I very specifically remember the month of May 2010. First was the release of Alan Wake, followed the very next week by Red Dead Redemption. Both games would end up being personal favorites, even to this day. Since then, Alan Wake has gotten a remaster and a sequel. Red Dead Redemption would receive an amazing sequel, but never a remaster. Until now, and unlike the work that Grove Street Games did for Xbox and PlayStation 2-era Grand Theft Auto games, this remaster for PC is nothing short of exceptional. Red Dead Redemption remains a sprawling cinematic experience that throws you headfirst into the unforgiving yet strangely beautiful world of the dying American frontier that should be in everyone’s library, that is finally available on PC.
Red Dead Redemption
This is a game released in 2010, taking place in 1910. We find ourselves 14 years on since that original release, and six years past the release of Red Dead Redemption 2. All that said, everything about the original RDR still works today, if not a bit archaic in some of its mission design and. While there’s no updates to the gameplay or systems, this is exactly what you’d want out of a remaster, as it recaptures that original game is stunning new detail.
Red Dead Redemption places you in the dusty boots of John Marston, a former outlaw forced back into a life of crime by the relentless federal agents. Marston’s mission: track down his former gang, including his mentor Dutch van der Linde, and bring them to justice in exchange for the safety of his wife and son. The narrative is a compelling mix of revenge, loyalty, and the fading embers of the Wild West. You’ll encounter a cast of unforgettable characters, from the grizzled gunslingers of Dutch’s gang to the weary settlers clinging to a vanishing way of life. The story unfolds naturally through main missions and a plethora of side quests, each adding depth to the world and its inhabitants.
Rockstar has crafted a world in Red Dead Redemption that is breathtaking in its scope and detail. From the sun-baked deserts of New Austin to the snow-capped peaks of Tall Trees, the environments feel real and alive. The world is teeming with wildlife, from deer and coyotes to rattlesnakes and grizzly bears. You can hunt these creatures for pelts and meat, or simply observe their fascinating behaviors. The towns, with their dusty saloons and creaky general stores, burst with life. Folks go about their daily routines, conversations can be overheard, and trouble can be found lurking in every corner. Random events, like stagecoach robberies or bar fights, add a layer of dynamism to the world, making you feel like you’ve truly stepped into a bygone era.
Red Dead Redemption’s combat is a satisfying blend of strategy and action. You can go in guns blazing, unleashing a hail of bullets from your trusty revolvers or a powerful shotgun. But a more tactical approach is often rewarded. Using cover, flanking maneuvers, and Dead Eye – a bullet-time mechanic that allows for precise targeting – can turn the tide of a battle in your favor. The weapon variety is impressive, with pistols, rifles, shotguns, and even dynamite at your disposal. Weapons degrade over time, adding a layer of realism and forcing you to maintain your arsenal. The weight of each weapon is also noticeable, affecting your movement speed and aiming.
Your horse isn’t just a mode of transportation in Red Dead Redemption; it’s your loyal companion. Bonding with your steed through feeding, brushing, and calming is essential for building a strong relationship and unlocking its full potential. A well-bonded horse will be faster, more responsive, and less likely to buck you off during a firefight. The variety of horse breeds, each with its own strengths and weaknesses, caters to different playstyles. Do you prefer a speedy mustang for quick getaways, or a sturdy workhorse for hauling cargo? The choice is yours, and you can tame any and all that you like through a short but delightful mini-game.
Undead Nightmare
Undead Nightmare is a story DLC that is an offbeat expansion that fits in perfectly with Halloween. The Undead Nightmare DLC injects a delightful dose of the supernatural into the world of Red Dead Redemption. A mysterious plague has swept across the land, transforming the once-living into ravenous undead. John Marston must now not only confront the horrors of the apocalypse but also unravel the dark secret behind the outbreak.
The DLC seamlessly integrates with the base game’s narrative, offering a fresh twist on the familiar world. New weapons, like flaming shotguns and stake launchers, are perfect for dispatching the undead hordes. The atmosphere is masterfully crafted, with haunting moans echoing through desolate towns and the constant threat of a shambling corpse rising from the ground. I just love the way John Marston just accepts the horrors and goings on, and the lack of bewilderment will never be lost on me with how hilarious and perfectly “John Marston” it is.
Multiplayer
Well, truth be told, there isn’t any. Rockstar opted not to bring over the multiplayer from the first game here, which is fine. The Red Dead Redemption 2 multiplayer is far superior and the multiplayer for Red Dead Redemption has a lot of memories, but is a slightly bare bones offering. Rockstar choosing not to support something that at worst, might be infested with cheaters is probably the right move.
The soundtrack of Red Dead Redemption is nothing short of phenomenal. The sweeping orchestral score perfectly captures the essence of the Wild West, from the tense standoffs to the melancholic beauty of the frontier. Woody Jackson and Bill Elm perfectly encapsulate the works of Ennio Morricone while also injecting their own flavor into the whole game. “Compass”, is an amazing piece of music that plays while you’re riding a horse, but the meaning of why you’re riding that horse, really adds to the experience as you make your way across the land. The game has a fantastic soundscape that you can just leave the game running and listen to everything going on around you.
Double Eleven, a fantastic studio in their own right also does amazing works on remasters, especially this one. This PC remaster includes a lot of features that simply weren’t present in the original. It now supports a native 4K resolution, support for Ultrawide (21:9) and Super Ultrawide (32:9) monitors, HDR10, and even controls for keyboard and mouse functionality. Additionally, there’s supersampling techniques of NVIDIA DLSS 3.7 and AMD FSR 3.0, and NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation. The options in-game allows for adjusting things like draw distances, shadow quality settings, and more. The only drawback I’ve found is that the framerate only
The game also runs exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, running on the “High” preset I was able to achieve over 60fps with HDR enabled.
My PC Specs:
– Microsoft Windows 11 Pro
– Intel Core i9 13900K @ 5.8GHz
– ASUS ROG RYUJIN II 360 ARGB AIO Liquid CPU Cooler
– G.SKILL TRIDENT Z5 6000MHZ 64GB (32×2) DDR5 RAM
– ASUS ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X
– WD_BLACK SN850X M.2 (4 TB)
– LG UltraGear 34GP950B-G (21:9 Ultrawide @ 3440×1440)My Steam Deck (OLED) Specs
– SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
– Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32)
– 16 GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (6400 MT/s quad 32-bit channels)
– 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.6GHz (1.6 TFlops FP32)
– Steam Deck 1TB NVMe SSD
– HDR OLED (16:9 @ 1280 x 800)
In terms of price, I do feel it is worth it; but given how much time has passed, should be something slightly cheaper despite how much work has been put into this. Red Dead Redemption is a fantastic spaghetti western in video game form that still has, and is only surpassed by the equally fantastic 2018’s Red Dead Redemption 2. In the 14 years of its release, this remains a blueprint of incredible open-world design from its characters, missions, and things to do. This is not a game of just nostalgia, but endurance over time. Red Dead Redemption is still a masterpiece, and can now finally be enjoyed to the fullest on PC.
A Steam code was provided in advance by the publisher for review purposes
