-Order Bonuses

Pre-Ordering Red Dead Redemption gives players access to a number of in-game items and other bonuses depending on which retailer the pre-order is taken from.

• Deadly Assassin Outfit - An outfit which allows for increased dead eye regeneration (Twice as fast).
• The War Horse - A horse that is faster and has an increased damage resistance.
• The Golden Guns Pack - A pack of weapons that allows for increased fame per kill; allowing the player to reach side quests faster.
• An Exclusive Mini guide by BradyGames
• Exclusive Red Dead T-Shirt
• Game Soundtrack (Composed and performed by Bill Elm and Woody Jackson)
• Official Playing Cards

Soundtrack

Red Dead Redemption OST

The soundtrack for Red Dead Redemption was distributed with the collector's edition of the game. It has since been made available on iTunes, Amazon, and many other digital music stores.

Except where otherwise indicated, all music was composed and performed by Bill Elm and Woody Jackson. Bill Elm is a current member of the instrumental band Friend of Dean Martinez, while Woody Jackson is a former member of the same band. The Soundtrack was produced by David Holmes.

In August 2010, Rockstar offered a CD copy of the soundtrack for $9.99 exclusively via their own Rockstar Warehouse. In late November of 2010, they accepted orders for an extremely limited pressing of the soundtrack on red vinyl and packaged in a deluxe gatefold jacket and an exclusive bonus track. The vinyl has since been sold out and might be available again at a later point in limited quantities.

RDR's soundtrack was multiple awards including the best music award at VGA 2010 and GameSpot's "Best Original Music".

** = Track 20. is exclusive to the vinyl release of the soundtrack

Undead Nightmare OST

On November 23rd, Rockstar made the soundtrack to the Undead Nightmare DLC available for purchase in digital form. It can be found on Amazon, iTunes, and similar stores. A physical release has not yet been announced.

Composition was again handled by Bill Elm and Woody Jackson.

Reception

Red Dead Redemption has been met with wide-spread praise for its presentation of the open world, story, and soundtrack. The game has also received many high scores from an assortment of video game sites and magazines, including being called a "tour de force" by The New York Times. It is currently at 96% on GameRankings, and has a Metacritic score of 95. The game went on to sell approximately 5 million copies in the first month of sales.

RDR was given GOTY for Spike VGA 2010. In its December 2010 financial report, Take-Two announced RDR had sold nearly 8 million copies worldwide, making it one of the highest selling games of 2010.

Install

The Playstation 3 version of Red Dead Redemption features a mandatory 600 megabyte install, with the Xbox 360 version having an optional 6.7 GB install size.

ESRB

The ESRB rated the game Mature for Blood, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, and Use of Drugs.